REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROGRAM

The requirements for a SemesterAbroad program are the following: age should be between 15 to 18 years of age although some destinations allow students of 14 to 19 years of age, at least 2 years high school level or equivalent of foreign language when destination is a foreign language-speaking country, good academic level, maturity to adapt to new environments and a successful score in a personal interview.

Applicants are selected through interviews, teacher recommendations and over-all potential of being a successful program participant. Knowing the language of the host country is not required although it is certainly useful. Those who choose to include language courses may be required to take a placement test to determine language level.

A student’s transcript, disciplinary clearance and essay may provide the crucial opportunity to demonstrate the amount of importance one places on international experience as an integral part of education. Apart from those already mentioned, anyone contemplating spending a semester abroad should have an open mind towards learning, studying and living abroad presents its own opportunities in experiencing new things, learning about oneself as well as other cultures.

PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM

The primary purpose of taking a semester abroad is for students to take courses which are significantly different from but complimentary to the course being taken by the student in his/her home campus. Receiving credit for overseas study is possible by earning the school’s minimum passing grade for all courses taken and by providing an official version of the transcript from the foreign school to the home school. Students may be required to retain copies of all the written work done at the foreign school to be submitted to the local faculty advisor for review.

A student is required to supply description of the courses that are being proposed to be taken. This description should come with instructor names and reading lists whenever applicable to ensure that the proposed course of study is a rigorous one. It is highly recommended that students develop their lists of courses in consultation with their faculty advisors both at the local and foreign school. The foreign faculty advisor will be asked to confirm that the courses selected are available and that the intended educational objectives can be met at the foreign school.

LOCATIONS AND RESOURCES

The Semester Abroad program does not in any way limit the student’s options to one particular school or country. As long as the foreign institution is one that is government sanctioned or recognised, state regulated within the country, recognised or approved by an evaluation body or such an agency exists within the country, a school is deemed acceptable. Most local universities are developing exchange agreements with various foreign schools to have their students spend a semester abroad.

There are schools offering a good funding option for its students. The school can charge the student going abroad a regular tuition for the period abroad and have the tuition costs of the foreign school billed directly to them rather than to the student. This way, the student remains fully eligible for regular financial aid and student loans for the semester abroad as if they had remained in the local school for the semester in question. Otherwise, other sources are available such as funding from organisations or through personal sources.