Why Study Abroad?
What Programs are Available?
How to Select a Program
Funding for Study Abroad
Approval to Study Away
The Application Process
Confirming your Participation
Timeline

Wellesley College is committed to providing its students with a range of opportunities to prepare them to function successfully in today’s global environment. Study abroad is one such opportunity.

Students at Wellesley College are encouraged to consider carefully how a year, semester or summer abroad might enhance their four-year undergraduate degree program. With appropriate planning, students are able to select an educational program that will provide both solid academics and meaningful exposure to a culture different from their own. To ensure that students are able to benefit fully from a semester or year in a foreign environment, students who plan to study abroad should have:

• established a solid record of scholarship at Wellesley, including good progress toward graduation requirements,
• educated themselves about the range of the approved study abroad options available in order to select programs that clearly fit with their academic and personal interests, and
• gained at least a basic familiarity with their chosen host culture.

While abroad, students are expected to place appropriate emphasis on the academic experience and make every effort to integrate into local student and community life. Students enroll in a full load of courses while abroad and may earn up to 4 units per semester (or 8 per year).

Why Study Abroad?

Adding an international component to your four year undergraduate program will not only enable you to discover a different culture or master a foreign language, but will also offer you the opportunity to build upon the academic foundation you have created in your first two years of college study. You will be better prepared to face the academic, professional and personal challenges that lie ahead. You will learn about the world when you exchange ideas and information with people from different cultures, and you will learn about yourself when you find yourself challenged in a new and different environment. You will no doubt become a stronger student and a stronger person, better prepared for your next adventures.

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What Programs are Available?

A wide variety of study abroad opportunities exist for Wellesley College students in every academic discipline and every world region. Many students elect to enroll in one of the College's own programs in France or Austria or in one of the institution's consortia programs in Italy, Japan, Mexico or Spain. Others take advantage of Wellesley's exchange agreements with universities in Argentina, Japan, Korea or the United Kingdom. Beyond these opportunities, with assistance from the Office of International Studies and appropriate approval from their academic department and Dean, students may select from a wide range of programs sponsored by other U.S. institutions, or may enroll directly at a college or university located abroad.

A list of Recommended Programs, as well as descriptions of the Wellesley College programs, is available on the OIS web site and will be updated occasionally over the course of the year. You are encouraged to look into programs on this list before considering other options. Should you need to look beyond the list because of geographical or academic interests, you will need to meet with the Director of International Studies.

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Selecting a Program

Things to Consider

Where to go for information

• Web Sites: the OIS web site has the most up-to-date information on programs that are offered and general information about study abroad; look here first.
• Office of International Study: Open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Green 337, the OIS has print materials on most recommended programs, guidebooks for study abroad and travel, and evaluations from students who have studied abroad in the past.
• Study Abroad Conference on First Class: The Study Abroad Conference provides students with a forum to discuss issues relating to study abroad or to ask questions that may be of general interest to the entire conference. OIS forms, announcements and schedules are also posted on the Conference. Please add this Conference to your First Class desktop. How to access the Conference: Go to Wellesley Conferences -> Departments -> Administrative Departments -> Study Abroad.)
• Program Alumnae: Students with first-hand knowledge of study abroad are an excellent source of information for students planning an international experience. A list of last and current year's participants is available in the OIS.
• Study Abroad Mentors (SAMs):  SAMs are seniors who have returned from studying abroad and represent various majors and study abroad destinations.  Students considering studying abroad are assinged a SAM who will assist them wiht study abroad decisions and the applications process via email and weekly drop-in hours at the OIS.
• Information Sessions: The Office of International Studies hosts periodic information sessions for students interested in study abroad. In addition to general information sessions that address the application process, there are sessions offered each semester which present specific program options by region or major. A schedule of these sessions is available on the OIS website.

All Wellesley College students who study abroad pay regular Wellesley College tuition for their semester or year abroad, in lieu of tuition payments to the provider. Room, board and other fees will vary by program and will be paid directly to the provider. Students who normally receive financial aid will remain eligible for aid to cover tuition, room and board, travel and personal expenses.

Other Funding Sources
A number of organizations offer scholarship funds for study abroad. Information on some of these is posted on the OIS web site and on the Study Abroad Conference. Additional information on funding sources is available in the OIS Resource Room.

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Approval for Study Abroad

In general, in order to be eligible for study abroad, you should:

• have declared a major by the end of the first semester of their sophomore year,
• be of diploma grade standing,
• have completed four units of approved work in the major by the end of the sophomore year, and
• have made substantial progress towards the completion of your distribution requirements.

Students should meet with their class dean to discuss eligibility and plans.

The Proposal to Study Away
Once you have selected one or two international programs that meet your academic and personal goals for study abroad, the next step is to complete the Proposal for Study Away.

The proposal serves as a worksheet for planning your four-year academic program. Here you will indicate how the study abroad program you select will advance your overall degree plans, as you will need to specify which major and distribution requirements you intend to complete during your time away. Completion of the proposal requires that you meet with the following individuals to discuss your plans for study abroad:

• Director of International Studies, to discuss which programs are most appropriate for your goals and preparation
• Major Advisor, to discuss how study abroad impacts your major. A copy of your signed Major Declaration Form must be on file in the Registrar's Office before your Proposal can be reviewed.
• Class Dean, to discuss your overall plan for the degree, including how a semester or year will fit into your academic program.

Deadline for submitting the Proposal to Study Away: December 1, 2008 for study abroad ANY TIME during the 2009-2010 academic year

* Some programs, notably Oxford and Cambridge have early December deadlines, in which case your Proposal to Study Away should be submitted at least two weeks prior to the program's application deadline.

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The Study Abroad Application
 

In addition to getting approval from Wellesley to study abroad, you will need to be accepted into your program of study. You will need to complete all application forms for your selected program and submit these to the OIS.

Applications for some programs are available in the OIS Resource Room; others may be obtained on line or directly from the program organizer. (While applications should not be submitted prior to approval of the Proposal for Study Away, it is usually a good idea to have the application materials on hand in advance, as some require substantial thought and legwork, including recommendations and essays. Most require approval from a college official as well.)

Please make certain to observe the Wellesley deadlines, December 3, 2008 for Oxford, Cambridge and the Courtauld Institute and January 31, 2009 for most Non-Wellesley Programs, while Wellesley programs and some other program applications will be due in February.  Specific deadlines will be available from the OIS in the fall. 

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Confirming your Participation

Once you are accepted by your study abroad program, you will need to complete a Leave of Absence Form (LOA). This form should be submitted no later than April 15 for fall/full year or November 1 for spring. The LOA is important because it serves as your final confirmation and ensures that you are registered properly with housing, student financial services, the health center, the registrar, etc. It is your responsibility to ensure that your application is submitted in time to be reviewed before Wellesley's deadline.

Pre-departure orientation meeting
The OIS runs mandatory pre-departure meetings for all students who have confirmed participation in a study abroad program late each semester. At this meeting we address issues such as travel, course approval, transfer of credit, health and safety issues and cultural adjustment. There is also a mandatory pre-departure dinner, where students will sit with returned study abroad students to discuss the specifics of their destination. See the calendar for details.

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Timeline for Preparing for Study Abroad