Getting Started

The Basics

About 45% of Wellesley College juniors elect to study abroad for a semester or a year. Motivation for study abroad is as diverse as our student population. Many students study abroad to perfect a foreign language, or to conduct field research, or to gain a new perspective on their major. Others seek the opportunity to study in a major research university, live in an urban setting or to experience life in a developing country. Whatever your goals, the Office of International Study wants to work with you to match with with the most appropriate host university or study abroad program for an experience that will challenge you and provide you with the opportunity to grow as a global citizen.

Applying

All students who intend to study abroad for the fall and/or spring semester must be pre-approved to study abroad by Wellesley and also gain admission to their selected study abroad program.

Wellesley Pre-Approval for Fall 2013 and/or Spring 2014 Study Abroad

by December 1, 2012	Major Declaration must be on file with Registrar
by December 1, 2012	Proposal to Study Away must be submitted electronically to Class Dean
by February 15, 2013	Wellesley College Application to Study Away must be submitted electronically for fall study away
by April 15, 2013	Wellesley College Application to Study Away must be submitted electronically for spring study away

Additional paperwork is due February 1 for students who wish to:

* Enroll in a program not currently approved for credit
* Spend the fall semester in one country and the spring semester in another
* Request an exception from the language policy for study abroad
* Study in a country with a current US State Department Travel Warning

Applying to the Selected Study Abroad Program

Students are responsible for submitting applications and supporting documents for review directly to the program sponsor or host university. (In the case of Wellesley programs, applications are submitted to the on-campus representative or to the OIS.) Most programs review applications as they are received, and students are strongly encouraged to submit all application materials well in advance of published deadlines to avoid disappointment and to allow time to apply to alternate programs should they not be accepted to their first choice program, typically by February 15 for fall study abroad and June 15 for spring semester study abroad.

Confirming Participation

Approval for Study Abroad is not final until confirmation paperwork is complete.

	For Fall Study Abroad	For Spring Study Abroad
Travel Pre-Screening Form	March 1	October 1
Leave of Absence Form	April 1	November 1
Contract & Waiver	April 15	November 15