Exploring Your Eligibility and Options for Study Abroad

UVA has tons of opportunities for you to study abroad—for a summer, a January term, a semester or a year! Visit the International Studies Office’s Education Abroad website to explore all the possibilities and to learn about the process for applying for and preparing for your study abroad adventure.

Eligible students work with their academic and education abroad advisors to select an appropriate program, to ensure award of academic credit for the work done abroad, and to prepare for the foreign experience through an extensive orientation program facilitated by the UVA International Studies Office (ISO).

Can I study abroad in my first year?

Students may not study abroad in their first two semesters (fall/spring) at UVA with the exception of a Global First Program. New students are encouraged to apply for one of these programs.

Students in their first semester in a fall term may not study abroad in the subsequent spring semester; they may participate in a J-Term study abroad program, if accepted.

Students in their first semester in a spring term should talk with ISO about which summer programs are available to them.

Can I study abroad in my 4th year?

Any student who wants to go abroad in their 7th or 8th semester must get approval from the Director of the Undergraduate Program for their major and their Advising Dean. Grades must be received by the College Registrar by the deadline (see academic calendar). Fourth year students accept the risk of not graduating on time if their grades, for any reason, are not received by the deadline set by the College Registrar.

Students in the College of Arts & Sciences who want to study abroad must be in good academic standing and have a minimum 2.500 GPA at the time they apply to study abroad.

Any student wanting to study abroad who is on academic warning or who does not have a cumulative 2.500 GPA at the point of application must submit a petition to study abroad to their Advising Dean to be considered for an exception to College rules. 

Students are expected to meet the College's criteria for good Academic Standing while abroad. Failure to do so will result in sanctions of Academic Warning or Suspension just as if you were in residence at UVA.

Students studying abroad may not be enrolled in any on-Grounds classes. This includes independent study classes, virtual classes, DMP classes, research classes, etc.  Like their full-time counterparts in Charlottesville, students participating in semester- or year-long education abroad programs (not summer programs) are expected to complete at least 12.0 U.S. credits each semester from their education abroad program.

Whether on direct credit programs or other approved programs, students who study abroad for a semester use one of the semesters of full-time study they are allotted.

The College’s eligibility requirements apply both to direct credit programs and transfer credit programs under the auspices of another institution or organization. Participation in education abroad is competitive; acceptance may be based on criteria beyond minimum cumulative GPA.

Students must follow the University Policy on Student International Travel, which applies to all students traveling outside of the U.S. for University-related purposes.

The ISO offers a range of program types.

In UVA direct credit programs, students enroll in UVA courses and receive grades. These courses may satisfy area and major requirements.

In transfer credit programs, students enroll in programs transcripted by other institutions. Grades do not transfer, only credit.  Courses must be passed with a C or higher for the credit to be transferred back to UVA.

Credit from transfer credit education abroad programs may not be used to satisfy College general education requirements, except for the world language requirement (with approved coursework in a country where the language is native).

Students must obtain approval from their department to transfer credit for a major or minor.

We strongly encourage students to select transfer credit programs from those supported by their department and listed in the database of programs maintained by the International Studies Office.

Keep in mind that a maximum of 60 non-UVA credits from other universities, foreign study (the University’s direct credit programs exempted), advanced placement, international exam credit, or dual enrollment may count toward the 120 credits needed for the B.A. or B.S. degree in the College. All students must earn at least 60 credits at UVA.

Find out more about process for transferring study abroad credits to UVA here.