Students

Can I study abroad if I do not speak a foreign language?

Absolutely, yes! Most of our programs are English-based, and typically each university will offer some type of intensive beginner’s course for those who want to learn the native language to help you around town abroad. So, not speaking a foreign language should not hinder you from enjoying an exciting learning experience abroad.

Where can I study abroad?

All over the world! The Study Abroad Center offers programs to 25+ countries.

Do I need a specific major to study abroad?

No, students from all majors are welcome to study abroad, but it does help to know what courses you would like to take abroad and how they will help you obtain your degree. You can also receive credit for the liberal arts core and electives that are necessary to graduate. Generally speaking, your liberal arts core classes are the easiest to transfer back to UNI. We have students of all majors studying abroad.

When am I allowed to study abroad? Is there a best time?

We strongly encourage students to plan on studying abroad earlier in their academic career when they have more academic flexibility. Students may start studying abroad during their second semester of their freshman year, though our office recommends that students wait until their first semester of their sophomore year. However, do not worry if you wait, as there are many programs that benefit upper classmen as well!

Many of our faculty-led programs are capstone courses. UNI requires students to have at least 60 credits at the time which the capstone course is taken.

Can I still graduate on time if I study abroad?

Yes. With the help of your academic advisor and the Study Abroad Center staff, you can plan ahead and align your classes with your individual plan of study so that the courses taken abroad will transfer back to UNI and count towards the requirements of your major, minor, or LAC. The Study Abroad Center staff will help you with making the necessary course equivalency arrangements before you go abroad. We recommend all students to be aware of their college’s academic requirements based on their degree audit found on MyUNIverse. Upperclassmen are also recommended to visit their record analyst in the Registrar's Office to see what requirements remain in order to graduate.

Can I study abroad the summer after I graduate?

Yes, it is possible to study abroad after graduation, though it takes a bit of coordination. Many students choose to participate in a program after their planned graduation date. Summer faculty-led programs, for example, are popular programs among students who graduate in May. If the course is required for graduation, students may participate in the spring term commencement ceremony, but their degree will not be conferred until after their final grades for the study abroad course have been submitted for the summer term. Also, students may study abroad for a semester after finishing their degree requirements and decide to delay their actual graduation. Please see the Study Abroad Center to discuss more details.

Is there a limit to the number of times I can study abroad?

No, students are not limited in how many programs they can participate in study abroad programs. It is recommended, however, that you meet regularly with your academic advisor. Additionally, upperclassmen should meet with a Record Analyst in the Registrar's Office to verify what course requirements are left for them to qualify for graduation.

How do I apply?

The study abroad application is online. Find the program of your choice and go to the "Apply" tab. Click on the "Apply" button to create your application. For faculty-led programs, you will need to meet with the program's course leader before your application is ready for consideration of acceptance. For semester, academic-year, and summer school, you will need to meet with a Study Abroad Advisor.

How do I make an appointment with the Study Abroad Center?

Please contact us by calling or visiting our office to begin the advising process. At most times during the day, student staff in our office can do walk-in advising that does not require an appointment. Full-time advising staff availability for taking appointments varies considerably so please allow for additional time and flexibility when scheduling your appointment.

What are the requirements to study abroad?

You need to have departmental approval, a 2.5 cumulative GPA (for most programs) and be a current UNI student. That said, UNI study abroad programs are open to students of other universities. Some programs may have additional specific admission requirements. See the "Eligibility Requirements to Study Abroad" section of the Get Started page in order to learn more. 

The Application Process

What does it mean when my application says "Pending Documents"?

A student must complete all “pre-decision” elements of their study abroad application and pay all applicable fees for their program type before being considered for acceptance. At that point their application status moves forward from the “pending documents” phase and they will be considered for acceptance into their program. Upon acceptance students will be asked to “commit” to their program – it is only when students “commit” that their spot in a program is secured. Please note, the application review and acceptance process requires a manual status change and it may not reflect on your application a few days.

How do I know if I've completed my application?

You will know that the pre-decision portion of your application is complete, when you are asked to “commit” to your program via an email from SAC. If you are unsure of the status of any particular item on your application you may call us or email us to find out which item(s) require completion.

What do I need completed by the application deadline?

You need to have completed all “pre-decision” elements of your study abroad application on our website and paid all fees applicable to your program before the published application deadline. Another way to look at it is that all items on your application should have a check mark next to them. Do not forget to complete your scholarship applications by the scholarship application deadline too! Note, faculty-led programs have a limited number of spots and many programs fill prior to the application deadline. 

How long does it take for my payment to check off?

Payment of your study abroad application fee and any applicable pre-program deposit must be made online, and once the page refreshes your payment should be checked off automatically. If you encounter any difficulty with the online payment process, please contact the SAC. Be sure to take note of the time and date you made your payment attempt. If your payment attempt fails, please wait before making another attempt in order to help prevent erroneous billing.

How do I secure my spot in my program?

For all study abroad programs a student must “commit” to their program for their spot to be secured. Students will not be asked to “commit” to their program until the study abroad application has been reviewed and accepted. Study abroad applications are not considered for review and acceptance until all “pre-decision” elements have been completed and all applicable fees have been paid. 

What are Regent's fees?

See "Study Abroad Mandatory Regents' Fee" under "Non-Refundable Fees" on the Refund and Withdrawal Guidelines page.

What's the difference between an Exchange Program, a Regent's Program, and a Partnership?

• Exchange Programs: Students pay UNI tuition, UNI has an agreement with the university.
• Regent’s Programs: Program is coordinated with the University of Iowa and Iowa State, tuition is at a higher rate.
• Partnerships: Student pays for foreign school’s tuition, not UNI’s. Student either pays directly to the foreign school or UNI will be billed. 

Academics

What courses can I take while abroad?

Programs are designed to accommodate Liberal Arts Core (LAC), many major or minor plans of study, and any major elective course options that will satisfy degree requirements. Many universities offer courses that cannot be found at UNI and are specific to that part of the world.

If I study abroad, will I miss out on the next semester's registration?

No. Students should enroll for the next semester's courses on MyUNIverse as long as there are no holds (academic advising, past due balance, etc.) If you need registration assistance while abroad, please contact your study abroad advisor.

I have been back at UNI for a while and my grades have not posted. What should I do?

First, confirm with the Study Abroad Center that your transcript has arrived from our partner university. Transcripts can take quite some time to arrive at UNI and also take time for processing once they have arrived at UNI.

1. If your transcript has NOT arrived, the SAC will contact the foreign university and verify that your transcript was sent to the correct UNI SAC address.
2. If your transcript is on file in the SAC, we can follow up with the UNI entities who process study abroad grades and make sure there are no issues that need to be addressed.

How many of my credits earned while studying abroad will transfer to UNI?

Short-term instructor-led courses, such as capstones, are UNI courses and so all credit earned is UNI credit.

Semester and academic year programs at foreign universities, however, involve the student taking classes at another university which in turn must be transferred back to UNI. Arranging to have overseas credits transfer back requires close coordination between several departments as well as the correct completion of a Study Abroad Transfer Course Approval form. Students have the ability to earn as many credits abroad as they would during a typical semester at UNI, if they so choose.

Billing and Finances

When will my Study Abroad Center scholarship appear?

Financial aid appears based on the Financial Aid Office's schedule of dispersing aid. The Study Abroad Center also offers scholarships that appear on the student’s U-Bill based on the same financial award schedule.

How do I withdraw?

Login into your application through the Study Abroad Center's website.
Click on the “Withdraw” button on the right hand side of the program name.
Indicate your reason for withdrawing.
The $100 application fee, and when applicable, the $100 pre-program deposit are non-refundable.

Can I get a refund?

See the Refund and Withdrawal Guidelines page of this website.

How much will it cost to study abroad?

Cost varies according to the type of program. We offer many programs that allow students to pay UNI tuition for the semester instead of paying the foreign university's tuition. For more information on how much a particular program may cost you should view the estimated program cost by visiting your selected program’s webpage and clicking the "Program Costs" tab. As a reminder, these are only estimates. 

Will my UNI financial aid and scholarships apply toward studying abroad?

UNI Financial Aid and Scholarships will apply in almost every Study Abroad program. There are also a variety of special study abroad scholarships available.

Can I pay for my airfare online?

Depending on how your airfare is booked, you may pay online, in-person, or by phone. Please do not purchase airfare until your advisor tells you to do so. For faculty-led programs, the instructions to purchase airfare are given once the group is full and the program’s itinerary finalized. While every effort will be made to allow for the most advance airfare purchase possible, in order to maximize price selection, some programs may be slow to fill beyond their minimum capacity and some programs feature especially complex itineraries that take longer to finalize. The SAC encourages students to search multiple airlines and travel services, like those geared towards student travel such as Student Universe. Our office also urges students to consider different departure airports here in the States, especially larger hub airports such as Chicago, Des Moines, and Minneapolis/St. Paul where and when possible.

Can I charge my airfare purchase to my U-bill?

No, airfare cannot be put on your U-bill.

Can I pay the application fee online?

Yes, this is the only accepted method of payment. You can pay the application fee on our website by logging into your application, clicking on the $100 non-refundable application fee and pay with a credit/debit card. This fee cannot be charged to your U-bill.

Travel Arrangements

Who arranges my airfare?

For all but a select few study abroad programs, students will arrange their own airfare. Our office can provide tips and suggested companies and will also work with our partners overseas to assist with dates and airport pick up arrangements.

What do I do for my on-campus housing while I'm studying abroad?

To officially cancel your on-campus housing, there is an Intent to Cancel form that you must fill out at your Residential Hall Office. There should be no fees to do this (including the Two-Year Advantage Plan), but contact the Department of Residence to confirm all plans regarding your semester abroad.

Preparatory

What is a visa? How do I get one?

A visa is an endorsement on a passport indicating that the holder is allowed to enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in a country. The student will work closely with their Advisor in the Study Abroad Center for assistance with the visa application process. Depending on the requirements of the specific consulate, the student may have to visit the foreign country's closest U.S. consulate. The closest consulate for most countries is in Chicago. Typically, visas are only needed if students are staying more than a month in a specific country, although this requirement can vary.

Can I get my passport at the Study Abroad Center?

No. Students must formally apply at a county clerk’s office, courthouse, or some post offices. Students need not apply in Black Hawk county, they may also apply at their home county’s respective office for a U.S. Passport. Courthouse/county clerk offices are usually the better option as not all U.S. Post Offices offer this service. Directions to apply for a passport can be found here.