Study Abroad

Dear Parents, Family, and Friends:

 

Thank you for supporting your student’s interest in studying abroad. By encouraging your student to participate in a study abroad experience, you will be helping to expand your student’s horizons and develop your student’s sense of independence. In addition, you will be fostering your student’s understanding of the importance of global citizenship.

This section of our Web site should help to answer some questions you have about DU’s study abroad program and the Cherrington Global Scholars program. Should you not find answers to your particular question, please do not hesitate to contact DU’s Study Abroad Office.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should my student start planning for study abroad?
Planning for study abroad should ideally begin during the first year of study at DU. By working closely with an academic advisor and a study abroad advisor, your student can carefully plan for a study abroad experience that will support his/her major(s) and/or minor(s). Because some majors are built on a highly sequential model, it is important that your student have appropriate prerequisites for upper division classes. By working closely with advisors in his/her department as well as the Study Abroad Office, your student will be able to study abroad without hindering his/her progress towards graduation.

Will studying abroad keep my student from graduating on time?
If your student plans early and works with his/her academic department, your student will be able to graduate at the same time as if he/she had never left the DU campus. Indeed, many students advance their progress toward a degree by earning a full semesters' credit in the fall of their junior or senior year.

When may my student study abroad?
The Cherrington Global Scholars Program is for students in their junior or senior year; however a student may study abroad as a non-CGS student any time during their studies at DU.

For how long may my student study abroad?
The Cherrington Global Scholars program allows students to study abroad for a quarter, semester, or academic year. A student who plans to be away for an academic year doing more than one program will be a Cherrington Global Scholar only for the first. Programs in the summer term are not eligible for the Cherrington Global Scholars Program.

Where can my student study abroad?
There are DU programs available all over the world. With such a wide variety of choices available, it can be a bit overwhelming for your student to figure out where to go. By taking advantage of the resources available at the Study Abroad Office (program materials, videos, advisors, returned students, study abroad fair) your student can narrow the possibilities and choose the program that is best suited to his/her academic and personal needs.

What can my student study?
All academic disciplines are available to DU students, although the range of opportunities varies substantially by discipline.

Does my student need to know a second language?
No, your student does not need to know a second language in order to study abroad. There are a variety of programs available in English-speaking countries, as well as numerous programs which offer their instruction in English. However, there are some programs that do require two or more years of college level language. There are also language-based programs available for intermediate level speakers, plus language acquisition programs at all levels including beginning.

How does my student get credit from study abroad? What kind of credit will it be?
In order to get credit for a study abroad program, your student must complete a “Request for Study Abroad Credit” form. This form lists the courses that your student hopes to take while abroad and will be signed by the appropriate academic departments, giving their approval that various courses will count towards specific credits at DU. All credit earned on DU programs will be treated as DU resident credit.

Will grades from abroad affect my student’s GPA?
Only grades earned in courses that are part of the DU curriculum will count in your student’s GPA. Most, but not all, courses offered in faculty-led DU study abroad programs meet this criterion. All other grades earned on a DU study abroad program will appear on your student’s transcript but will not count toward his/her cumulative GPA. With very few exceptions, as recommended by the appropriate department, DU does not accept pass/fail grades from study abroad programs.

What will the academic environment be like?
This will vary greatly, depending on the type of study abroad program your student selects. On some programs (e.g., faculty-led London and Bologna) your student may be in classes exclusively with other DU students. Some study abroad programs may be structured so that your student’s classmates are American students from other U.S. universities or international students. In many of the DU programs, however, your student will be directly enrolled in the host university so classes will be with local students. In the latter situation, your student will most likely find that the educational approach in the host country requires that he/she be much more independent in his/her studies than he/she may be accustomed to at DU. Your student might not have as much time in the classroom, but he/she will be expected to do a great deal more independent work and library-based research. Also, grading abroad is often quite different than the U.S. system. In the U.S., most professors will start everyone off at 100 and then take off points. In most other university systems, the opposite is true. So, while a 70 may not seem like a particularly good grade in the U.S. system, at a British university, it would be considered an excellent grade.

Where will my student live?
Housing varies greatly among study abroad programs. Your student may live with a homestay family, in a residence hall with local students, or in an apartment.

What are the admission requirements?
For students wishing to participate on the Cherrington Global Scholars Program, your student must attain junior or senior standing, at least a 3.0 GPA, and appropriate pre-requisites for the program for which he/she is applying. Some Cherrington programs may require a GPA higher than a 3.0. There may be a language pre-requisite for some of the language based programs. Your student must also be in good disciplinary standing at DU. For non-Cherrington participants, the GPA requirement may be slightly lower, depending on the program.

When should my student apply for study abroad?
DU Study Abroad application deadlines vary by program. Fall term or academic year program deadlines range from January 15 to March 15. The deadline for winter quarter programs is generally October 1 . Because of the variation and because many programs accept on a rolling basis, your student should check with the Study Abroad Office to verify his/her program’s application deadline.

How does my student apply?
In addition to completing a “DU Study Abroad Application Form” and writing a few short essays, your student must obtain his/her academic advisor’s signature approving his/her chosen program and submit these materials to the Study Abroad Office. Your student will also need to submit a program-specific application form for most DU Programs. Your student’s study abroad advisor can provide the appropriate forms. If your student wishes to participate on a non-DU program or seeks to be an exception to the Cherrington Global Scholars program, your student will also need to submit an additional essay outlining his/her special needs or extenuating circumstances, along with a letter from his/her academic department clearly supporting the petition.

How much will it cost?
Studying abroad as a Cherrington Global Scholar for a quarter or semester will cost your student the same tuition and housing charges as a quarter at DU. Studying abroad for the full academic year will incur three quarters of DU tuition and housing charges. In a very few cases, housing is the students responsibility, and DU housing is not charged. Provision of meals varies. For programs in which meals are provided, the DU Study Abroad meal charge will be applied. The University Technology Fee is assessed each quarter abroad, and students must keep their existing health insurance in force, just as on campus. Personal expenses such as travel and entertainment will vary.

Will my student’s financial aid apply?
Yes, federal, state and DU financial aid will be applied directly to your student’s study abroad program. There may be additional outside scholarships that are available to your student. Check with your student’s study abroad advisor to see if your student qualifies for any of these additional grants or scholarships. DU aid cannot be applied to non-DU programs.

How does my student learn about the different study abroad programs and DU procedures and policies?
Your student’s first step should be to come to the International House at 2200 S. Josephine St. and attend a general information session about studying abroad and look through the information in our library. Another great resource is the Study Abroad Fair held in September and in January. Your student can make an appointment with one of the Study Abroad Advisors to help him/her identify which DU study abroad program may be most suitable. Your student’s Study Abroad Advisor can also explain the procedures at DU and answer any questions that he/she may have.

Health Insurance

While studying abroad, your student must carry a health policy that will cover his/her entire period overseas. Please check with your carrier for details on their coverage and how to make claims. If you are dissatisfied with your current provider’s overseas coverage, you and your student should consider the University of Denver’s health insurance, which is valid overseas. Please check with the Health Insurance Coordinator in the Health Services Office at 303-871-4136 for more details.

Some study abroad programs or countries require that students purchase a particular insurance plan in addition to the insurance they carry in the U.S. Please ask your student to check with their Study Abroad Advisor to see if this is the case.

Your student has emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage through the University of Denver's membership with International SOS. Details about the services offered by International SOS can be found through their website (www.sosinternational.com) by using DU's membership number.  Your student will receive the membership number from their Study Abroad Advisor; or you may call the Study Abroad Office for more details (303-871-4912).

Your student will need to be covered in the U.S. upon his/her return or in case your student returns home early due to emergency. This means that, no matter what overseas coverage you choose, your student should continue to carry health insurance that is applicable in the U.S. For more information, please refer to the “Program Costs” section of this Web site.

Articles for Parents

The Return Home: Readjusting to Life in the U.S.

The Study Abroad Office maintains regualar contact with Parents through the Parents@DU Newsletter. This newsletter highlights the latest information from Study Abroad, as well as other areas across the University campus.

Our previous newsletter postings follow below:



May 2007
Equipping Students to Go Abroad

During the month of May 2007 the Study Abroad office staff had the pleasure of meeting many parents of DU students going abroad next fall. Dubbed "Parents' Orientation," the meeting was an opportunity to educate parents on many of the issues we discuss with students: health, safety, academics, travel, and more. For those parents who couldn't attend, hard copy information provided that day was sent by mail. All parents are welcome to view the PowerPoint presentation on the Parents Website, in the Parents Orientation section.

The theme of Parents' Orientation was "Helping Students to Help Themselves." A list of important questions you can ask your student to help ensure that he or she is prepared can also be found at the same location on our website, http://www.du.edu/intl/abroad/parents.html.

All students participating in study abroad through DU must attend a mandatory orientation session. Through this session, they will receive the knowledge they need to have a successful experience abroad.

Don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have about study abroad. You can reach us by phone at 303-871-4912 or by email at duabroad@du.edu.



March 2007
Study Abroad Deadlines and Acceptance Procedures

Once again, we have seen an increase in the number of students who plan to go abroad next year. The deadline for Fall 2007 applications was March 15th, but if your son or daughter hasn't applied yet, encourage them to call our office or stop by to meet with an advisor. Options are more limited after the deadline, but opportunities still exist for those who are interested.

For those students who have submitted an application, their paperwork is being processed. Admission decision processing times vary depending on the program and time of student's application. Once students have been accepted, they receive paperwork from both DU and the program provider. The DU packet includes information on booking travel, release forms to sign, a schedule of orientation dates, and a letter from the Provost. It's very important that students follow the instructions as described in their acceptance packets so they stay on track and meet required deadlines. In addition, all students need to attend a mandatory country-specific orientation session scheduled for spring quarter. These meetings are designed to prepare students in the areas of academics, cross-cultural adjustment, travel, health, safety, communication, and more.

For more information on study abroad acceptance, go to: http://www.du.edu/intl/abroad/accepted.html. For more information on the Cherrington Global Scholars program benefits and responsibilities, go to: http://www.du.edu/globalscholars/about.html.

We recommend you visit our Parent's section of the Study Abroad website. If you have questions about any aspect of Study Abroad, please don't hesitate to contact our Office at 303-871-4912 or duabroad@du.edu.



January 2007
Budgeting for Study Abroad

The University of Denver supports studying abroad for all undergraduate students, but when it comes to budgeting for this experience your support is needed as well. Hopefully, you have heard about the Cherrington Global Scholars Program, DU's flagship program which integrates the academic needs of your student while also paying for the additional costs of studying abroad. These costs are defined as transportation cost to the location, student visa fees, application fees, program fees, mandatory insurance, and the international ID card. While providing for these extras speak to DU's commitment to study abroad, it is important to remember that location can also determine the amount of money needed for a successful experience. Just as the cost of living in major cities in the US can vary, it is also true for major cities abroad. In addition, the strength or weakness of the US dollar can play a factor in the cost of the experience. London, England is much more expensive than San Jose, Costa Rica. But Costa Rica may not be the right place for all students! We want students to think about the cost of living as one factor as they look at the various options they have to choose from. For information on exchange rates, visit www.xe.com.

Students can work with their study abroad advisor to determine the various expenses that they may face. It's important that as parents you also work with your student to establish a budget in advance. That way the student can make choices throughout the semester that fit within the budget. Help your student set reasonable expectations of what is financially feasible during his or her time abroad.

We hope that through advance academic and financial planning, students will have a successful experience abroad. If you have any questions or concerns about sending your student abroad, please don't hesitate to contact our office at 303-871-4912 or duabroad@du.edu.

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Parents' Orientation

Because we recognize that parents have many questions about how DU’s study abroad program works and about how to best prepare their students for study abroad, we offer a Parents' Orientation session in May. We chose this time period because most DU students study abroad during the fall quarter.

For those unable to attend our orientation in person, our parent orientation is available online:

(This is a 40-minute narrated presentation -- you will need speakers.)

• Online Parent Orientation

 

Invitations to the Parents' Orientation session are mailed to each student’s stated emergency contact in early April. Should you not receive an invitation, please simply send an email to duabroad@du.edu with your contact information.

Emergency contacts who do not attend the Parents' Orientation session will automatically receive the session handouts via mail within a week of the session. Again, should you not receive this information, please email duabroad@du.edu with your contact information.

More resources:

• Study Abroad Handbooks and Country Guides can be accessed from the orientation section of Accepted for Study Abroad.
• Introduction to International SOS (.ppt)
• How to Help Your Student Help Themselves (.doc)

 

Contact Study Abroad

Study Abroad Programs
University of Denver
2200 S. Josephine Street
Denver, CO 80208
(303) 871-4912 p
(303) 871-4910 f
(720) 530-7008 emergency
(720) 837-6968 emergency
duabroad@du.edu