Study Abroad/Away Frequently Asked Questions

When do I become eligible to study abroad/away for a semester or year?

• The earliest students can study abroad/away for a semester or year is after having completed two semesters at St. Olaf. For a student admitted as a first year student, this means you can apply in the spring semester of your first year to study abroad/away the following fall.
• Students would apply by viewing this webpage (https://stolaf.studioabroad.com/) using their St. Olaf username (without the @stolaf.edu) and St. Olaf password.

Can I study abroad/away as a first-year student?

• First-year students are eligible to apply for January Term courses that are open to first-year students AFTER they have matriculated to campus in September.  Note that sophomores through seniors get application priority and apply in the spring for the following January Term, so most courses will have closed by September.
• First-year students may apply during spring semester for summer programs at the end of their first year.
• First-year students may apply during their first year for a semester or year abroad/away in their sophomore year.
• We encourage students to apply for a passport during their first year, so they have a passport with validity through the end of their St. Olaf studies. Passports received before the age of 18 typically have limited validity and generally expire before a student receives their St. Olaf degree.

Can I study abroad/away in my final semester?

• Students graduating in December may apply for the Global semester faculty-led program or student teaching abroad/away placements ONLY. These programs return to the U.S. in time for grades to be posted for December graduation, or they are required for teacher licensure. Final degree/diploma award will wait until all grades are posted. Applications for fall semester programs that are not led by St. Olaf faculty will not be approved. December grads cannot apply for a January term or spring study abroad/away program after all degree requirements have been met.
• Students graduating after January term may apply for the Global semester program, a January term faculty-led program, or student teaching abroad/away placements ONLY.  Applications for fall semester programs or January term programs that are not led by St. Olaf faculty will not be approved. 
• Students graduating in May may apply for spring semester faculty-led programs (Religion, Politics, and Society in Jerusalem and Athens or Environmental Science in Australia and New Zealand, if offered) or student teaching abroad/away placements ONLY. These programs return to the U.S. in time to walk in the commencement ceremony and for grades to be posted for May graduation, or they are required for teacher licensure. Final degree/diploma award will wait until grades are posted. Applications for spring semester or academic year programs that are not led by St. Olaf faculty will not be approved. May grads cannot apply for a summer study abroad/away program after all degree requirements have been met.
• International students who wish to participate in Global Semester, Religion, Politics, and Society in Jerusalem and Athens, or Environmental Science in Australia and New Zealand in their final semester should be aware this may make them ineligible for OPT employment after graduation.  We especially discourage international students from pursuing study abroad/away during their final semester.

Can I apply to study abroad/away in the fall on a non faculty led program if I am abroad/away during spring semester? 

• Yes.  Students are able to apply to non faculty led programs if they are abroad/away during the spring semester for the following academic semester(s). 
• Students may NOT apply for a spring semester abroad/away if they are abroad/away in the fall. Students may not do two separate semester programs in the same academic year. 

Can I study abroad/away the term following a leave of absence?

• Students can apply to a St. Olaf study abroad/away program while on leave of absence, but need to return to the campus for a full semester prior to studying abroad/away.
• If you are accepted to a St. Olaf study abroad/away program and subsequently go on leave of absence during the semester prior to the program, you will be removed from the program and can re-apply in a future term.  This is because you will not be present on campus for the required pre-departure orientation sessions.  In addition, being absent from campus complicates the ability to finalize the program application, housing application, and/or student visa application (if applicable). Finally, a leave of absence is often due to significant personal circumstances, serious physical or mental health concerns, or significant academic concerns. Because study abroad/away programs have less access to support services, and in fairness to the faculty leaders and other students attending the program, we want to be confident students are capable of successfully participating in the program by having successfully completed at least a semester on campus following their leave.

Can I apply to study abroad/away on a St. Olaf faculty led program the term after my current study abroad/away?

• No.  Students studying abroad/away with a faculty led group must be on campus the term prior, for group orientation activities and student visa applications.
  • For Global Semester in fall, students must be on campus during the prior spring term
  • For January Term programs, students must be on campus during the prior fall term
  • For Religion, Politics & Society in Jerusalem and Athens or Environmental Science in Australia & New Zealand in spring semester, students must be on campus the prior fall AND January terms.

Can I study abroad/away in one academic year and then study abroad/away again for a semester in another academic year?

• It is possible, but students who have not studied abroad/away on a semester/year program are prioritized over those who have already studied abroad/away for a semester/year. 

Can I apply for more than one study abroad/away program in an academic year?

• Each year we have more applicants than placements for study abroad/away program(s). To maximize access for all students, we do not allow students to participate in two programs in a single academic year (e.g., January Term and spring semester on separate programs). 
• Students can participate in a study abroad program in one academic year and another study abroad program in the following academic year(s). Students who apply for a second program may be at a disadvantage as compared to students who have not yet studied abroad/away. Even if capacity were not a concern, there are other reasons why we do not allow students to participate in two programs in the same academic year:
  • Students will miss orientation and pre-departure programming.  This occurs in the academic term prior to departure.  This programming and orientation cannot be missed.
  • Start and end dates of the programs may conflict.  For example, some spring semester programs start in January, while January Term is still in session.  
  • Some programs require visas that require students to submit their passport to the consulate. A second passport would then be required. 

Can I apply late to study abroad on a program with remaining space?

• To ensure the best chance of participation, apply by the February deadline for a semester/year program and by the April deadline for a January Term program.
• Students wanting to apply late for a semester/year program may request to be put on a waitlist.
  1. Students can email smith.center@stolaf.edu or stop in the Smith Center office in Tomson 380 to be added to the waitlist.  Priority will be given to students entering their senior, then junior, then sophomore year.
  2. If applying later than our published deadlines, students need:
     1. A valid passport in hand
     2. Time and eligibility for the visa (or no need for a visa)  
• Students wanting to apply late for January Term must wait for the next application cycle. Commonly, programs fill (often with lengthy waitlists) during the April application cycle:
  1. We offer a second application cycle in September for programs with remaining space.
  2. If applying later than our published deadlines, students need:
     1. A valid passport in hand
     2. Time and eligibility for the visa (or no need for a visa)

Can I study abroad/away while on academic probation?

• Students may apply to study abroad while on probation, but typically may not participate unless academic probation is lifted prior to the study abroad/away term.

How competitive are programs?

• Competitiveness varies from year to year.  Some programs have limited enrollment due to a number of different factors.
• Historically some programs, more than others, have many applications and competition for spaces in the program. 
• The program may limit the number of students they will accept.  Smith Center may need to limit the number of students that participate in the program due to a high level of interest.
• Approval will be decided based upon academic fit, student qualifications, and quality of the study abroad/away application. Not all qualified applications may be approved.

What do application reviewers look for?

• Reviewers ensure all prerequisites of the program students are applying to are met (i.e. GPA, class year, etc.).
• All recommendations are clear, positive, and mention that the student will have success if participating in the program.
• The essay is clear, no grammatical errors, references the program directly.  It should indicate that the applicant has done their research and understands the program they are applying to.
• Students are encouraged to meet with the Writing Desk, their academic advisors, and Smith advisor to discuss their application essays.
• Students articulate the classes they plan to take.  We want to ensure applicants can graduate on time.

Can I receive accommodations for physical, learning, sensory, health, or psychological disabilities while studying abroad/away?

• Yes, students receiving accommodations are eligible to study abroad/away.  They will need to meet with their disability and access specialist (DAC advisor) in the Academic Success Center as a first step.  The Smith Center will need to receive a letter signed by the DAC advisor to provide accommodations.
• The Smith Center cannot guarantee that accommodations will look the same abroad/away, but will work with partners to provide similar accommodations (e.g., double time for examinations may only be 1.5 time while abroad)  
• Not all sites can accommodate all disabilities.
• In some study abroad/away programs single housing may not be available.  
• Dietary accommodations can be challenging at some programs/destinations.  

Can I study abroad/away with a service animal or emotional support animal? 

• Service animals will be approved to travel to study away programs in the U.S., but only if the student is currently approved by Disability and Access for the same service animal on the St. Olaf campus (according to this policy) and if fully approved by the program host.  Service dogs may not be able to travel to international destinations. Students with service dogs who wish to travel on an international program will need to have verification that their animal has been trained by the International Guide Dog Federation or Assistance Dogs International.  Each destination country may have additional requirements. It is up to the student participant to research and comply with all requirements for travel (airline policies, entry/quarantine procedures, vaccination requirements, training requirements, etc.) with their service animal.  Further, the student must research and comply with all policies of the program host(s). Fees and documentation are the responsibility of the student.
• Emotional support animals (ESAs) may be approved to travel on semester or academic year study away programs within the U.S., but only if the student is currently approved by Disability and Access/Residence Life for the same ESA on the St. Olaf campus (according to this policy) and if fully approved by the program host and housing site (residence hall, apartment complex). The individual student is responsible for researching and complying with the housing and ESA policies at the program site (including vaccination requirements, care requirements, etc.). Fees and documentation are the responsibility of the student. ESAs will not be accommodated on study abroad programs outside the U.S. or on January-term or other short study away programs within the U.S.
• Early disclosure is encouraged, though you may wait until you have been accepted.  Earlier disclosure gives the Smith Center and DAC time to arrange your accommodations in your intended program or to advise you on programs that are more easily accessible.

Are there any restrictions to medications that I can take with while abroad/away?

• Consult with your health care provider to ensure you are able to take your prescribed medications with you.  Ensure that the drug you are taking is legal in the country.  There are some prescribed medication available in the US, may not be available or able to carry into another country.
• Have a plan.  Talk with your health care provider to make sure you have enough medication for the entirety or your program, or make sure you are able to fill it abroad/away.  Find the nearest pharmacy so you know ahead of time where you can refill your prescription.  Do not expect that you will be able to fill your prescription in the host country.
• Get a letter and a prescription from your health care provider that states the drug you are taking, the diagnosis, and an identification of an alternative drug that would be available in the host country.

Does study abroad/away fulfill the OEP requirement?

• Not all study abroad/away programming automatically fulfills the OEP requirement.  If you are participating in a semester/year program through a provider/partner university, you may opt to take St. Olaf’s. 

Do I need to gain approval for courses prior to studying abroad/away?

• Not all study abroad/away programming automatically fulfills a GE/OLE Core and major/concentration requirement.  You will need to gain approval for a major/concentration requirement from the department chair of that major/concentration.  Many departments has restrictions on the classes you are able to take while abroad/away to count towards your major/concentration.  Be sure to get approval in writing.  
• If the GE/OLE Core is not listed in the Searchable Database you will need to contact the Registrar’s Office to gain approval. 
• For all course approval you will need a course syllabi. 
• Each program is different so it is important to gain approval from the department chair of your major/concentration.   You are encouaraged to gain approval prior to your study abroad/away program.  

Can I apply to study abroad/away on a St. Olaf faculty led program the term after my current study abroad/away?

• No.  Students studying abroad/away with a faculty led group must be on campus the term prior, for group orientation activities and student visa applications.
  • For Global Semester in fall, students must be on campus during the prior spring term
  • For January Term programs, students must be on campus during the prior fall term
  • For Religion, Politics & Society in Jerusalem and Athens or Environmental Science in Australia & New Zealand in spring semester, students must be on campus the prior fall AND January terms.

Will I fly with my program leader?

• For January term faculty-led programs, usually not.  Only in rare cases do we offer a group flight. Generally, students are responsible for booking their own flight. A sample itinerary will be provided by the Smith Center for students to guide students in choosing a flight.
• For semester faculty-led programs, usually students fly as a group with their program leaders.
• For all other programs, students book their own airfare and travel independently.

How and when will I find out about my Smith Center scholarship aid? 

• All students who are accepted to study abroad/away are automatically considered for a St. Olaf scholarship. Use our scholarship framework to gauge the likely amount of your scholarship or request a scholarship estimate from the financial aid office.  Typically, students are notified of their scholarship amount within a few weeks of being accepted to study abroad/away.

Are there other opportunities to receive scholarships? 

• There are other outside scholarships you can choose to apply for.  There are more scholarships available for semester and year programs versus short term (January Term) programs.  You can visit our Financing Your Experience website to learn more ways to finance your study abroad/away program.

How do I register for courses on campus while I am studying abroad/away?

• Talk with your academic advisor about future courses after you return from studying abroad/away.  This will eliminate stress in registerting for courses while you are abroad/away.
• You will continue to get your St. Olaf student emails while abroad/away. 
• Watch for updates from the Registrar’s office.  
• Check SIS for any holds you need to clear (for example, you may need to plan a virtual meeting with your advisor to clear an advising hold). 
• Plan to monitor your registration time slot (adjusting for time zone as needed) and ensure you have good internet access.
• If you have difficulty during registration, use the chat feature on the registrar’s website for assistance.

How do I register for housing on campus while I am studying abroad/away? 

• Review the Residence Life room draw page. Contact Dean Medley and his team for assistance at housing@stolaf.edu
• If you will be abroad/away for just one semester, fill out the Study Abroad/Away form linked on that page.  Make sure to be attentive to deadlines and the time change.  This will help your St. Olaf housing registration is successful.  
• Note that some students have single rooms and cook for themselves while they are studying abroad/away.  When you return to campus, you may wish to continue these arrangements, but St. Olaf policy is that most students live with roommates and purchase meal plans.  Exceptions are rare!

How do I cancel or withdraw my participation?

• Email smith.center@stolaf.edu to cancel your participation.  
• You will also need to notify your program directly if the program is not taught by a St. Olaf faculty member.  
• Your enrollment in the program will be dropped and the Smith Center will notify you of any financial penalties that you will incur.  Please see our Cancellation and Refund Policies webpage for more details and policy.  
• It will take at least a week for your enrollment to drop in SIS DegreePath.  Once your enrollment is dropped, you will then be able to register for courses at St. Olaf as long as course registration is active for the upcoming semester.