1. What is the best/most popular program?
The best program is the one that is right for you, which depends entirely on your major and personal interests. Based on your interests, you can find a number of programs that meet those needs. Every student is different and should select a program based on his or her own goals for studying abroad.
2. When should I go abroad?
It depends. You can begin by speaking with your major advisor. Often your major will determine the best time to go abroad. If the program you are interested in requires that you be a junior or a certain level of language, that will also affect your planning. The more time you have between now and the program, the more you should be able to plan academically and financially for it!
If you will be a senior when you study abroad, we advise that you do not study abroad in the same term that you plan to graduate. This is because it will take a while to get your transcripts back, sometimes up to several terms. Sometimes students coming back in the spring before graduation can walk in the ceremony, but they will not officially graduate until their grades have been received and processed. It is very important that you plan for this before making the decision about when to go.
3. Can I use my financial aid to study abroad?
UO students, please review the UO Financial Aid and Scholarships [ED3] webpage for detailed information. If you are a UO student, most forms of financial aid can be applied to GEO programs. Students from other universities must consult with their campus’ financial aid office.
4. Are there scholarships available?
Yes! UO students, please refer to the UO Financial Aid and Scholarships [ED4] webpage for a list of opportunities. Students from other universities should consult with their campus’ financial aid office and study abroad staff for scholarship information. There are several different types of scholarships available and it is important that you begin your research early. It is encouraged that you apply for FAFSA because many scholarships require a demonstrated financial need. If you receive the Pell Grant, the Gilman scholarship is a possible resource. Scholarship deadlines may fall before or after your program’s application deadline, and every scholarship has their own requirements. For this reason, students are encouraged to speak with their study abroad office for initial guidance and to begin researching opportunities as soon as possible.
5. How many credits will I receive?
It depends on the program, but during the academic year, students will be enrolled full time while abroad. Summer program credits vary. Please refer to the academics description of the program’s webpage for course credit information. Generally, semester programs earn more credits because they are longer programs. To find more detailed course and credit equivalencies at your school for a program, please contact your study abroad office.
6. Do I have to pay campus tuition while studying abroad?
The budget for a program is used instead of the regular tuition, which includes paying a GEO fee, an application fee, a program fee, and other estimated expenses. A detailed itemized budget can be found for each GEO program on their respective webpages.
7. Will studying abroad make me have to stay at school longer?
If you select a program that helps you to partially fulfill major, minor, or general requirements you can typically stay on track with your academic plan. It is important that you meet with your major advisor to first map out your academic plan for graduation. You may need to be flexible and consider all possible terms for studying abroad. Your academic advisors can help you figure out when a study abroad experience will best fit into your degree program. The sooner you can plan for studying abroad, the more likely it will fit into your studies without affecting your graduation goals.
8. Can I graduate while abroad?
UO students cannot graduate the same term they are abroad. Students who complete all remaining credit requirements while studying abroad can typically apply for graduation the following term after they return from abroad. Regardless of whether you are a UO or non-UO student, if you plan to study abroad your final term and wish to participate in Spring commencement, you will need to look at the program dates and then contact your major or minor department and your school’s registrar office to confirm your eligibility to walk. Many students are able to walk but not officially graduate until the term following their study abroad program.
9. I don’t want to study on a GEO sponsored program. What do I do?
If you have already decided to go on a non-sponsored program, be aware that UO financial aid typically cannot be applied to such programs and GEO staff cannot assist you in choosing or applying to such programs. If you hope to earn college credit for the program, you will need to consult with your campus’ registrar office directly. It is also important that you contact the department on campus for which you hope to earn credits and ask them about credit requirements.
10. What kinds of programs are available?
Program models
GEO sponsors only academically sound study abroad programs, and all programs result in academic credits at our network partner campuses; recorded directly on the student’s academic transcript. For students from GEO partner campuses, these are not transfer credits. All credits earned on GEO programs count as credits taken “in residence” for students from our network partners, and that means even seniors can study abroad without worrying about missing a residency requirement. The exact courses and credits offered through the various GEO programs vary greatly by the type and location of the program, and no two programs are exactly alike.
On-site support may be provided in different ways in different study and internship programs. Some programs, for example, have dedicated staff to assist you as you integrate into the local culture and to answer questions as they arise. In some cases, you may even travel abroad with a faculty member they already know from classes on campus. If you directly enroll in universities abroad or take up a global internship position, you should be prepared to function more independently.
It is important that the program model fit the your goals. Some students may thrive in situations in which they must adjust to local norms. Other students may be much more confident in going abroad if they know that they will have more support. You should consider different program models in order to make an informed decision. Some programs may combine characteristics of several different models. The following are several general types of programs:
Island programs
Island programs are highly structured programs in which a group of students from North American universities take courses together, usually taught by a U.S. professor or by both U.S. faculty and host nationals. These programs allow for the richness of the cultural setting within the relative familiarity of U.S.-style courses. Students on these programs are generally not integrated into a host university.
Direct-exchange programs
In direct-exchange programs, you are fully admitted as a temporary, non-degree student in a host university and may select from the full range of courses for which you have the appropriate prerequisites and language abilities.
Field programs
In a field program, you split your time between classroom-based learning and fieldwork that allows you to experience personalized, hands-on learning in the host nation. In some programs, even the lectures occur in the field.
Language-immersion programs
In a language-immersion program, you study primarily a foreign language, often in a far more intensive and fast-paced arrangement than the usual pattern of on-campus language courses. Rapid progress may be possible. In some programs, these language courses are supplemented by culture courses.
International internships
And in a global internship, you work full-time for a company, agency, organization, NGO or government office in the host nation, gaining professional experience, international experience, and academic credit – all at the same time!