UMass Boston

Passport Required: 

To study outside of the United States, you MUST have a passport. Processing times for a new US Passport vary and can take longer than 10-weeks, so please apply early! Many countries require that you have a visa in order to study there, and you cannot apply for a visa until you have a passport in hand. You will likely need the passport well before your program departs to apply for your visa. Apply as soon as possible once you decide you would like to study abroad. 

If you already have a passport, it will need to be valid for 6 months beyond the end date of your program, so please keep that in mind and determine if you will need to renew your current passport.

Passport Photo Service ($10) in the Office of Global Programs:

The Office of Global Programs is pleased to offer a passport photo service. To set up a passport photo appointment, please make your payment of $10 for the Passport Photo Fee online here. Once paid, please select a time that works for you and book your appointment. The fee must be paid before your appointment time. To check in for your appointment, please see the front desk in the Office of Global Programs, Campus Center, 2^nd Floor, Suite 2100.  

Visa Requirements:

More than likely, you will need to obtain a student visa for your study abroad program. You cannot apply for your visa until you receive your acceptance letter from your program abroad. Please check here to see if you need to obtain a visa: https://travel.state.gov/content/studentsabroad/en/visa.html

A visa is the government document required by your host country and is often a stamp in your passport. Some visas can take several weeks to obtain. Make sure you understand the requirements for your specific visa. Check where the consulate is for your study abroad country. This is where you will need to submit your visa application documents. Specific visa requirements can always be found on the nearest consulate website. For example, if a student is traveling to Spain, check the Consolate of Spain in Boston's website very early in the process to understand exactly what is needed once you recieve your acceptance letter to apply for it. You can find the specific visa under Consular services and navigate to the appropriate study visa. Many visas have longer processing time and it is vital you get your application in as soon as possible to ensure you get your visa on time for your departure. More information on visa's and requirements can be found here.

Contact your program provider or sending institution and embassy or consulate of the country you plan to study in for specific requirements and regulations and specific instructions about how to apply and obtain a visa for your destination.

The visa process for many countries can be found on the NAFSA website. Be sure to check if your host country is listed on the website. Here is an excel of common program locations and consulate websites. 

Eligibility requirements vary from program to program. As you explore programs, look closely at their requirements. Students must:

• Be in good academic standing (GPA requirements vary by program, and are generally between a 2.5-3.0. Students must check the individual GPA requirements of their program)
• Not be on probation (academic or disciplinary) during any part of the proposed period of study abroad.
• Have successfully completed at least one semester at UMass Boston.
  • Transfer students are eligible after they have successfully completed one semester of full-time study at UMass Boston. Transfer students can apply in their first semester at UMass Boston for the next eligible term, only if their program abroad accepts their previous university transcripts with their previous university GPA. Some programs may require you have a GPA established at UMass Boston in order to apply. Check the individual program for requirements before applying.
• F-1 International Students: Eligible to study abroad in countries OUTSIDE home country. Must also have travel signature in order to maintain status in the US by seeing your ISSS Advisor.
• Language Requirements: The majority of study abroad programs do not have a language requirement. Even in non-English speaking countries many programs offer courses in English. Check the individual programs for requirements.

Application Deadlines: 

• The deadline for your program may be different than the UMass Boston application deadline. 
• It is your responsibility to check the deadline for the program you are interested in and be sure you apply on time.
• The general latest deadlines to apply for study abroad through UMass Boston (can VARY from your PROGRAM deadline) are: 
  • Summer, Fall or Academic Year-long programs: April 14
  • Winter or Spring programs: November 13
• We cannot accept new applications, regardless of on-site program deadlines, after the deadlines listed above.

*** Study Abroad Advising & Application Fee $250***

*** All students participating on Reciprocal Exchange, Affiliate, and Alternate Study Abroad Provider Programs or directly enrolling  are required to pay a $250 fee. This fee, along with UMass Boston required forms and documents will assure the following: maintenance of fulltime UMass student status while on approved program abroad; WISER remains active; Financial aid can be applied to overseas program; pre-approval of courses toward the UMass degree program; transcript processing; credits will be interpreted and applied to the UMass transcript upon return. In addition, students are provided with ongoing advising throughout the process. Pre-departure orientations are offered the semester before studying abroad. All UMass Boston students are also covered by UMass International Travel & Emergency Insurance while participating on an approved, overseas program. This fee is NON-REFUNDABLE.

Meet with your Academic Advisor

Eligible students are urged to talk with their faculty advisor as early as possible. You should meet with your advisor and be sure to ask about: 

• What courses you need to take while abroad to stay on track to graduate? 
• Which semester/term works for your expected graduation date? 
• Go through your audit- look with an advisor to determine if you can save General Education courses for your time abroad? How about major electives? Come up with a list of courses that your advisor tells you will help you stay on track during your given term abroad.

Once you know which courses you should look to take abroad:

• Select your top choice program and program term you wish to apply.
• Meet with a study away advisor in the Office of Global Programs, if possible, to look through your UMass Boston course list from your advisor, and compare it to the curriculum offering of the program you selected abroad. Our advisors can help you make the best selections for your prior approval form. Schedule an appointment here.

You should always first talk to a study away advisor before applying. In-person or virtual advising appointments for study away: 

Schedule a time to Meet with us!

Global Ambassador Peer Advising is always available every semester. Check with the study away office for this semester's hours.

Choosing your study away program:

• There are many resources available to help you choose your program. Start Here.
• To search for the study abroad programs and course options you must go to the individual website of the program. You can search for programs here: https://viaumassboston.via-trm.com/visitor-programs-v2
• For the National Student Exchange Program, view options and apply here: https://nse.org/
• Go to your program brochure page to access links to information about the university/program, dates, deadlines, costs, courses, & more.

When choosing your program think about:

• What course options are available to me on this program? Is there enough flexibility in my studies for the courses offered on this particular program? 
• Do I have the language proficiency to apply to this program?
• Does this program work financially with my current financial aid package and financial circumstances? 
• Does the timing of the program, deadline to apply, and length of program work for what I need? 
• What specifically will I gain from this program that can help me in my future studies, career path, etc.? 
• What opportunities are available on this program that I can relate to my major/area of study? 
• Why am I studying abroad? What do I want to gain? Does this program offer a pathway to reach my goals for going? 

You must complete a Undergraduate Study Abroad Prior Approval of Courses Request, in order to have courses you take on an approved study abroad program transfer back towards your degree at UMass Boston. Follow these steps to complete the prior approval form:

1. Step 1: Consult with your academic advisor about what degree requirements you should try and satisfy during your term abroad to keep you on track.
2. Step 2: Browse the course offerings from the study abroad program provider or university and select up to 8* classes to include on this form for approval. The Office of Global Programs can help you search through course options in a meeting: studyabroad@umb.edu.
   • *If you end up needing to submit additional courses, you must submit a second prior approval form with ONLY the new courses. DO NOT resubmit courses.
3. Step 3: Download the Syllabus for every course you are seeking approval for. Save each to your computer and title them with the course number and name. Contact your program abroad for help obtaining the syllabus.>>Forms that do not include attached syllabi will not be reviewed.
4. Step 4: Download and save the Undergraduate Study Abroad Prior Approval of Courses Request to your computer.
   • Read and sign the acknowledgement. Fill out the student & program information section with your information.
   • Students also complete columns 1-4:
     • Column 1: course title (abroad)
     • Column 2: course number (if available)
     • Column 3: credit amount/credit hours abroad (listed on syllabus)
     • Column 4: if you are seeking plan credit (major/minor) for each course.
       • For Plan Credit- Select YES only if seeking major/minor credit. Select NO if you are only seeking general education or elective credit
   • Save the PDF once completed and title it: "Undergraduate Study Abroad Prior Approval Request- Insert Your First and Last Name"
5. Step 5: Submit the completed form to the Registrar via email! Printed forms will not be accepted.
   • Subject title of the email: “Undergraduate Study Abroad Prior Approval Request- Insert Student First and Last Name” (insert your first and last name)
   • Attach your filled out Undergraduate Study Abroad Prior Approval of Courses Request
   • Attach ALL syllabi for all the classes you list on the form, no syllabus = no review.
   • Send the email request to the Registrar’s Office: external.credit@umb.edu; copy (cc) studyabroad@umb.edu.
6. Step 6: If you put a YES in column 4 to seeking plan (major/minor) credit: After the initial review from the Registrar external.credit@umb.edu; columns 5 & 6 will be completed, the form signed, and returned to you. You will then be directed to seek approval for the YES courses by your major/minor department. Your major/minor department chair will need to complete columns 7 & 8 and sign under Department Chair on page 3.
   • List of Department contacts by area of study: Department Contact List
   • >>If you answered NO in column 4 the course(s) will be reviewed for general education and/or elective credit only, you do not need to send the form to your major/minor department(s) and can proceed to step 7.
7. Step 7: Once all courses have been signed off on and approved, send the form to studyabroad@umb.edu. The Office of Global Programs will sign the form and submit it to the Registrar and Financial Aid (finaidstudyabroad@umb.edu)

Accreditation and Transfer of Credits

• For the credit earned to be applied toward UMass Boston degree progress, a grade of C- or higher must be earned in academic work taken off campus. (NO PASS/FAIL!)
• Programs that carry a U.S. accreditation qualify for credit transfer to UMass Boston. Most study abroad programs are sponsored by an American university and therefore carry that institution's accreditation.
• Credits are awarded to your academic record at UMass Boston, but won't affect your GPA.
• Courses will NOT transfer from abroad without a prior approval form completed. 
• Courses that are approved to transfer to UMass Boston will be updated in the student's record once an official transcript has been received by the Office of Global Programs and evaluated by the Registrar. 
• If your courses from abroad are not appearing in your UMass Boston transcript, please be sure the Office of Global Programs has received your official transcript from abroad. 

Graduate Students & Transfer Credit: 

• Graduate students have a limit of 6-credits that can be transferred from a direct study abroad program. Students attending approved international exchange programs, in which you continue paying UMass Boston tuition, may have this requirement waived to up to a full semester (9-credits) with the permission of their Graduate Program Director (GPD). 
• Graduate Students must receive a B or higher in any course taken off-campus to transfer to a graduate program at UMass Boston. No courses can be taken P/F. 

For reciprocal exchange programs (continuing to pay UMB tuition) up to 9-credits:

• You must use this Graduate Credit Prior Approval Form in order to facilitate the transfer of credits from a study abroad program. 
• Fill out this form with all syllabi uploaded for every course you are seeking approval for. You can submit a minimum of 1 course with 1 back-up course, to a maximum of 3 courses with 3 back-up courses for review. You will need to put the name and email address of your graduate program director (GPD) to start this form. If you are unsure of your GPD, contact your graduate program office.

For direct study abroad programs (NOT paying UMB tuition) up to 6-credits:

• You must use the regular transfer credit permission form Graduate Transfer Credit Permission (etrieve) that will be signed and sent to the registrar. Be sure to send the completed signed form to studyabroad@umb.edu. 

Scholarships

There are many scholarships available for undergraduate students to study abroad. We feature many of the national, regional, and country-specific scholarships available to apply for here. Be sure to check deadlines early, most deadlines are earlier than your program deadline. Also check the program's website that you will be attending, often times they will offer scholarships for their program. Check in with our office for help and assistance applying for scholarships, including peer review of your personal statements by our global ambassadors. Scholarships typically range from $500-$5,000, or more, depending on the scholarship. 

Financial Aid

You can use financial aid to study abroad. See the webpage on Financial Aid & Study Abroad for more information & to find out what financial aid you can use on your study abroad program. Email: finaidstudyabroad@umb.edu. 

Financial Aid Required Forms to be submitted to your financial aid advisor BEFORE Departure:

1. Study Abroad Program Acceptance Letter (Email, PDF, Scanned Copy, etc.)
2. Completed and signed Prior Approval Form(s) for ALL courses you plan to take.
   1. Undergraduate Study Abroad Prior Approval of Courses Request FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
   2. Request for Prior Approval for Transfer of Graduate Study Abroad FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
3. Consortium Agreement Budget Sheet: Consortium Agreement Form (please note, if you are going on a semester or year-long exchange program in which you will be paying UMass Boston tuition, we can provide a link to a budget sheet from our office in place of page 2 of the consortium agreement. If you are going on exchange you will only need to fill out and submit page 1, along with the link to the budget provided by studyabroad@umb.edu)

Financial Aid Required Forms to be submitted to your financial aid advisor WHEN YOU ARRIVE:

1. UMass Boston Enrollment Verification - to be submitted to financial aid after arrival to your program. Must be signed by your program AFTER you arrive in person to your program.

Airline Tickets: Information on Booking your Flight 

Start researching flights so you can budget your money. Find out from your program about arrival day, airport pick up/instructions, and arrival windows to make sure you book your flight to arrive on time. Search multiple different websites to compare flights, such as Google Flights, Momondo, Expedia, Kayak, Skyscanner. Booking early can save you money! Be sure to book a flight that allows flexibility, plans might change and you don't want to end up with a non-refundable flight that you cannot take.

ScholarTrip Deposit Program

We have partnered with ScholarTrip which offers a Deposit-Only program for UMass Boston students to book their flights with just a deposit. You then can pay the remaining flight cost prior to your departure while being able to secure your flight earlier at (hopefully) cheaper rates than booking soon before your departure. To request a flight through ScholarTrip with their deposit program, please use this UMass Boston-specific form: University of Massachusetts Boston - SDP 

Arrange Your Arrival from Airport to Destination

Some universities arrange to have you picked up at the airport. Be sure to arrange, or at least research this prior to your departure from the U.S. Many universities and programs also provide you with clear instructions on your arrival and what to do to get from the airport to your next destination. It's also a good idea to travel with contact information for people you may be meeting upon arrival.