Augsburg Abroad - Selecting a Program
Eligibility
Questions to Ask Yourself
Academic Planning
Program Models
Internships
Financial Planning
Health & Safety
Your Parents & Family
Support for Diverse Backgrounds
To be eligible for off-campus study, you must meet the following Augsburg College requirements:
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Minimum 2.5 GPA
at the time of application. Some non-Augsburg programs may require a higher GPA. Students with lower averages should consult with Augsburg Abroad staff. -
Sophomore
, junior or senior standing by the time you study abroad. (Some short-term programs may allow participation as a freshman.) -
Transfer students
must complete one semester at Augsburg before studying off-campus. Courses taken on off-campus programs during the senior year will meet the Augsburg residency requirement. -
Not be on academic or disciplinary probation.
* Augsburg Abroad staff will submit applicant names to the Dean of Students office for a disciplinary probation check. -
Not have an outstanding balance
on your student account. -
Demonstrate an ability to adjust to new cultural and living conditions.
*Students placed on academic or disciplinary probation after being admitted to a study abroad program may be withdrawn by Augsburg Abroad staff. The student is responsible for all non-recoverable program costs incurred.
In addition, check to be sure that you also meet any specific requirements of the program to which you plan to apply.
Studying off-campus is an exciting opportunity, but requires thought and planning before you go. To make the most out of your experience, it is best to think in advance about what you hope to achieve by studying abroad. You may want to discuss this opportunity with your family and academic advisor(s).
To help you with your planning, we created this worksheet where you can compare program options based on your own goals and needs.
The following are some helpful things to think about as you plan your study abroad experience:
- What are my goals?
What do I hope to achieve by going abroad?
- When and how long?
During the summer? A short-term program during the semester (perhaps as part of a class)? A semester? A whole year? What will my academic/work schedule allow?
- Where do I want to study?
What part of the world? What region within a country? In a big city or a small town? - What do I want to study?
Are there major/minor requirements I can fulfill with a study abroad program? Am I able to study in a language other than English? Would I like to take language courses? Or maybe a subject area I'm unfamiliar with?
- What Type of Living Arrangements?
What type of living arrangements would I prefer? In a family home, dormitory, shared apartment? Do I want to live with another U.S. student, with another international student, with a student from the host culture? Am I open to living with fewer luxuries? With a family living in poverty?
- How Much Integration with the Host Culture?
How much contact do I want with the host community? Am I willing to put effort into seeking out relationships with people in the host community? How does the program design, facilitate, or inhibit contact with the host community? How much integration do I have with the program through coursework, internships, fieldtrips, etc.?
- What can I afford?
What additional costs are involved, such as passport, visas, travel expenses, and other out-of-pocket expenses? How much can I finance through my financial aid? How do program costs compare? How much do I need to live comfortably abroad?
Study abroad should be an integral part of your Augsburg studies. With a diverse range of program offerings, you can select a program with courses offered in most majors/minors and that will help fulfill your Augsburg Core/Augsburg Experience. To browse suggested programs by major, check out the Study Abroad Major Advising Sheets.
Knowing the type of courses you need to take abroad will help narrow your choice of programs. In the Programs section of our site, you will find that each type of program provides credit in different ways. Be sure to read and understand the credit approval process for each type of program.
Augsburg-sponsored and Augsburg-approved consortium programs have credit already pre-approved, but be sure to check with your academic advisor to find out how those courses meet your specific academic requirements. Grades received on Augsburg programs (Center for Global Education, International Partners, and faculty-led Short-Term Programs) and HECUA are figured into the GPA.
If you apply to a non-Augsburg program, the following credit approval policies apply:
- Credit approval must be obtained prior to departure.
- Credit earned may be applied toward General Education requirements, Augsburg Experience, and major/minor requirements and electives with the approval of the faculty adviser. General Education requirements are approved through the Registrar's Office. See the Credit Agreement form for instructions on the process.
- Credit will transfer on the basis of four semester credits = 1 Augsburg course credit and 6 quarter hours = 1 Augsburg course credit. In general, a student must register for a minimum for 12 semester credits or 21 quarter hours per term to receive the equivalent of 4 Augsburg course credits.
- You must earn a “C” grade or higher for the credit to count towards graduation requirements.
- Grades from non-Augsburg programs will be reported on your transcript, but will not be figured into your GPA.
If you have any questions concerning the approval for credit transfer and course selection, contact Augsburg Abroad staff.
Study abroad programs vary in their approach to academic structure and cultural learning. Consider what approach may be most beneficial to your academic and personal interests, learning style and environment:
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Experiential Programs
These tend to involve the student and teacher in the learning process on an academic, personal and sometimes spiritual level. Rather than learning in a traditional classroom, the host community becomes the primary classroom.
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Direct Enrollment
The primary academic learning takes place in a classroom, where the instructor gives lectures and readings. Student learning is typically assessed only through final examinations.
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Hybrid Programs
For students interested in enrolling in a foreign university but not quite ready to do all of their coursework there. This often involves a study center at the host site, where students take courses with other U.S. students on the program taught by local faculty. Students may also enroll in one or several courses at local affiliated universities.
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Island Programs
U.S. students travel and study together in courses designed and taught by U.S. faculty or host country faculty. Typically, students do not interact as much with the host culture and therefore are not able to experience immersion in another culture.
Participating in an international internship is an excellent way for students to gain valuable professional experience in their fields and to develop critical cross-cultural skills that can propel them forward in the global marketplace. Moreover, through an internship abroad, students can engage more deeply with their host community and improve foreign language proficiency. Students can find internship opportunities through Augsburg's approved study abroad programs in nearly any field.
Our Intern Abroad Advising Sheet will give you additional information on international internships and the types of internship programs available.
Cost & Payment
Though program fees vary according to the program, you will be billed for your program through your student account in all cases. This includes short-term, semester or academic year programs. However, there are some charges that you must pay directly to your program. These include:
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Application fee, if required
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Required Deposits (including confirmation of participation, housing, etc.)
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International Partners students pay their room and board directly to the host institution
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Students on some non-Augsburg programs may be required to pay room and board directly to the host institution abroad, depending on the program's payment procedures.
For students on non-Augsburg programs, see group 3 in the Programs section of this website.
You will be charged a minimum of Augsburg tuition and fees. However, if your program tuition is higher than Augsburg tuition, you will be charged the program tuition and a study abroad fee of:
- $300 for a semester program
- $400 for a full year program
- $125 for short-term or summer programs
Financial Aid
Financial aid, with the exception of work study, may apply toward off-campus study. Many program costs are similar to a semester at Augsburg, with the exception of the airfare. Since few countries allow you to work while you are abroad, you must budget accordingly. You may apply for additional loan money to cover these extra expenses, but be sure to check with a financial aid counselor for details on how financial aid is applied and what your specific package will be.
Scholarships
Scholarships specifically for study abroad are available through a number of organizations. As you'll see on our Scholarship Guide, there are many opportunities! More information and applications are also available in the Augsburg Abroad Resource library.
Other scholarship resources include:
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Your study abroad program - many program providers offer scholarships!
If you choose a non-Augsburg program, check with your program for information on any scholarships or financial aid that they may offer.
We have selected AIG Travel Assist to provide supplemental international health insurance for students who study abroad. This health insurance is mandatory, regardless of whether or not your program requires their own coverage. Cost of the insurance is included in the tuition portion of your program payment.
Additional Health and Safety Resources:
State Department Website for Students: http://studentsabroad.state.gov/
CDC: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx
Your parents, guardians, or family will likely have a vested interest in your study abroad choices. It is natural that they may have some questions or concerns about your unfamiliar surroundings and program abroad. Sharing program information and details is one way to help them better understand your plans and upcoming experience. They are also welcome to contact Augsburg Abroad staff with any questions or concerns.
Support for Diverse Backgrounds
Living abroad can involve unique challenges. The culturally different ways of addressing diversity issues such as accessibility, gender, ethnicity, sexual identity, and religion may need to be considered when studying abroad. Augsburg Abroad works with a number of on-campus offices to support students from diverse backgrounds. If you would like to discuss any of these aspects of the study abroad experience, please feel free to contact Augsburg Abroad staff.
Additional resources and support are available online:
Supporting Diversity in Study Abroad: http://www.diversityabroad.com and http://allabroad.us
Resources for GLBTQ Students: http://www.indiana.edu/~overseas/lesbigay/student.htm
