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Why should I study overseas?
As American businesses expand overseas, the need for
culturally adept employees, those who know about and are
able to work across cultural boundaries, is increasing.
Rapidly expanding technology and transportation connect
all corners of the globe and to remain competitive among
your peers from overseas, you need to be able to
negotiate within a worldwide context. You can also
strengthen your foreign language ability, increase your
knowledge of a particular discipline, and enhance your
classroom learning with experiential learning. Better still,
through an overseas experience, you can gain a more
global perspective that may allow you to see the rest of the
world with “new eyes.” If you take the time to include
overseas study as part of your education, you may also
reap the benefits of cross-cultural living within the
boundaries of the U.S. Studying abroad may also help
you succeed in our exceedingly multicultural American
society. Many students describe overseas study as a lifechanging experience. It
will affect the way you relate to your own culture as well as to the rest of the
world.
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What are my opportunities to study overseas while a student at Villanova University?
VU students planning to spend a year or semester
abroad have several options:
- Full-time study (a minimum of 4 courses or equivalent)
at an overseas university, college, or language institute.
This includes, but is not limited to, four Villanova
semester programs located at NUI, Galway, University
of Melbourne, University of Urbino, and four elite London
universities.
- Full-time internship plus 3 courses through an approved
U.S. program provider. Internships are generally eight
hours a day, four days a week for 10 weeks.
- Full-time service-learning/field work plus 3 courses
through an approved U.S. program provider. Service
learning/field work projects are usually daily activities
with an academic component including a 20-25 page
research paper.
VU students planning to spend a summer abroad also
have several options:
- Villanova University faculty members lead international
summer programs to over 16 different locations every
summer.
- If students do not find a Villanova international summer
program that fits their academic needs, they can also
spend the summer overseas through an approved non-
Villanova program provider or overseas institution.
VU and non-VU Summer Programs have their own policies
and procedures. Specific information is available from
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What if I want to study in a program that is not
listed?
If you do not find a program on the VU list of Overseas
Program Providers (available on our website) suitable to
your interests, you may petition the Office of International
Studies (OIS) for approval. The Petition for Overseas
Program Approval can be downloaded from our website or
obtained directly from the OIS.
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What are the eligibility requirements for overseas study?
- Villanova requires a minimum GPA of 2.75 to begin the
process. Some programs may require a higher average.
- All undergraduate majors are eligible. A declaration of
major must be on file.
- Full-time status and Sophomore, Junior, or 1st semester
Senior standing are required. 2nd semester Seniors may
apply only with special permission.
- Students may not apply for overseas study with any
bursar, academic or disciplinary holds on their account.
- Transfer students must have completed 3 semesters at
Villanova prior to participating in an overseas program.
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Do I have to be a language major, or speak another language to study overseas?
No. The opportunities for study abroad are not limited to
language majors or those with knowledge of foreign
languages. All programs provide language training while
some offer courses taught in English even in non-English
speaking countries.
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How does academic credit transfer?
Working with a representative of the Office of International
Studies, you must complete a Prior Approval Form. The
Prior Approval Form designates courses approved by the
appropriate faculty for transfer credit.
- To ensure appropriate credit transfer, it is your
responsibility to confirm the final course schedule for each
semester abroad with the OIS after registration has been
completed at the overseas institution.
- Villanova University will not accept an overseas transcript
that lists three or fewer courses for a semester’s work.
- Credit for work completed overseas will appear on your
Villanova transcript. A minimum grade equivalent to a “C”
must be earned in order for credit to transfer.
- For Fall and Spring semester programs and non-VU
Summer programs: in place of a letter grade, the
designation “T” will be assigned for all courses in which
you receive a grade equivalent to a “C” or higher. For VU
Summer programs: Contact the Faculty Program
Coordinator for grading information.
- A maximum of 60 credits are transferable. This includes
Advanced Placement, Overseas Study, and summer
credits earned at another institution.
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How much will it cost to study abroad?
In 2001, Villanova University adopted a tuition policy governing its semester
study abroad programs. Under this policy, you will be billed by Villanova
University for the total cost of VU tuition for each semester overseas.
Non-Tuition costs such as room and board are not paid to Villanova University, but are instead paid to the overseas university or
program in which you enroll. In general, these room and
board costs tend to be about the same as they would be at
Villanova. Keep in mind, though, that several factors have
to be taken into consideration, such as geography, travel,
expenses, and fluctuating exchange rates when calculating
additional costs. Please note that the above tuition policy
does not affect summer study abroad. All summer program
fees are paid directly to the program, whether you enroll in a
VU Summer program or a non-VU Summer program.
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What are the benefits of this tuition policy?
Students who elect to study abroad on a Villanovaapproved
program remain enrolled at Villanova and
therefore have access to privileges such as email, Novasis,
and online registration. Most importantly, coursework
successfully completed overseas transfers to your Villanova
transcript and counts towards graduation. Credit earned
abroad is applied towards major, minor and core
requirements as approved prior to departure. Charging
normal Villanova tuition for overseas study allows us to
cover the cost without raising the general tuition, imposing
fees, or cutting other programs. It also makes study abroad
‘transparent’ in that you pay the same tuition at home and
abroad, allowing you to choose your overseas programs
based on academic rather than financial factors.
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Can I use my financial aid?
Yes: because you pay Villanova tuition, you remain a fulltime student, and all
financial assistance applies. Whether you have grants, federal aid, or even
University scholarships, that money is credited to your account as if you had
stayed at Villanova. All eligible students may apply federal, state, and
institutional financial aid for a year or semester abroad. Additional financial
aid may be available to cover non-tuition costs. For more information contact
the Office of Financial Assistance, 610.519.4012.
The full tuition policy, a cost estimate worksheet, and scholarships
information for overseas study is available on the Office of International
Studies’ website.
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Where can I find out more about overseas study?
All Villanova students considering overseas study are
required to attend a group information session. At this
mandatory information session, you will receive information
on how to research programs that will meet your needs and
goals. These meetings are typically held four days a week,
twice a day in order to accommodate the busy student
schedule. You should make an appointment for your
information session by calling 610.519.6412 or stopping by
the Office of International Studies on the 2nd floor of
Middleton Hall.
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