Academic Policies and Regulations

The 30-Credit Rule

The University of Maryland requires that students complete their final 30 credits in residence. Some major departments, schools and colleges make no exceptions and require that all of a student's final 30 credits be taken in residence; others allow students to study abroad for some of their final 30 credits. If you are planning to study abroad during your last 30 credits, you must check with your individual College and/or department to confirm their policy.

For more information about the 30 credit rule, please click here.

Academic Probation

Although the GPA requirement for certain program are not absolutely rigid, please note that you must have at least a 2.0 GPA in order to study abroad. The Study Abroad Office cannot register you as a study abroad student if you are on academic probation.

Transfer Credit Policy

Students must receive a grade of C or better for the credits to transfer from a study abroad program. Students will not receive credit for courses taken on a Pass/Fail basis. Grades do not transfer from study abroad programs. The credits earned will be added to the “hours attempted” in determining the academic level under the Academic Retention Plan. The precise number of credits received for each course will be determined after the official transcript is received from the overseas institution.

Transfer Credit Exceptions

The Study Abroad Office can approve the transfer of credit for classroom-based academic study abroad courses. However, if your study abroad program has an internship, service-learning or independent study component, you must seek approval from your academic department in order to ensure that the credit will transfer.

Diversity CORE Credit

Study Abroad fulfills the Human Cultural Diversity Component of CORE, provided a student completes at least 9 credits abroad.

Study Abroad and the UM Academic Calendar

The "Attendance and Assessment/ Examinations" policy in the University Course Catalog permits excused absences in the following cases:

illness of the student, or illness of a dependent as defined by Board of Regents policy on family and medical leave; religious observance (where the nature of the observance prevents the student from being present during the class period); participation in university activities at the request of University authorities; and compelling circumstance beyond the student's control. Students claiming excused absence must apply in writing and furnish documentary support for their assertion that absence resulted from one of these causes. (Attendance, 2.)

As study abroad programs do not fall under any of these categories, the Study Abroad Office staff will not approve a student’s application to a study abroad program that starts before the end of a scheduled exam period or that ends after the beginning of a term on campus. If the student is able to submit written proof that his or her professors have granted permission to leave campus early, Study Abroad can approve the application. However, faculty are under NO obligation to reschedule an exam.