Academic Policies and Regulations

The 30-Credit Rule

Registration Blocks

Although the GPA requirement for certain program are not absolutely rigid, please note that students must have at least a 2.0 GPA  in order to study abroad.  Education Abroad Office cannot register students for study abroad if they are on academic probation or have any registration blocks (financial, judicial or academic).

Transfer Credit Policy

For programs awarding transfer credit, students must receive a grade of C or better for the credits to transfer from a study abroad program. (For students studying abroad in Fall 2012 onwards, the minimum grade for transfer will be a C-.)  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

Education Abroad can approve the transfer of credit for classroom-based academic study abroad courses. However, Education Abroad advisors cannot approve the transfer of credit for internship, service-learning, research, field study or independent study components, without explicit written approval from an academic advisor, either on the PSA or by email to the Education Abroad advisor.

Diversity CORE Credit

Study Abroad fulfills the Human Cultural Diversity Component of CORE, provided a student completes at least 9 credits abroad.  For the new General Education requirements going into effect in Fall 2012 for freshmen and some transfers, this will NO longer be the case.

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, Education Abroad 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, Education Abroad can approve the application. However, faculty are under NO obligation to reschedule an exam.