When planning to study abroad, you are required to follow the international course approval process and confirm how courses will apply to your degree or certificate. Use the tools below to research programs, view past students’ course choices, and begin the course approval process for your program abroad.
Courses on approved study-abroad programs fulfill graduation credit, but you must receive pre-approval for them to satisfy Gen Eds, major, or certificate requirements. See the sections below for details on coursework and credit transfer.
Considerations When Selecting a Program
While selecting your program, use the tools below to help with your search. Explore what students have previously studied and how to choose courses from different program catalogs.
- Determine which requirements you need to fulfill: Check your Academic Requirements Report (ARR) on SPIRE or meet with your academic advisor to see what courses you still need to take towards your degree.
- Research courses abroad: Search the course databases and course catalogs abroad to find which programs offer the courses you need. If you're planning early, review previous terms' offerings.
- UMass Abroad Program Search: Use the "Program Match Quiz" and/or search tools to find programs that offer courses in a specific department. Navigate from UMass Abroad to the program's website and browse the course catalogs.
- Meet with the UMass Abroad Peer Advisors.
- Search for a program: Use the Global Education Gen Ed and previously approved Departmental Course databases.
Enrollment and Grading Policies
Please keep in mind:
- Courses cannot be taken pass/fail.
- Junior Year Writing and the Integrative Experience must be taken at UMass.
- Foreign language credit is granted only for courses above the highest level you completed at UMass; repeated language courses do not fulfill the language requirement.
- You must maintain full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 UMass credits) during your semester abroad.
- Grades from most study-abroad courses are not calculated into your UMass Amherst GPA (some faculty-led programs are exceptions), but the grades, credits, and course titles will appear on your transcript. Employers or graduate schools may recalculate your GPA.
- Grading scales differ by country and institution—make sure you understand how your host grades translate to UMass standards.
Academic Accommodations Abroad
While programs abroad may provide comparable academic accommodations for students registered with UMass Disability Services, it's crucial to recognize that not all programs offer uniform levels of support and accessibility. Find more information on the Ability and Academics Abroad website.
Graduating Seniors
If your last semester of your degree is abroad, read the graduation requirements page for more information and important dates. Your transcript must be sent to @email at a minimum of three weeks prior to the graduation deadline listed on the page referenced above.