Policies
Course Approval and Credit
- All courses on approved study abroad programs count toward your graduation credits, but you must receive pre-approval for courses that fulfill requirements.
- In most cases, a C- is required for courses taken abroad to count toward major, minor, or certificate requirements. Check with your department for more information.
- Courses cannot be taken pass/fail.
- UMass credit is granted for foreign language courses taken abroad only if they are above the level already completed at UMass. Repeated courses cannot be accepted for the language requirement. Specific level placement is not guaranteed. For more details, consult your Education Abroad Advisor during the application process.
- Junior Year Writing and the Integrative Experience can't be taken abroad.
Enrollment and Grading
- You must maintain full-time enrollment (minimum of 12 UMass credits) during your semester abroad.
- Grades from courses abroad won't affect your UMass Amherst GPA (except for some faculty-taught programs), but the grades, credits, and course titles will appear on your transcript. However, employers and graduate schools may recalculate your GPA.
- Grading scales vary by country and institution, so ensure you understand how they translate to UMass standards.
Academic Considerations and Key Processes for Studying Abroad
When planning to study abroad, it’s important to consider various academic aspects and understand the course approval processes to stay on track towards your degree and certificate programs.
Academic Accommodations Abroad
While certain 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.
