Step-by-Step Guide to Study Away

With hundreds of programs that occur each semester and during the summer, it is easy to be overwhelmed by the wealth of choices. Meeting with the Coordinator of Global Engagement will help you explore the best programs for you. We will discuss how each program fits in your plans - academically, financially, and personally.

Please fill out the Study Away Interest Form before you schedule your first appointment with Global Engagement.

Study Away Interest Form

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael Hancock-Parmer, Coordinator of Gobal Engagement, using Bookings (mind the time zone!) or by sending an email to globalengagement@roanoke.edu

This begins the process of picking the appropriate program to meet your goals, needs, and preferences - this process is in your control and Global Engagement is here to support your search for the perfect fit!

Your advisor(s) can help you figure out when is the best time to study abroad (in terms of your academic plan) and if there are any particular course(s) you will need to take while you are away from Roanoke College. Part of the application process is to discuss your study away plans with your academic advisor(s). If you do not connect with your advisor(s) before you submit your GEO Application, you will be asked to discuss your plans to study off-campus with them before GEO can process your GEO application.
 

Financial aid may apply to Roanoke College-approved off-campus programs.

Contact the Global Engagement Office for cost estimates for programs you are interested in exploring. 

The cost of studying off campus can be very similar to the cost of living on campus. For some programs, the program abroad is more affordable than living on campus. For other programs, the program abroad is more expensive

Complete the application once you have selected your program in consultation with Global Engagement, your academic advisors, and your support network (friends, family, etc.). Students need to submit the Roanoke College application and have it accepted before they can begin a program-specific application.

Study Away Application

After your application is accepted, you can begin your program's specific application.

Please be aware that our partners each have their own application deadlines and requirements.

Note: Students applying for ISEP Exchange programs:
The ISEP application is unique and you can list up to 10 different exchange sites on ONE application. Review ISEP's Chance of Placement page before submitting your ISEP application,

After you are accepted into your program, you will complete a series of forms provided by Global Engagement that cover a few basics.

Transfer Credit Authorization
This form will allow you to get transfer credit at Roanoke College once you return a transcript to Global Engagement after the successful completion of your program.

Pre-Departure Form
This form will include uploading a copy of your passport, paying the non-refundable $350 Study Abroad Fee, and collecting your planned travel itinerary.

There is a mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation for all students participating in a Global Engagement program. It is held the semester before you are studying abroad, and summer students may participate in either (but are not obligated).

If you are unable to make the scheduled orientation, you are required to schedule a make-up orientation. 

Pre-Departure Orientation goes over everything from academics abroad to updating to a new culture to health & safety abroad.
 

Have a fantastic experience on your program and know that the Global Engagement Office is still here to support you while you are away/off-campus!

While you are away, we will be in communication to first verify your course schedule to update your Course Pre-Approval Form (if necessary) and to finalize your housing upon your return (particularly for students away during the Fall semester).

Students who study off-campus may have an edge when searching and interviewing for a job. Such an advantage is not guaranteed but must be thoughtfully developed.

While studying abroad can be great for professional development, the experience will not in itself offer an advantage to job seekers. Rather, it is how well you can reflect on and articulate your experience in terms of skills acquired.  Recognizing newly learned competencies and communicating them effectively to a potential employer will set you apart and add value to your resume. These same principles would also apply to domestic off-campus programs.

Learning to articulate what you learned from your experience is also a skill, and there are strategies and processes to help you. It means thinking about these things before you leave campus, recording your experiences in a useful manner, and then telling your story to demonstrate your skills and successes.