Advisor Resources for Study Abroad

We encourage students to begin exploring study abroad options early in their academic career, particularly while completing GUR requirements. Early planning provides greater flexibility in program selection, course planning, and degree progress. Students in lock-step majors often have fewer opportunities to study abroad if they wait until their third or fourth year to begin planning.

Students can study abroad for a quarter, semester, academic year, or summer. Academic year programs often provide the greatest access to financial aid and scholarship funding, while summer programs can be a good fit for students who are unable to be away during the academic year.

To be eligible for study abroad, students must be enrolled full-time at WWU prior to departure and be in good academic standing with a minimum 2.5 GPA. Additional information for first-year students and transfer students is available on our website.

Many study abroad programs cost the same as, or less than, a quarter at WWU. The Education Abroad office maintains a Pay In-State or Less guide featuring programs that cost the same as, or less than, what an in-state student might budget for tuition, fees, housing, meals, and other expenses at WWU. For many out-of-state and international students, these programs can result in significant savings compared to studying on campus.

While affordable opportunities exist through summer, quarter, and semester programs, academic year-length programs are often the most cost-effective options because students can apply financial aid and scholarships toward a longer international experience. We encourage students to join our Plan My Study Abroad Canvas course or meet with an Education Abroad Advisor to learn how to maximize scholarships, financial aid, and other funding opportunities while studying abroad.

Summer study abroad programs and internships can be an excellent option for students who cannot be away during the academic year due to academic, athletic, family, work, or other commitments. These opportunities allow students to earn academic credit, gain international experience, and stay on track for graduation while studying abroad during summer break.

The Education Abroad office maintains a guide featuring our most cost-effective summer study abroad programs and internships, organized by budget and highlighting scholarship opportunities that can help reduce costs even further. We encourage students to explore these opportunities and utilize our advising resources, workshops, and Step-by-Step Guide to Study Abroad to begin planning their experience.

Study abroad is more than a cultural experience. Students regularly earn credit abroad that fulfills major, minor, GUR, and elective requirements while making progress toward graduation. That's because students are taking courses at accredited universities around the world and applying that coursework directly toward their degree.

The Education Abroad office maintains major-specific advising pages, GUR-focused resources, transfer student resources, and other academic planning tools to help students identify programs that fit their academic goals. With early planning and collaboration between students, academic advisors, and Education Abroad Advisors, study abroad can be incorporated into many degree plans without delaying graduation.

Don't see a resource that meets your department's needs? We're happy to work with you to identify affordable program options and develop resources that support your students' academic goals.

International internships allow students to gain professional experience, explore potential career paths, and develop skills in a global context. Opportunities are available in a wide range of fields and can often be combined with academic coursework or other study abroad experiences.

The Education Abroad office helps students identify internship opportunities that align with their academic, professional, and personal goals. Advisors and faculty should connect interested students with our office early in the planning process so we can help them explore program options, understand costs, identify scholarship opportunities, and find experiences that fit their degree plan.

Learn more about our internships and community engagement opportunities.

Housing arrangements vary by program and location. Depending on the study abroad experience, students may live in homestays, apartments, residence halls, independent housing, or other program-provided accommodations. In some cases, students may be responsible for arranging their own housing. Online program brochures typically provide the most detailed information about housing options, costs, meals, and amenities.

We encourage students to consider their housing plans in Bellingham alongside their study abroad plans. For students living on campus, the Education Abroad office can work with University Residences to support contract release requests for approved study abroad experiences. Students living off campus can find additional planning resources on our Before You Go FAQs.

Credits earned through approved study abroad programs are converted to WWU quarter credits and posted to a student's transcript after the official transcript is received. Because institutions around the world use different academic calendars and credit systems, students may earn credit in semester hours, ECTS (European Credit Transfer System), or other international credit systems that are then converted to WWU quarter credits.

Students should work with their academic advisor before departure to determine how study abroad coursework may apply toward major, minor, GUR, or elective requirements. The Education Abroad office helps students understand credit conversion, course loads, and academic expectations, while academic departments determine how courses may be applied to degree requirements.

The Education Abroad office encourages students planning to use study abroad coursework toward major, minor, or GUR requirements to work with their academic advisor and academic department before departure.

To receive major or minor credit, we encourage students to complete the Departmental Academic Advising Form, which is integrated into the WWU study abroad application process. Some students choose to send syllabi and document course approvals or equivalencies through email instead. Either approach helps students understand how coursework may apply to their degree and provides documentation for follow-up conversations after they return from abroad.

For non-major/minor requirements and elective credit, students generally have greater flexibility and may not need departmental approval. Students seeking GUR approval can contact the WWU Degree Evaluators in the Registrar's Office at degreeeval@wwu.edu with up to five courses, including the course title, course description, and the GUR category they believe the course fulfills.

While the Education Abroad office can recommend programs and coursework that may be a strong fit, the academic department, Degree Evaluators, or academic advisor ultimately determine how study abroad coursework applies toward WWU degree requirements.

Not always. Many study abroad programs are taught in English and do not require previous language study. However, some programs do have language prerequisites or require a certain level of proficiency, particularly those designed for advanced language learners.

Language requirements vary by program, so students should carefully review eligibility requirements and consult with the Education Abroad office if they have questions. Even when language study is not required, many students choose to learn some of the local language to enrich their experience abroad.

Students interested in a non-WWU approved study abroad program should contact the Education Abroad office before making any commitments. In some cases, students may be eligible to petition for participation in a non-approved program. This process allows the university to review the program and help students understand potential implications for academic credit, financial aid, health and safety, and university support.

Students can learn more about eligibility requirements and the petition process on the Petition for Participation in a Non-WWU Approved Program page.

Students interested in Independent Study Abroad should begin planning at least two quarters in advance. The student must work with a faculty advisor and academic department to develop and approve the independent study, complete WWU requirements, and submit an Independent Study Abroad application through the Education Abroad office.

Eligibility requirements, procedures, and required forms are outlined in the Independent Study Abroad Guidelines. We encourage faculty and advisors to refer interested students to the Education Abroad office early in the planning process.