After you Return

EdAbroad requires that you request a transcript from your study abroad program to be sent to the EdAbroad office. Transcripts received in the EdAbroad office will be processed and sent to the Registrar’s to be posted on your WWU transcript.  Please inform your program to send an official transcript to the following address:

Education Abroad
Western Washington University
516 High Street, Miller Hall 208
Bellingham, WA 98225-9094

Official electronic transcripts must be sent to Admissions@wwu.edu or EdAbroad@wwu.edu. 

Please remember that the official transcript from your program will take time to arrive and be processed. You will be notified when EdAbroad receives your official transcript. If EdAbroad does not receive a transcript, the credits with no grade may be assigned a “IP” grade until a transcript arrives and is processed. After four (4) months if no transcript has been received, credits with an “IP” will convert to a “U” (Unsatisfactory).

To determine whether the classes you took abroad can count toward your major or minor, you’ll need to contact your academic advisor. It is best practice for you to work with your advisor before departure, so you know how your classes will likely apply to your degree at WWU.

Once your program is complete and Western has received your transcript, schedule a meeting with your advisor and bring along course materials from your time abroad (such as syllabi). This will help confirm that the classes you discussed before departure are eligible to count toward your degree requirements. Keep in mind that all courses taken abroad are eligible for elective credit. However, it’s your responsibility to work with your advisors to ensure any additional credit, such as for major or minor requirements, is properly applied. 

You are responsible for registering for classes for the quarter you are returning to Western. The same registration dates and times apply to you. If you are abroad for a period where registration is open, it is your responsibility to register while you are abroad. For more questions on registration please visit the Registrar's Office. 

As long as you are enrolled through EdAbroad while you were on your study abroad or exchange program, you will continue to maintain your student status and there is no need to reapply. If this is not the case and you have taken a quarter or more away from WWU after your study abroad (except for summer quarter), you will need to apply to WWU as a returning student. You will need to complete a WWU Application and pay a non-refundable application fee. Please visit the admissions website for more information and deadlines for the application.

When you return to Western, you have multiple options for housing. You can either live on-campus or off-campus but both must be coordinated prior to your return date. Check out our WWU’s On-Campus and Off-Campus living guides for more information.

Yes! If you studied or interned abroad, or are an international student you are eligible to purchase an international flag sash. This is a great way to represent your experience or home country! Find more information on how to order your own sash on our International Graduation Sash page.

There are multiple opportunities for you to share your abroad experience with the Western community! 

• Travel Writing Program
  • Ever wanted to start a travel blog? Well you can! Write blogs about your pre-departure excitement, how you felt when you arrived, how your experience is going, and your feelings post program! Don’t worry if you have a hard time thinking about what to write, we have prompts to guide you! Upon completion you will receive a Certificate of Completion for the WWU education Abroad Travel Writing Program to be featured with professional documents and on your professional resume. 
• Photo/video Submissions
  • You are more than welcome and encouraged to submit photos/videos from your study abroad experience! These will be used by the education abroad face for promotional and content use. 
• Digital Storytelling
  • Digital stories are short web-based videos that utilize a combination of photographs, videos, animation, sounds, music, text, and often a narrative voice. It is a fun form of storytelling that mixes media in an effective and engaging way. Start by brainstorming and go from there!

Western’s International Buddy Program is designed to help the new international students transition smoothly to Western’s campus and Bellingham. Western buddies will act as resources for the international buddies: answering questions before arrival, helping in settling into Western, and maintaining correspondence. It is held throughout the year and all that is required is your commitment! For more information visit the International Student and Scholar Services Page.

As a returned study abroad student, consider applying to be a Peer Advisor in the Education Abroad office. The position requires an academic year commitment and a strong desire to assist students, faculty, and parents with education abroad experiences. Review the job description and apply online.

Yes, you can study abroad as many times as you want! Just be aware that a minimum of 45 credits must be earned through Western courses to graduate. 

Absolutely! Besides the options offered by your EdAbroad office, one of the most accessible paths is teaching English overseas. Here are some excellent programs to consider:

• CIEE Teach abroad
• TAPIF: Teach in France
• Estados Unidos: NALCAP Teach in Spain
• Instituto Franklin: Teach & Learn in Spain
• JET: Teach in Japan
• EPIK: Teach in Korea
• TEFL Academy: Teach English Abroad
• DAAD: German Academic Exchange Service

Be sure to also consider other volunteer opportunities such as Peace Corps which you are eligible to join after graduation!

If your experience abroad sparked your interest in future travel, go abroad after you graduate as a Peace Corps volunteer. In the Peace Corps, you’ll have the unique opportunity to live and work for 27 months in one of 72 countries around the world. You can use your education and international experience to launch a career in health, the environment, agriculture, education, community development, information technology, or business development. During your service, you’ll receive a student loan deferment, paid vacation, three months of training, medical and dental care, a living stipend and money upon completion of services – not to mention the memories that will last a lifetime. To find out more visit the Peace Corps website.

You can also find virtual info sessions, application workshops, and more on the Peace Corps events page! Connect with the WWU Peace Corps recruiter to learn more about what it's like to volunteer, the application process, and how to get started! Contact Jerry Smith and visit their website.

It can be challenging to navigate visa processes to move abroad. GoinGlobal can help jump start your search with country career guides, global job and internship search, and visa resources. Use your WWU account to login and get started on GoinGlobal.

Studying abroad is a great way to distinguish yourself while job hunting due to the practical skills gained while abroad. Be sure to showcase your experience either under the Education section by listing the university, location, dates, and courses studied; under Experience if you completed an internship, volunteer work, or a major project; or in the Skills section by highlighting specific abilities developed while abroad. We are more than happy to discuss with you how to best present your study abroad experience on your resume but also recommend you take advantage of resources in the Career Center. Additionally, explore resources such as International Experience and Your Resume for further assistance.

Obtaining a graduate degree abroad offers powerful advantages: it often costs less and you can finish faster while immersing yourself in different cultures. It also hones language skills, adaptability, cross-culture communication, and problem solving skills which are all prized by employers. For additional assistance in exploring graduate school options abroad, schedule an advising session with a career counselor at Western and explore our helpful links below for more information.

• Utilize Career Center resources at WWU
• Affordable Degrees Abroad
• How to use FAFSA for a degree in Europe
• StudyPortals: Masters Programs Abroad
• Erudera: The world's first education search platform backed by AI Intelligence
• Postgraduate Awards for US Citizens: Graduate School in the UK
• UK Graduate Visa & permission to stay 2-3 years post course
• Study.eu: Graduate School in Europe
• American Universities Abroad
• GoAbroad.com: Degrees Abroad