Academic credit
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To maintain your status at VCU student while you are studying abroad, you must register with the Education Abroad office. Registration is part of the application process. Some programs offer VCU credit while other programs offer transfer credit.
Application process
Applications for ISEP or a VCU-based exchange program will be processed through the Education Abroad office. Once accepted and placed in the appropriate host institution, you will be enrolled in a placeholder course on your VCU schedule. It will not bear credit and you are not charged tuition for this course. It indicates to the VCU community that you are studying abroad. This is useful to both academic advisers and the financial aid office.
Non-VCU programs
If you are participating in a program that is not sponsored by VCU, you must confirm with our staff that the program will issue a transcript from an accredited institution of higher education. You must apply to the program according to its own application requirements and procedures and you must register the program with our office by submitting the non-VCU program registration packet [PDF] available online.
Once we receive your completed program registration materials, we will draft an agreement between VCU and your host institution/program provider in order to reiterate your status as a VCU student and request a total expense budget for financial aid purposes. Your registration is not considered complete until this process is finalized, which can take up to 45 days. Once you are registered, your academic adviser and the financial aid office will know you are participating in an approved study abroad program.
Preapproval for academic credit
With the exception of VCU faculty-led programs, you must receive preapproval for the credit you intend to take while abroad. Your academic adviser must preapprove credit by signing the Course Approval form. Students seeking credit for foreign languages must be approved from the head adviser in the School of World Studies.
