Study Abroad

Columbia-Sponsored Programs | Columbia-Approved Programs | General Studies Study Abroad Guidlines & Forms

Study abroad provides a wonderful opportunity to enhance a Columbia education, especially given the numerous programs either sponsored or approved by Columbia in foreign countries around the world. All study abroad programs, including participation in Columbia study abroad programs, must be approved by the GS Study Abroad Advisor. Students may be approved for a total of two semesters plus one summer session of study abroad; however, students will need to have good academic reasons for studying abroad for multiple or extended programs. A study abroad infosession is held for GS students each semester.

ELIGIBILITY
GS students who have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and are in good standing are eligible for study abroad. Prior to going abroad on an approved program, students are expected to have begun language study and taken at least one course other than a language related to the region of the world in which they plan to study. Before departing on an approved study abroad program, GS students should have completed at least two semesters and 18 credits at GS; have a minimum of 56 credits earned toward the degree; and have declared a major. Exceptions to some of these requirements are granted for students applying to Columbia-sponsored programs.

APPLICATION PROCESS
Students applying to one of Columbia's study abroad programs must complete the application forms and meet the deadlines specified by those individual programs as well as complete a GS study abroad petition for each program for which they are applying (including Columbia-sponsored programs). Students who wish to study abroad in programs other than those run by Columbia University may petition to do so only if the program is one approved by the Columbia Undergraduate Study Abroad Committee (see Columbia-Approved Study Abroad Programs).

Study abroad approval may be rescinded if a student’s grade point average falls below 3.0.  

Completed GS study abroad petitions are due by November 15 for spring-term study; March 17 for summer- or fall-term study.

LIMIT ON AND APPROVAL OF TRANSFER CREDITS
Credits from non-Columbia programs cannot be counted toward the GS degree if they cause a student to exceed the number of allowable transfer credits (60). Students must meet with their GS academic advisors to discuss their eligibility and plans to study abroad before submitting the GS Study Abroad Petition. If a student wishes to have courses from a particular study abroad program count toward major requirements in a department, the student must consult the relevant academic departments separately for that approval. Courses that are not approved by GS for transfer credit cannot be counted by a department toward major or concentration requirements.

STUDYING ABROAD IN YOUR LAST SEMESTER AT GS
Seniors who elect to study abroad while completing their last semester of coursework for the degree must meet with their GS advisors to apply for graduation prior to going abroad. This option is only open for students attending Columbia-sponsored study abroad programs. Each student should note that his/her degree conferral date may depend on the actual completion date of the study abroad program, especially for those programs wherein the academic calendar ends later than the Columbia University Arts & Sciences Calendar.

STUDY ABROAD FEE
Students studying abroad on non-Columbia-sponsored programs are charged an administrative fee of $750 per semester. (Summer study counts as one semester.)