study abroad guide
2004-2005 Harvard College Guide to Study Abroad
Harvard College Office of International Programs
1. Eligibility
2. Credit
3. Language Requirements
4. Core Reduction
5. Financial Aid
6. The Harvard Student Services Fee
7. Health Insurance is required
© 2003 President and Fellows of Harvard College
All rights reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any way without the express
written permission of the Office of International Programs in the Faculty
of Arts and Sciences in Harvard University.
August 2003
Harvard College Office of International Programs
The Harvard College Office of International Programs (OIP) is located on the ground floor of University Hall, with an entrance on the south end across from Weld Hall. You are welcome to visit the office often to discuss your plans with office staff, browse study abroad catalogues, and read student evaluations of study abroad programs.
The report of the Harvard College Curricular Review of April 2004 recommends that there be an expectation “that all Harvard College students pursue a significant international experience during their time in the College.” This recommendation is based on our belief that for students to make the most of the opportunities available in the globalized world of the 21st century, they must develop global competence – knowledge about and an empathetic appreciation of another culture, together with the ability to work as part of a team across cultural boundaries. The best way to develop such global competence is to have firsthand experience living abroad.
One of the very best options for such international experience is study abroad, during the academic year or in the summer. Returned students report that they gain greater self-reliance, increased self-confidence and a network of new friends and contact abroad. They develop a deeper understanding of their own society as they have new opportunities to see their own culture from a new perspective. Many discover compelling research topics based on their knowledge of a different cultural, political and economic system.
There are different paths to this kind of experience, and Harvard supports students who wish to find opportunities for service, research, or internships abroad, as well as opportunities for study. OIP will help you to decide which of these options might work best for you, and direct you to other sources of help at Harvard.
Planning to spend time abroad is one of the most exciting things you will do while you are at Harvard. This Guide will help you get started – and we look forward to welcoming you to the office to discuss the extraordinary opportunities available to you.
1. Eligibility
Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors, and Transfer Students are eligible for study abroad. Transfer Students must complete at least four semesters at Harvard. Freshmen must attend Harvard for one year before studying abroad. Students who have satisfactory academic and disciplinary records for the term preceding their time away may be approved to study abroad.
2. Credit
You must apply for credit and be approved by OIP before you begin your studies abroad.
Retroactive credit will not be granted. The maximum total amount of credit you may earn for
study abroad is eight half-course credits. You can earn up to two half-course credits for
summer study, and up to four half-course credits for each term abroad.
Harvard Credit Application Deadlines are:
October 15th for Spring Term
March 15th for Summer, Fall, and Academic Year
(or the Friday before, if these dates fall on a weekend)
The term away from Harvard will be counted as one of your eight required terms at Harvard if you
transfer back a full course load (four half-course credits per semester).
Acceleration Fee: If you earn less than a full semester’s credit while you are studying abroad, and wish to use extra course credits earned in previous Harvard semesters to make up the missing credits, you will be charged an acceleration fee at the current semester tuition rate for those credits. Students who do not receive full credit for a semester abroad may attend Harvard Summer School to earn missing credits without paying acceleration fees. Refer to Harvard College Handbook for Students for information on the acceleration fee.
You must take courses abroad for a letter grade if it is possible to do so in order to receive credit. Courses graded Pass/Fail will not be credited unless that is the only grading option. Study abroad course titles will not be listed on your Harvard transcript; the name of the institution or program abroad will be given with the total number of credits transferred. The grades will not be figured into your grade point average (GPA), nor will they be considered in calculating the requirements for honors degrees.
The official transcript of your academic term(s) abroad should be mailed by your study abroad program or university to the OIP (not to the Harvard College Registrar). We cannot accept unofficial transcripts. Your credit will be posted to your Harvard transcript, and the transcript will be sent to the Office of the Senior Tutor of your house for your permanent academic file.
When you return, you will be asked to complete an evaluation of your term abroad that can be shared with prospective study abroad students. Since this an important resource for us and for other students, we will hold your credit until you have completed the evaluation.
3. Language Requirements
Students studying in non-Anglophone countries are required to take either a language course in a language of the host country or a content course taught in a language of the host country. You are strongly encouraged to complete at least one year of study in a language of the host country before going abroad, though this is not required.
4. Core Reduction
The Core requirement is reduced by one course for each full term of study abroad towards the Harvard degree.
5. Financial Aid
During the academic year, financial aid may be transferred for study abroad, provided that you are earning a full semester or year of credit and present financial need.
6. Harvard Student Services Fee
This fee will be charged each semester to students who plan to transfer any amount of credit from abroad, and will be posted to their term bill at the beginning of the semester abroad. The fees are nonrefundable. You will be on study leave while studying abroad.
7. Health insurance is required
You may continue your coverage through Harvard or your current provider. For information on Harvard University Group Health Insurance plans, contact UHS Member Services at 617.495.2008. Check that you will be covered throughout the period that you are away from Harvard. Suggestions for additional or alternative insurance plans are available on page 12 of the Harvard College Study Abroad Pre-departure Handbook.
Study abroad is most rewarding as part of a coherently planned undergraduate education, rather than “time out.” Since you declare your concentration at Harvard at the end of your first year, we suggest that planning for a study abroad experience should be part of the planning process from the beginning of your time here. There are opportunities for students in all disciplines, and in all parts of the world, and we suggest that you begin the process by considering what your priorities are, what you hope to achieve abroad, and how you can best enhance your education by accessing the extraordinary opportunities available to you abroad.
In this age of globalization, an understanding of cultural difference and an ability to function in different societies is crucial for success in all fields. Social scientists and humanists can study in classrooms abroad with their peers, take part in programs designed to introduce them to aspects of other cultures that might not find their way into university curricula, or take intensive language programs. We can help scientists put classroom experiences together with work in laboratories or in the field. We begin our advising conversations in OIP with the assumption that the experience of study abroad should be as challenging and stimulating as study at Harvard, but that the nature of the challenge may be quite different.
Internet links to programs that are approved for Harvard credit can be found here. The office of International Programs maintains a library of university catalogues and program brochures. Returned students have written program evaluations that are available for you to read, they have given their email addresses and are willing to talk to you about their experiences. The OIP staff is always interested in discussing program options with you, and if you are interested in a university or program that is not listed on the approved list of programs, you may, with guidance, petition for credit approval.
There are four types of study abroad options:
1. Direct Enrollment as a visiting student in a Foreign University
This option is best for independent students who are confident about applying directly to a
university as a visiting student, and making arrangements for their courses and housing
through the university visiting student office, which may offer a range of services similar
to study abroad program sponsors. In non-Anglophone countries, both the language barrier
and the differences between educational systems can present challenges to direct enrollment.
2. Enrollment in a foreign university through a program sponsored by Harvard or another sponsor
Students who want to enroll directly in a foreign university and take regular courses offered by the university faculty
may apply through a study abroad program that will provide assistance with all aspects of the semester or year abroad.
Study abroad program sponsors typically offer an orientation to the new location, arrange housing, provide academic
advising for course selection and enrollment, offer a range of cultural activities, and provide 24 hour contact
support.
3. Enrollment in a program designed for U.S. college students
In circumstances where for a wide range of reasons it is not possible for students to be directly enrolled
with their peers in a university abroad, there are many programs specially designed for U.S. college students.
These may focus on language acquisition or on a specific discipline, set of issues, or on the culture of the
host society. The classes are usually modeled on American pedagogy, and assessment and expectations are familiar.
Students can go through such programs to countries whose language they have not had an opportunity to learn,
and can use this opportunity to fulfill a range of academic and personal goals.
4. Enrollment in a field-based study abroad program
Often located in parts of the world where university study is not easily arranged, or where biological or
environmental resources are available, field-based programs bring together a small group of U.S. students who
pursue a field of inquiry that is related to the location. Students with backgrounds and interests in the arts,
anthropology, religion, economic and international development, social justice, public health, gender studies,
regional and area studies, government, and environmental sciences may find field-based programs rewarding.
These semester or year-long programs are intensive and usually offer a combination of theoretical and hands-on
work.
Summer study abroad is very popular with Harvard students, and a wide range of programs are available.
Direct enrollment in a foreign university is not usually possible in the summer since the concept of summer
school is not wide-spread, but students will find everything from archeological field schools to the general
course at the London School of Economics open to them.
The Harvard Summer School offers study abroad programs that are conducted by Harvard faculty. Students apply
directly to the Summer School and earn Harvard credit. Other summer study abroad options are listed on the
OIP website. Typically summer programs that are offered for U.S. college students abroad last six to eight
weeks. Harvard will not credit any program less than four weeks long.
Applying to a University or Program Abroad
You will apply directly to the foreign university or study abroad program of your choice and submit a credit application to OIP to gain pre-approval for credit. These are separate processes. You do not need to have been admitted to your foreign university or study abroad program before you submit your application for Harvard credit. Obtain application materials for your university or study abroad program from OIP, or directly from the program. Some program applications are online.
The deadlines for applying to study abroad for summer, fall or the full-year are usually in March; spring semester deadlines are usually in October. Most programs have rolling admissions, so the earlier you submit your materials, the better your chances of securing a space in the program.
Your foreign university or study abroad program will provide information about available classes. While you will probably be taking concentration courses, we would also encourage you to expand your knowledge of the host country by taking courses that will help you understand its culture, history, and values. All students in non-Anglophone countries must take a course in a local language.
Programs and universities will provide information about the kinds of housing available for visiting students. Common options include a university dormitory, an apartment outside the university, or a homestay with a local family. The availability of different options depends on local conditions and customs. Ask people who are familiar with the university or study abroad program, such as students who have returned and program advisors, to gain a perspective on the student lifestyle and where local students live, campus environs, and academic demands. Ask about the location of each kind of housing option: is it in a city, in a suburb, or in the countryside, on or off campus, with or without a reasonable commute? How much does each cost?
Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors, and Transfer Students are eligible for study abroad. Transfer Students
must complete at least four full semesters at Harvard. Freshmen must attend Harvard for one year before
studying abroad. Students in good standing who have satisfactory academic and disciplinary records for the
term preceding their time away may be approved to study abroad.
Academic calendars elsewhere vary from Harvard’s schedule. The British academic year runs from October to
late June in most cases, and at most institutions is divided into three terms, although European Union institutions
are currently undergoing a process of semesterization which will result in two terms, October to late January
and February to June – already the most common calendar in France, Spain, and Italy. In Australia and New
Zealand, as well as the Southern Cone of Latin America, the academic year starts in February, there is a winter
break in July, and the second semester ends in November. These differences in academic calendar will influence
decisions for students who are enrolling directly. Programs designed specifically for Americans usually follow
the US academic calendar.
For study abroad in the spring, Harvard January exams may conflict with the start date of the spring semester.
The OIP can advise you how to make arrangements to take your exams in absentia.
Full year programs: The benefits of spending a year abroad are enormous, especially if you are studying
in foreign language. Only with time can you integrate into a different society, and the only regret that many
students express about their study abroad experience is that they did not decide to stay the full year.
Single semester programs: Depending on the academic calendar abroad, your progress toward your degree in
your concentration, and your extracurricular commitments at Harvard, one semester may work better than the other
for you to be away from Harvard. The OIP staff will help you sort through the possibilities.
Summer study: For many students summer provides an opportunity to pursue a program of special interest
such as art history or environmental science, to develop language skills, or to explore a region of the world.
Because summer sessions are shorter and rarely integrated with local students at a university abroad, summer
programs cannot provide the same number or variety of courses or the same level of cultural integration as semester
programs, but there are some wonderfully innovative and exciting opportunities available.
Students who study in non-Anglophone countries are encouraged to complete at least one year of study in a language of the host country before going abroad. All are expected to take either a language class in a language of the host country or content classes taught in a language of the host country. Most students who study in French, German, and Spanish-speaking countries take all their classes in the host country language, and all Harvard students are encouraged to integrate as much as possible with their local peers, and to challenge themselves by making serious language study a priority, whether they are in their fifth year of Spanish or their first semester of Twi.
Harvard Credit
Harvard Credit Application and Deadlines
The application for Harvard credit is located at OIP and on the website in the “forms” menu. OIP advisers will assist you with the application, which requires:
1. the name of the university or program and dates of study
2. a list of courses you propose to take
3. the signature of the Concentration Head Tutor/Director of Undergraduate Studies indicating which courses, if any, will count toward concentration requirements; and
4. the signature of the Allston Burr Senior House Tutor
You must apply and be approved for Harvard credit for study abroad before you begin your studies abroad. Retroactive credit will not be granted. Harvard Credit Application Deadlines are:
October 15th for Spring Term
March 15th for Summer, Fall, and Academic Year
(or the Friday before, if these dates fall on a weekend)
You can earn a maximum of eight half-course credits for study abroad. You can earn up to two half-course
credits for summer study, up to four half-course credits for one term of study, and up to eight half-course
credits for an academic year.
You can earn concentration and elective credit. Some departments pre-approve courses without conditions,
while others may ask you to submit a syllabus, final papers, and reading lists for courses taken abroad before
finalizing your credit. Courses need to meet certain standards in order to receive Harvard credit; the OIP and
faculty advisers can provide guidance if you have any questions.
Internship courses taken abroad must be pre-approved by the Office of International Programs. Approved
internship courses will include substantial academic components, such as a research paper, and the credit
earned for the internship course will be awarded based on the assessment of the academic work completed.
Speak with an advisor in the OIP if you wish to have an internship course considered for Harvard credit.
You must take all your courses for a letter grade if it is possible to do so in order to receive credit.
Courses graded Pass/Fail will not be credited unless that is the only grading mode offered.
Beginning Fall 2005,
both the name of the university or program where you studied and the titles of courses that you took abroad will be listed
on your Harvard transcript. Grades for these courses will not appear on your transcript, nor will they be
figured into your Harvard grade point average. Do bear in mind, though, that should you apply to graduate school, you will be
required to submit your study abroad transcript with your application.
The official transcript of your academic term(s) abroad should be mailed directly from your study abroad
program or host university to the OIP (not to the Harvard College Registrar). We cannot accept an unofficial
transcript. Your credit will be posted to your Harvard transcript, and the original transcript will be sent
to the Office of the Senior Tutor of your house for your permanent academic file.
The term away from Harvard will be counted as one of your eight required terms at Harvard if your program involves
a full course load (four half-course credits per semester). Normally, students pursue a full-time program of study
while away. “Full time” is defined by the course load requirements set by the study abroad program for participants or
by the overseas university for its own degree students, often 6-9 credits for summer; 15-16 credits for a semester and
32 credits for a year.
If you earn less than a full semester’s credit while you are studying abroad, and you wish to use extra course credits
earned in previous semesters to make up the missing credits, you will be charged the current semester tuition rate for
those credits. This is referred to as an Acceleration Fee. Students who do not receive full credit for a semester abroad
but who wish this to count as one of their Harvard semesters, and who wish to make up the credit during the summer, may
attend Harvard Summer School and not pay acceleration fees. Refer to the sections about the acceleration fee in the
Harvard College Handbook for Students.
Students who earn one or two full (4 half-course) terms of Harvard credit for study abroad may reduce the Core requirement by one course for each full term of credit. However, a student may not omit more than one course in each of the following clusters on the basis of study abroad:
- Foreign Cultures, Literature and Arts A, Literature and Arts B, Literature and Arts C
- Historical Study A, Historical Study B, Moral Reasoning, Social Analysis
- Quantitative Reasoning, Science A, Science B
A student who reduces the Core requirement by fewer than two courses may apply to satisfy the Foreign Cultures
area requirement on the basis of summer study abroad or a partial term of credit for study abroad in a non-Anglophone
country.
To satisfy the Foreign Cultures requirement through study abroad, a student must complete either one language course
at the intermediate level or above and one course on the culture of the host country, or two courses on the culture
of the host country. In either case, one of the courses must focus on the modern culture of the host country.
Students file an application with the Core Program office after their program of study abroad has been completed.
Students completing the Foreign Language Citation in a modern language may satisfy the Foreign Cultures Core
requirement by submitting an application to the Core Program Office, 38 Kirkland Street, 617.495.2563.
Students earning credits for a term of Study Abroad for which they are also reducing their Core requirement by
an area may use a maximum of two courses from such a program towards the Foreign Language Citation alternate for
Foreign Cultures.
Many of the language departments offer programs to earn a foreign language citation. Those languages in which citations are offered and the specific requirements for each are listed in the Harvard College Handbook for Students. Courses taken abroad may be counted toward a foreign language citation with the approval of the language department. All courses counting toward the Citation must be completed with letter grades of B- or better. Students must complete a Foreign Language Citation Study Plan with the Head Tutor or Director of Undergraduate Studies of the relevant department and file this form with the Office of the Registrar no later than the deadline for degree applications in their final term in the college. Study abroad courses that satisfy the requirements for a citation may also be counted toward concentration requirements.
It is sometimes possible to do a Harvard Independent Study supervised by a member of the Harvard faculty while abroad. This requires a Petition for Independent Study, signed by your Head Tutor/Director of Undergraduate Studies and House Senior Tutor, which you submit with the credit application to request approval for Harvard credit for study abroad. Up to one-half of your study out of residence may be independent study credit. Forms are available from your Senior Tutor’s office.
All students who study abroad will be assessed the non-refundable Harvard College student services fee for each semester abroad, which will be billed by the Harvard student billing office and be payable to Harvard. Students who receive financial aid should include this expense in their budget of expenses for study abroad. If you are not receiving financial assistance from Harvard, your student services fee will be payable by you directly to Harvard, and your tuition and expenses will be payable by you directly to the program or university that you attend.
Harvard Financial Aid for Study Abroad
The Harvard College Financial Aid Office is located on the 3rd floor of Byerly Hall, 617.495.1581.
During the academic year, the Financial Aid Officer for study abroad is Aurelio Ramirez,
aramirez@fas.harvard.edu,
and for summer study abroad, Catharine Sweeney, csweeney@fas.harvard.edu.
If you receive financial aid from Harvard, you may be eligible for aid while studying abroad, depending upon the cost
of your program. Aid amounts will be based on the usual evaluation of parent and student contributions. Since the
cost of most programs is less than the cost of attending Harvard, you may receive less aid than for a semester at Harvard.
If the costs of attending a study abroad program exceed those of Harvard, you can discuss the matter with the Financial
Aid officers. Students who study abroad receive scholarship funds in lieu of semester work expectations.
To apply for financial aid for study abroad, submit the Study Out of Residence Supplement Form (available at OIP and on
the OIP website, www.fas.harvard.edu/~oip) to the Harvard College Financial Aid Office in Byerly Hall. The study abroad
financial aid deadlines are:
May 1 for study abroad during the fall or academic year
November 15 for studying abroad in the spring
(or the Friday before, if these dates fall on a weekend)
Read the Financial Aid Guide for Pre-Departure, available at OIP and on the website, which explains the study abroad
award letter, your term bill, and what to do if you have problems with financial aid while you are studying abroad.
You have primary responsibility for ensuring that your student loan(s) do not go into repayment while you are studying
out of residence. The lenders for your loans will need to receive written enrollment verification directly from your
study abroad program/institution. For more information, call the Harvard Student Loan Office at 617-495-3782.
Scholarship and Fellowships for Study Abroad
Information about scholarships and fellowships for study abroad is available at OIP in our scholarships library
and on the OIP website in the financial aid menu. Some study abroad programs offer merit, minority, or financial
need awards to applicants; these awards are often made to the earliest applicants.
The Office of International Programs administers The Killam Fellowships Residential Academic Exchange Program to Canada.
This fellowship provides awards of up to $10,000 per semester to study at a select Canadian university. For more
information, visit the OIP and Killam's official website.
There are three federal scholarships that will fund undergraduate study abroad for credit: the National Security
Education Program (NSEP), The Freeman-Asia Awards for Study in Asia, and the Benjamin A. Gilman international
Scholarship Program. You must be a U.S. citizen to be eligible to apply.
The National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships are available for study
outside Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada during summer, a semester, and a full year. Winners are
expected to work with a federal agency or other approved office after graduation for a period of time corresponding
to the length of their sponsorship. Harvard undergraduates who would like to submit an application with Harvard
endorsement must bring their completed NSEP materials to the OIP by December 15 for study abroad at any time during
the following year. Information about this grant is available at OIP and on the
NSEP website.
Students with demonstrated financial need wishing to study in Asia may apply for the Freeman-ASIA Awards for Study
in Asia. The objective of this scholarship is to increase the number of American undergraduates who study in East
and Southeast Asia.
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program provides assistance to undergraduate students with the
highest financial need. Students applying for Freeman and Gilman awards must submit their completed applications
with Harvard College financial aid award verification to OIP four weeks before the Freeman and Gilman deadlines for
the summer or next term.
Notify the Senior Tutor of your house in advance of the term you plan to return. Obtain an Application for Returning Students from the Undergraduate Housing Office, University Hall, First Floor South, or from the OIP. Housing applications are due:
- February 1 to return Fall Term
- September 1 to return Spring Term
Students who do not file the application for returning students by the appropriate deadline will be housed on a space-available basis only. It is a good idea to complete the application before leaving campus, at the same time as you file your leave application.
The Harvard College Handbook for Students publishes the dates for course registration for returning students. Students register in person when they return to campus. You will not be allowed to register until all previous term bill and telephone charges have been paid and no loan is in default.
Students who receive financial aid need to plan well in advance to assure that their aid will not be interrupted when they return. Request a financial aid application from the Financial Aid Office by February 1 for the following fall term and by October 1 for the following spring term. Late applicants cannot be assured financial aid. Complete a term bill worksheet, obtained from the Senior Tutor or Assistant Dean and returned to the Student Billing Office, Holyoke Center 556, with payment before August 9 for the fall term return and before January 17 for the spring term return.
Your comments about your study abroad experience are invaluable to your peers and to the staff in the Office of International Programs who advise on study abroad. You will be asked to complete an evaluation of your term abroad that can be shared with prospective study abroad students. This is so important to the student community that we do not send notice of your credit to the Registrar until you have completed this evaluation.
We hope that you will want to put your international experience and intercultural skills to work by becoming a peer advisor for Harvard students who plan to study abroad. Peer advisors spend time each week in the Office of International Programs during regular walk-in hours, meeting students, answering their questions, and helping them explore options and find resources for study abroad. If you are interested in working in our office, please contact OIP at 617.496.2722 or oip@fas.
