| Are my grades high enough? |
| Le Moyne College requires that their students have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.8 in order to participate in a study abroad program. However, there is no general rule about eligibility for other programs. Some require GPAs as high as 3.5, while others do not. Most students with a GPA of 2.8 or higher will be able to find an array of programs in various locations for which they qualify. |
| Will I receive credit? |
| Normally students receive full credit for their study abroad experience if their courses have been pre-approved in writing. Prior to your departure, you will complete a Course Approval Record that grants approval for course credits from the chair of your major/minor department, Co-director of the core program, the Coordinator of Global Education and the Registrar. |
| How can I find the courses I need? |
| Review your Program Evaluation (found on WebAdvisor) to see what classes are needed to complete your major/minor. Then check with your academic advisor or the chair of your major/minor department to determine which courses you need to take during the semester or year you plan to go abroad. To find similar courses, check the course offerings of the various study abroad programs and see if they appear similar. Then check with the department chair to see if the courses can be used as equivalents. |
| How will the grades I earn abroad impact my Le Moyne GPA? |
| Study abroad participants remain enrolled at Le Moyne throughout their semester or year abroad. Students are typically registered for 15 credits of independent study to serve as a placeholder. The independent study coursework is later replaced by the Le Moyne equivalencies, as indicated on the Course Approval Record, once an official transcript is received by the Registrar’s Office. Students will receive actual letter grades for course work completed abroad, impacting their Le Moyne grade point average, and continuing their eligibility for the Le Moyne College Dean’s List. This way, each student’s transcript accurately reflects his or her participation in Le Moyne’s study abroad program. |
| What study abroad programs are available through Le Moyne College? |
| Le Moyne currently offers programs at the University of Essex and University of Leicester in England, University of Stirling in Scotland, Charles University in the Czech Republic and Pontificia Catolica Universidad Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) in the Dominican Republic. Short-term programs held during the January and May breaks are also available. However, they change yearly. In addition, several new exchange programs are currently being discussed. Read more about these sites on the Le Moyne College programs http://www.lemoyne.edu/academic_advisement/study_abroad/programs.html webpage. |
| Do I have to use a Le Moyne Program? |
| Students are able to study abroad in the country that best suits their academic interests. For those interested in studying in countries in which Le Moyne has exchange programs (England, Scotland, Czech Republic and the Dominican Republic), they must apply to a Le Moyne exchange, provided it offers the student’s major. If not accepted into a Le Moyne program, the student may apply to a non-Le Moyne program once the student is approved by the Department Chair of the student’s major and Coordinator of Global Education. Students choosing not to study in a country in which Le Moyne has an exchange may utilize any program that they receive approval from the department chair of their major and Coordinator of Global Education. |
| May I study in a country where I do not speak the language? |
| You may study in a country where you do not speak the language. However, it is recommended that you have at least some knowledge of the language or plan to study it while abroad. Please note that it can be difficult at times to find appropriate coursework, taught in English, in countries where it is not the official language. |
| Where can I learn about available programs? |
| There are numerous resources available to help you learn about study abroad opportunities. First, review the Le Moyne College Study Abroad Programs http://www.lemoyne.edu/academic_advisement/study_abroad/programs.html webpage to gain a better understanding of Le Moyne’s exchanges. If you want to find out about other programs, visit the Academic Support Center, located in the library, to review numerous study abroad resources, including Academic Year Abroad. You may also want to refer to two excellent websites, http://www.iiepassport.org www.iiepassport.org and http://www.studyabroad.com www.studyabroad.com, to gather more information. |
| Where will I live while I am abroad? |
| That depends entirely on the program. Some programs have students live in residence hall settings, apartments (either with native students or other study abroad participants) or with local host families. Many programs offer some choice among these options. If this impacts your decision, inquire about the each program’s housing guidelines when first researching sites. |
| Can I go for a whole year or just a semester? |
| While most Le Moyne students who go abroad do so for just one semester, some go for a full year. In most cases, it is possible to go for a year if you have assessed your academic plan and started researching programs far enough in advance. The Office of Global Education can provide additional information. |
| Can I only go during my junior year? |
| Most students study abroad during their junior year, but some choose to go during their senior or sophomore years. In some cases, the concentration of major/minor requirements in the junior and senior years can make it simpler to study abroad during your sophomore year. Consult your Academic Advisor for more information on your program of study. |
| Can I study abroad if I am pursuing teacher certification? |
| While it is possible for students with an education concentration to study abroad, it is vital that they begin researching study abroad early. Due to the concentration’s curriculum, many education students find studying abroad during their sophomore year less complicated. At times, juniors can study abroad too however it takes careful planning. |
| Is it very expensive to study abroad? |
| This depends on which program you choose. Students participating in Le Moyne’s England and Scotland programs are charged tuition by Le Moyne and room charges (and board if selected by student) by the host institution. Students participating in Le Moyne’s Dominican Republic and Czech Republic programs will be charged tuition and room by Le Moyne. If participating in non-Le Moyne programs, students will be charged Le Moyne tuition (and room and board if housing and meals are included in the program cost). Le Moyne College will then cover the program costs. If the program costs for the non-Le Moyne study abroad program exceed Le Moyne’s charges, students are responsible for paying the difference. All students are also responsible for additional items, such as airfare, optional excursions, transcript services, etc. |
| How will I know how much the program is going to cost? |
| Once you have selected a study abroad program and completed the Application for Visiting Student Status, you will fill out a Summary of Charges worksheet with the Office of Global Education. This form will indicate how much Le Moyne College will charge you for participating in a specific program. It will also provide you with additional information concerning the study abroad payment process. |
| Can I use my current financial aid while studying abroad? |
| Yes, students utilizing approved study abroad programs will continue to receive financial aid, including Le Moyne scholarships and grants. However, in accordance with state guidelines, students participating in non-Le Moyne programs administered by a college or university outside of New York State will not be eligible for TAP awards or New York state merit scholarships. All study abroad participants can meet individually with Sharon Halpin, Assistant Director of Financial Aid, to review their aid package. |
| Are there any other financial aid sources specifically for study abroad students? |
| A small number of financial aid resources exist specifically for study abroad. In some cases, the grants can be quite sizable. You can get additional information about these scholarships on Le Moyne’s http://www.lemoyne.edu/academic_advisement/study_abroad/resources.html study abroad resources webpage. Some study abroad programs also offer their own scholarships that can be used when the program costs exceed your Le Moyne College charges. Scholarships distributed by the study abroad provider that discount the program’s fee may not reduce your Le Moyne charges. In addition, alternative student loans and/or federal parent loans may be available to handle costs not covered by financial aid. The Office of Global Education or the Financial Aid Office can provide you with additional information relating to funding. |
| Are there any additional costs? |
| All students are responsible for paying their own application fee, airfare, additional excursions, transcript services, optional insurance, and incidental expenses, such as visa and passport applications. |
| When will my payment me due? |
| Students participating in Le Moyne College programs to the Dominican Republic and Czech Republic will receive a bill for tuition and housing at the same time as all other Le Moyne College bills are generated. The fees will be due by the start of Le Moyne’s classes regardless of when the specific study abroad program actually begins.
Students participating in Le Moyne College programs to England and Scotland will receive a bill for tuition at the same time as all other Le Moyne College bills are generated. The Le Moyne College fees will be due by the start of Le Moyne’s classes regardless of when the specific program actually begins. They will also receive a bill for housing (and meal plan, if they opt for one) from the study abroad site. It is usually due upon arrival.
Students participating in non-Le Moyne College programs will receive a bill from Le Moyne for tuition (and room and board if housing and meals are included in the program cost) at the same time as all other Le Moyne College bills are generated. The Le Moyne College fees will be due by the start of Le Moyne’s classes regardless of when the specific study abroad program actually begins. Once the student has fully paid Le Moyne, the College will then issue a check to the study abroad provider for the student’s program costs. If the program costs for the non-Le Moyne program exceed Le Moyne’s charges or if the bill includes additional items such as airfare or transcript services, then the student will also receive a bill from the study abroad provider for these expenses. In such instances, students are responsible for sending payment to the study abroad provider before the program’s deadline regardless of when Le Moyne payment is due. |
| Whose approval will I need? |
| In order to study abroad, you need the approval of the Department Chair of your major and the Office of Global Education. In addition, if you plan to study abroad during your senior year (last 30 hours of your program), you must obtain approval from the Dean overseeing your major department. Failure to get written approval prior to departure may result in the denial of credit and/or financial aid for study abroad. |
| Where do I get the forms I need? |
| All students can obtain an Application for Visiting Student Status form in the Office of Global Education, 342 Reilly Hall. This is needed to obtain initial approval to apply to a particular study abroad program. Following approval to study abroad, students applying to Le Moyne’s programs can pick up an application form in the Office of Global Education. For non-Le Moyne programs, students should contact the program directly to obtain an application form. Once accepted, participants will meet with the Coordinator of Global Education to obtain acceptance paperwork. All required forms for participation in Le Moyne’s study abroad program, which must be completed by the last day of classes during the semester prior to departure, are available in the Office of Global Education. Students also need to complete paperwork for their specific study abroad program. The Coordinator of Global Education is available to assist students in completing this paperwork even when the student is not participating in a Le Moyne program. |
| How will I register for my Le Moyne classes while I am abroad? |
| The Registrar's Office will assist students in registering for the semester they plan to return to Le Moyne. Using WebAdvisor, study abroad participants are able to register in the same manner as all other Le Moyne students. Additional details will be provided during the pre-departure orientation program. |
| Where will I live when I return to Le Moyne? |
| While study abroad students are normally guaranteed on-campus housing upon their return, they will not necessarily receive their preferred choice in housing. The Housing Office can provide students with additional information. The housing guidelines will be discussed during the pre-departure orientation program. |
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