Information for Academic Advisors

Academic advisors play an important role in assisting University of Idaho students through the process and experience of studying abroad.  The Academic Advisor Guide below has been created to walk advisors through the student process of preparing to study abroad and to give advisors the tools to help them during this process.

Academic Advisor Guide for Study Abroad

Steps to Studying Abroad

1. Why Study Abroad?

have a transformational learning experience • gain global citizenship and leadership skills • enhance your academic knowledge • gain cross-cultural understanding • learn a foreign language • network with professionals in your field • make international friendships • increase your employability

2. Preparing for the experience

apply for a passport • with academic advisor, consult major/minor-specific Transformational Learning Maps • take foreign language courses • international CORE courses • regional studies courses • cross-cultural communication courses • start working toward Global Justice Certificate • join the International Student Council or another international groups • become a conversation partner with an international student • attend international events such as India Night & Cruise the World • live in Global Village

3. Research

• Search for a program on the our website

  • Search by country, field of study, or program type, find program terms, fees, etc.

• Attend the bi-annual Study Abroad Fair (early September & late January)

• Program costs

  • Costs vary widely.  Programs typically cost $1200 - $5200 /semester more than a UI semester.

• Scholarships

  • UI International Experience Grants of $1000/semester, year or $750/summer ($141,000 available annually). No application necessary; approximately 1 out of 2 eligible students receive awards.

  • Many departments and colleges provide study abroad scholarships

  • Many national and program scholarships also available

• Program length options

  • academic year - ideal for language acquisition, biggest bang for the buck, and greatest opportunity for cultural assimilation. 

  • semester – good compromise between ideal length and financial feasibility.  Up to 4 semesters of language acquisition in 1 semester of study.

  • summer – a good introduction to international experience

  • faculty-led programs tailored to specific disciplines (summer, fall, winter, & spring breaks)

• Program support

  • Direct enrollment – best for independent students

  • Programs with Resident Directors and Faculty-Led programs - best for students wanting more support.

• Program Eligibility

  • 2.5 GPA for most

  • Language abilities – many programs in non-English-speaking countries offer programs in English

4. Advising

• Attend First-Time Advising Session

  • Group advising held twice a week throughout the academic year by the SAO

• One-on-one advising with a Study Abroad Advisor

  • Monday – Friday           10:00 am – 4:30 pm by appointment
                                            1:00 pm - 4:30 pm no appointments necessary

• Meet with Academic Advisor - discuss credit transfer (see Tools for Advisors below)

• Meet with Financial Aid Advisor – take program cost breakdown from Study Abroad Office to determine financial options.

5. Apply

• Download application

• Deadlines:  As soon as decision is made, programs may fill prior to program deadlines. 

• Application deadlines (may be later than program deadlines):

  • October 15:  spring programs

  • April 1:  fall/academic year/summer programs

6. Post-Application Requirements

• Read Study Abroad Survival Guide and program-specific manual

• Complete mandatory SA forms

7. Financial Aid Process

• SAO sends SA cost breakdowns to Financial Aid (FA) in early November (for spring programs) and April (for summer, fall, and academic year programs)

• Additional aid, if any, usually in the form of loans.

8. Study Abroad Registration

• SAO registers students for generic block of full-time study abroad credits in November (for spring programs) and April (for summer, fall, and academic year programs) 

• Students will register for specific courses directly with host institution or program

• Once UI receives transcript, generic block of SA credits will be replaced by actual courses taken

9. Student Billing

• SAO application and programming fees, UI Direct and Faculty-Led program fees are billed to students’ accounts.

• Program providers (eg. USAC, ISA, etc.) bill students directly for program fees.

10. Attend mandatory pre-departure orientation (early November and mid-April)

safety • health • insurance • cultural assimilation • visas • registration • billing • credit transfer • financial aid • scholarships • travel • packing • foreign educational systems • housing • maximizing the experience

11. Post SA Orientation

reverse culture shock • career planning • campus engagement with international initiatives and groups • educating others about your experience • continuing your international education

Tools for Advisors

1. Credit Approval Process – Advising and Credit Evaluation Form completion –see form for complete instructions

• Students bring course descriptions to advisor

• Advisor checks Credit Transfer Guides to determine if course is already articulated

• If not, advisor determines UI course equivalency,

• or advisor determines upper- or lower-division elective credit (000 course number)

2. Credit Transfer Guides

• Equivalency Guides (scroll to bottom of states on web page and click on Foreign Countries)

• USAC Specialty Programs (Language & Culture Programs)

• USAC Partnership Programs (in development)

3. Transformational Learning Maps – planning tool for when and where specific majors can participate in study abroad, national student exchange, internships, volunteer and service-learning activities (in progress)

4. Student Fulbright Process (in development)

After Study Abroad

1. Academic Advising While Student is Abroad

• E-mail Advising - While abroad, students may need to be advised by email in order to prepare them for their return to the University of Idaho.

• Remove Advisor Registration Hold - They will also need their Advisor Registration Hold removed.  Once the blocks are removed the students can register for classes at the UI for the semester of their return.

2. Study Abroad Transcripts

• After students return, foreign transcripts are sometimes slow to follow.  If study abroad transcripts are not received by June 1, a student's financial aid can be withheld for a following term.  The UI SAO works directly with the UI academic colleges and the Financial Aid Office to ensure that students in this situation have their aid reinstated until their study abroad transcript arrives. 
   

The Study Abroad Office is happy to work with academic advisors to assist with any of the topics discussed above.  Contact UI Study Abroad at 885-7870 or abroad@uidaho.eduif you have any questions.