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College Study Abroad: FAQ ListFAQ List
What Is College Study AbroadAmeriSpan's College Study Abroad programs are available to college and university students who wish to study abroad for a year, semester, summer, or short-term period. AmeriSpan works with foreign universities and US-based universities, which offer programs outside of the United States. You will attend classes in these foreign universities while earning academic credit to transfer back to your home university.
What Types of CSA Programs Are AvailableThere are three types of College Study Abroad programs offered by AmeriSpan including "Language Only," "Language & Electives" and "Electives Only."
Language OnlyIf you are interested in taking language classes only, this is the best choice for you. For example, you can spend a summer or semester in Costa Rica and take Spanish classes. You will attend classes at a foreign university providing you access to all campus facilities. Although your classmates will be other US and international students, you will also be sharing the campus with local degree-seeking students.
Language & ElectivesThis is the more traditional study abroad program where you will enroll in both language classes and one or more electives. This is best if you wish to fulfill certain credits for your major while simultaneously learning the language that surrounds you. Depending on the program, electives may be offered in English, the local language or a combination of English and the local language. In order to take electives in the local language, you must have an advanced language level. You will attend classes at a foreign university providing access to all campus facilities. Your classmates for language classes and electives taught in English will be US and other international students. If you take classes in the local language, you will normally be enrolled in the same classes as local degree-seeking students, depending on the program.
Electives OnlyIf you already speak the local language well you will not need to take any language classes. The most common examples are in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom or Australia. However, if you are an advanced-level foreign language speaker you can take "Electives Only" in most programs not located in English-speaking countries. Usually classes are held at a foreign university campus and you can take classes alongside local, degree-seeking students and other international students.
Are Scholarships Available?Yes, we offer scholarships for AmeriSpan's CSA programs as well as our other programs. Information can be found here.
Am I able to Use Financial Aid?Yes, you are able to use financial aid for study abroad programs, including the ones offered by AmeriSpan. Information can be found here.
I'm not a College Student Can I Participate?The College Study Abroad programs are only for college students. However, AmeriSpan offers many other programs that are open to participants of all ages and education levels including language programs, volunteer and internship placements, teenager study abroad and programs for professionals (medical, business & educators).
Why Are Your CSA Prices Lower Than Other Organizations?As you search for a study abroad program, you'll likely note that prices vary by provider. Some organizations have a larger overhead, employ their own staff on-site, may offer some extras, spend more on catalogs & marketing, and/or require a higher profit margin. Each year, AmeriSpan sends thousands of people abroad on a variety of educational travel programs including CSA programs. Since College Study Abroad programs are not our only product and we keep our overhead at a minimum, we are able to operate with much smaller margins. In addition, we pride ourselves on evaluating and working closely with the local staff at partner organizations so we don’t need to employ additional on-site staff. This allows AmeriSpan to price our CSA programs below most other study abroad organizations even though you will be attending the exact same university.
What is the minimum age requirement?You must be 18 years of age to enroll in any of our College Study Abroad Programs. Additional requirements may apply, such as one-year completion at a university.
Will I be safe studying abroad?Our College Study Abroad programs are designed to allow students to have an independent cultural experience while they are simultaneously involved in the community of an institution of higher education. You will have the security and support system of on-site staff at the university and you will also have several opportunities for independent travel and immersion. Upon arrival to your programs, you will be given an extensive orientation providing you with crucial information and guidelines. However, you need to remember that when traveling independently abroad, you must be responsible for your own well-being and safety. Also, you must be careful because laws, customs, etc. are different than at home.
Will there be time for traveling and excursions?You will certainly have the time to travel throughout the country during weekends and university holidays. Some of our programs offer great opportunities for travel by offering exciting trips and excursions. In addition, organizations and clubs within the institution also offer opportunities for travel. Make sure to explore all the options the university presents! If you wish to travel on your own you can always consult with the program director/study abroad staff. They can provide travel tips and information.
How far should I apply in advance?Although most of our College Study Abroad programs are offered for almost every semester and summer term it is important that you send in the application and any additional information to us no later than the deadline specified on our site. It is essential to note that because these programs are similar to your own college or university programs, applications must be handled in a timely manner.
Do I need to get my program pre-approved by my University?It is very important that you gain approval from your Study Abroad Advisor before registering for any AmeriSpan College Study Abroad program. This is to ensure that your university will accept coursework and an official transcript from the foreign university program.
Are your programs accredited?Yes, each of our programs is fully accredited.
Will my credits transfer?After the completion of your College Study Abroad program, your transcripts will be forwarded to your home institution and your study abroad credits will be applied to your transcript. Please be sure to provide us with the correct address of your school.
How many credits will I receive?Final determination relies with your home college but usually every 15 classroom/contact hours equals one semester credit. For example: If you participate in a semester program which has 200 – 270 contact hours, we would expect you to receive 13 to 18 credits.
How do I convert Semester credits to Quarter credits?The general rule is that each semester credit is worth 1.5 quarter credits so if you receive 8 semester credits, then that would convert to 12 quarter credits. Or another way to look at it is that every 10 classroom/contact hours translates to 1 quarter credit.
My college works with the same university as AmeriSpan but the price is much higher and they say I can’t use AmeriSpan?We have seen this situation where universities try to refuse to grant credit or approve financial aid, even though the program is exactly the same. The bottom line is if your university accepts a foreign university’s transcript for one students, they really have to accept it from all students, assuming grades, etc are comparable. Talk to the registrar and explain what is happening.
What if I don’t have enough time to study abroad?If you do not have enough time to dedicate to a year long, semester, or summer program, we offer two options to obtain academic credit for foreign language classes. First, we offer short-term "language only" at foreign universities. These programs are usually offered in 4-week cycles with specific start dates. You will receive a transcript from the university making this the simplest way to earn academic credit.Secondly, we offer Language Immersion programs at private language institutes throughout the world. These institutes offer flexible study schedules and many start dates but you will not receive a transcript from a foreign university. To receive credit for your program, you will need to do one of the following:
College Study Abroad Programs
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