Advising Students for
Global Education Programs
Thank you for encouraging students to participate in global education. We hope this
guide will be useful as you talk with students about the USC education abroad process.
A Student’s Steps to
Global Education
1. Attend a general information
session led by a Peer Advisor
(held twice daily). This is required
before students can meet with a
Study Abroad Advisor.
2. Identify potential courses to
be taken abroad. If students do
not know which courses they can
take abroad, they should refer to
their academic plans or academic
advisors.
3. Schedule a follow-up
appointment with a Study
Abroad Advisor, who will suggest
programs that meet student’s
requirements and provide
guidance on program registration,
visa requirements, and scholarship
eligibility and application.
4. Research programs which offer
the courses they need using
resources like the Study Abroad
resource library and Study Abroad
website.
5. Prepare for a follow-up
appointment by narrowing
down program preferences and
becoming familiar with program
details, including costs and
academics.
6. Complete the global education
application/registration, and
work with the Study Abroad
Office to prepare for departure.
studyabroad.sc.edu
The University of South Carolina is an equal opportunity institution.
Six Facts About Global Education at USC
1. With planning, students of ALL
majors can study abroad.
2. Our office has more than 1,000
pre-approved programs. If a
student wants to participate in an
independent, non pre-approved
program, they must have an
academically compelling reason and
submit a petition.
3. Students must have completed all
steps in the application process to
be formally approved by USC to
study abroad. The Study Abroad
Approval Form is the final step in
this application process.
4. Students apply for study abroad
one semester in advance — so they
should start planning at least one
year in advance. Be sure to talk
to them as soon as possible about
courses they could take abroad.
5. Students will be authorized to
register for the INTL placeholder
course upon completing all
application requirements. This
course will allow students to
maintain full-time enrollment at
USC and have access to financial aid
while abroad. They do not need to
complete transient paperwork.
6. Credit values vary from country
to country. Typically, we use the
rule that 45 contact hours is equal
to 3 credits. Final credit value is
determined by the department, but
contact our office for guidance.
Program
Types
Global Exchange Program:
Students pay in-state tuition to
USC and pay housing fees to the
partner school. Highly competitive;
very independent.
Our staff is ready to help! Most information can be found on our
website at studyabroad.sc.edu, but feel free to call us at 803-7777557 or stop by our office in Legare 321 with additional questions.
The Course Equivalency
Process, Step by Step
Truth About Financing
Education Abroad
1. Students look at programs of interest
with the Study Abroad Office.
2. Students obtain course descriptions
from their host program or
university, and take syllabi to their
academic advisor for approval.
3. Advisors review syllabi and
determine transfer. A credit
equivalency chart is on our website
for USC exchange partner schools.
4. Students and advisors complete the
Study Abroad Approval Form.
5. Students notify academic advisors
and the Study Abroad Office via
email if courses change while abroad.
• Students studying abroad for a
semester or academic year can utilize
most existing financial aid and
scholarships. To use loans for summer
study abroad, students must take six
credits from the same institution.
• Program costs vary. Some are more
expensive than a semester at USC,
others can be the same or even less
expensive. Cost should NOT be a
barrier. The Study Abroad Office can
help students find a program to meet
their budget.
• Last year, USC students received over
$600,000 in education abroad-specific
funding. Scholarships are offered
through the USC Study Abroad
Office, other USC departments, and
national foundations.
Curriculum Integration
The Study Abroad Office is currently
collaborating with several academic
departments to identify overseas programs
that are strong academic matches to
USC major coursework. Departmental
advisors and faculty review the courses
offered abroad and establish a database of
pre-approved course equivalencies. These
identified programs are then highlighted
and marketed to students as “preapproved”, making it easier for students
to find a program that fits in their plan of
study. Curriculum integration also makes
the study abroad course approval process
easier for academic advisors, as many
course equivalencies will be established in
advance of advising. If your department
is interested in collaborating on such an
initiative, please contact us.
Non-USC Programs
You may be contacted by study abroad
organizations offering programs overseas
for students within your department.
Please note that the only programs
officially sanctioned by USC are those
pre-approved programs listed on our
website. If a non-approved program
approaches you, we ask that you please
contact our office prior to promoting
any external programs to students. If you
are interested in learning more about
pre-approved programs may be strong
academic fits for your students, we are
happy to meet with you to discuss in
more detail.
Global Direct Program: Students
tuition and housing fees directly
to their partner school. Less
competitive; very independent.
Global Partner Program:
Administered by third party
program providers. Tuition is
paid directly to program. Less
competitive; less independent.
Global Classroom Program: Led
by USC faculty, students pay instate tuition to USC and program
fee to the department.
Important
Deadlines
Students must have an application
with the Study Abroad Office to
be formally approved by USC
February 15 : Summer Global
Direct and Global Partner
Programs
March 1 : Summer Global
Classroom Programs and all fall /
academic year programs
May 1 : Spring Global Exchange
Program priority deadline
September 15 : Spring Global
Exchange Programs
October 1 : Spring Global
Partner Programs
November 1 : Spring Break Global
Classroom Programs
December 1 : Capstone Abroad
and International Inquiry Programs