Magellan Exchange
Semester (or Year) Abroad
Dr. Christy
Office of International Affairs
211 Powers Hall
tcchristy@una.edu
256-765-5217
Why Choose Magellan?
 You can study 1 or 2 semesters at a partner university
abroad for the price of UNA tuition
 There will be no disruption of your student loan,
scholarships, financial aid, etc.
 You can take classes in either English or the host country
language that transfer to UNA
 You will possibly spend less than at UNA since you will have
no car expenses, and will pay no UNA fees other than the
technology fee
 You will have access to student-discounted public
transportation
 You will have countless travel and cultural enrichment
opportunities
Getting There
You can apply for a UNA Study Abroad
Scholarship which provides $800 you can apply
toward your airfare. Fall Semester application
deadline is November 1 (Spring Semester
deadline is February 15)
Room and Board
Housing options vary, depending on the
university. Expect to pay approximately the
same amount you would pay for on-campus
housing at UNA. Typical options include:
Dormitory
Living with a host family
Sharing a house or apartment
The cost of food is approximately the same as
you would pay for a UNA Meal Plan.
Classes Abroad
Many classes are taught in English. A
comprehensive list of classes taught in English at
all our Magellan partner universities is available
here:
http://www.magellanexchange.org/Students/St
udents%20Additional%20Resources.aspx
Language and culture classes, as well as
academic classes taught in the language of the
host university are also available.
Calendar Considerations
When planning your semester (or year) abroad,
please consult (at www.magellanexchange.org)
the Calendar for each of the universities you’re
considering since, in some cases, the fall
semester continues into late January or early
February. This is the case, for example, with our
partner universities in Germany and Spain. If
either of these is your destination, you should
choose spring semester.
Registering for Classes
You will register, and pay your tuition, at UNA by
signing up for 12 hours of Study Abroad as follows:
SA 499 (05) = 5 credit hours of study abroad
SA 499 (04) = 4 credit hours of study abroad
SA 499 (03) = 3 credit hours of study abroad
5 + 4 + 3 = 12 credit hours
Some partners allow you to take more than 12
hours, but 12 is the definition of full time student,
required for your visa.
Credit for Classes Taken Abroad
Before departing you will meet with your advisor in
the Major, and with me, to determine possible
course equivalencies. This will be recorded on the
Study Abroad Academic Pre- Approval form. Since
foreign transcripts are typically not available in time
to assign grades, you will receive the grade
Incomplete for your classes abroad. These
Incompletes will be changed to the appropriate
letter grade, for the equivalent UNA course, once
your transcript has been evaluated.
Visa Requirements
For most countries, you will need to obtain a visa before
departing. To obtain a visa for France you must appear at the
French Consulate in Atlanta for your visa interview. For a visa
to Spain you must have an FBI background check andgo to the
Spanish Consulate in Houston, Texas. No visa is required for
Americans to study in Germany. Details of the protocol for
obtaining a visa are handled on a case by case, country by
country basis. The fee for a visa is typically $100 to $150. For
visa requirements check http://travel.state.gov/
In the course of applying for a visa you will need your letter of
acceptance from the host institution as well as a statement
(from parents/guardian/bank) guaranteeing your financial
support.
Application to the Host University
Once you have been accepted and placed by the
Magellan Exchange, you will be contacted by the
host university to fill out their online application
form. Upon approval you will receive a Letter of
Acceptance that you will need to obtain your
visa.
Details about Housing
Once your application to the host university has
been accepted, you will be contacted by their
office of international affairs regarding housing
options and prices.
Mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation
At this meeting, typically held on a Saturday
morning, you and your parents will be informed on
all aspects of the study abroad experience, and you
will also have an opportunity to ask any questions
you may have. Practical issues will be discussed
such as withdrawing money abroad, plug adaptors,
cell phones, how to call home, seeking medical
assistance, using public transportation, etc.
Medical Release and iNext Insurance
Before departure you must have a physical
exam, either at the Student Health Center or
with your own doctor, and complete and have
notarized a Medical Release Form which
confirms your fitness to undertake travel
abroad. Many Notaries are available on campus,
including in the Office of International Affairs,
where Ms. Marthaler will assist you. She will
also issue your iNext Insurance policy.
Questions? Preguntas? Fragen?
Wenti?
Many questions that come to mind regarding a
partner university abroad can best be answered
by consulting their webpage at
www.magellanexchange.org
Here you will find information about classes,
scheduling, fees, and more.
Useful Addresses
• http://travel.state.gov/
• http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/t
w_1764.html
• http://studentsabroad.state.gov/
• http://cdc.gov
Thank you! Merci! Gracias! Xie xie!
Obrigado! Arigato! Danke!