The first step in the process to study off campus is to make an appointment with your advisor to discuss program options that best suit your academic goals.

Application Process

Read the Off-Campus Study Checklist for a complete timeline of the application process. All documents and information can be found in the IPO or on the IPO website.

Students must complete two applications:
1) The first application is to the College for permission to study off campus. The complete Off-Campus Study Application packet is available at the IPO in 107 Babcock, and is downloadable from the IPO website.
2) The second application is to the specific program to which the student is applying. The student is responsible for submitting the program application directly to the provider and making a copy for the IPO.

College Policies for Off-Campus Study

1) Financial Aid: The College of Wooster will apply all financial aid to one endorsed off-campus program (semester or year-long) for each student who meets the criteria listed below in (4) during the four years of study.*

The College of Wooster endorses a wide variety off-campus programs, both domestic and abroad. Endorsement of a program means that credit will transfer back to the College and appear on the student's College transcript. While the College runs some programs of its own, most are offered by other providers. Links to endorsed programs can be found on the IPO website.*

2) Billing: The amount of tuition that will be billed by The College of Wooster for an Endorsed Program will be equal to the tuition portion of Wooster's Comprehensive Fee, or the program's actual tuition charge, whichever is higher. Other fees billed by the College of Wooster will be based on the off-campus study program's non-tuition fees. All financial aid will be applied (see (1) above) to endorsed programs. Exception: Students enrolling in Global Student Teaching will pay all GST fees plus the Wooster Off-Campus Study Administrative Fee (see (3) below). GST students are not eligible for Wooster financial aid.

3) Administrative Fee: An Off-Campus Study Administrative Fee equal to 1% of the Wooster Comprehensive Fee will be assessed to defray the cost of arranging Wooster's participation in the program, granting course credit for the program, maintaining the student's registration records, coordinating the billing and payment of fees, and carrying out other administrative tasks related to the program.

4) To study off campus, students must meet the following criteria:*

Sophomore or Junior standing while participating in the program
Minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (some programs require a higher GPA)
Good standing under the College's Codes of Academic Integrity and Social Responsibility
Submission of all Off-Campus Study Application forms by March 1
Attendance at the Pre-Departure Orientation
Completion of an Off-Campus Program Evaluation, to be submitted electronically to the IPO upon your return to campus

Note: Students who are placed on academic probation at the end of a semester or academic year prior to their off-campus study program will not be allowed to participate in the off-campus program. If a student leaves an off-campus program for any reason, he/she will not be allowed to return to The College of Wooster for the duration of the approved off-campus program. Depending on the program, students who cancel their participation for any reason may be responsible for all expenses incurred by the program on their behalf and will be required to reimburse funds according to the cancellation penalties.

5) Spring Off-Campus Study: For students wishing to use Wooster financial aid, spring off-campus study enrollment will be limited to 3% of the number of full-time degree-seeking students enrolled at the College during the prior academic year. Students wishing to study off campus in the spring will answer supplemental questions on the application and are not guaranteed a spring spot, even if they meet the above requirements. Selection will take place shortly after the application deadline and students will be informed of this decision as soon as possible.

6) Full-Year Off-Campus Study: Students initially approved for full-year off-campus study may subsequently choose to study off campus only in the fall. If they decide to study off campus only in the spring, they must petition the Dean of the Faculty.

*Petitions for any exceptions to the above requirements, and for permission to transfer financial aid to a non-endorsed off-campus program, must be submitted in writing to the Dean of the Faculty of the College by March 15. Please consult the College Catalogue for further information.

Off-Campus Study Checklist

Application Process

Make an appointment with your academic advisor as soon as possible to discuss off-campus study in your (anticipated) major.

Make an appointment with the Director of the International Programs Office (IPO) at the latest in the fall of the academic year before you intend to study off-campus.

December 1: Declaration of Intent to Study Off Campus. Submit this form to the IPO by this deadline.

March 1: Off-Campus Study Application. Submit your complete application to the IPO by this deadline. The application can be found in the IPO or on the IPO website and includes:

______ Off-Campus Study Application
______ Advisor Clearance , to be completed and signed by your adviser.
______ Release of Liability , to be completed and signed by you AND your parent / guardian.

March 15: Petition for Special Endorsement. Submit this petition to the Dean of the Faculty for special endorsement if your program is not endorsed (see Endorsed Programs list).

Program Application. Before submitting, make a copy of your program application and give it to the IPO. Program application deadlines vary.

Acceptance Letters. You will receive notification from The College of Wooster AND from your program that you have been accepted. Provide a copy of your program's acceptance letter to the IPO.

Before You Leave Campus

Attend the Pre-Departure Orientation. This event is REQUIRED and occurs each semester. See online IPO calendar for dates.

Fill out an Emergency Information Card and submit it to the IPO during your Pre-Departure Orientation. This is REQUIRED.

Get departmental approval for off-campus courses that you intend to transfer toward your major or towards graduation requirements.

Read the following documents available in the IPO or on the IPO website, and be aware of your responsibilities:
______ Fees and Billing for Off-Campus Study Programs (Business Office)
______ Transfer of Financial Aid for Off-Campus Study Programs (Financial Aid Office)
______ Room Selection Upon Return to Campus (Office of Residence Life)
______ Mail Policy for Off-Campus Study (Post Office)
______ Registration for Returning Students and Transferring Academic Credit to Wooster (Registrar's Office)
______ Off-Campus Study Refund Policy

Get a passport if you are leaving the country and you do not already have one that will be valid through your stay abroad (often required after your return). Be sure to verify your country's requirements. Leave yourself enough time for this and for obtaining a visa if necessary.

Check your health insurance coverage. If your program does not require you to purchase additional coverage, check with the Director of the IPO to see if you must purchase CISI coverage through The College of Wooster.

If you will be a first-semester senior upon your return to campus, send a Library Carrel form to Andrews Library.

Internships: If you would like your off-campus study internship to count for academic credit, you must:
______ Receive approval from your home department
______ Petition the Dean of Faculty
______ Register for the internship through the Registrar at The College of Wooster

After Completion of the Program

Transcript: Request that your program or host institution send an official transcript to the Registrar at The College of Wooster.

Credit transfer: You must fill out an Off-Campus Study Credit From and have it approved and signed by your advisor, the Director of the IPO and the Registrar.

Program Evaluation: Fill out a program evaluation and e-mail it to the IPO. Failure to do this before the stated deadline will result in a fine.

Documents to Submit to the IPO:

______ Declaration of Intent (December 1)
______ Complete Wooster OCS Application (March 1)
______ Copy of Program Application
______ Copy of Program Acceptance Letter
______ OCS Address
______ Emergency Information Card
______ Program Evaluation