UMass Boston

Requirements & Procedures

Application Process

  1. Be sure you have created your UMass Boston Abroad Profile
  2. Verify your Eligibility
  3. Check your Academic Requirements
  4. Choose your Program
  5. Get your courses pre-approved for transfer
  6. Apply Now through the UMass Boston Study Abroad Portal (ViaTRM)
  7. Once you have been accepted, complete all post-acceptance requirements and prepare to go abroad.

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements vary from program to program. As you explore programs, look closely at their requirements. Students must:

  • Be in good academic standing (GPA requirements vary by program, and are in general between a 2.5-3.0. Students must check the individual GPA requirements of their program)
  • Not be on probation (academic or disciplinary) during any part of the proposed period of study abroad.
  • Have successfully completed at least one semester at UMass Boston.
  • Transfer students are eligible after they have successfully completed one semester of full-time study at UMass Boston.
  • F-1 International Students: Eligible to study abroad in countries OUTSIDE home country. Must also have travel signature in order to maintain status in the US by seeing your ISSS Advisor.
  • Language Requirements: The majority of study abroad programs do not have a language requirement. Even in non-English speaking countries many programs offer courses in English. Check the individual programs for requirements.

*** Study Abroad Advising & Application Fee $250***

*** All students participating on Reciprocal Exchange, Affiliate, and Alternate Study Abroad Provider Programs or directly enrolling  are required to pay a $250 fee. This fee, along with UMass Boston required forms and documents will assure the following: maintenance of fulltime UMass student status while on approved program abroad; WISER remains active; Financial aid can be applied to overseas program; pre-approval of courses toward the UMass degree program; transcript processing; credits will be interpreted and applied to the UMass transcript upon return. In addition, students are provided with ongoing advising throughout the process. Pre-departure orientations are offered the semester before studying abroad. All UMass Boston students are also covered by UMass International Travel & Emergency Insurance while participating on an approved, overseas program. This fee is NON-REFUNDABLE.

Meet with your Academic Advisor

Eligible students are urged to talk with their faculty advisor as early as possible. You should meet with your advisor and be sure to ask about: 

  • What courses you need to take while abroad to stay on track to graduate? 
  • Which semester/term works for your expected graduation date? 
  • Your audit- look with an advisor to determine if you can save General Education courses for your time abroad?  

Prior Approval of Transfer Credits

You must complete a Undergraduate Study Abroad Prior Approval of Courses Request, in order to have courses you take on an approved study abroad program transfer back towards your degree at UMass Boston. Follow these steps to complete the prior approval form:

  1. Step 1: Consult with your academic advisor about what degree requirements you should try and satisfy during your term abroad to keep you on track.
  2. Step 2: Browse the course offerings from the study abroad program provider or university and select up to 8* classes to include on this form for approval. The Office of Global Programs can help you search through course options in a meeting: studyabroad@umb.edu.
    • *If you end up needing to submit additional courses, you must submit a second prior approval form with ONLY the new courses. DO NOT resubmit courses.
  3. Step 3: Download the Syllabus for every course you are seeking approval for. Save each to your computer and title them with the course number and name. Contact your program abroad for help obtaining the syllabus.>>Forms that do not include attached syllabi will not be reviewed.
  4. Step 4: Download and save the Undergraduate Study Abroad Prior Approval of Courses Request to your computer.
    • Read and sign the acknowledgement. Fill out the student & program information section with your information.
    • Students also complete columns 1-4:
      • Column 1: course title (abroad)
      • Column 2: course number (if available)
      • Column 3: credit amount/credit hours abroad (listed on syllabus)
      • Column 4: if you are seeking plan credit (major/minor) for each course.
        • For Plan Credit- Select YES only if seeking major/minor credit. Select NO if you are only seeking general education or elective credit
    • Save the PDF once completed and title it: "Undergraduate Study Abroad Prior Approval Request- Insert Your First and Last Name"
  5. Step 5: Submit the completed form to the Registrar via email! Printed forms will not be accepted.
  6. Step 6: If you put a YES in column 4 to seeking plan (major/minor) credit: After the initial review from the Registrar external.credit@umb.edu; columns 5 & 6 will be completed, the form signed, and returned to you. You will then be directed to seek approval for the YES courses by your major/minor department. Your major/minor department chair will need to complete columns 7 & 8 and sign under Department Chair on page 3. >>If you answered NO in column 4 the course(s) will be reviewed for general education and/or elective credit only, you do not need to send the form to your major/minor department(s) and can proceed to step 7.
  7. Step 7: Once all courses have been signed off on and approved, send the form to studyabroad@umb.edu. The Office of Global Programs will sign the form and submit it to the Registrar and Financial Aid (finaidstudyabroad@umb.edu)

**Graduate Students: You must use this Graduate Credit Prior Approval Form in order to facilitate the transfer of credits from a study abroad program. 

  • Graduate students have a limit of 6-credits that can be transferred from a direct study abroad program. Students attending approved reciprocal exchange programs, in which you continue paying UMass Boston tuition, may have this requirement waived up to a full semester (9-credits) with the permission of their Graduate Program Director (GPD). 
  • Graduate Students must receive a B or higher in any course taken off-campus to transfer to a graduate program at UMass Boston. No courses can be taken P/F. 

Accreditation and Transfer of Credits

  • For the credit earned to be applied toward UMass Boston degree progress, a grade of C- or higher must be earned in academic work taken off campus. (NO PASS/FAIL!)
  • Programs that carry a U.S. accreditation qualify for credit transfer to UMass Boston. Most study abroad programs are sponsored by an American university and therefore carry that institution's accreditation.
  • Direct enrollment credit transfer must be discussed and approved by a UMass Boston transfer credit evaluator.
  • Credits are awarded to your academic record at UMass Boston, but won't affect your GPA.
  • Courses will NOT transfer from abroad without a prior approval form completed. 
  • Courses that are approved to transfer to UMass Boston will be updated in the student's record once an official transcript has been received by the Office of Global Programs and evaluated by the Registrar. 
  • If your courses from abroad are not appearing in your UMass Boston transcript, please be sure the Office of Global Programs has received your official transcript from abroad. 

If you have questions, please contact us at: studyabroad@umb.edu.