The Application

Applying to a study abroad term is NOT like applying to universities!

The majority of our programs are not competitive.  Think of these application processes as being vetted and cleared to sign up for an activity.

Confused about the application process, or what to do first?  Take a look at our application cycle flowchart!

 

Basic Requirements of the Application:

  • Personal information, including an emergency contact
  • Short statement of purpose or interest.
  • A plan for the expenses while abroad

Please note that once the UMBC Study Abroad Application has been completed a $100 application fee will be charged.  This fee is non-refundable.  After applying, should you delay or move your study abroad experience to another semester, your original fee will apply to the new study abroad term.  To view all study abroad fees, please click here.

 

What to Expect When Applying To..

What should you know about faculty-led programs?

  1. These programs are a great fit for most students!
  2. If you could take this class on campus at UMBC, you can take this class as a study abroad!  As long as you meet any enrollment requirements of the class (such as pre-req classes, or passing pre-req classes with a certain grade) you can enroll to this study abroad class!

You will be asked to answer a few easy, short questions.  These questions are asked by the faculty running the program to learn a little more about you and your interest in the class.

Transcript Requirement: Official Transcript

What should you know about UMBC Exchange programs?

  1. These programs have a few more requirements than most of the other programs.
  2. If you have not yet completed your advising requirement with our office, please schedule an advising appointment to learn more about this application and receive any assistance you may need with it.
  3. You will be asked to answer a few short answer questions about yourself, your interest in this program, and the location you have chosen.

That sounds SCARY! (Hint: It isn’t!)

If your application requires you to submit faculty letter(s) of recommendation, your reference will either be asked to write a letter on your behalf, or complete an electronic questionnaire form sent to them through your program application.  These questions are to get the perspective of this person on your abilities and your history in an academic setting.

We have a few suggestions for navigating this process!

  • Give your reference as much heads up as possible for your recommendation request!  The more time the better, but we recommend you give them at least 2 weeks in between when the request is made of them and when the recommendation is due to the Education Abroad Office for your application.
  • Make sure to contact this person separately from the automatic request email that they will receive from the program.  It not only adds a personal touch to your request, but makes sure that the request form isn’t ignored or accidentally labeled as spam.
  • Request recommendation from someone who you have a relationship with outside of basic classroom interactions.  If no one immediately comes to mind, now is a great time to start forging these relationships!  If you are requesting a reference from a professor, having conversations about assignments, attending office hours, requesting feedback on your work, or discussing potential research topics are great ways for your professor to start to get to know you.
  • If choosing a professor, we also recommend you choose a professor based on a class you did well in, or anticipate doing well in if it is a current professor.  You should choose a professor who can talk about your ability to succeed academically or in difficult situations.
  • Your reference does not necessarily have to be a professor.  In some cases other references may be appropriate, however professionals in academic settings are typically appropriate.  If you are thinking of requesting a recommendation from someone from another setting, please contact us at educationabroad@umbc.edu to discuss whether or not this person would be acceptable.

 

Transcript Requirement: Official Transcript

What should you know about ISEP Exchange programs?

  • There will be an additional application with ISEP.  This application is typically done simultaneously with our application.
  • If you have not yet completed your advising requirement with our office, please schedule an advising appointment to learn more about this secondary application and receive any assistance you may need with it.  You can view ISEP’s information about their application here.
  • For the UMBC application, you will be asked to answer a few short answer questions about yourself, your interest in this program, and your interest in your chosen top locations.

Transcript Requirement: Unofficial Transcript

What should you know about affiliate programs?

  • There will be an additional application with the affiliate provider.  This application is typically done simultaneously with our application.
  • If you have not yet completed your advising requirement with our office, please schedule an advising appointment to learn more about this secondary application and receive any assistance you may need with it.
  • For the UMBC application, you will be asked to answer a few short answer questions about yourself, your interest in this program, and your interest in your chosen location.