Body
University Policy
Title
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Policy on Administration of International and Domestic Study Abroad and Exchange Programs
Introduction
Purpose
This document lays out policies, defines various forms of international and domestic study abroad programs, and establishes guidelines for the academic criteria and performance associated with participation in a study abroad program. These same special procedures and policies apply to programs of study within the United States when those programs are arranged by and administered through the Study Abroad Office. Throughout this document, the words “study abroad” and “education abroad” are used to describe programs that are taught either stateside or abroad.
Scope
This policy applies to all students enrolled at the University.
Policy
General Provisions
UNC-Chapel Hill’s study abroad programs are high-quality, credit-bearing academic experiences available at hundreds of locations worldwide to students in all academic programs, majors, and minors. Numerous units across campus organize and administer study abroad opportunities for students at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Programs are available through:
- College of Arts & Sciences Study Abroad Office
- Honors Carolina
- Kenan-Flagler Business School
- Hussman School of Journalism and Media
- Gillings School of Public Health
- School of Education
- School of Government
- School of Information and Library Science
- School of Nursing
Program Options
Study abroad programs come in a variety of types:
- Exchange: A program involving reciprocal enrollment of students between UNC-Chapel Hill and partner institutions.
- Direct Enroll/Fee-Paying: Allow students to directly enroll in an institution, whether a traditional university or study abroad institute.
- Provider: External organizations that administer study abroad programs around the world.
- Faculty-led (summer, embedded, and immersion): Comprised of UNC-Chapel Hill courses taken primarily with other UNC-Chapel Hill students and taught by UNC-Chapel Hill professors in an off-campus location for a portion or entirety of the course. Most focus on a specific academic discipline or theme.
- Internship: Form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills development in a professional setting.
- Research: Pairs a study abroad student or students with on-site faculty and/or other local experts to pursue a specific topic or research question. The research may be undertaken as part of an organized study abroad program (i.e., a research-based course or independent project) or independently arranged.
- Embedded: A short study abroad program that forms an integral part of, or an optional add-on to, a course given on the home campus.
- National University of Singapore Joint Degree: A collaborative effort between UNC-Chapel Hill and the National University of Singapore. The program and the curriculum are designed to allow students from both institutions to spend anywhere between two and four semesters at the other university. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a diploma jointly issued by UNC-Chapel Hill and the National University of Singapore.
- Student Initiated Programs: Programs offered by another university or provider that are not a part of the UNC-Chapel Hill Study Abroad Office portfolio. Students petition the Study Abroad Office for permission to participate in this type of program.
Programs can take place during various terms of the UNC-Chapel Hill academic calendar:
- Fall semester
- Spring semester
- Academic year (fall semester and spring semester)
- Calendar year (spring semester and fall semester; may include summer)
- Summer terms and sessions (including during the Maymester)
- Spring Break
- Fall Break
Program Advising and Selection
Interested students can explore options and connect with study abroad advisors for guidance on program options; advisors specialize in programs by region as well as by academic discipline. Advising options include individual advising, group information sessions, and other forms of outreach.
The UNC-Chapel Hill Study Abroad Office also provides guidance on study abroad credit transfer and provides pre- and post-experience programming to assist students with the transitions associated with these opportunities.
Student Selection and Admission
Eligibility: Students can study abroad from their first year at Carolina until graduation. There are also specific programs for students before matriculation. Study abroad programs are open to all majors. Each program has specific GPA and class standing requirements.
- Application to study abroad through the sponsoring unit: Students submit a study abroad application to study abroad. Advisors review and provide guidance on selection, acceptance, nomination processes, and next steps.
- Non-UNC students: Students from other institutions may apply for programs offered by the Study Abroad Office. The Study Abroad Office works with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to admit applicants as “Visiting Students.” Admission to the University for the purpose of attending a study abroad program does not, in itself, admit the student for subsequent terms of study on campus.
- Disciplinary issues: Students who are on probation, have active sanctions or sanctions that are pending/incomplete that are adjudicated by any campus department due to an academic and/or disciplinary violation, have a pending court case involving a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime, or have a pending Honor Court case, may not be eligible to participate in a UNC-Chapel Hill Study Abroad program.
- Students may complete an application to study abroad but may not be permitted to participate in any program while any state or federal court cases or Honor Court cases are pending or with any active university sanctions. Students who have a pending case, state/federal or Honor Court, or active university sanctions at the time of application or before departure must submit documentation prior to departure to show completion or clearance of sanctions or charges.
All students with pending cases or sanctions will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with consideration given to factors including, but not limited to: citation type, number of citations, type of study abroad program, severity of the disciplinary issue, previous infractions, etc. The UNC-Chapel Hill administering office/school reserves the right to determine program eligibility based on open university cases and/or charges, as well as active, incomplete sanctions.
Enrollment
Each administering office/school on campus coordinates course scheduling and student registration for the programs it administers.
For semester or summer-term study abroad programs, students are required to maintain a full-time academic course load for the term they are on a study abroad program. Full-time is not less than the equivalent of 12 semester credit hours each fall and/or spring semester; not less than 4 credit hours each summer term.
1. COURSES
Students participating in programs that offer transfer credit are registered in a study abroad placeholder course to maintain enrollment during their term abroad. For summer, the placeholder will reflect the exact number of hours the student will earn to ensure their status is recorded appropriately. For semester programming, the placeholder will reflect full-time enrollment of 12 hours. Students participating on UNC-Chapel Hill faculty-led programs, or a combination of faculty-led courses and transfer credit courses, will be registered in the appropriate UNC graded credit courses and study abroad placeholder. Upon completion of a study abroad program and receipt of the host institution or program transcript, placeholder courses will be updated to reflect UNC-Chapel Hill course equivalents, departmental elective courses, or general education courses with the appropriate grade, using the study abroad grading basis.
2. REGISTRATION
Each administering office/school on campus will coordinate registration of students in the placeholder course(s) and any UNC-Chapel Hill faculty-led graded credit courses to ensure semester students maintain full-time enrollment. Summer students will be registered in a placeholder that reflects the exact number of credit hours attempted, along with any UNC-Chapel Hill faculty-led graded credit coursework.
3. COURSE CREDITS AND GRADES
Students are responsible for understanding the conversion of credits and grades for courses taken in study abroad programs that are not led by campus faculty. After completion of the program abroad, official records of the students’ courses and grades must be submitted to the coordinating office. The coordinating office evaluates the record and determines the credit and grade equivalents to apply the applicable credit to the UNC-Chapel Hill transcript. Credit from study abroad coursework counts towards cumulative earned hours. Grade equivalents are not posted to the official record or calculated in the UNC-Chapel Hill cumulative grade point average. Numerous units across campus also coordinate abroad programs with classes led by UNC-Chapel Hill faculty. Classes led by UNC-Chapel Hill faculty are reflected on the student transcript, recorded as class enrollment, and factor into a student’s UNC-Chapel Hill GPA. Class titles, subject codes, course numbers, credits, and grades follow the existing UNC-Chapel Hill policies and guidelines. Transfer credit does not count toward the minimum of 45 academic credit hours that must be earned from UNC-Chapel Hill courses. This includes credit earned through courses taken prior to matriculation (domestic or international) or through a study abroad program (after matriculation).
4. WITHDRAWALS/DROPS/FAILS
Students who opt to withdraw from a study abroad program must contact the study abroad advisor in the coordinating office to complete an official withdrawal. Students interested in dropping or withdrawing from individual courses must be mindful of UNC-Chapel Hill and host program policies regarding minimum number of credits required for full-time enrollment. Class withdrawals, drops, and failures noted in the institution abroad record will be reflected in the UNC-Chapel Hill study abroad program record.
5. INCOMPLETES
Students are required to complete all coursework at the abroad institution and earn a grade within the program dates. Authorization from the Study Abroad Office must be obtained prior to program end date for incomplete academic work.
6. RETURNING TO UNC-CHAPEL HILL
After the program is completed abroad, the Study Abroad Office must receive an official grade report or transcript from the institution before equivalent credit is applied to the student’s UNC-Chapel Hill record. It is the responsibility of the student returning to campus to ensure the transcript from the institution abroad is received by the Study Abroad Office. If the transcript is not received by the end of the last day of classes of the next fall or spring semester following the study abroad term, the associated placeholder and credits will be assigned the grade of SI (see #7 below). As a result, the student may experience negative consequences. Examples include the inability to calculate academic standing or satisfactory academic progress, or eligibility to apply for graduation. It is critical for the Study Abroad Office to receive the student’s record from the abroad institution immediately following the completion of the abroad program. Students with outstanding study abroad credits will not be able to graduate until final permanent grades are posted for their study abroad courses (even if those courses/credits are not needed for graduation).
7. UNC-CHAPEL HILL TRANSCRIPT
For non-faculty-led programs, the UNC-Chapel Hill official transcript will indicate the term abroad, the location (country) of the study abroad program, equivalent subject codes, equivalent course numbers, course titles for the abroad enrollment, equivalent credits earned, and specialized grading notations. The specialized grading notations are:
- SA – Study Abroad Pass
- SF – Study Abroad Fail
- SI – Study Abroad Incomplete
- SN – Study Abroad No Grade Reported/No Credit Awarded
- SW – Study Abroad Withdrawal
When an abroad course is determined equivalent to a specific course in the UNC-Chapel Hill catalog, then the comparable subject code and course number is reflected on the record. To the extent possible, equivalent subject codes are used for listing classes completed abroad. If a comparable subject code does not exist, a generic subject code is used. If a comparable course number does not exist, a placeholder is used for the number. The details of courses meeting degree, major, and/or minor requirements is recorded internally on the student record.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Students must have a regular financial aid package on file with UNC Chapel Hill before they can receive additional financial aid for their study abroad programs.
Students are encouraged to reach out to the UNC-Chapel Hill Office of Scholarships and Student Aid (OSSA) before their commitment deadlines to receive a financial aid estimate for their program. Financial aid advising appointments are also available to students throughout the year.
Financial aid is not available for non-UNC students, who are responsible for arranging all financial aid through their home institution.
Numerous scholarships are available to students throughout the year for fall semester, spring semester, summer, and academic year-long programs. To be considered for these scholarships, students must submit any required applications to the UNC-Chapel Hill administering office or school.
Charges and Payments
Costs for study abroad programs may be billed to a student’s UNC-Chapel Hill account through the Office of the University Cashier. Specific costs associated with a program are detailed online. Each program contains budget sheets tailored to its specific needs. A program budget may vary based on such things as term, program option, NC residency status, and UNC-Chapel Hill student status.
1. TUITION AND FEES
Items listed on student’s account as Tuition and Fees are costs related to the academic delivery of a program. Students participating in programs designated as “exchange” will pay the equivalent of their UNC-Chapel Hill tuition and fees based on their residency status. Students participating in all other program types pay program tuition as determined by the host institution or program.
2. OTHER PROGRAM COSTS
Other amounts listed on a student’s account can include items designated as “program costs,” which include items such as housing, meals, excursions, and any other non-instructional charges as determined by the host institution or program.
3. WITHDRAWAL AND REFUNDS
UNC-Chapel Hill units that sponsor study abroad programs make every effort to keep program costs to a minimum. However, when students commit to participating in a program, offices begin making financial commitments on the student's behalf. If a student must withdraw, it is the student's responsibility to immediately notify their study abroad advisor in writing, and to understand the financial implications of the withdrawal. Any refund available to the student will depend on the program type, the date of withdrawal, and the amount of recoverable costs from the host institution or the program abroad.
Academics Abroad
Students can earn credit toward their majors, minors, language and general education requirements, and hours toward graduation by participating in study abroad programs. Students may earn UNC-Chapel Hill graded credit or transfer credit, or a combination of both, depending on the program type. Students participating in programs providing transfer credit are subject to the following requirements:
- Students must take courses abroad for a grade, not pass/fail, at the host institution.
- Students must receive the equivalent* of a UNC-Chapel Hill “C” or better in each transfer credit course to earn any credit (including elective hours) toward their UNC-Chapel Hill degree. If students receive a grade below C or take a course pass/fail, they will not receive ANY credit toward the UNC-Chapel Hill degree.
- Courses with a grade below C or listed as a fail will be reflected on the UNC-Chapel Hill transcript and will impact the student’s grade point average (GPA).
- Regardless of credit type, students must enroll in the equivalent of 12-18 UNC-Chapel Hill credit hours per semester. Summer students must enroll in a minimum of the equivalent of 4 UNC credit hours.
- Students may transfer a maximum of 18 credit hours per semester abroad.
Additional Information
Information regarding student preparation, rights and responsibilities, and health and safety abroad can be found on the administering office/school’s website. UNC-Chapel Hill travel policies are available on the UNC Global website.
Publication Details
Effective Date: June 2026
Next Review Date: June 2028
Issuing Officer: Associate Provost and University Registrar
Additions/Revisions:
- Content from the previous University Policy Memorandum #14 Administration of International and Domestic Study Abroad and Exchange Programs