Policies

All UND students are pre-approved to study abroad on the condition they meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Minimum GPA of 2.50
• Earned at least 24 university-level credits before scheduled program departure
• In good standing with Community Standards & Care Network

Additional considerations:

• There may be additional program-specific eligibility requirements, such as higher minimum GPA, class standing, and/or language proficiency.
• Students on disciplinary probation and/or who have a significant history of disciplinary problems may not be eligible to participate in study abroad.
• Students must be at least 18 years old to study abroad. Exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Students are bound by the UND Code of Student Life while overseas.

How We Determine Which Countries are Under Travel Advisories

We regularly monitor information relevant to the safety of all UND students abroad, from official sources as well as from our domestic and international partners and colleagues. We give primary consideration to Travel Advisories issued by the U.S. Department of State.

Our Policy

The basic premise from which we operate is that UND will not offer or support study abroad in countries with a Level 4 U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory. UND will not provide support services that UND students going abroad normally receive. This means that UND will not register students for the time they are abroad nor authorize access to financial aid for the program.

This policy applies to graduate and undergraduate students on programs offered through UND, whether they are affiliated, non-affiliated, administered through UND Study Abroad, or University Directed programs that have been arranged by a campus, a school, or a department. While we anticipate that students may leave UND to participate in a non-UND program and later seek transfer credit for their work, we reiterate that UND discourages this course of action. A student's decision to do so is wholly voluntary and not the responsibility of UND.

For countries with a U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory Level 3, UND will consider travel on a program-by-program basis. Students must follow the review process outlined below.

Students are eligible to travel to countries with Level 1 and 2 U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories.

Should a Travel Advisory increase to a Level 3 or 4 while a program is under way, UND Study Abroad will determine, following appropriate consultation with on-site staff, appropriate internal departments (such as General Counsel and/or Department of Public Safety), peer institutions, other organizations that offer programs abroad, and area experts, whether conditions warrant suspension of the program and/or departure of the student from the host country.

University Directed Programs

UND will not offer University Directed programs in countries with a U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory Level 4. Countries with a Level 3 Travel Advisory will be reviewed prior to advertising the program to campus.

Review Process

Level 3 travel requests are evaluated on a program-by-program basis by the International Center in consultation with the Office of the Provost, Department of Public Safety,
Community Standards & Accessibility for Students, Student Health Services, and General Council.

Travel decisions will be based on:

• The nature of the Travel Advisory, including the locations most impacted by the Advisory.
• The experience and training of program organizers and local support staff.
• The importance and academic relevance of student involvement.
• What the program will do to minimize the risk to students.
• The extent of the safety and security orientation provided.
• The program's willingness to get the students' informed consent regarding participation, despite the Travel Advisory.

How to Prepare for Level 3 Review

Individual students should submit the following information to their Study Abroad Advisor:

1. Details about the geographic environment of the program and its relationship to security issues.
2. Information about the travel advisories or warnings of other countries about the country under the U.S. Department of State's Travel Advisory.
   • Copy and paste the full advisory, including colored banner with advisory date and level, into your petition
3. Review and include all CDC Travel Notices for your intended host country/countries.
   • Copy and paste the full Travel Notice, including country name and colored banner with level, into your petition
4. Describe in detail the local support structure on site and detailed preparation you will receive for security-related issues (with detailed examples).
5. The academic relevance of the program to the student’s degree programs and/or the importance of the presence of the students to the program itself (e.g. the impact of their contributions locally).
6. Confirm that, should the International Center permit the program to operate, the program organizer is willing to have participants sign a special waiver stating that they have received and read the most recent Travel Advisory and are voluntarily participating nonetheless.

Students whose exemption requests are approved will be required to sign an Assumption of Risk and Release from Liability form.

• University Directed Programs: Billed by UND for cost of the program, UND study abroad and application fees, and UND tuition.
• Exchange Programs: Billed by UND for tuition and fees, UND study abroad and application fees, and international health insurance. Housing is paid directly to the host institution or relevant housing office. Tuition waivers can be applied.
• Direct-Enroll Programs: Billed by UND for UND study abroad and application fees, and international health insurance. Pay program fee directly to host institution including tuition and housing. In some cases the host institution will bill UND directly for program tuition and housing and UND Study Abroad will post those charges to UND Campus Connection. Tuition waivers cannot be applied.
• Affiliate Provider Programs: Billed by UND for UND study abroad and application fees. Pay program fee directly to program provider including tuition, housing, and insurance. Tuition waivers cannot be applied.

While on study abroad, you are still bound by the UND Code of Student Life, the Academic Catalog, and federal financial aid regulations.

If at any point during the study abroad process you have questions about the policies, please contact the Study Abroad Office. For our part, we will do our best to follow the policies as described here, but please understand that world situations can change rapidly and we reserve the right to adapt our policies as necessary to safeguard your physical, emotional, and academic well-being.

Participants must contact their Study Abroad Advisor by email to initiate their intent to cancel their participation in the study abroad program. Withdrawal is effective from the date the email is received.

Participants who withdraw from a study abroad program after making a commitment to participate (by selecting Commit on their Study Abroad Traveler Profile), will be financially responsible for any non-refundable costs associated with participation at the time of withdrawal. This includes the $50 application fee and $300 study abroad fees through UND.

Please note:

• When withdrawing from an affiliated program, it is important that participants notify both UND and the host program of the decision to withdraw.
• Additional non-refundable costs vary by program and typically increase closer to the program start date.
• If participants withdraw from a program that is not administered by UND, such as an affiliated provider program, they will likely be financially liable to the program provider. Pay special attention to the withdrawal policies of the program provider and host institution, related to:
  • Non-refundable application fees
  • Required (and optional) program costs
  • Payment deadlines
• UND Study Abroad will not provide refunds of any monies that the participant paid to outside institutions, organizations, or affiliates. Fees charged directly from host institutions or affiliate provider programs are subject to that institution or program's refund policies.

While some programs will refund (or refrain from charging) all recoverable expenses, some programs have a schedule that outlines financial penalties (a percentage of the total program cost or a specific dollar amount) based on the date of withdrawal.

University Directed Program Withdrawal Additional Considerations

• Calculation of these costs may take time as the Study Abroad Office reviews the refund and cancellation policies of the program’s vendors (airlines, hotels, etc.).
• Each committed participant is responsible for a portion of program costs that are divided evenly among all participants (chartered bus, tour guides, etc.). The participant’s portion of group costs is considered a non-refundable cost.
• The total non-refundable amount may exceed the commitment deposit amount, in which case the participant will be billed the additional amount due.

Applicants who defer their study abroad program after committing and paying the $300 study abroad fees will not be charged an additional $300 study abroad fee if they apply to study abroad again within the next 3 terms. The $50 application fee will still be charged for the future application.

• Students will be registered for a study abroad placeholder class at UND by the Study Abroad Office. This placeholder class keeps study abroad participants in full-time student status at UND but does not automatically register participants for classes abroad. The number of credits associated with the placeholder class may not correspond to the actual number of credits students take while they are abroad.
• Upon completion of the study abroad program and receipt of an official transcript, the actual number of credits earned while abroad will be posted to the UND official transcript under the Transfer section.
• Students must maintain full-time status while studying abroad for a semester or academic year (at least 12 U.S. credits each spring or fall semester).
• If a student does not maintain full-time status and receives financial aid to support their term abroad, they may be required to repay some or all of their aid award.
• Students will be subject to the academic rules of their host institution or program overseas. This includes minimum/maximum number of credits to take for full-time status and grading scales.
• A hold will be placed on all study abroad students' Campus Connection accounts for the term they are abroad. This hold only prevents students from dropping a class during the term they are abroad. It does not prevent students from registering for future terms.
  • In order to drop a UND class while abroad, contact your Study Abroad Advisor.

• All credits earned while studying abroad will transfer back to UND as general electives. In order to have classes count towards major requirements, minor requirements, or Essential Studies credits students must receive pre-approval from the relevant departments. This is completed through the Petition for Academic Credit Form.
• Students must take classes for letter grades while abroad, unless approval is granted from their College prior to departure.
• Credit and grading systems greatly vary from country to country. For transcripts received directly from host institutions, the UND Registrar's Office completes an international credit evaluation. Students receiving transcripts from U.S. Schools of Record will not require an evaluation.
• Credit systems vary throughout the world and it is very important that students understand how the credit and grading system at their host institution relates to the credit system at UND. Students should discuss this with their Study Abroad Advisor prior to departure. It is the student's responsibility to ensure they are enrolled full-time while abroad (equivalent to a minimum of 12 U.S. credits per semester for spring or fall).
• For classes abroad that are equivalent to less than a three credit class at UND, students should contact the appropriate academic department with questions concerning fulfilling major requirements prior to departure.
• It is the student's responsibility to ensure overseas transcripts are sent to the UND Study Abroad Office or Registrar's Office. Students are not eligible for graduation if they have an outstanding study abroad transcript.

UND requires all study abroad participants to have health and accident insurance while studying abroad which provides, at a minimum, coverage for emergency medical care and treatment, hospitalization, and physician charges in the country where the host institution or program is located, as well as insurance for medical evacuation, repatriation and medical reunion. Most U.S. health insurance plans have some limitations for treatment outside the U.S. and very few have medical evacuation, repatriation, or family reunion benefits so we strongly recommend you purchase supplemental coverage for the duration of your time abroad. You should also maintain your U.S. insurance to ensure continuous coverage for any pre-existing conditions.

Exchange, Direct-Enroll, and University Directed Programs

Students participating in a UND exchange or direct-enroll, and University Directed programs will be automatically enrolled in the UND Study Abroad Health Insurance Plan through CISI for the duration of their program abroad. Students will receive an individual ID card prior to departure.

Affiliate Provider Programs

Most UND Affiliate Provider programs include health insurance and assistance plans in their program fee. We recommend that you review the insurance benefits packaged with your study abroad program (if any) and decide if the coverage provided is adequate. If you want, or need to, you can purchase your own plan or supplemental coverage through UND.