Academic FAQs

Studying abroad does not mean that your graduation plans will be delayed. The team of Education Abroad Advisors in the Office of Global Education work with Academic Advisors in Kent State’s Academic Colleges to coordinate what classes students can take abroad, and when, to stay on track for graduation.

Students and their advisors plan what courses they will take abroad before they go to ensure that students are taking the courses needed for their academic plan. For students whose majors have more traditionally rigid academic plans that can make it harder to be away for a full semester, Kent State offers dozens of Education Abroad programs during the summer, winter, and spring breaks.

If you study abroad on a program offering Kent State courses, you can study abroad all the way up to the last semester of your senior year and still graduate on time (provided you have passed all of the courses needed to graduate).

If you study abroad on a program at a partner university or external provider, you will need to transfer your courses back to Kent State. This can take one to two semesters to transfer. We do not recommend studying abroad on this type of program if you need to graduate within the same semester. Please consult your Education Abroad Advisor for more specific timelines.

For most programs, you do not need to speak a foreign language to study abroad. The majority of programs offer courses in English unless you are studying a foreign language. Examples of languages taught abroad include Spanish, French, Japanese, Italian, German, Korean, Arabic, Portuguese, Mandarin, Cantonese, and more. Visit our Education Abroad page and use the search tool to find programs that match your ideal study abroad experience.

If you are studying abroad on a program targeted specifically toward foreign language learning, you may need to have previously taken courses in the language or have a certain level of proficiency to be eligible for the program. Check the academic content within the webpages of the programs you are considering to see more details regarding requirements and prerequisites.

If you are planning to study in a country where you do not speak the host language, we always encourage students to learn as much as they can before going abroad. Language is an important aspect of the culture of a region, and your effort to communicate in the host language showcases a desire to culturally engage with your host country. Learning simple greetings and pleasantries in a foreign language can go a long way when interacting with locals in your host country. To help get familiar with the vocabulary, you can start using apps such as DuoLingo, or connect with one of the foreign language or culture clubs on campus.

Students who are abroad for a full semester or academic year are responsible for scheduling their courses for the following semester back at Kent State.

You can connect with your Academic Advisor virtually or via email during your time abroad to discuss your schedule for the next semester.

You’ll schedule classes for the next semester at Kent State on FlashLine, like usual. For specific dates, you should consult the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center.

If you study abroad on a program at a partner university, you will need to transfer your courses back to Kent State. Credits from international institutions will transfer back as pass/fail and will not impact your GPA.

Upon successful completion of the program, the host institution will issue you an official transcript, which will be needed for the credit transfer process. You must earn passing grades in the host institution courses for the credit to transfer.

Prior to departure, you will meet with your academic advisor to complete a Transfer Course Planning (TCP) Form, which will outline the courses you plan to take while abroad and how the courses will transfer to Kent State University.

The information in the TCP form is also used by the Student Financial Aid Office to determine the amount and type of financial aid you will be eligible for.

Some courses have already been pre-approved for transfer to KSU and can be viewed on the Transfer Credit Guide. Please note that this is only a guide and is NOT a comprehensive list of courses available at each partner institution.

Only courses listed on your TCP Form are approved to transfer back as Kent State course equivalents and get applied to your Kent State transcript. If you decide to take a course that is not listed on that form, you must request approval for the course while abroad; do not wait until after you return! Course approvals can be done via email.

TIP: Keep all your syllabi, papers, and tests from when you were abroad. Your academic department at Kent State might ask to see these documents when you return.

If you are taking courses at another university abroad, then you will need to submit two forms to the Student Financial Aid Office:

The Start of Semester Learning Agreement

• This must be completed and returned to the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center within the first 15 days of your semester abroad. If not, your financial aid could be removed.
• This agreement should include the courses and credit hours you are enrolled in, and must be signed by the Host Coordinator.

The End of Semester Learning Agreement

• In the last 30 days of your semester abroad, you are required to complete the End of Semester Learning Agreement.
• This document lets the Financial Aid Office know which courses were completed and credit hours earned.
• It needs to be signed by the professors of the listed courses and then signed by the Host Coordinator.
• We will require confirmation of the completed courses in order for your financial aid to disburse in the future. If you do not complete the End of Semester Learning Agreement, a transcript can be submitted in its place.

If you study abroad on a program offering Kent State courses, it counts the same way as if you failed a course at Kent State in the U.S. This will impact your GPA and you should speak with your Academic Advisor for additional information and guidance.

If you study abroad on a program at a partner university, you will need to transfer your courses back to Kent State. Transfer courses from international institutions will transfer back as pass/fail and will not impact your GPA. If you do not pass a course at the host institution, then that credit cannot be transferred back to Kent State. Please consult with your Academic Advisor to determine how this will impact your degree plans.