Academic Planning & Transferring Credits For Studying Abroad

To have a successful experience abroad, it is important to determine how your program will contribute effectively to your degree at UNC.

Academic planning can go a long way towards maximizing your study abroad experience. Learn more below about academic planning before you go and the credit transfer process.

Enrollment Requirements

You are required to enroll in a full-time course load as defined by your program, and in a sufficient number of credits to maintain full-time enrollment at UNC: the equivalent of 12 credits per semester.

Choosing Courses Before You Study Abroad & Transferring Credit

Registrar will send your course syllabi to the appropriate academic unit for review once submitted through the Course Approval Form. If a course has recently been transferred back by another student, you will receive the same credit, based on the prior transfer. It is your responsibility to provide documentation of your coursework to the Office of the Registrar.

 Choosing Courses Prior to Studying Abroad

1. Meet with your Academic Advisor: Identify which courses you need and how study abroad fits into your degree requirements. Plan for additional courses in the event the course you want to take is not available.
2. Choose the Right Program: Select a program that meets both your academic requirements and personal goals. Research course catalogs and syllabi (usually online), and ask your Study Abroad Advisor for help if needed.
3. Complete the Study Abroad Course Approval Form: Submit this at least 45 days before your program starts in consultation with your Academic Advisor. This form helps you plan what requirements you'll fulfill abroad and serves as a record after you return. For a more detailed explanation of the course approval process, please see this helpful 1-page informational flyer.
4. Office of the Registrar Reviews Submitted Courses: The Office of the Registrar will send your course syllabi or descriptions to the appropriate academic unit for pre-approval. Once the courses are approved by the academic unit, you will receive an email with a copy of the completed form. Please use this to register for only approved courses at your host school.
   If you register for different courses than those submitted in the Course Approval Form, you must submit the new courses for approval. Final credit transfers occur after the Office of the Registrar receives your study abroad transcript for processing.
5. Submit the Verification of Enrollment (VoE) After Arrival Abroad
   Once abroad, complete the VoE with your Host Coordinator to confirm your course schedule, especially if there are any changes (e.g., classes dropped, canceled, or added). Both your signature and the coordinator’s must be wet or valid electronic signatures (e.g., Adobe timestamped or drawn with a stylus/finger). If you are relying on financial aid, your aid will be disbursed once your Verification of Enrollment has been evaluated.

Transferring Credits

Students on Affiliate Provider Programs or Exchange Programs earn transfer credit. Students on UNC Faculty-Led Study Abroad programs earn UNC credit, as opposed to transfer credit, for academic work completed abroad.

Courses taken while abroad will not be transferred to your degree until the Office of the Registrar receives an official transcript and evaluates the courses based on your Verification of Enrollment and documentation provided in the course Approval Process.

Your Study Abroad Transcript: Your transcript will be sent to the Office of the Registrar from your host university/program. Official transcripts must come directly from the host university or program to either the UNC Education Abroad Office or the Transfer Evaluation Team.

Please Note: If you are on a UNC Affiliate Provider Program or UNC Exchange Partner Program in the term you hope to graduate, your international transcript may not arrive in time for your credit transfer to be processed. As a result, your graduation may be delayed by one semester. Please plan accordingly.

Study Abroad Registration

Once you are accepted to your program and have completed all the post-decision requirements in the Bears Abroad Portal, including the Study Abroad Course Approval Process, you will be registered in a placeholder course while you study abroad to remain an active UNC student. You will be enrolled in either ISE 100, ISE 101, or ISE 501.

Why it is important to be registered as a full-time student while studying abroad
 Being registered in this course means you will:

• Stay an active UNC student while abroad
• Keep your financial aid and scholarships
• Earn transfer credit for your classes overseas
• Keep your UNC email and account access
• Continue any loan deferment you may have

Which placeholder course will you be enrolled in?

• ISE 100: for undergraduate students studying abroad through an exchange program (UNC Exchange Partner or ISEP Exchange)
• ISE 101: for undergraduate students studying abroad through an affiliate program provider (ISEP Direct, USAC, AIFS)
• ISE 501: for graduate students studying abroad

The placeholder course you’re registered for affects what charges are billed to your UNC student account.

You won’t be registered until you:

• Complete all your post-decision steps in the Bears Abroad Portal, including the Course Approval Form
• Attend pre-departure orientation
• Clear any registration holds on your UNC account

If you're student teaching abroad or going on a faculty-led program, you don’t need this placeholder course.

Grades While Abroad

Coursework completed through an international student exchange or study abroad program will be recorded as transfer coursework upon receipt of an official transcript from the host institution. Such courses are not subject to the matriculation restrictions on transfer coursework listed above and count as in-residence for graduation residency requirements. Transfer credit from another institution does not calculate a student's Cumulative UNC GPA at both the undergraduate and graduate level.