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Frequently asked questions
Is there a study abroad program for my major? |
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St. Norbert College offers a variety of study abroad programs suited to students in every field of study. Certain majors have a study abroad requirement (IBLAS, International Studies, Foreign Language majors, and Business majors with a Global Concentration), but many students choose to take advantage of study abroad even if it isn't a degree requirement.
How do I apply? |
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Initially, you should plan to attend one of the study abroad general information sessions, which are offered several times each semester. Open office hours are also available every Tuesday from 2-4 p.m. in Bemis 323 to obtain basic study abroad information - no appointment is necessary. After attending a session, you may schedule an appointment for an individual advisement session.
Prior to meeting with a study abroad advisor you should fill out a Study Abroad Advising Form to bring with you to your meeting. You should research your program options, paying particular attention to the types of courses you can take at each site that may satisfy requirements for your major/minor and General Education program. You should have a clear idea of which program suits your needs prior to meeting with a study abroad advisor. Once you have chosen a program, ask for an application packet for that particular program. Application deadlines are as follows:
When is the deadline? |
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- For fall study abroad: March 1, 4:30 p.m.
- For spring study abroad: October 1, 4:30 p.m.
Note: If the first falls on a weekend, applications will be due on the following Monday.
Application packets for fall study abroad will be available the November prior to departure. Application packets for spring will be available the May prior to departure.
All applicants must submit the following to the study abroad office:
- 2 letters of recommendation from faculty members
- St. Norbert College study abroad application form with essay
- Program-specific application form
- Current transcript
- Transcript(s) from previous college or university if applicable
- Course pre-approval form
- Pre-departure survey
- Photocopy of title page of passport
Be sure to give faculty members adequate notice when requesting a letter—at least two weeks.
The study abroad staff will review your application to determine your eligibility to study overseas as a St. Norbert College student. If you meet the St. Norbert requirements, we will forward your application on to your destination program/school, which has the final decision on acceptance.
Do I have to be a junior to study abroad? |
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Most students choose to study abroad during the first or second semester of their junior year, but it is possible to do so as a second semester sophomore or as a first or second semester senior. Plan your course of study with your advisor and make an appointment with the study abroad advisor to explore your options.
Is there a gpa requirement? |
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Students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.5 in order to apply to study abroad, although some programs have a higher gpa requirement (2.75 or 3.0)
How many courses will I take and how will my credit transfer? |
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Most students register for 15-16 credit hours while abroad (5 classes meeting 3 times per week; 4 classes meeting 4 times per week, 8 classes meeting 2 times per week, etc.) in order to earn the equivalent of four St. Norbert College classes. Students attending European universities with the ECTS system (European Credit Transfer System), need to take 32 ECTS (32 ECTS = 16 US semester credits).
Most students can satisfy specific requirements while abroad both for their major/minor and for general education studies. Consult the specific program web site and the "Courses Approved" link to determine which courses you are most likely to find abroad and which SNC requirements they may satisfy.
Students earn actual grades when abroad but these grades are NOT calculated into the SNC gpa. Students must earn the equivalent of a C or better (not a C-) in order to be granted credit.
Students planning to apply to graduate school should request extra copies of the official overseas transcript (sealed) from the program provider during the semester of study abroad since most graduate school require official transcripts from each school a student has attended.
Where can I find a list of pre-approved courses? |
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View a complete
list of pre-approved courses with their St. Norbert College equivalents.
How much will it cost? |
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The cost of a semester abroad will vary depending upon the program chosen and the individual spending habits of each student. There are three categories of programs:
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St. Norbert College exchange programs:
The College has 10 exchange programs. Students are charged current St. Norbert tuition for these programs. Housing varies by program and is payable at the program site. There are no application fees for exchange programs. Tuition waiver students may use their tuition waiver to attend exchange programs.
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Direct enrollment programs:
Students are directly enrolled in foreign universities as visiting students and are charged current St. Norbert College tuition for these programs. Fees related to housing, meals and additional charges will vary from program to program. Please meet with the study abroad staff to determine the specifics of your selected program.
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Agency programs:
Students are charged current St. Norbert College tuition, room and board. Most agency programs have application fees (ranging from $35 to $90) and require a program deposit at the time of acceptance, ranging from $300 to $600.
Note: St. Norbert College charges a $400 administrative fee for every student applying to study abroad. This is charged to your account through the finance department and is a non-refundable fee once a student has completed the application process.
Can I use my financial aid to study abroad? |
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St. Norbert College strongly encourages every student to study abroad; therefore, we allow each student's entire financial aid package to be applied towards the cost of the program for one semester of off-campus study. Students who choose a St. Norbert College exchange program for at least one of their semesters abroad may use their financial aid package for two semesters of study abroad. Washington Semester is considered an off-campus program, hence students wishing to participate both in the Washington Semester and Study Abroad must choose an exchange program for study abroad if they want to use their financial aid for two semesters off-campus.
Stop by the
financial aid office prior to departure to ensure that your financial aid file is up-to-date and that all forms are signed.
How do I register? |
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The semester prior to departure you will register for two International Education (INED) courses through the SNC KnightLine system. The two courses identify your program country and actual program site, and serve as a placeholder in our computer system so that you can remain fully enrolled at SNC while abroad. Actual registration for your study abroad courses depends upon you program. In most instances, you will not register until you arrive on site, however there are a few programs do allow pre-registration. The two INED courses will be replaced by the actual courses taken after your overseas transcript has been received by the Registrar's Office. Courses in which you received the equivalent of C or better will transfer back for credit. Students will not be granted credit for courses in which they earn a C- or less.
During your semester abroad, you will conduct academic advisement with your advisor via e-mail. You will register for the next semester's classes through
Knightline, the online advisement and registration system. In the event that Knightline is not available for registration, you may ask your advisor or the registrar to register you.
What about housing when I return? |
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Fall study abroad students have three options for spring semester housing. They can either 1) make arrangements with a spring study abroad student to take his or her place, 2) they can ask the Office of Residential Life to find a placement for them, or 3) they can participate in SHOP for a limited number of beds in Vander Zanden that have been set aside for returning study abroad students (contact Residential Life for details on how to apply). All students should participate in SHOP regardless of the housing option they are choosing.
Spring study abroad students need only to fill out a form giving another student permission to act on your behalf during SHOP. The form is distributed electronically by the Office of Residential Life towards the end of the semester prior to the semester abroad.
Do I need special immunizations? |
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The
student health center works closely with the study abroad office each semester and obtains a list of students and countries for the subsequent semester abroad. The health center provides country/region-specific packets of information for each student, including information on recommended vaccinations. To view what immunizations may be needed, research your destination's requirements on the
Center for Disease Control web site.
How do I obtain a passport or visa? |
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Each student is responsible for obtaining application forms and applying for his/her own passport and visa (if required). Passports should be applied for at least
6 months in advance of departure. Applications are available at most post offices, including the downtown Green Bay post office and the local De Pere post office. They can also be downloaded from the
U.S. Department of State web site.
Visa requirements vary from country to country. Call or visit the web site of the nearest consulate for your country of destination to find out if you need a visa. If a visa is required, it is the student's responsibility to obtain it. Visa decisions are entirely up to the host country's consulate. The Study Abroad Office cannot guarantee that a student will be granted a visa, nor can the office guarantee that the visa will be processed in time for departure. Students are encouraged to gather required documents well in advance so that they can apply for their visas as soon as their letters of acceptance from the study abroad host institution arrive.
What about travel arrangements? |
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Each student is responsible for obtaining his/her own plane ticket. Be sure to purchase a ticket that allows for a change in return date for a modest fee. Who knows, you may get a last minute invitation to spend two weeks in the Outback with a new-found friend.
STA Travel and
Student Universe are good resources. Other good sources are available on the
links page.
Once you arrive in your country of destination, it is generally your responsibility to get from the airport to your school or host family on your own. Check with your particular program for details. We recommend that you not purchase airline tickets until the arrival date of your program has been confirmed. When chosing a return date, it is important to return AFTER the final exam period is over. If a student misses a final due to the date of the return flight, it is very likely that s/he will receive an F in the course. |
