Study Abroad Programs
UB Study Abroad Programs offers students the experience of a lifetime: an academic program in another country that provides an education both within and outside the classroom. More than 10% of all UB undergraduate students participate in study abroad programs annually. All students are encouraged to explore the more than 400 study abroad programs in over 50 countries are available to UB students through State University of New York campuses. More information about study abroad opportunities is available at www.buffalo.edu/studyabroad.
Registration for UB and SUNY Study Abroad Programs
All University at Buffalo students studying abroad through UB or any SUNY school, as well as non-SUNY students participating in a University at Buffalo Study Abroad or Exchange Program, are registered by the UB Study Abroad Programs office for the academic credit hours to be earned during their studies abroad.
To be registered for a UB or SUNY study abroad program, a Study Abroad Registration Form provided by the UB study abroad office must be completed and submitted to Study Abroad Programs, University at Buffalo, 210 Talbert Hall, Buffalo, New York 14260-1604. Upon receipt of this form, the study abroad office will register the student in Overseas Programs (OPR) courses. Students should not preregister for any courses themselves. Fall, spring, or academic-year participants are nominally registered for 16 credit hours. This keeps these students in full-time status for billing and financial aid purposes, although the classes they actually complete abroad may represent more or less than 16 credit hours. When the actual credit hours taken and grades earned are received for the study abroad program, the number of credit hours will be corrected to reflect the number actually completed by the study abroad participant. Summer study abroad students will be registered for the number of hours they indicate on the Study Abroad Registration Form.
Registration for non-SUNY Study Abroad Programs
University at Buffalo students electing to participate in non-SUNY study abroad programs are required to register through the UB Study Abroad Programs office. Students will be registered for a 0-credit hour Overseas Programs (OPR) course for the semester(s) of their participation. Students who will be abroad during the fall and/or spring semesters will also be registered for a leave of absence if they meet all leave of absence criteria. Registration for non-SUNY study abroad programs should be done as far in advance as possible once a student has decided to participate in the program. Study Abroad Programs keeps these students informed of events of importance to them while abroad, including U.S. government travel advisories for U.S. citizens, updates on events of relevance here at UB, and other pertinent information.
Students participating in a non-SUNY study abroad program should seek academic advisement prior to the semester the program is to begin. Students should also verify with the Office of Admissions prior to departure that the University at Buffalo will accept transfer credit from the institution/organization awarding the transcript for their intended study abroad program.
Upon conclusion of the overseas program, students are required to submit official transcripts from those institutions of academic work completed during the leave period. Such transcripts must be submitted to the Office of Admissions no later than the last day of the sixth week of the returning semester.
Overseas Course Approvals
Credits earned through any approved study abroad program may be applied toward general university graduation requirements and may fulfill specific degree requirements if the student obtains approval from his/her academic advisor (preferably prior to departure). Departments retain the final authority to decide what courses they will or will not apply toward a major or minor. It is often helpful to obtain course descriptions to take to the department for their review when requesting approval. Course descriptions are usually available from the sponsoring campus.
Study Abroad Grades and Credits on the UB Transcript
Since study abroad grades must be transmitted from the foreign institution to the sponsoring SUNY school, then to the student’s home campus (if different from the sponsoring campus), and then translated into the SUNY system of grading and credit hours, these grades may take additional time to reach a student’s transcript than grades for courses taken at the home campus. For this reason, if within six months following a study abroad program a student plans to graduate, apply to another school or graduate program, apply for grants or scholarships, or do anything else that requires him/her to document grades for the semester(s) he/she spent abroad, we strongly suggest that the student arrange to obtain a transcript of studies from the foreign institution before returning home, deliver this transcript to the sponsoring SUNY institution that sponsors the program, and ask that institution to expedite the processing of the transcript supplement. The UB Study Abroad Programs office will do everything possible to ensure rapid and efficient transmittal of the grades to the student’s permanent record but cannot guarantee the time of their arrival.
UB Sponsored Programs
Course names, credit hours, and letter grades are recorded directly on students’ official UB transcripts. These grades will be averaged into the GPAs.
SUNY Sponsored Programs
Students’ official UB transcripts will indicate their participation in a SUNY-sponsored program abroad by listing the total credit hours earned and a pass/fail grade. A transcript supplement with course names, credit hours, and letter grades is added to the students’ records. Grades are not averaged into the GPAs except for Latin Honors determination upon graduation.
SUNY Community College Sponsored Program
Participation in a two-year community college-sponsored program requires registration for 0 (zero) credit hours at the University at Buffalo, as well as registration at the sponsoring campus, and a leave of absence from UB. Credits earned abroad are shown as transfer credits on the students’ official UB transcripts. An official transcript should be sent to UB's Office of Admissions upon conclusion of the program.
Non-SUNY Sponsored Programs
Participation in a non-SUNY-sponsored program requires students’ registration for 0 (zero) credit hours at the University at Buffalo, as well as registration at the sponsoring campus. A leave of absence from UB is also required for students studying abroad on non-SUNY programs during fall and/or spring semesters. Prior to departure, students must ensure that UB’s Office of Admissions will accept credit from the institution issuing the transcript. Credits earned abroad are shown as transfer credits on the official UB transcript. An official transcript should be sent to UB’s Office of Admissions upon conclusion of the program.
Please Note:
Although passing grades from participation in an Other-SUNY-sponsored program (a program sponsored by a SUNY unit other than UB) will not affect the UB grade point average (GPA) that appears on transcripts, these grades are calculated into the overall GPA by the degree auditors when the student applies for a degree for degree-granting and Latin Honors purposes only.
Credits from participation in any study abroad program cannot be used to fulfill the residency requirement at UB. To earn a degree from the University at Buffalo, a student must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours, the equivalent of one full year of study, at the university.
Last updated: Thursday, 24-Apr-2008 08:38:06 EDT