Study Abroad

• Maturity and cultural sensitivity
• 2.5 overall GPA
• Permission of your academic department
• Study Abroad Application
• Education Abroad Approval Form
• Financial Aid clearance (not on warning)
• Student Accounts clearance (no balance owed to VSU)
• A current U.S. passport (valid up to 6 months beyond your date of return)
• Judicial Affairs clearance

Students who have completed one year of academic study (30 semester hours) may be approved if they have a 2.5 GPA and a clean Judicial Affairs record. Graduate students must have a 3.0 GPA.

Students may study abroad anywhere outside the U.S. and its territories that is not listed on the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory List.

Yes. Students should check with the Office of Student Financial Aid to determine how much of their financial aid award is available. While most federal aid may be used, some institutional aid may not be transferrable. Financial aid may not be used to fund travel (ex. airfare) but generally will cover academic expenses (ex. tuition and fees, room and board, etc.).

Scholarship aid is often provided by study abroad program providers, non-profit organizations, federal programs and academic departments that have grants. Students also do their own fundraising through family, friends, churches, etc.

• IIE Passport
• FinancialAid.Org
• Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship
• National Security Education Program

Students may participate in a traditional study abroad program (enrolled in classes at the host university), internships in the major, service learning and volunteer programs, field research with the professor, and teach abroad programs.

Students can participate in a short-term program (2 to 8 weeks), a semester program or an academic year.

Students may participate in a VSU faculty led program or they may find other students who are interested in traveling at the same time. You are never alone. You will usually find other American students participating in the same program when you get abroad. Sometimes students make Facebook contact before departure and become acquainted with other students participating in the same program abroad.

First, if you do not have a U.S. Passport, then apply for one right away. Second, talk to your academic advisor and your family. Third, contact the Office for International Education at BennettOIE@vsu.edu to schedule an advising appointment to get more information about program options and other resources.