The Academic Advisor's Guide to Education Abroad
K-State Education Abroad recognizes that advisors' role in the preparation process for international programs is integral. Academic advisor's primary role is helping students incorporate education abroad into their degree plans and help determine K-State course equivalencies for classes taken abroad. This allows students to make informed decisions about their international goals. Education abroad is always available to answer specific questions or assist in unique situations.
Mission & Vision
Mission Statement
Kansas State University Education Abroad provides effective administrative oversight for all education abroad opportunities, guides and prepares students for meaningful international experiences, collaborates with the campus community to develop quality education abroad programs, strives to provide equitable access to education abroad, and maintains and enhances strategic partnerships.
Vision
Our vision for Kansas State University is an entire campus community fully engaged in education abroad.
Kansas State University Education Abroad provides effective administrative oversight for all education abroad opportunities, guides and prepares students for meaningful international experiences, collaborates with the campus community to develop quality education abroad programs, strives to provide equitable access to education abroad, and maintains and enhances strategic partnerships.
Vision
Our vision for Kansas State University is an entire campus community fully engaged in education abroad.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Express and articulate intercultural skills and values.
- Develop intercultural communication and critical thinking skills.
- Build capacities for self-reflection and awareness.
- Enhance cultural knowledge.
- Gain global perspectives in respective fields of study.
- Respectfully engage with diverse and international communities.
Definitions and Acronyms
Program Types
- Faculty-led programs are short-term study tours over breaks, intersessions, or summer in which you learn and travel with a K-State professor and students. Cultural activities and excursions are often included.
- Exchange programs allow students to pay in-state tuition and fees while attending one of our partner universities. These programs offer a more independent experience and are generally for a semester or year.
- Direct-enroll programs, like exchange programs, offer a more independent experience. These programs are generally for a summer, semester or year, provide additional options for students, and tuition and fees are paid directly to the partner university.
- Program providers organize study abroad programs that offer additional assistance throughout the international experience. These programs are offered for various lengths of time during the year and provide a more structured experience, often with cultural activities and excursions.
- Volunteer, service-learning, internships, research, or teach abroad programs allow students to engage in other experiences for one week to one year or more, either for credit or not for credit.
Acronyms
- EA = Education Abroad
- AAF = Academic Approval Form
- ECTS = European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System
- TDU = TerraDotta University (our application software/portal)
- ISSS = International Student & Scholar Services; the offer at K-State that assists incoming exchange students. Domestic students can participate in their programming.
Program Providers
- API = Academic Programs International
- DIS = Danish Institute for Study Abroad
- IAU = Institute of American Universities
- ISA = International Studies Abroad
- SAI = Study Abroad Italy
- TEAN = The Education Abroad Network
- USAC = University Studies Abroad Consortium
Education Abroad Application Steps
Students who are interested in Education Abroad should follow these steps for a smooth process.
- Explore Programs by searching the online database. Students can browse by Major or Minor using "MAPS". They can also follow @KStateAbroad on social media to see past student experiences.
- Make an appointment with an Education Abroad advisor.
- Complete the application(s) for the program selected.
- Find courses. Students should research courses to take abroad. Working with their academic advisor, students can find courses relevant to their degree. Contact the EA advisor to help find syllabi if needed.
- Complete an Academic Approval Form, with the assistance of the academic advisor.
- Attend Pre-Departure Orientation.
Transfer Credit
Before students decide on a program, they should check in with their academic advisor to ensure that a given international experience fits well with their academic plan. Advisors may have suggestions for programs that best fit their major or minor and can help them find courses that may transfer back to K-State or enroll in courses on campus once they return from abroad. It is never too early for students to talk with their advisor about education abroad plans!
Prior to going abroad, all students must fill out an Education Abroad Approval Form, found in their K-State online applications. The AAF is a way for you to confirm how certain courses abroad will transfer back to K-State. It also serves as documentation for the Office of Student Financial Asistance that students will be taking enough credits to qualify for financial aid, if eligible.
When students are applying to go abroad, they should review the list of courses offered at the host institution and print off or digitally save the syllabi or course descriptions of the classes they are interested in taking. Their education abroad advisor will help determine how many credit hours a course is worth. Once the classes and credit hours are listed, they will bring the form and course syllabi to a meeting with their academic advisor, or a designated respresentative in the academic department or college from which they are requesting credit. The academic advisor/representative can pre-approve K-State equvalencies for those courses or how the proposed courses will count toward your K-State degree requirements.
If they need assistance obtaining syllabi or descriptions for courses abroad, they should contact their education abroad advisor. Students can also contact their education abroad advisor if they have questions about the contacts in their college or department that determine course equivalencies for education abroad.
Important Considerations
The education abroad application and preparation process can be long and confusing for students. Here are a few important considerations that will save you from encountering future problems in terms of transferring credit for education abroad.
When students are applying to go abroad, they should review the list of courses offered at the host institution and print off or digitally save the syllabi or course descriptions of the classes they are interested in taking. Their education abroad advisor will help determine how many credit hours a course is worth. Once the classes and credit hours are listed, they will bring the form and course syllabi to a meeting with their academic advisor, or a designated respresentative in the academic department or college from which they are requesting credit. The academic advisor/representative can pre-approve K-State equvalencies for those courses or how the proposed courses will count toward your K-State degree requirements.
If they need assistance obtaining syllabi or descriptions for courses abroad, they should contact their education abroad advisor. Students can also contact their education abroad advisor if they have questions about the contacts in their college or department that determine course equivalencies for education abroad.
Important Considerations
The education abroad application and preparation process can be long and confusing for students. Here are a few important considerations that will save you from encountering future problems in terms of transferring credit for education abroad.
- Completing the Academic Approval Form Correctly: It is important that students and their advisors, or designated department representatives, complete the Academic Approval Form correctly. The information provided on the form indicates how courses from abroad will be applied to a student's DARS. The two left hand columns should be completed by the student. Students should list as many courses as they are able to, so that they have back up options in case courses are already full at the time of enrollment. If more spaces are needed, students can print off and complete additional forms. Include the Course Title and, if available, the Course Number. Once students have listed all the courses they are interested in, they will submit the form to the Education Abroad Office. An education abroad advisor will determine how many KSU credit hours a course is worth. Once credit hours are assigned, students will take the form to their academic advisor/relevant department to have the course content evaluated. The middle section will be completed by the advisor or designated department/college representative. They will indicate the KSU equivalencies for the courses listed on the left hand side, or how the courses from abroad will be applied to the student's degree requirements.
- Course Evaluations: It is important to note that advisors/departments are NOT evaluating credit hours. They are simply evaluating the content of a course. It is possible that a KSU requirement can be satisfied with a study abroad course even if it is not exactly 3 credit hours. This guidance has come from the Office of the Registrar, the Office of Recruitment and Admissions, and International Credit Standards. Acceptable responses include: the specific KSU equivalency along with the course number; applicability toward the student's degree requirements, such as "Humanities elective" or "Unrestricted elective"; or "Course not required for degree requirements".
- Students With Non-KSU Forms to be Signed: If a student approaches you to complete a non-KSU “permission to study abroad” document, a “permission to transfer academic credit” document or anything else related to education abroad that has been required of the student by an external, third party provider, do not sign or complete whatever the student has presented to you. The only document you will be asked to sign for education abroad will be the KSU Academic Approval Form.
Funding and Scholarships
The cost of education abroad varies by program. In some cases, it costs less to go abroad for a semester than it would to live in Manhattan and take a full course load. In other cases, the cost of living abroad may be more expensive than staying on campus. Many students also choose to participate in programs over the summer and during breaks when they may not normally take classes during those times.
Budgeting
In order to choose a program that best fits a student’s budget needs, it is important to understand how to budget for an education abroad program, consider current costs of attending K-State, and make a plan for how and when they will pay for the program. If students are interested in creating a budget or savings plan, we recommend checking out Powercat Financial Counseling, a free on-campus resource!
Financial Aid
When students want to utilize financial aid for their education program, there are a few key steps. First, they need to apply for FAFSA. If the student is planning on using financial aid to pay for a summer program, then they will need to submit a Summer Financial Aid Application. Next, they should meet with their education abroad advisor to discuss the program’s total cost and to receive a Cost Estimate Sheet. Then, students should meet with a financial aid advisor in the Office of Student Financial Assistance to review their financial aid package. Finally, they should set up an account for disbursement by enrolling in Electronic Funds Transfer on KSIS to get their aid directly deposited into their bank account.
Scholarships
With the generous support from alumni and donors, Kansas State University has many scholarship opportunities for education abroad participants! The Education Abroad Office awards several scholarships ranging from $100-$5000. These scholarships can be used for any program, as long as the student has an active program application at the time of scholarship review. View the scholarship database online.
To be considered, students need to have an active program application and have submitted the K-State Scholarship Network general application. Several departments and colleges at KSU offer education abroad scholarships for their students. You must contact the Colleges or Departments directly for additional details.
There are also various nationally competitive scholarships to help fund an education abroad experience. Please note that each scholarship has it's own eligibility requirements and deadline. In particular, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a fantastic opportunity open to Pelleligible students. The Gilman Scholarship Program is geared towards U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are planning to do education abroad programs. Gilman aims to diversify the kinds of students who go abroad by supporting undergraduates who might otherwise not participate due to financial constraints.
In order to choose a program that best fits a student’s budget needs, it is important to understand how to budget for an education abroad program, consider current costs of attending K-State, and make a plan for how and when they will pay for the program. If students are interested in creating a budget or savings plan, we recommend checking out Powercat Financial Counseling, a free on-campus resource!
Financial Aid
When students want to utilize financial aid for their education program, there are a few key steps. First, they need to apply for FAFSA. If the student is planning on using financial aid to pay for a summer program, then they will need to submit a Summer Financial Aid Application. Next, they should meet with their education abroad advisor to discuss the program’s total cost and to receive a Cost Estimate Sheet. Then, students should meet with a financial aid advisor in the Office of Student Financial Assistance to review their financial aid package. Finally, they should set up an account for disbursement by enrolling in Electronic Funds Transfer on KSIS to get their aid directly deposited into their bank account.
Scholarships
With the generous support from alumni and donors, Kansas State University has many scholarship opportunities for education abroad participants! The Education Abroad Office awards several scholarships ranging from $100-$5000. These scholarships can be used for any program, as long as the student has an active program application at the time of scholarship review. View the scholarship database online.
To be considered, students need to have an active program application and have submitted the K-State Scholarship Network general application. Several departments and colleges at KSU offer education abroad scholarships for their students. You must contact the Colleges or Departments directly for additional details.
There are also various nationally competitive scholarships to help fund an education abroad experience. Please note that each scholarship has it's own eligibility requirements and deadline. In particular, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a fantastic opportunity open to Pelleligible students. The Gilman Scholarship Program is geared towards U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are planning to do education abroad programs. Gilman aims to diversify the kinds of students who go abroad by supporting undergraduates who might otherwise not participate due to financial constraints.