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Academic Issues
Transferring Credits
Please see our
course
credit page for more information about
transferring courses back to Virginia Tech. For all programs not
run by Virginia Tech faculty you must fill out the "Permission
to Take Courses Elsewhere Form" to get academic credit.
Course
Withdrawal/Resignation/Registration Prior to Departure
If you are
enrolled in a Bilateral Exchange or ISEP program, our office
will register you with a special code to keep you listed as a
full-time student at VT for billing purposes. If you have classes on
your schedule, we will have them removed.
If you are
participating in a Non-VT program, do not sign up for courses
for the semester you will be abroad. If you do, you must file a
Withdraw Form (PDF) with the Registrar's
Office. You may withdraw and be absent from Virginia Tech for
three consecutive semesters without reapplying for admittance.
If you are a
student using financial aid (scholarships, grants, loans, etc.)
the Education Abroad Office enroll you with a special code so
that your financial aid can be used toward your program.
Remember, your aid will NOT be released until we have
confirmation of your enrollment in classes abroad from your
program provider.
Registering for Courses Abroad
Most overseas universities do not provide as much information
about course content, registering and class location as what you
are used to here. Their students are more restricted in course
selection and taking classes only within their major. For this
reason, coordinating timetables across departments on campus
will most likely be more difficult for you if you are taking
courses outside of your major. As Americans, this will require
patience in working with a new academic system.
Ask lots of questions, and don't get too stressed. It will
all work out if you keep calm and think of the right questions
to ask. One returned student wrote: "When
picking classes, no one knew anything about what times the
courses were held did they seem to care. It was just a big
mess." What was a mess to the American was typical for the
English students. Learn how they handle it.
Completing Homework and Course
Requirements
Classes at
universities abroad are usually structured differently than
classes at Virginia Tech. Your classes may focus more on large
group projects and/or papers, rather than small, individual
assignments. Also, your final grade could be dependent upon a
single exam only. These differences in structure may take some
getting used to, but learning about a different academic system
is one of the reasons why you chose to study abroad!
Transcripts
Before you leave the host university, confirm that you have done
everything necessary for getting a transcript sent to the
Education Abroad Office, 1820 Litton Reaves Hall. Students
in Germany, read the ISEP Handbook about grade reporting. For
non-ISEP students to Germany, please be sure to discuss this
with our program coordinator before you leave.
Registering for Your Return Semester at Virginia Tech
You are responsible for registering for courses on Hokie SPA
while you are abroad for the semester you return to
VT. Experience has shown that the period when students are registering for classes is so busy that a student who is abroad
cannot expect their academic advisor to remember to correspond
with them and send a timetable.
It is a good idea to work with your academic advisor before you
leave to determine which classes you should take upon your
return.
Also, be sure to take your
academic advisor's e-mail and mailing address with you to
correspond with him or her as needed. |
