Step-by-Step Guide to Study Away

Meeting with the Director of Global Engagement will ensure finding the best program for you. Learn how each program fits into your plans - academically, financially, and personally.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael Hancock-Parmer, Director of Gobal Engagement, using Bookings (mind the time zone!) or by sending an email to globalengagement@roanoke.edu

Your advisor(s) has a lot of guidance to offer! Consider their advice on

• when to study away (Fall or Spring semester, academic year, or summer program)
• major/minor/concentration specific courses you should take while away
• general education requirements to consider
• their own previous experiences studying or living in other cultures

Financial aid may apply to Roanoke College-approved off-campus programs.

Contact the Global Engagement Office for cost estimates. The cost of studying off campus can be very similar to the cost of living on campus. For some programs, the program abroad is more affordable than living on campus. For other programs,  the cost may be more expensive

Complete the application once you have selected your program in consultation with Global Engagement, your academic advisors, and your support network (friends, family, etc.). Students should submit the Roanoke College application below before they begin a program-specific application.

Study Away Application

After your application is accepted, you can begin your program's specific application.

Please be aware that our partners each have their own application deadlines and requirements.

It is likely you will need an official Roanoke College transcript as part of your application; request one by emailing registrar@roanoke.edu and asking that your transcript be sent to the Office of Global Engagement

After you are accepted into your program, you will complete a series of forms provided by Global Engagement that cover a few basics.

Note: It is likely you will need an official Roanoke College transcript as part of your application; request one by emailing registrar@roanoke.edu and asking that your transcript be sent to the Office of Global Engagement.

Transfer Credit Authorization
This form will allow you to get transfer credit at Roanoke College once you return a transcript to Global Engagement after the successful completion of your program.

Pre-Departure Form
This form will include uploading a copy of your passport, paying the non-refundable $350 Study Abroad Fee, and collecting your planned travel itinerary.

There is a mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation for all students participating in a Global Engagement program. It is held the semester before you are studying abroad, and summer students may participate in either (but are not obligated).

If you are unable to make the scheduled orientation, you are required to schedule a make-up orientation. 

Pre-Departure Orientation goes over everything from academics abroad to updating to a new culture to health & safety abroad.
 

Have a fantastic experience on your program and know that the Global Engagement Office is still here to support you while you are away/off-campus!

While you are away, we will be in communication to first verify your course schedule to update your Course Pre-Approval Form (if necessary) and to finalize your housing upon your return (particularly for students away during the Fall semester).

Students who study off-campus may have an edge when searching and interviewing for a job. Such an advantage is not guaranteed but must be thoughtfully developed.

While studying abroad can be great for professional development, the experience will not in itself offer an advantage to job seekers. Rather, it is how well you can reflect on and articulate your experience in terms of skills acquired.  Recognizing newly learned competencies and communicating them effectively to a potential employer will set you apart and add value to your resume. These same principles would also apply to domestic off-campus programs.

Learning to articulate what you learned from your experience is also a skill, and there are strategies and processes to help you. It means thinking about these things before you leave campus, recording your experiences in a useful manner, and then telling your story to demonstrate your skills and successes.