Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Why would I want to study abroad? It will help you to get a better job! Having a study abroad experience on your resume` shows that you are mature, curious about the world, and able to take care of yourself in new situations. It will make your job application stand out among competing applications.

2. Why does Lander promote study abroad? Lander wants you to be well-educated. America's heritage arises from many cultures, and we should understand how this occurred. Art, music, science, medicine, and religion have long transcended national boundaries, and in recent years, business and education have also become global in scope. Persons in every field should be able to examine issues and problems from a global perspective.

3. Will courses taken at an institution abroad count at Lander? Before taking courses abroad you should discuss them with your advisor to be sure that the courses will fit into your curriculum. You must make a "C" or better in each course taken from an institution abroad in order for it to transfer to Lander. Your "Lander GPA" will not be affected by coursework taken at an institution abroad, but your "LIFE scholarship GPA" and your "overall GPA" will be affected. NOTE: Study abroad tours led by Lander faculty members involve regular Lander courses. Credit and grades for these courses are handled in the same way as credit and grades for all Lander courses.

4. How expensive is it to study abroad for a semester? If you take 12-15 hours (a full load) Lander will automatically register you for Lander's IDSA 300 course for the correct number of hours. You will then pay regular Lander tuition plus an extra amount depending upon the fees for the university abroad. The least expensive semesters abroad that we have found so far are at the University of Northampton and the University of Winchester. A semester at either institution including travel to / from England costs a little more than a semester at Lander (a semester at Lander presently costs about $8600). Please note that the spring semester abroad may include a 3-4 week Easter break and that the cost of room and board and travel during this break are not included in the estimates given here.

5. Why is it less expensive to study at Northampton or Winchester? Lander University has special agreements with these two small English universities so you get a price break.

6. What about my financial aid? Your regular financial aid will usually apply as if you were present at Lander. Please note, however, that financial aid is subject to a complex set of rules set forth by the Federal and State governments, by Lander University, and by individual scholarship donors. You must discuss your particular financial aid situation with the Office of Student Financial Aid.

7. Can you give me some financial advice that would help me to make a semester abroad affordable? In Europe the semester may begin later than a Lander semester, so try to hold on to your summer job or Christmas job an extra month. Avoid signing year-long apartment leases or new cell-phone contracts. Remember that you will have no automobile expenses abroad and your family may be able to drop you from their auto insurance while you are away. Ask family members to give you cash for birthdays and Christmas. Talk to returning Lander students about their expenses abroad.

NOTE: You will need a debit card and a credit card. Some cards charge fees for transactions in a foreign currency - Capital One (0%), Wachovia (1% or 2%), Bank of America (3%). Read the fine print on your credit card and debit card agreements and change banks if necessary.

8. How expensive are the Summer Study Tours which are led by Lander faculty? The most common case is a two-week study tour to Europe or Latin America costing between $1600 and $3600. Tuition is extra (currently $825 for a three-hour course), but in many cases you may register for the summer class along with a full load of fall classes and pay no extra tuition.

9. Where can I study? Almost anywhere you wish, however, many universities teach only in their local language so be prepared to speak Spanish or Greek or whatever. Lander is affiliated with Academic Studies Abroad, an organization that offers study abroad programs in eight countries. See www.academicstudies.com for more information. Also look through the collection of materials in Lander's Study Abroad Library in LC 376 (contact studyabroad@lander.edu to make an appointment).

1 0. Is is safe? We will not recommend study in countries that are considered by the US Department of State to be unsafe, or at universities that do not provide support services for visiting international students.

11. When can I study abroad? You must have completed at least one semester at Lander. Probably the best time to spend a semester abroad is during your sophomore or junior year. This is because you can easily take general education and elective courses at a foreign university, but courses in your major may be more difficult to arrange. Talk to your advisor about fitting study abroad into your curriculum.

12. Do I need to be a top student to study abroad? You must have a 2.5 GPA to participate in Lander-sponsored study tours. We can recommend you for admission to the University of Northampton or to the University of Winchester if you have a solid 2.8 GPA, but a 3.0 is better. Most foreign universities require a 3.0 GPA for admission to a regular semester, but their special summer programs for international students may have lower GPA requirements.