Eligibility
- Undergraduates: be a full-time student at Clark for at least one year.
- Have declared a major or program of study, and have an advisor in that major.
- Meet the requirements of your chosen study abroad program.
- Students must also remain in good academic, financial, and social standing during the semester that they plan to be abroad.
Study abroad tasks
- Attend Study Abroad 101. This required step—ideally completed in your first year at Clark—will give you a basic overview, available options, and next steps. Check Engage for upcoming sessions that are scheduled every other week.
- Have a passport which is valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended date of return, or be in the application process.
- Schedule a meeting with a Study Abroad advisor.
Undergraduate residency requirement
- Students in their final two full-time semesters at Clark may study abroad on a Clark-approved program only.
- Clark does not generally recommend studying abroad during the second semester of senior year as grades may not come in time for students to walk at commencement.
Academic requirements
- You must maintain a full course load while studying during the academic year, which is 3-4.5 Clark units or 12-18 US credits.
- If a course is a duplication of a course already taken, no credit can be granted for the course.
- If a student has taken an advanced language course at Clark, they cannot get credit for a lower level abroad.
Non-Clark programs
Clark endeavors to approve a wide variety of programs that meet the academic, personal and professional needs of students from all majors at Clark. These programs have been vetted and approved not only for their academic fit, but also for their student support services, health and safety infrastructure, and other opportunities for learning and engagement for students.
If a student decides to pursue a program that is not approved by Clark, they must do so via petition from the study abroad office no less than one year in advance of application. Students must be on track to complete their graduation requirements in four years and have a sound academic rationale for choosing this program and it must be in a location where Clark does not already have an approved program.
With prior approval, students are eligible to take a leave of absence from the university and attend a “Non-Clark” study abroad program. A non-Clark program is defined as a program not included on Clark’s list of approved programs and:
- Must not be in the same location as an already approved program
- Must have a sound academic, professional, and personal rationale
- Students must have junior class standing
- If enrolling in a non-Clark study program, students must take a leave of absence from the University and are therefore not eligible for financial assistance from the university, including grants or scholarships.
- Students must meet all regular requirements to study abroad
All course credit will be recorded as transfer credits and not counted towards the residency requirements necessary for eligibility towards Clark’s 4+1 accelerated degree.
Frequently asked questions
What additional requirements will I need to meet for my study abroad program?
In addition to Clark requirements, all students should be mindful of program-specific requirements. These might include completions of a specific academic year, GPA, language proficiency, specific course completion, and language forms.
Do I need to speak another language?
No. Programs are offered in many languages, and English language programs are not limited to the United Kingdom or Australia. You can enhance your major with English language courses in places such as the Netherlands, Italy, Botswana, or Namibia.
Can international students study abroad?
Yes they can! F-1 students may be interested in studying abroad as a complement to their studies at Clark University. If you are interested in studying abroad, it is important to understand your options and how study abroad may affect your F-1 status.
- While an F-1 student is permitted to study abroad after the completion of their first term, Clark students are not eligible to apply until they have been in residence at Clark University for one year.
- F-1 Students can study abroad through a Clark Approved Program, Non-Clark Program, or a Summer Program. For more information regarding all of the study abroad options available to you, please get in touch with us!
- Always check in with the International Student and Scholars Office before applying to make sure you are complying with any immigration regulations.
- If you will be completing an internship as part of your study abroad experience, please check with the ISSO to make sure you have proper authorization.
Impact on CPT and Pre-Completion OPT
- If approved by ISSO, and your Clark-approved study abroad experience meets full-time enrollment requirement, semester abroad can be counted towards eligibility for CPT or pre-completion OPT.
Impact on Post-Completion OPT
May not be eligible for post-completion OPT if participating in out of the country study abroad experiences in their graduating semester for the following reasons:
- Students outside the U.S. are not in any non-immigrant status while abroad
- Student is not residing in the U.S. with a current I-94
- May not be able to return to the U.S. after program end date
- Student must submit OPT application from inside the U.S.
Does Clark offer summer study abroad programs?
Clark offers different models of studying abroad in the summer. Students may choose to participate in a Clark faculty-led trip or they may choose an external proram provider. Students can be pre-approved for a summer program and gain up to 2 Clark units of transfer credit per program, per summer.
Students applying for summer transfer credit from a university in their home country (not a designated study ‘program’) should apply through Academic Advising.
It is important that students review the summer study abroad policy and application before applying
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