Summer Abroad
Studying abroad for a month or two during the summer is a great way to experience life abroad without disrupting the progression of courses for your major on campus.
This is also a great option for student athletes who must be on campus for both the fall and spring semester!
The earlier you start planning to study abroad for the summer, the better. Freshmen are welcome to make an appointment with a study abroad advisor to start discussing their options early! If you didn’t start early, that’s totally okay. Your options might be a little more limited, but we can still work with you to find a program that fits your needs.
For more information, email Jessica at schrader@rmu.edu or Karis at cornelius@rmu.edu.
Deadlines
For a summer abroad, you will need to fill out an RMU application and an application to your program abroad.
RMU application deadlines typically fall before program application deadlines, but you should double check your program deadline to make sure you are meeting both application deadlines.
Note that many study abroad scholarship deadlines fall before application deadlines. If you plan to apply for scholarships, start early!
Recommended RMU Application deadline for any Summer program: February 28th.
Cost
The cost of a summer program abroad varies by location, length, and number of credits. Typical costs are approximately $1,000/week abroad plus the cost of your flight. Look for the cost of each program on its webpage, and consider applying to scholarships to help make a summer abroad more affordable.
The resources below can be useful for you in planning your budget for a semester abroad:
- Create a budget for a semester abroad (worksheet)
- Scholarship/Grant Tax Information Worksheet - If you received a scholarship or grant for studying abroad, use this worksheet to determine what taxes, if any, you owe on the money received.
Eligibility
In order to participate in a summer abroad, RMU students must:
- have earned 45 credits at RMU, not including transfer/AP credits*
- not be in their final semester of study at RMU
- have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA**
- have a clean disciplinary record at RMU OR be willing to discuss their record with a study abroad advisor, who will approve/deny eligibility based on the conversation
*Transfer students may speak to their study abroad advisor about this requirement.
**Some programs have a higher requirement than this.
Locations
RMU students are able to choose their own program for a summer abroad, which means that you can find a program that is perfect for you and your needs!
You should start your search with the providers RMU partners with, listed below:
Don’t forget options to intern abroad over the summer!
Note that business majors must attend a program that is AACSB-accredited if they wish to take 3000- or 4000-level courses in their major.
How to Apply
Pre-Application
- Interest Form - submit this form to be receive emails about studying abroad. You will need to be signed into your RMU account for this form to work.
- Pre-Advising Goals Form - this must be completed before your first advising meeting
- Make an advising appointment with Karis or Jessica.
- Talk to your academic advisor about your plans to study abroad, and work with them to save electives and general courses (e.g., History, Literature, Principles of _____, etc.) to take while you are abroad.
- Apply for your Passport now! It's never too early to get your passport, and delays could cost you more money.
RMU Application
Note that your application must be complete before you will be nominated and able to apply to your study abroad program. Please consider this when determining appropriate timelines.
Program Application
Your study abroad advisor will not nominate you to complete your program’s application until after your RMU application is complete and approved. You will receive information about your program’s application at that time.
Passport and Visa Requirements
Passports
Your passport is issued by the country where you are a citizen. It is an identity document.
Some countries require that your U.S. passport be valid not only for the duration of your visit, but also for up to six months after your entry or return from their country. This means you have to check your passport expiration date carefully. For example, if your passport expires on January 1, 2021, and you want to return home in August 2020, you will need to renew your passport before you go.
Visas
A visa is a sticker put in your passport by the country you are going to. It gives you permission to enter the country for a specific purpose, such as studying or working. Many countries allow US citizens to enter as a tourist without a visa but require students to apply for a visa.
Every country's visa requirements differ. You should receive information from your host university or program provider once you are accepted about the visa process. If you do not feel like you are getting this information in a timely manner or have questions about the process, please reach out to your study abroad advisor.
Grading
Grades earned on a summer abroad program are brought back to RMU as transfer credit, provided that you earn the equivalent of a C or better in the course. Grades do not factor into your GPA.