Frequently Asked Questions

Because it's the best time in your life to travel, explore and learn about our world. And, you can do all this while working on your degree! Your college years offer a magnitude of opportunities to learn, grow, try new things, meet interesting people, and gain a new understanding of yourself. Add the study away piece and the additional benefits include new knowledge and skills, increased personal strength, courage and self-esteem, job possibilities, cultural exchange, and life-changing adventure.

The top five reasons to study away:

1. Personal growth: Studying abroad or going on an exchange will push you out of your comfort zone. Everyday challenges will help you to become a more rounded and confident individual.
2. Increase your marketability and value as an employee: Employers view students who have studied away as more responsible, independent and respectful of other points of view. Also, those with experience abroad are considered better candidates for leadership positions.
3. Develop a foreign language: The ability to speak a foreign language is a huge bonus in our ever-changing international world market.
4. Find international employment: Obviously living outside of your home country opens the door to a multitude of new contacts and possibilities such as teaching overseas, finding work with an American-based company, or a non-profit relief organization.
5. Meet extraordinary people: As you engage in friendships, your values and beliefs may change and broaden. New situations with new people will allow you to question your own thoughts and norms.

Exchange programs involve an actual exchange of students. In other words, a UAS student will study away from UAS while another student will come here and take the place of the UAS student (temporarily, of course). Exchange programs are competitive, based on space availability, and have similar costs to UAS or resident tuition. They do not include academic excursions, (mandatory international) insurance, or program activities or events.  They are for the more independent, perhaps well-traveled, student.

Study abroad programs host UAS students at other universities and international educational centers around the world. Competition with other students is not an issue; space is available. Costs are variable and most often higher than exchanges yet include more as well. For example, the mandatory international insurance, orientation programs, and weekend or academic excursions are included. There is often an on-site coordinator who makes it a priority to support students through the study away experience.

Yes, grades and credits will be calculated into your GPA and posted to your UAS transcript once you complete your program. An official transcript mustbe received by the UAS Academic Exchange office upon completion.

In general, exchange program costs are based on UAS tuition. Study abroad prices vary depending on the destination, length of program, and program provider.

Through the NSE program, students pay UAS for the cost of 15 credits and fees, or in-state tuition and fees at the host campus. Students are responsible for housing, meals, books, and all other personal expenses at the host university.

The ISEP (exchange) has a flat program fee that is charged to the UAS student per semester. The fee is comparable to the cost of 15 upper division credits plus fees, and room and board at UAS. Students cover the cost of transportation to the host university and all personal expenses while on exchange. Students are also required to purchase insurance through ISEP which is roughly $80/month.

The ISEP-Direct program fees are set by the host institution, paid to ISEP, and can range from roughly US $9,000–$17,000 per semester. This includes tuition and fees, housing, and board.

GEO program fees vary based on program location, length, and excursions, and range from US $9,000–$17,000 per term. Program fees normally include tuition, room and board, excursions, all course material, and insurance. Students are responsible for transportation to the program site and all other personal expenses.

API program fees vary based on destination and program length ranging from US $10,000–$18,000 per semester. Program fees normally include tuition, room and board, excursions, all course material, and insurance. Students are responsible for transportation to the program site and all other personal expenses.

ISA program fees also vary based on program location and length, and range from US $10,000–$20,000 including tuition, fees, health coverage, housing, meals and special pre-trip orientation excursion, depending on your chosen program option. 

IFSA-Butler program fees are set on a per semester basis ranging from US $10,000–$18,000. Program fees normally include tuition, room and board, excursions, all course material, and insurance. Students are responsible for transportation to the program site and all other personal expenses.

Semester at Sea program costs range depending on the number of port stops and length of the voyage, and can be anywhere between US $22,000-$30,000.

YES. Application and/or fees are required for all programs:

• NSE: $225 non-refundable application fee, payable to UAS
• ISEP: $100 non-refundable application fee to ISEP along a $375 deposit due at the time of placement
• GEO: non-refundable $50 application fee payable to GEO plus a $250 refundable deposit due at the time of confirmation
• API: no application fee but a $150 non-refundable deposit with application which is applied to the program fee. Upon confirmation, an additional $400 confirmation deposit is required to hold your space in the program.
• IFSA-Butler: $50 non refundable application fee
• ISA: no application fee but a $200 non-refundable deposit is required and applied to the program cost.
• Semester at Sea: $50 non-refundable application fee

UAS has an additional non-refundable $75 administrative participation fee for all programs except NSE.

YES. When participating in any of these programs, students are still enrolled at UAS as UAS students. All financial aid, loans and scholarships, apply to the costs of these programs. Even UA scholars may utilize their UA scholar funds while on a study away program. Tuition waivers can only be used through the NSE program (Plan B). Visit the Financial Aid office for more details.

See the Eligibility section on the UAS Outgoing Student Information page for more information.

YES. Application deadlines vary for each program. Please be sure to research the deadlines for each program you are interested in. It is a great disappointment to realize you've missed an opportunity because of a late application. Some programs do have an open entry, and qualified applicants can be placed any time during the year as long as space is available.

ISEP priority placement for fall semester and full-year exchanges is in February while spring priority placement is late August.

NSE priority placement is late February.  Post-conference placements are possible yet many schools close or have a limited tuition payment option after priority placement.

Study away programs have varied deadline dates that are listed on their respective web sites.

See "Begin the Study Away Process" on the UAS Outgoing Student Information page.

YES. To apply for any of the programs there is a process to go through. The process varies slightly with each program but each program has similar components. The components typically consist of:

1. First, complete the UAS Preliminary Outgoing Application (mandatory)
2. Then, a program application
3. A statement of purpose (why you are interested in an exchange or study abroad experience)
4. Faculty reference(s)
5. Transcript (some require official, for others a copy is fine)
6. Application and/or a deposit or administrative fees
7. A meeting with the Academic Exchange and Study Abroad coordinator BEFORE sending the application

Once placed, a confirmation of the program is made by the program provider and more paperwork is required. Pre-departure orientation is highly encouraged and offered at the end of each semester. The Academic Exchange office has a check list to help you prepare for a successful study away experience.

Once the application is submitted, an actual placement will occur by the host institution or program. That placement is accepted or declined by the student. Once accepted by the student, a confirmation is made by the host. During this process, students receive additional material from the sponsoring organization and the host program coordinator. Paperwork from the UAS Academic Exchange and Study Abroad office also will need to be completed. A visit to an Academic Advisor by the participating student is important to ensure course and credit equivalencies.

Pre-departure planning and orientation support is provided by UAS staff and by host campus staff.

Research program options, select a program or two, and choose your host institution wisely. Then, schedule an appointment with the Academic Exchange and Study Abroad Coordinator.

Consider the following questions:

• What are my goals (academic, personal, cultural)?
• Am I eligible?
• Am I being realistic about the costs and my financial resources?
• What do I know about the new campus and community environment?
• Is the timing right?
• Am I sufficiently flexible and open to the unexpected?
• Have I researched the academic program adequately?

No. Students who participate in any of these programs and are already a resident, eligible for the Permanent Fund Dividend will still receive a dividend check as long as they are registered at UAS as a full-time student. Students are responsible for submitting a Verification of Enrollment Form to the Registrar's office in a timely manner. In turn, the Registrar will verify enrollment at UAS and send the form to the Permanent Fund Dividend office.