Semester, Summer, or Full Year Off-Campus & Study Abroad 101

The first step in planning for a semester, summer or year of off-campus study is to open a Denison OCS Application in the OCS application portal during fall semester. As part of this application students will complete a remote, video-module Study Abroad 101 series. Next, students attend an OCS group advising session to explore, discuss, and ask questions about programs. Working with our office and their academic advisors, students articulate learning goals for an off-campus study experience, explore a range of options among the Denison-approved programs, and carefully consider the timing of participation and integration with degree requirements.

Eligibility Guidelines

Please note that eligibility guidelines for off-campus study are reviewed annually and subject to change.

Denison approval is granted only if the student is adequately prepared for the proposed off-campus program. The Denison evaluation criteria are as follows:

• The proposed off-campus study program represents a well-defined continuation of the curricular and pedagogical goals of a Denison liberal arts education and the student’s academic program.
• The student’s academic record demonstrates clear evidence of curricular preparation and academic achievement appropriate for the off-campus study program.
• The student has completed a minimum of forty-eight credits prior to participation on an off-campus program. This requirement does not apply to summer study. It is recommended that transfer students complete one semester of study at Denison prior to participation on an off-campus program. 
• The student must have a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.3 to pursue and complete off-campus study. In exceptional cases, the Center for Global Programs' staff will review mid-term and final semester grades to ensure that students meet the minimum GPA threshold of the program provider before approving the application. The Center may request supplemental materials for a student’s application, e.g., faculty recommendations, additional essays, etc. The final decision to approve a student for off-campus study will be made by the Center in close consultation with the program provider's requirements. Important note: The vast majority of approved off-campus study programs require a minimum of a 2.5 GPA or higher to qualify for participation. Accordingly, we will accept applications from students with a 2.3 GPA, but if the GPA required by the program is higher, the Center is obligated to follow the provider's GPA requirements in approving students for all programs.
• We can only work with students currently enrolled at Denison. We cannot approve plans for study away during a semester in which students are not enrolled.
• Once approved by the Center for Global Programs, the student is then responsible for completing an application with the program provider according to their own requirements and eligibility criteria.
• Students must complete all application requirements for both Denison and the program provider by their stated deadlines. Failure to complete requirements by deadlines will result in withdrawal of the application and/or revocation of Denison approval. Financial penalties resulting from withdrawal will be the responsibility of the student.
• Students approved for off-campus study must complete Denison’s mandatory orientation and complete all pre-departure administrative eligibility requirements until the start of the OCS program. This includes obtaining program provider housing, meeting any legal requirements to study in your program, such as a visa or residency permit, or any other program requirements. Failure to do so will result in revocation of approval. Financial penalties resulting from withdrawal will be the responsibility of the student.
• Final approval for Off-Campus Study is contingent upon maintaining your enrollment at Denison and your academic performance as well as your conduct between now and your term of off-campus study. Failure to do so, including failing course/assignment grades, repeated missed class attendance, or other repeated behaviors indicating a lapse in academic preparedness, may result in revocation of approval. Financial penalties resulting from withdrawal will be the responsibility of the student.

Participation

Denison strives to accommodate all qualified students for off-campus study. There are, however, two related points that impact this policy. First, Denison establishes limits on the number of participants in individual programs in order to facilitate optimal integration into a range of experiential learning contexts and communities. Second, slots for off-campus study in the Fall and Spring semesters are awarded on a first come, first served basis by program and by term, according to the date/time stamp of the student's submitted application materials via the OCS application portal. Students are strongly recommended to complete the advising and application process as early as possible. This provides the best chance to secure the preferred term and program of study. 

Financing Off-Campus Study (effective Summer 2026)

Please note that financial guidelines for off-campus study are reviewed annually and subject to change.

Note: The policy below primarily impacts students studying on SEMESTER (e.g., fall or spring) programs. Students studying on Summer or January-Term programs are responsible for all fees associated with their programs. 

General Information

Global experiences are integral to a Denison education. The Center for Global Programs provides individualized advising to help students explore and plan for various types of off-campus experiences to cultivate and strengthen global competencies essential in today’s world. With a list of more than 200 Denison-approved off-campus study programs, both domestic and foreign, students have many opportunities to learn or hone a foreign language, participate in a domestic or international internship tied to an academic program, conduct independent research, and more. Approved programs are carefully vetted for safety and academic rigor associated with a Denison liberal arts education. The current list is located on the OCS website. 

To pursue off-campus study for academic credit, students must select an approved program listed on the OCS website, develop an academic plan around the program, and obtain approval for the program. Once approved by the Center for Global Programs, the student is then responsible for completing an application with the program provider. Students approved for off-campus study must complete an online mandatory orientation session. Failure to do so may result in revocation of approval. 

Eligibility Guidelines

The opportunity to apply for an off-campus program is available to all Denison students who are in good standing with the university. However, participation is not guaranteed. An application process, prerequisites and minimum requirements are in place for each approved Denison program. Denison approval hinges on students successfully completing all parts of the application process and meeting all deadlines. Eligibility guidelines for off-campus study are reviewed annually and subject to change. They can be found here.

Student Responsibilities

• Students are responsible for paying Denison tuition, housing and meals, Denison health insurance fee [if they do not opt out], the non-refundable Off-Campus Study Administrative Fee and any other charges on their student account in full by Denison’s due date. Failure to pay the student account will result in suspension of study abroad eligibility and the assessment of applicable penalties as outlined in the Student Financial Responsibility Policy. 
• Students are required to establish ACH/wire transfer payment for meal allowances and any other funds provided by Denison. 
• Denison's student health insurance is an annual plan that covers both semesters. Students may waive the health insurance if they are covered by another plan, but that waiver will cover both semesters. If students are not covered by another plan, they must purchase the Denison insurance plan.
• Students are responsible for paying Program Provider upfront charges, e.g, deposits, tuition deposits, housing deposits, education abroad fees, application fees, commitment fees, or combinations thereof. 
• Unless otherwise noted on the OCS website, Denison will only pay for the least expensive housing option, often referred to as a “standard option” by the program/host institution. Students selecting housing that includes a supplemental fee for enhanced accommodation, including catering, are subject to additional charges and will be billed separately by the provider or host institution for those charges.
• Specific housing (usually a homestay) is required on some programs.
• Students are responsible for any penalties or cancellation fees associated with changes to airline travel arrangements. 
• Students are required to complete the program according to the program provider’s program start and end dates, irrespective of the host institution’s calendar. For students in direct enrollment programs, students are required to complete the program according to the official university calendar denoting the start and end date of the semester. This includes adhering to the move-in schedule and attending the on-site orientation.
• The student is responsible for extra student fees/items included on the program and billed to Denison. These include, among other things, tutorials, books, art course fees, lab fees, course supplies, music lesson fees, athletic fees, and other expenses that are not the standard costs of the program [tuition, meals, housing, health insurance].
• The student is responsible for any expenses that are not part of program costs billed by the provider to Denison. These expenses may include: 
  • personal travel and sojourns
  • personal expenses
  • food costs above those budgeted by the program
  • personal meals/snacks during personal sojourns/discretionary travel
  • lodging during travel to and from the host city
  • passport, visa fees, residency permits 
  • local transportation 
  • equipment, gear, supplies required for courses taken off-campus
  • immunizations
  • security fees
  • cell phones, extra cell-phone data, additional WiFi data

This list is not exhaustive. It is important for students to remember that incidental and personal expenses are, in almost all cases, significantly higher for off-campus programs because of personal travel and other activities undertaken on a voluntary basis.

• Students with demonstrated financial need may make a request for up to $250 for funds to cover visas and visa-related travel, immunizations related directly to the study abroad program, subject to review by the Center for Global Programs. 
  • Students may make more than one request, but that assistance is capped at $250 per student across all programs/terms. Students may not receive more than $250 in off-campus supplemental funds while they are a student at Denison.
  • Supplemental funds will be transferred via ACH after students are approved by Denison for an off- campus program. If students withdraw from their intended program they are responsible for paying the funds back to Denison (check or cash) within 14 business days of notifying the Center for Global Programs of the official withdrawal from the program. If this presents a hardship, the amount will be added to the student’s account. 
  • In accordance with federal guidelines, this additional funding will be appended to the student’s financial aid package documentation. The financial aid office will notify students by email when the update has been made.
• Students with demonstrated need may request funds for US passports and passport renewals. The amount awarded will be based on the current rate as determined by the Department of State.
• Denison requires that students participate fully and responsibly in all academic aspects of the proposed off-campus study program, including required language and area studies courses, and/or a homestay stipulation. Failure to complete the academic aspects of the program will result in a grade of “TF” for the off-campus study placeholder course listed on the Denison academic record for the term abroad. There are no refunds if students fail courses and/or fail to fulfill all academic aspects of the program. 
• Students are enrolled for a holding place registration of 12 credits for each term of off-campus study in order to report full-time study to the Federal Clearinghouse to facilitate the portability of financial aid and/or to use 529 college funds.  Students are, therefore, required to enroll for at least 12 transferable U.S. semester credits for each semester of off-campus study, but may choose to enroll for up to 18 U.S. semester credits per semester. Additional charges may be assessed for each registered hour in excess of 18 hours [see above]. Students should consider these costs at the time they apply to the program and consult the Denison Catalog and the Office of the Registrar for advice and further details. A student may request twice during their Denison career to take up to 20 hours and request to waive the excess credit hours fee. Any such request should be submitted with this form to the Registrar's Office prior to the beginning of the semester in question. Any hours over 18 will be billed to the student account. Excess hour fees that are not waived will remain on the student’s account. 
• The University is under no obligation to transfer coursework or apply transferred coursework toward specific degree requirements unless that coursework has been approved in advance. Students wishing to apply a course toward a GE, major, minor, or concentration requirements must receive approval directly from the relevant department/program.  Other coursework for transfer credit will be evaluated through the combined efforts of the Registrar, the Center for Global Programs, and, as necessary, specific departments/programs.
• It is not possible for Denison to predict world events or assure that a study abroad experience is entirely risk-free. Rarely, but occasionally in the past, emergencies (dangerous conflicts, natural disasters, COVID-19 pandemic etc.) have resulted in alteration or cancellation of an off-campus study program for which a student has been approved. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of all program policies regarding suspension/cancellation and implications for their academic program.

Withdrawal Policies

• Students are responsible for knowing, in advance, a program’s withdrawal policy. If a student officially withdraws from a program after confirming participation, the student is responsible for any unpaid program deposits, as well as any late withdrawal charges assessed by the program provider. These charges will be placed on the student’s Denison account. If a student intends to dispute these charges, they must work with the program provider. 
• In the event of an official withdrawal from the program after the first day of Denison’s classes, a student may receive a partial refund of tuition and housing & meals. The withdrawal process begins once the student notifies the Center for Global Programs. The student will not be considered withdrawn until the intent to withdraw is communicated to and confirmed by the Center for Global Programs. 
• If a student withdraws from a program before the program ends the student is required to reimburse all allowances provided by Denison. Meal and/or housing allowances shall be reimbursed on a prorated basis according to Denison's withdrawal schedule.  
• If a student withdraws from a program and they receive OCS supplemental funds [see p. 4], they are responsible for paying the funds back to Denison (check or cash) within 14 business days of notifying the Center for Global Programs of official withdrawal from the program. If the student cannot pay up front, the amount will be added to the student’s account. 
• Upon withdrawal, any adjustments to the student’s account are automatically made in accordance with Denison University refund policies. Questions regarding the amount of refund or forfeiture of charges should be directed to the office of Student Accounts. Additional information can be found at the university website.

Student Impacts of a Withdrawal

• Program Provider Costs and Fees: Based on the provider’s withdrawal policy.
• Denison Costs:
  • Tuition: Prorated per Denison’s withdrawal schedule.
  • Housing & Meals: Prorated per Denison’s withdrawal schedule.
  • Off Campus Study Administrative Fee: Billable. Not refundable, non-reversible, non-transferrable to a different term of study.
• Allowances:
  • Housing & Meals: Student is responsible for reimbursing Denison based on the Denison withdrawal schedule.

Deferment Policy

• If a student defers participation to a different term of study the Off-Campus Study Administrative fee must be paid again.

Academic Regulations for Off-Campus Study

Denison requires that students participate fully and responsibly in all academic aspects of the proposed off-campus study program, throughout the program's official dates, including required language and area studies courses, orientation, exams, and/or a homestay stipulation. Students are required to complete the program according to the program provider’s program start and end dates, irrespective of the host institution’s calendar. For students in direct enrollment programs, students are required to complete the program according to the official university calendar denoting the start and end date of the semester. This includes adhering to the move-in schedule and attending the on-site orientation. Failure to complete the academic aspects of the program will result in a grade of “TF” for the course(s) listed on the Denison academic record for the term abroad. There are no refunds if students fail courses and/or fail to fulfill all academic aspects of the program. 

Denison students studying in a non-English speaking country during a semester will be required to take a language course, if offered by the program or partner university, in the official language of the host country. Students attending the Centro- Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies may choose Latin or Ancient Greek as their language in lieu of Italian. This requirement is waived for students with a documented language disability accommodation on file in Denison's Academic Resource Center (ARC).

Students are enrolled for a holding place registration of 12 credits for each term of off-campus study in order to report full-time study to the Federal Clearinghouse to facilitate the portability of financial aid and/or to use 529 college funds. Students are, therefore, required to enroll for at least 12 transferable U.S. semester credits for each semester of off-campus study. Additional charges may be assessed for each registered hour in excess of 18 hours, even when required by the program [see above]. Students should consider these costs at the time they apply to the program and consult the Denison Catalog and the Office of the Registrar for advice and further details. A student may request twice during their Denison career to take up to 20 hours and request to waive the excess credit hours fee. Fees for any hours that are not waived will remain on the student’s account. 

Only one course may be taken on a Satisfactory (S/Grade) Evaluation option. Arrangements for such a choice must be made directly with the program provider or partner institution on site according to their processes and deadlines. Students should notify the Registrar's Office of the arrangement to take a course on an S/Grade basis as part of the pre-approval process for courses.

To receive transfer credit for an off-campus study experience, students must work with the Registrar’s Office and often with specific department chairs to obtain pre-approval for their courses. Students should submit course pre-approvals to the Registrar's Office during the semester prior to their program according to the instructions in MyDenison. The University is under no obligation to transfer coursework or apply transferred coursework toward specific degree requirements unless that coursework has been approved in advance. 

Students wishing to apply a course toward a GE, major, minor, or concentration requirements must receive approval directly from the relevant department/program. Other coursework for transfer credit will be evaluated through the combined efforts of the Registrar, the Center for Global Programs, and, as necessary, specific departments/programs.

All courses reported on the program provider’s transcript are posted to the Denison academic record with course titles, credits, and grades. This includes any course for which a student receives a failing grade. Credit will only be awarded for grades of D or better. While the grades for off-campus study coursework are not factored into the Denison cumulative grade point average, it is important to note that they could be factored into a composite grade point average should a student pursue graduate or professional school after graduating from Denison.

Review of Disciplinary Records

Recognizing the role of students as ambassadors of Denison, the special privilege of participating in off-campus programs, and the level of maturity required for students to be successful negotiating the challenges and potential risks associated with study away, the Center for Global Programs [CfGP] routinely consults with the Office of Community Values and Student Conduct [OCVSC] to assess students’ disciplinary history as part of the approval process for off-campus study. Frequency, severity, community impact of violations, and student’s disciplinary status (e.g., Disciplinary Probation) are the variables that may impact eligibility. 

Students on disciplinary probation or suspension are not eligible to participate in off-campus study during the semester of probation or suspension. Students with incomplete sanctions prior to departure on their off-campus study program should consult with OCVSC and CfGP about the incomplete sanctions and possible impact[s] on eligibility for off-campus study.

Violations that occur after a student has been approved for study abroad, but before their departure for off-campus study may also influence a student’s eligibility to participate. Denison reserves the right to withhold or rescind approval for any student based on their disciplinary history or violations, regardless of the number of incidents on the student’s record. If a student’s disciplinary status changes after approval, it is their responsibility to notify the CfGP as well as the program provider.  

The program provider may request information from the student about their disciplinary record as part of the admission process. Any student concerns about how disciplinary history may affect eligibility for study away should be conveyed as soon as possible to staff in the Center for Global Programs.  

While participating in off-campus study, students are under the jurisdiction of the local laws, the policies of their program, and Denison’s Code of Student Conduct. If an incident should arise during a program, that information may be shared with the Division of Student Life and OCVSC and result in a response under the Code of Student Conduct, including possible disciplinary sanctions and the revocation of your eligibility to participate in the program with the requirement to depart.

Health Advisories, Travel Advisories, and Travel Warnings

All U.S. passport holders are further required to register with the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at https://step.state.gov/

Denison strongly recommends that all students avail themselves of the travel information available at the U.S. State Department (DoS) (http://travel.state.gov/), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/), and World Health Organization (WHO) (http://www.who.int/en/) web sites.  In particular, students should carefully consider the safety information included in State Department travel advisories for the country(ies) in which they are pursuing off-campus study and/or for any other country to which they are planning to travel during their time abroad.

The Center for Global Programs routinely reviews CDC, DoS, and WHO travel advisories, as well as safety and risk updates from our program partners around the world. Denison reserves the right to withdraw its approval for study on an off-campus program at any point due to elevated travel advisories from any/all of the aforementioned agencies, and/or advice from our program partners, and/or general risk concerns. Withdrawal of approval for an off-campus study program bars a student from receiving Denison credit for the program and from applying financial aid to the program costs. Please see the OCS website for the most up-to-date policies regarding international travel.

In the case of an elevated U.S. State Department travel warning, or a CDC or WHO travel advisory issued before or after a program has started, Denison will work closely with the educational partner/program provider and other informed parties to determine an appropriate course of action. In the case of requiring that a student return home, Denison will pursue reasonable steps with the program provider to mitigate the financial and academic impact of such an action.

It is not possible for Denison to predict world events or assure that a study abroad experience is entirely risk-free. Rarely, but occasionally in the past, emergencies (dangerous conflicts, natural disasters, COVID-19 pandemic, etc.) have resulted in alteration or cancellation of an off-campus study program for which a student has been approved. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of all program policies regarding suspension/cancellation and implications for their academic program.