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.  It is recommended that transfer students complete one semester of study at Denison prior to participation on an off-campus program.  This requirement does not apply to summer study.

• The student must have a cumulative minimum GPA of 2.3 at the time of application for 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.

• Seniors in their final semester at Denison must successfully petition to waive their senior year residency requirement as part of their application process.

• 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, pre-departure orientation, and documentation requirements - for Denison and for the program provider- by the stated deadlines. Failure to complete requirements by deadlines will result in withdrawal of the application or Denison approval.

• Students approved for off-campus study must complete an online mandatory orientation session and maintain eligibility requirements. Final approval is contingent upon maintaining your enrollment at Denison and your academic performance between now and your term of off-campus study. Failure to do so may result in revocation of approval. 

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 the 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 Advising and Program Selection form in Global Tools.  Students are strongly recommended to complete the Advising and Program Selection form as early as possible. This provides the best chance to secure the preferred term and program of study. 

Financing Off-Campus Study (effective Summer 2025)

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

Costs, Financial Aid, Billing and Fees General Guidelines

• All students participating in an approved off-campus program remain registered at Denison. They are charged Denison tuition, housing, and meal plan for the semester abroad. This applies to students living on campus as well as commuter students.
• Tuition will be equal to Denison’s full-time tuition charges which covers up to 18 credits.  Each credit over 18 will generate an additional fee at the current excess hour/hourly tuition rate.  The housing and meals costs will be equivalent to the current Denison Housing and Meals fee. Students are also charged a non-refundable, non-transferable, non-reversible Off-Campus Program Administrative Fee (OCS fee). 
• Students may apply all awarded financial aid [merit and need-based aid] for one semester to the cost of the off-campus study program, except work-study.
• In the instance that a student pursues a second semester of off-campus study, merit and institutional need based aid will only be applied if they meet the following exceptions:

1. language majors and minors participating in language intensive programs;
2. non-language majors where two semesters are mandatory parts of the program.

Students who meet these qualifications must pay the Off-Campus Study Administrative Fee for both semesters and may, if they have demonstrated need, receive an additional flight allowance. 

Merit and institutional need based aid will not be applied to a second semester of off-campus study for students who do not meet the aforementioned exceptions. In these instances, students are charged Denison’s full tuition, plus the housing and meal plan for each semester of off-campus study, including the Off Campus Program Administrative Fee. There is no flight allowance provided for the second semester.

• Students are billed according to the regular billing cycle.
• Denison pays the program providers’ standard expenses, minus program deposits, application fees, commitment fees, or a combination thereof [see below]. This includes tuition and other costs that are mandatory parts of the program (e.g. housing and meals, mandatory excursion fees, health insurance).
• In instances where the off-campus program does not provide meals and/or housing, students will receive an allowance to cover those expenses according to estimates from the provider.
• Denison does not pay for any program provider or host institution non-refundable deposits, application fees, commitment fees, or combination thereof. 
• Denison does not pay for excursions that are not required by the program or course of study while the student participates in the program. This includes extra-curricular activities such as optional tours and field trips. Students will pay these fees on their own, from their personal funds.
• For students with any level of demonstrated need, Denison will provide a one-time travel allowance of $1000 for foreign destinations, and $500 for domestic (US) destinations. Included in the allowance is a $100 provision for baggage. Denison will not provide additional funds for oversized/excess baggage, seat reservation fees, extra legroom or additional add-ons charged by the airline.
  • Students with demonstrated need will receive direct communication from the Center for Global Programs when the allowance is distributed.
  • Funds are disbursed after students are approved by the Center for Global Programs and after they are accepted into the program. Students must have ACH/wire transfer setup with the University to receive the funds.
• Denison pays for supplemental emergency insurance coverage [EIIA].
• Most off-campus study providers build health insurance into the program and Denison pays when it is invoiced for it. If the program does not provide insurance, and it is required, students will have to purchase health insurance on their own. Please note: Students using Denison's student health insurance plan will need to submit any claims for reimbursement as all international providers are out-of-network. Students not on Denison’s health insurance plan are expected to ensure that their personal plans will provide adequate coverage while abroad for ongoing and chronic conditions and non-emergency health events.
• The Denison tuition benefit and GLCA tuition remission may be applied to off-campus programs as applicable.

• Students with demonstrated financial need may make a one-time request up to $500 for funds to cover visas and visa-related travel, passport renewals/applications, immunizations, and some incidentals related directly to the study abroad program, subject to review by the Center for Global Programs. More information about that may be found here.

• Outside and program awards: Awards offered directly from the program provider do not provide any additional financial assistance and will not reduce the amount a student will be required to pay, nor will it result in a surplus of funds. Students are advised not to apply for them. In some cases these additional awards can decrease aid awarded by Denison.
• Students should inform the Office of Financial Aid and the Center for Global Programs if they plan to apply for outside scholarships, e.g. the Gilman Scholarship. The student’s financial aid package may be adjusted according to the amount received. Some outside scholarships present exceptions to the general policy, e.g. the Boren Fellowship. These will be managed separately and on a case-by-case basis.
• Students who withdraw from the university to attend any off-campus program are not eligible to receive transfer credit.

Student Responsibilities

• Students are responsible for paying Denison tuition, housing and meals, Denison health insurance fee [if they opt-in], the non-refundable Off-Campus Program 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 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 in Global Tools, 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 required to arrive by the designated move-in/orientation date and stay until all examinations and any other program requirements are completed. Denison does not pay for travel other than to and from the study abroad site. Denison does not pay for flights during vacation or break periods.
• Students are responsible for any penalties or cancellation fees associated with changes to airline travel arrangements.
• 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.

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. Travel allowances must be reimbursed at 100%.  Meal and/or housing allowances shall be reimbursed on a prorated basis according to Denison's withdrawal schedule. 
• 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:
  • Airfare: Student is responsible for reimbursing Denison 100% of the airfare allowance.
  • 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. 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. This requirement is waived for students with a documented language disability accommodation and 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 academic advisors 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 Global Tools. 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.  

Health Advisories, Travel Advisories, and Travel Warnings

All students studying off-campus are required to download the AlertTraveler app in Global Tools. The Center for Global Programs staff will instruct students in downloading and use of the app. 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 Global Tools 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.