Study Abroad FAQs

Each program has its own deadline and scholarships have deadlines as well. Refer to specific program web pages in BearsAbroad for details. We advise students to start planning a year in advance.

Baylor offers a few different types of programs:

Baylor Faculty Programs (short term): 

• Students will travel with other Baylor students and a Baylor professor. 
• Students will take one or two courses from a Baylor professor. 
• Programs range from 2 weeks to 6 weeks in length.

Baylor Faculty Programs (semester):

• Students will travel with other Baylor students and a Baylor professor.
• Some courses are taught by Baylor professors and some are taught by host university faculty. 
• Group programs are one semester in length.

Baylor Partner Programs:

• Students will travel to a host university independently (note that this does not necessarily mean that the student will be the only Baylor student attending the university for the desired period of time).
• Courses are taught by the host university's faculty and are taught in English unless noted on the program page.
• Exchange/affiliate programs can be for a summer sessions, semester, or a full year.

Programs are available in the summer and during the semester, some for a full year. It is possible and encouraged to study abroad more than once during a student's Baylor career and students may choose any program that interests them. Each program has a faculty member who oversees the program and will be able to answer any specific questions a student might have (this person is called the "program director").

The cost structure varies a bit by program and location. For example, a Baylor Partner Program is often a straight-forward arrangement where tuition is still paid to Baylor, but you attend a different university by institutional agreement and will not be charged a program fee by Baylor.

Baylor Faculty Programs charge a program fee which covers housing, some meals, and entrance fees for planned excursions. Program fees vary by location and amount of travel. Each program has a brochure page with an overview of costs, including the program fee.

Please visit the Bears Abroad website to find out more.

Yes! Please see our Scholarships & Financial Aid page to learn more about the options available to you!

Sometimes! Students enrolled in a Baylor-approved study abroad program are considered to be attending Baylor University and are eligible for financial aid. We recommend speaking with your Financial Aid counselor for other specific scholarships, loans, etc. that could be applied towards your study abroad experience and to determine if it will be sufficient to cover the program costs. You can contact Financial Aid at baylor.edu/sfs/contactus. 

Generally, you will not be able to use your normal financial aid on short term programs but can apply it towards semester programs. 

You must complete 24 credit hours on campus prior to study abroad. This is true whether you bring courses such as advanced placement or transfer credits with you. It is important to develop strong study habits at the collegiate level and to adjust to Baylor systems prior to tackling a new culture or coursework in another country. You can study abroad the summer after your freshman year, though, so come see us early.

1. Carefully read and save ALL the emails and materials we and our partners provide you.

2. Work directly with our office whenever possible, and resist recruiting or allowing your parents to take care of matters for you; after all, you are the one who is studying abroad, not your parents!

3. Practice pro-active information-seeking. Voice your concerns to program directors well in advance, instead of waiting for us to anticipate all your individual needs and questions.

4. If after having reviewed your program materials and emails you still can't find the answers to your questions, don't hesitate to ask.

5. If you are studying abroad, you must have a valid passport. It can take up to 6 months for a new passport. Please visit the U.S. Department of State website for more information on getting your passport.

Research in the past twenty years has shown that most study abroad students have no problem fulfilling the requirements to graduate within four years. However, this does take planning. Work closely with your academic advisor and talk to a study abroad advisor early! 

Yes! However, students who participate in a study abroad not taught by Baylor faculty their final semester at Baylor should not expect to graduate at the end of that term because differences in academic calendars between Baylor and foreign universities make it unlikely that official transcripts will reach Baylor in time for graduation certification.

For more detailed information, the student should discuss this with their study abroad advisor and contact the appropriate degree plans office.

If you are planning on studying abroad on a program not offered by Baylor, please click HERE for more information.

It is YOUR responsibility to have your transcript from your host university mailed back to Baylor. Some universities will do this for you, but you still need to check with the transcript office to see if they automatically send it or if you need to fill out a transcript request form.

Mail all transcripts to: Center for Global Engagement - Baylor University One Bear Place #97381 Waco, TX 76798

In an effort to ensure that every student is prepared for their time abroad, we require that students be enrolled in our blanket international insurance policy and attend a mandatory meeting where we discuss health and safety issues before they leave the country. You can click HERE for more information regarding international insurance coverage and claim information.

Please visit our Health and Safety page for more information.

Students are provided with emergency contact cards which include an emergency number which is monitored 24 hours a day so they can reach our staff at any time during or after office hours and on weekends. We also ask students to leave contact information and intended itineraries with our staff when they travel away from their program sites. This way, in the event of an emergency, our partners or directors know where and how to reach our students.

Students, parents/guardians, and study abroad advisors can expect announcements about safety and security from Baylor should conditions warrant such information. If you are a parent, please check with your student to find out if they listed you as an emergency contact on their application. If not, please ask them to contact their study abroad advisor to add you to their file; that way, we can email you in the event that there is a special alert during the program.

Visit our page on the CGE website. You will learn more and be able to register for the Certificate. Any undergraduate student is eligible to earn one.

Please keep up to date on Baylor decisions related to health, safety, and the impact of the coronavirus on international travel and international programs by reviewing this page HERE.

For any further questions, please set up a meeting with a study abroad advisor at the Center for Global Engagement.

Baylor is getting regular updates from colleagues at the US Department of State, the CDC, and peer institutions here and abroad in assessing and prioritizing the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff.

Baylor University offers roughly 40 Baylor Faculty Programs in which one or more Baylor faculty members design, budget, recruit, and lead students through a summer or winter term study abroad experience. If you are interested in partnering with the Center for Global Engagement to offer a new study abroad program, contact the Study Abroad Office or visit our Faculty & Staff Resources page.