How to Apply

Interested in studying off campus? Follow this guide to get all the details and make sure you stay on track!

Planning Tools

• Student Resources Site
• Study abroad process checklists
  • Spreadsheet
  • Printable worksheet

Path to Off-Campus Study

• Now: Getting Started
  • Academic Planning
  • Course Petitions*
• Up to 1 Year Ahead: Apply
  • Complete Bethel's Study Abroad Application
  • Complete Your Third-Party Provider's Application*
  • Commit to Your Program
• Semester Before: Prepare for Takeoff
  • Complete Remaining Pre-Departure Items
• While You're Off Campus:
  • Go and Grow!
• After You're Back:
  • Return and Re-integration

*Third-party applicants/programs only

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Getting Started

These are some steps you can take today!

Step 1: Academic Planning

It's never too early to start scheduling study abroad into your academic plan! Use this study abroad checklist to help you stay on track throughout the planning process.

Program searching

• Check out this curated list of program searching tools
• Explore our faculty-led and third-party program offerings
  • Consider also enrolling in the Intercultural Engagement Endorsement
• Listen to and read about study abroad alumni experiences!
• Get inspired by past photo contest winners

Scholarship searching and finances

• Begin looking into scholarship opportunities
• View this study abroad funding webinar (5:09-9:09; 16:13-30:22)
  • PDF overview
• Start familiarizing yourself with how Study Abroad Charges work

Advising meetings

• Meet with your academic advisor
  
  • Work with your academic advisor and department chair before you go abroad to determine how your study abroad courses will transfer back.
• Meet with a study abroad advisor
  • Connect with a study abroad advisor to explore available courses and programs that may be a good fit for your academic needs.

Step 2: Course Petitions*

* This step only applicable to students applying to third-party programs

The courses you take abroad will transfer back to Bethel either as elective credits or as the direct equivalent of courses in Bethel’s catalog. To have credits transfer back as direct equivalents, you will need to complete the course petition process outlined at the link above.

It is recommended that you petition more courses than you actually plan to take in case a course ends up being full or canceled.

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Apply

Take these steps up to one year prior to going abroad.

Step 3: Complete Bethel's Off-Campus Study Application

Step 4: Complete Your Third-Party Provider's Application*

* This step only applicable to students applying to third-party programs

1. Once your application is submitted, you will be notified via email of your updated application status:
   • In Review: Your application is complete but pending Student Life Approval and/or Advisor Approval.
   • Conditionally Accepted: Your application is complete and fully approved by Bethel.
2. After receiving Conditional Acceptance: Apply to your program through your third-party provider

Step 5: Commit to Your Program

For Third-Party Programs:

1. Once you are accepted by your third-party provider, you will let Bethel know by returning to your Bethel application to pay the nonrefundable Application Processing Charge.
2. Once you pay this charge to confirm your seat, your application status will be updated to Committed.

For Faculty-Led Programs:

1. Once faculty make acceptance decisions, you will be notified via email of your updated application status:
   • Conditionally Accepted: Please return to your application to pay the nonrefundable Application Processing Charge to confirm your seat and commit to the program.
     • You have one week from receipt of the status update email to pay the charge before your seat is released to another student.
     • Once you pay this charge to confirm your seat, your application status will be updated to Committed. Any other active applications you may have for January will be updated to Withdrawn.
   • Waitlisted: No action is required. You will be notified via email should your status be updated to Conditionally Accepted.
   • Not Accepted: No action is required. Please feel free to apply to another program.

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Prepare for Takeoff

These are some steps to take the semester before you depart.

Step 6: Complete Remaining Pre-Departure Items

1. Complete all pre-departure forms: Log back into your Bethel abroad application to find forms and their due dates
2. Attend all required Pre-Departure Orientation (PDO) sessions
3. Register to go abroad
   
   • Faculty-Led Students: Register for your Bethel course as normal
   • Third-Party Students: Register for GES284 or GES285 Off-Campus Study placeholder course
4. Prepare to go abroad: Visit our comprehensive Pre-Departure Preparation Guide on our Student Resources Site

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While You're Off Campus

Step 7: Go and Grow!

Find more tips and in-country reminders on our Student Resources Site.

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After You're Back

Step 8: Return and Re-integration

Visit our Student Resources Site to find:

• insights on processing re-entry,
• opportunities to stay connected to the international community, and
• resources connecting study abroad to your future career.

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