Eligibility Requirements  All Chicago School students in Active status during the term when a program is offered are eligible to apply.  All applications must meet the following criteria at the time of application submission and review:

• Online application is complete

• Student is degree seeking and in good academic and financial standing with The Chicago School (minimum CGPA is 3.0 or above for graduate students, 2.0 or above for undergraduate students)

• Student does not face pending or active review with SCS

• Student does not have billing and/or academic holds at The Chicago School

• Must agree to the students rights and responsibility agreement (this is included in the application)

Students with Disabilities: Students with disabilities who are requesting accommodations should consult The Chicago School handbook for information regarding how to make a request for accommodation. Students are encouraged to contact the appropriate party listed in the student handbook prior to applying for a program and are likewise encouraged to submit any request for accommodation as soon as possible after receiving notification of acceptance to a program.

Notification and Waitlists: Applicants will be notified via e-mail shortly after they apply if they will be placed on a waitlist, or if they do not meet eligibility requirements. If you are selected and decide not to participate, you must send an email to Global Engagement before the end of the add/drop period in the semester the course is listed (On-Ground/Online Term I Calendar), otherwise you will be held responsible for the study abroad program fee.  If you are offered a spot and do not take it, but later reconsider, you can be added back onto the waitlist. If you are added to the waitlist, Global Engagement will email you if space becomes available. Once you are placed in a program we will remove your name from other program lists if you have applied for more than one program.

Course Registration and Student Responsibility:  You will be registered for the study abroad course by Global Engagement once you pass the eligibility review. After the last day of the add/drop period in the semester in which the course is held (On-Ground/Online Term I Calendar), all fees for study abroad are non-refundable.  Upon acceptance and prior to departure you must participate in the Mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation and complete the Chicago School International Travel Registration (ITR) documents as a requirement prior to travel. Failure to complete these requirement will result in failing the course and not being permitted to participate in the overseas portion of the program. You will be also responsible to prepare your travel documents for your travel, such as a Passport, a Visa if needed, Immunization/Vaccine if required by the destination country, and cell phone international service activation.

Credit for Study Abroad: Only the Department Chair or Academic Advisor of your degree program can determine how you may receive credit for a study abroad course. You may receive credit to satisfy a degree requirement, elective credit, or you may be accepted to enroll in study abroad, but it may not count as credit towards your degree. ​Confirm this before you apply! You can fill out a petition by completing the Course Substitution Petition​​​ before you apply to confirm how your credit will apply to your program.  Please be aware that if it cannot be counted towards your degree requirement, you are still welcome to participate, but you might not be eligible for Financial Aid and Supplemental Aid to support your program. Note: The International Psychology and Public Heath departments do no permit students to substitute a study abroad course for one of the degree requirements.

What Does the Program Fee usually Cover? Can I afford to Study Abroad?: The Study Abroad Program Fee coverage is different from program to program and covers some, but not all, expenses.  It usually covers 

• ​​​​in-country lodging during the program
• some meals
• some in-country transportation
• Supplemental Travel Insurance including Emergency & Evacuation
• ​all scheduled events and activities. 

You are responsible for tuition (the same as you pay for any other courses at The Chicago School), the study abroad program fee, airfare, passport fee, visa if needed, vaccination fees if applicable, etc. You may be eligible for aid to cover the cost of some study abroad expenses. Contact your financial aid advisor prior to applying to see if you are eligible for aid and how your aid may be dispersed. Also see additional aid information on our Resources Page.

Program Cancelation:  The first business day after the Add/Drop Deadline of the On-Ground and Online Term I Calendar is the Run Decision Day​ for Global Engagement to decide which programs can proceed based on the minimum enrollment requirement.  Each program must have a minimum enrollment of 8 participants in order to proceed, unless the course is set differently.  If a program has to be cancelled, Global Engagement will email all applicants, so you still have time to register for another course before the Last Day of Add/Drop if you have to maintain a full time enrollment. We highly recommend that you always register for an extra course as a back-up in case the study abroad course is cancelled. If the program is moving forward, we will email you as well with next step information.  ​​

When to Apply:​ 

​All Study Abroad Courses follow the On-Ground/Online Term I Academic Calendar for administrative purpose, including the application, Run Decision Day, and Last Day of Add/Drop with full refund of fees. Preparation for Study Abroad courses offered in Term II of a semester starts during Term I in order to have sufficient time to better prepare participants.​

​Application to all programs opens on Feb. 1 of each year.

For Programs in Fall 2024

For Programs in Spring 2025

*Only if course meets minimum enrollment to proceed. If proceeding,​ we may be able to accept students through add/drop until course reaches maximum capacity. Online Term II courses: travel preparations will start when Term I starts in order to have sufficient time to prepare you for travel​ 

**Participants must notify GE in writing to drop the course by the end of this date in order to receive full refund of fees. After this date, the Program Fee is no longer refundable. For reasons that are unexpected and out of the participant's control, the participant can Petition for Policy Waiver with Student Success. Please reach out to your Student Support Counselor for details.

***Course will be cancelled if the it doesn't meet the minimum enrollment requirement of 8 registered. 

How to Study Abroad with The Chicago School​​