A Division of the International Studies Office
homepage
Student International Travel Considerations
- Entry Requirement for the United Kingdom: Travelers from the U.S. and most other countries are now required to have a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter and in some cases transit through the UK. Apply for the ETA online or through the UK ETA app. While approvals are predicted to be within three days or faster, students are advised to apply at least three weeks in advance of planned travel in case of processing delays. Visit the GOV.UK page on applying for a UK ETA to learn more.
Academic Considerations
Academic Credit FAQ
One of the key topics we get asked about with regard to academics is credit. How does it all work? See below for some important information and considerations. Important note: UVA study abroad courses may not be audited. All UVA study abroad courses must be taken for credit.
-
What is academic credit?
-
Official certification by an accredited academic institution that a student has successfully completed a course of study. All UVA study abroad courses must be taken for credit (they may not be audited).
- What is the difference between direct credit and transfer credit?
-
- Direct credit is credit awarded by the University of Virginia. Direct credit factors into your GPA, and direct credit courses can sometimes fulfill general requirements within your school.
- Transfer credit is awarded by another institution, but can still be applied toward your UVA degree and your major/minor/language requirements with appropriate approvals. Transfer credit does not factor into your GPA and a grade does not appear up on your UVA transcript.
- How can I tell whether my program offers direct or transfer credit?
-
Look at the "Credit Type" field in the Fact Sheet section of the program page (conduct a Program Search to access these pages). Note that some programs offer a combination of direct and transfer credit; review the rest of the content on the page for details. You can also narrow down your program search by credit type if, for example, you know that you need direct credit (see related question below).
- How can I use the credit I will earn on my education abroad program?
-
There are a few differences in the uses of direct credit vs. transfer credit:
Credit Counts for
Direct
Transfer
Graduation
YES
YES
Major / Minor Requirements
YES
YES
Elective Requirements
YES
YES
Language Requirement
YES
YES
Area Requirements
CLAS: YES
Schools: YESCLAS: NO
Schools: YESCalculated in GPA
YES
NO
- Do I need direct credit?
-
There are only a few reasons why you might benefit from direct credit when you study abroad:
You have reached or are very close to reaching the 60 transfer credit maximum that the University allows you to use toward your degree. You are in the College and need to fulfill an area requirement which you will not be able to fill at any other time at UVA.Otherwise, transfer credit will work every bit as well as direct credit for you.
- You need to earn more credits toward your major/minor than the department will allow you to fill with transfer credit.
- You need to raise your GPA.
- How do I go about getting transfer credit applied to my degree/major/minor/language?
-
One of the main components of the application for transfer credit programs is the Transfer Credit Approval Form. Before your application can be reviewed, you must get transfer credit approval for the courses you expect to take abroad. If you discover the courses you want to take abroad are not available upon arrival, or you change your mind, obtain approvals while abroad via email from the same individuals who approved your initial courses. Provide those email approvals to the appropriate person for your school and keep copies for yourself. All of the instructions for filling out and turning in the Transfer Credit Approval Form are located on the form, which is found within your application. Each school has its own version of the form.
Schools
CLAS
Major / Minor Approval
Academic Advisor or Dean
Department DUP, then College Transfer Credit Evaluator
Elective Approval
Dean or Registrar
College Transfer Credit Evaluator
Language Requirement Approval
Language Department
Language Department, then College Transfer Credit Evaluator
Area Requirement Approval
Dean or Registrar
N/A
Submit forms to
ISO
ISO
Minimum Grade you must earn in each class
Batten, COMM, SEAS & UVA EHD: C
ARCH & SON: C-C
- Can I take a class at UVA while I'm abroad?
- No, students studying abroad may not be enrolled in any on-Grounds classes. This includes independent study classes, virtual classes, DMP classes, research classes, etc.