A Division of the International Studies Office
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Student International Travel Considerations
Non-US Passport Holders: UVA students who are not U.S. passport holders should consult ISSP FAQs and UVA Federal Information to understand how changes to U.S. immigration policy could affect them. This includes guidance on the June 4th Presidential Proclamation restricting entry to the United States for nationals of 19 countries.
Safety Considerations due to Conflict in the Middle East: The U.S. Department of State has issued a Worldwide Caution directing travelers with U.S. affiliations to exercise increased caution worldwide, especially in the Middle East. UVA students should not book flights that travel through a country with a University Travel Restriction, State Department Level 3 or 4, or other restriction. Consult the ISO's Travel Alerts, Notices & Warning page for details.
Date: 7/29/26
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: courses taken on UVA-administered education abroad programs may not be audited. All courses must be taken for credit and a letter grade. On transfer credit programs, students are subject to the academic regulations of their school of enrollment at UVA and their education abroad program.
- 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. Grades for transfer credit courses do not appear on your UVA transcript, and they are not factored into your UVA GPA, but be mindful that others may see them in the future when you apply to graduate school or other advanced degree programs. Your unofficial UVA transcript will show the specific courses you took abroad, while your official UVA transcript will not.
- 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 College: YES
Schools: YESCollege: 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.
- 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.
Otherwise, transfer credit will work every bit as well as direct credit for you.
- 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 College Major / Minor Approval Academic Advisor or Dean Department Contact, 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 C
(except Nursing: C-)C - Can I take a class at UVA while I'm abroad?
Students are expected to participate in their respective education abroad programs to the fullest extent of the program (including classes, orientation, group trips and activities, etc.). In rare occasions, a student’s school of enrollment at UVA may require or approve a student to take a UVA class while they are abroad. In all other cases, students studying abroad may not be enrolled in any on-Grounds classes. This includes independent study classes, virtual classes, DMP classes, research classes, etc.