Student International Travel Considerations
- U.S. Department of State: Revised Worldwide Caution.
- Entry Requirement for Travel To and Transit Through the United Kingdom: Travelers from the U.S. and many other countries are required to have a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to enter or transit through the UK. The ETA costs £10 and is valid for two years or until the passport used to obtain the ETA expires. 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. To learn more, visit the links above or watch videos on what an ETA is and how to apply for a UK ETA.
Eligibility
Eligibility Criteria
All UVA students traveling outside of the national borders of the United States for University-related purposes are subject to the University Policy on Student International Travel.
To be eligible for study abroad you must:
- be a matriculated, degree seeking UVA student
- have completed at least one semester at UVA (one year is recommended and may be required by your school of enrollment)
- have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.500 (some programs may require higher GPA for admission)
- be in good academic standing (no academic warning)
- be cleared by Care and Support Services (CASS)
- the clearance process will be initiated automatically when you open an application on our website
- be enrolled as a full-time student
- have completed the on-line Education Abroad Workshop
Before departure, you must:
- Complete the UVA Education Abroad online application and all required paperwork by the assigned deadline
- Secure pre-approval for credit transfer (for transfer and combination credit programs)
- Read the Education Abroad Handbook (all programs) and participate in a mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation (UVA programs)
Special Considerations
Your academic standing at UVA may have an effect on when and where you can study abroad, and what you need to do to apply. If you have a concern that isn't addressed below, reach out to an Education Abroad Advisor to learn more about potential options for you.
- First Year Students
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With the exception of January term and the UVA First programs (students in the College of Arts & Sciences), students need to wait until the summer after their first year to study abroad (if you apply to study abroad the summer after your first year, or for the fall of your second year, you will apply during your first year). Regardless of when you plan to study abroad, your first year is an ideal time to begin planning! Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your academic goals and how you can achieve them through education abroad. Begin reviewing costs of programs and your current financial resources, and identifying other sources of funding. Visit our Getting Started section for other first steps.
- Study Abroad in Seventh or Eighth Semester
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Some students study abroad during their seventh or eighth semester (fourth year). If you are considering studying abroad in your seventh or eighth semester, you will need to petition with your Academic Advising Dean or School of Enrollment, and plan carefully well in advance to help ensure that you will still be on track for graduation. Students considering study abroad in their eighth semester should be aware that they will more than likely need to delay graduation, to August or even December, depending on the type of program, end date, and when transcripts or grades are issued. Note: for a few select programs for students in the Schools of Architecture and Nursing, students are required to be fourth-years to participate.
- Undeclared Students
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It is not required or necessary to have a declared major or minor before studying abroad. In fact, due to the numerous new and unique educational experiences, you may even decide upon your major or minor while abroad! Undeclared students may earn elective credits. See the above Academic Credit section to learn more.
- Transfer Students
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It is possible to study abroad as a transfer student! Talk to your academic advisor (and Transfer Dean, if in the College) regarding your plans. For those who have transferred in more than sixty credits, keep in mind that UVA offers an increasing number of programs that grant UVA Direct Credit. These grades are factored into your UVA GPA and count as UVA courses, which can fulfill major and minor requirements. Conduct a Program Search to find programs that offer Direct Credit. If, after consulting with your advisor and Dean, a semester abroad is not an option, you may still consider summer, January term, and semester on-Grounds courses with embedded travel during break.
- Low GPA
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The University requires students to have a 2.5 GPA in order to apply to study abroad (for students in the McIntire School, the requirement is a 3.0). Keep in mind that some programs may have a higher GPA requirement. Students wishing to study abroad with a GPA below the required University/School minimum should seek permission to apply for study abroad from their Academic Advising Dean or School of Enrollment.
Travel Restrictions
UVA policy prohibits undergraduate study abroad in certain countries or regions.
For a list of Alerts, Notices and Warnings, please consult our Travel Alerts, Notices & Warnings page.
For further information, please review the University Policy on Student International Travel.