Language Study Prerequisite: Colleges and programs set policies on prior language study for semester study abroad. Students must meet both college and program requirements. Short-term programs do not have prior language study requirements unless required by the program itself.

Language Study Abroad: Cornell values engagement with the local culture while abroad. Language is a part of your host country’s culture and an important part of your experience. In non-English speaking countries, students must take a course in the language of the host country when studying abroad for a semester or year. Colleges define what types of language courses fulfill this university requirement. Students on short-term or multicountry programs are not required to study the language while abroad.

Approval to study abroad with an unresolved incomplete is a college decision. Colleges may choose to give conditional approval for study abroad to students who need to resolve incompletes or grade appeals or for other reasons as needed. Depending on the circumstances, students not in good academic standing may be able to petition their college to be approved.

In all cases, you must work with your college to resolve incompletes and maintain or secure permission to study abroad. You must have full college approval by your commitment deadline in order to pursue study abroad in the following semester.

As Cornell’s Code of Academic Integrity states: “The values most essential to an academic community are grounded on the concept of honesty with respect to the intellectual efforts of oneself and others.” 

While a registered student abroad, you pledge to uphold the values of academic integrity as defined by your host institution. Any violations of academic integrity reported to Education Abroad will be shared with the academic integrity hearing board of your college or school. Additional sanctions will not necessarily be applied, particularly if the matter has already been addressed by the partner institution.

If you plan to conduct research while abroad, you are responsible for ensuring it conforms to the best ethical practices, as well as meeting any requirements of your host institution’s Institutional Review Board (IRB). If your host does not have a local IRB process, then you must meet the requirements of Cornell’s Institutional Review Board.

Follow Cornell’s IRB decision tree to determine if your research is subject to review. Undergraduate research conducted solely to meet course requirements does not need to go before the review board, while research that will lead to a thesis or other publication must.

Program Start and End Dates: You are responsible for knowing your program’s start and end dates—which may differ greatly from Cornell's academic calendar. Students are not approved to participate on programs if the start or end date overlaps with a different Cornell semester.

Late Arrival or Early Departure: Students must arrive in time for mandatory orientation and stay through the end of their last scheduled exam. If for any reason you can't attend during the entire expected period, you must seek approval from the host university for late arrival or early departure. A personal or family trip, graduation, internship, or important family event may not be considered an acceptable reason by the host institution.

Early Exams: Cornell respects the right of partner institutions to set their academic calendars and policies for early exams. Students may ask for permission to take exams early following accepted protocols outlined by the host institution or its faculty as long as the assessment is of equivalent value, but this is in no way guaranteed and should not be expected. Cornell will not endorse requests for early assessment for non-emergency reasons if such assessment is not offered by the host institution.

You may request approval from your college to extend your study abroad experience for a second semester in the same program by submitting a new study abroad participation and course approval form. The deadline to submit the new form to your college is the commitment deadline. Education Abroad will confirm your extension from a semester to a year only after receiving approval from your college and program.

Students who wish to study on a different program must apply to the second program by the regular Experience deadline.

College policies vary regarding permission to study abroad in the final semester. Graduating seniors must meet with their college study abroad advisor to confirm eligibility. If you are eligible, follow your college's petition process to submit a petition for approval to study abroad in your final semester.

Cornell cannot confirm completion of the degree until your transcript from abroad has been processed. Study abroad in your final semester can delay your graduation if the classes are over after the end of Cornell’s semester or if the transcript is not received in time. Check with your Education Abroad advisor if you have questions about when a transcript is likely to be available. Estimated dates cannot be guaranteed.

• May Degree: Your classes and exams must be completed by May 31, and your transcript must arrive by July 31. (Note: Fall semester transcripts received after February 29 will result in May degree conferral.)
• August Degree: Your classes and exams must be completed by August 31, and your transcript must arrive by September 30. (Note: Even if the spring term ended before May 31, a transcript received between August 1 and September 30 will result in August degree conferral.)
• December Degree: Your classes and exams must be completed by December 31, and your transcript must arrive by February 28. (Note: Spring semester transcripts received after September 30 and before March 1 will result in December degree conferral.)

Financial aid is not available for stand-alone summer and winter sessions, although limited scholarships are available through Cornell and outside sources. Visit Finances to learn more about financial aid for short-term programs.

Cornell values engagement with the local culture while abroad, even during brief periods of travel. In general, short-term programs don’t have prior language study requirements unless required by the program, such as those meant for language learning. As with any travel, we encourage students to familiarize themselves with the local language to enhance their experience.

All Cornell-run short-term study abroad programs are for-credit courses run through Cornell. They will appear on your transcript the same as any other Cornell course.

Short-term programs not run by Cornell are considered independent study. When you go abroad on a separate program in the winter or summer, you are not affiliated with Cornell University. We do not advise on or approve those programs. Please refer to the following for additional steps:

Program Approval: If required, your college can confirm if you are in good academic standing, and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards can verify your conduct record.

Bringing Credit Back: Follow your college's procedures for domestic transfer of credit. Before deciding to participate in an external program, review these important credit policies:

• Your transcript must come from an accredited U.S. or foreign university.
• Cornell language programs will not accept credit for language classes taken abroad at the elementary or intermediate levels. (You can usually take a placement test to see if you can place into a higher level.) Colleges other than A&S may award elective or distributional credit for language classes taken abroad.

Cornell offers a wide range of program opportunities vetted and approved by the Office of Global Learning and Global Cornell's travel safety experts. If you wish to attend a non-approved semester or academic year program, a formal petition is required to obtain Cornell's one-time recognition of the program.

Petitions for non-approved study abroad programs must meet the same standards and adhere to the principles that guide study abroad at Cornell. This includes the ability of the petitioned program to enter into a contractual agreement with Cornell on a student-by-student basis.

Petitions are reviewed as exceptional opportunities that meet specific academic needs not available through existing programs. We encourage you to apply to an existing program as a back-up in case your petition is not approved. Learn more about the petition process.

If you study at an international program or university while on a leave of absence, Cornell cannot offer any administrative, health and safety, or financial aid support or award transfer credit. There is no exception for current institutional partners, such as Cornell Global Hubs.

Part of the value of study abroad is learning about a new country or culture. For that reason, students will not be approved to study abroad in a country if that country is their permanent residence.

For international students: If you take classes in your home country (“country of residence”), this is not considered study abroad. If you plan to study for a semester or more, you must request a leave of absence. You will then need to petition your college to accept the credit. If you have questions about your residency, please contact Education Abroad.

Credit Equivalency: It is the equivalent number of credits—not classes—that counts. Students may need to enroll in more or fewer classes abroad to take a full load in that academic system. If you have questions about credit values or the standard course load, check with the Education Abroad advisor listed on the academics tab for your program in Experience.

Fulfilling Major and Graduation Requirements: Credit for approved courses counts toward Cornell graduation requirements. Colleges determine whether courses taken abroad fulfill graduation and distribution requirements; majors and minors determine major/minor credits. College policies vary regarding in-college credit. Refer to the Study Abroad Participation and Course Approval form that is part of your study abroad application.

Forbidden Overlaps: Students must choose their courses carefully to ensure that material does not repeat coursework they have already taken or plan to take as part of their Cornell degree.

External/Transfer Credit: Semester study abroad credits count toward the number of credits that can be brought in from an external institution, so transfer students may have less flexibility.

Note: Cornell in Rome, CAPS, and Nilgiris Field Learning Program have Cornell course codes, so do not count as credit from an external institution.

Pass/Fail and Audit: You must take all courses abroad for a letter/number grade. Students are not permitted to enroll in courses as pass/fail or audit courses.

Passing Grade for Credit: You must earn the equivalent of a “C” or higher to receive credit at Cornell. Some majors may require a higher grade for major credit. Education Abroad uses the grade conversion scales produced by World Education Services when communicating the equivalence of a "C" for passing/satisfactory credit.

You may experience a scheduling conflict or simply want to take a different class once you arrive at your program. Email your academic or  college advisor for approval before making a change. Take note of your host institution’s deadlines. Checking with your advisor is key if the change affects your major or distributional credits. If you fail to notify your advisor of changes, your credits may not transfer back to Cornell as planned.

You must work with your program and college regarding permission to drop classes. In exceptional cases (health, family emergency, or other crisis), colleges may allow students to take 12 credits if permitted by the host program.   

Cornell Courses: To support local learning, students are not allowed to register for Cornell courses while abroad except in special cases (particularly if required for ROTC or honors thesis). You may petition your college to take a necessary Cornell course online while abroad.  

Online Courses: Cornell values learning on location during study abroad. As a result, online classes at the host institution are not approved unless required for health and safety reasons. If you are taking an online course through Cornell or another institution before or after your semester abroad, it must not conflict with your program’s start or end dates. Contact your college if you have questions about special circumstances.