Study Abroad

Lafayette College recognizes that we live in an increasingly complex and interrelated global environment. Connecting the classroom to the world outside our walls is at the core of the College's mission. Off -campus study combines academic rigor with experiential learning through immersion in an international or culturally significant domestic setting. Engaging in an unfamiliar cultural milieu is often a truly transformative experience for students. Participants are encouraged to expand their comfort zones, encounter new perspectives, and examine their own cultural viewpoints. Students return to campus with a greater appreciation of global issues, which enriches their understanding of their own on-campus curricula while stimulating and deepening conversation within the College community.

The Office of International and Off-Campus Education provides opportunities ranging from interim to semester and year-long programs. Generally, the cost for a semester or year abroad is the same as that for a semester or year on campus. Students pay Lafayette's Comprehensive Fee (tuition). Those who select a faculty-led program also pay Lafayette's room and (depending on the program) board; the College arranges and pays for the airfare. Students who select an approved affiliated program pay Lafayette's Comprehensive Fee (tuition) plus the host institution room and board charges. (Host costs are detailed in the Host Program Estimate Cost Profile, available in the Office of International and Off-Campus Education). For most affiliated programs, students make their own travel arrangements. Lafayette bills the student for the applicable tuition and other fees and pays the host institution directly. Students are responsible for incidental costs such as books, passports, visas, immunizations, optional travel, and personal expenses.

Students enrolled in faculty-led or approved affiliated programs have access to the same financial aid they have while studying on campus at Lafayette. Financial aid is capped, however, at Lafayette's cost. A few of our approved programs are more expensive than Lafayette; in those situations, students selecting such programs are responsible for any amount above and beyond Lafayette's cost.

The deadline for application for the fall semester is February 15 and September 15 for the spring semester. At the time of application and departure for the study-abroad program, students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.80, be in good standing academically and with respect to College regulations, and be making satisfactory progress toward the degree.

Students accepted by off-campus programs must seek approval in advance from the Academic Progress Committee for courses they wish to present for a grade and for credit towards the Lafayette degree. A student may transfer no more than a normal semester program or not more than eight courses for a full academic year of foreign study. Normally, students are not permitted to study abroad through a non-affiliated program. Should the Academic Progress Committee make an exception for a program in a country in which Lafayette has no formal affiliation or arrangement, the student must obtain prior approval. Without approval, any course taken cannot be credited toward the Lafayette degree.

All courses taken and grades earned abroad will appear on the Lafayette College transcript and will be factored into the cumulative GPA. Classes abroad may not be taken as pass/fail, and may not be converted retroactively to pass/fail grades by the Academic Progress Committee.