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 <<Home <<Frequently Asked Questions
Prospective Student FAQs
General Information
What is the process for choosing a program,
applying and preparing for study abroad?
AU Abroad has designed a "Time
Line of Events" chart to help students understand
the various stages before, during and after their
study abroad experience.
How long are the programs?
They range from one semester to a full year, offered
during the Fall, Spring and Summer terms.
How are the study abroad options structured?
Program structure varies by study destination. Definitions
for AU Abroad Partners, Enclave, Providers and Summer
options are listed on our Study
Abroad Options page.
What subjects are offered?
Course offerings depends on the site. Generally
Enclave program have fewer courses available to
AU students, while Partner/Provider programs usually
offer a wide variety of courses and subjects. Please
utilize our "Subject" search on our home
page to find your area of interest.
What kind of internship can I have through
an AU Abroad program?
Experienced internship coordinators in certain Enclave
programs work hard to match you to your area of
interest. Students have interned in government,
multinational agencies and corporations, news media,
and the arts. Internships give students a glimpse
of the professional world within their host culture.
In most sites, an appropriate level of language
proficiency is required to obtain an internship.
Will I get to travel?
Academic field trips are incorporated into some
of the Enclave programs, usually as part of a course,
and included in the program
fees. In most cases, you should plan your travel
independently and are often given occasional breaks
in order to sightsee locally or further away.
Where will I live?
When attending an AU Abroad Enclave, where feasible,
you will have the opportunity to live in a homestay.
Most students tell us that their homestay was one
of the most memorable components of their study
abroad experience, because it gave them a sense
of belonging to the local culture (and good home
cooking besides!). At other program sites, students
live in international dorms or apartment- style
housing. AU Abroad Partner and Provider programs
allow students to arrange their housing independently,
whether utilizing host university resources or searching
for separate accommodations.
Are AU Abroad options open to undergraduate,
graduate and post-baccalaureate students alike?
All AU Abroad programs are available to undergraduate
students. Offerings for graduate students are more
limited, but still available depending on your academic
focus. Graduate students should consult their academic
advisor and AU Abroad for more information on their
options to study abroad.
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Admissions Information
What are the minimum requirements for study
abroad with AU Abroad? Please see the "General
Requirements" section on our Apply
page.
The application requires me to submit my
Social Security Number (SSN)? What if I'm not a
US citizen and don't have a SSN?
If you don't have a Social Security Number (SSN)
and need one for the AU Abroad application, please
use the following formula: Your 7-digit
AU ID number + the initials of your first and last
name. For example, Joe Shmo, AU ID 1234567,
would use the SSN 123-45-67JS
What if I don't have an AU ID number? If
you do not have an AU ID please leave this box blank.
An AU ID number will be assigned to you at a later
time.
Must I be an American University (AU) student
to participate in an AU Abroad program?
All Enclaves and Summer Internship programs, with
the exception of the semester in Rome, are open
to AU and non-AU students alike. Non-AU students
interested in the Rome program are encourage to
apply directly to our on-site affiliate, John
Cabot University. AU Abroad Partners, Providers,
Summer Courses and Summer Language Immersion Programs
are ONLY open to AU students. Non-AU students interested
in the aforementioned Partners or Providers should
inquire to the universities and organizations directly.
When is the application deadline?
Please see the "Deadlines" section on our Apply
page.
I've started the on-line application, but
I forgot my username and password to get into the
student website.
Log into your on-line profile by going to the AU
Abroad home page. Click on 'Student
Login' and enter your username and password
to view your personal information and any relevant
program details available at the time. In most cases,
unless you have changed your username and password,
the default for each person follows the formula
below.
Username: First letter of
your first name + your full last name (not case
sensitive)
Password: Your date of birth in 8 digits (MMDDYYYY)
Example: Joe Shmo, born September
15, 1983, would have the following:
Username: JShmo
Password: 09151983
Can I change my personal data, such as
my username, password and contact details through
the website?
When you log into your profile, you should go to
'Change login or contact info' to verify that we
have your correct data. Here you may change your
username and password, as well as provide us with
updated addresses and phone numbers. Please enter
both your permanent and school (where applicable)
addresses, and choose which you prefer for mailing
purposes. Our main form of communication with you
will be via e-mail. Please make every effort to
provide an e-mail address that does not tend to
fill up easily or filter out mass mailings.
Is there a specific format for the letter(s)
of recommendation needed for the application?
The professor or advisor who writes your letter
of recommendation should do so on university letterhead,
but does not need to conform to any content-based
format.
Where do I submit the Judicial
Affairs Disciplinary Clearance Form to be completed
for my application?
At American University, the Judicial Affairs and
Mediation Services office is located in the Butler
Pavillion, Room 408. When you submit your form to
JAMS, they will return it to AU Abroad directly.
More information on their office hours and contact
information is found on their website.
Non-AU students should inquire about their home
university's disciplinary affairs office.
Where do I send my application materials?
Should the application be sent all together or in
pieces?
Application materials should be sent in one complete
mailing, when possible. Letters of recommendation
may be mailed separately. All materials should be
sent to:
Admissions
AU Abroad
American University
4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20016-8039
Have my application materials been received
by AU Abroad? How can I check the status of my application?
After you log into your on-line profile, click on
the 'Application Status' link beside the program
and semester to which you've applied. You will be
taken to a page that lists your application materials,
and the dates for those items received by AU Abroad.
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General Education Information
Students are normally expected to have completed their General Education courses by the end of the sophomore year, which experience serves as preparation for study abroad. General Education requirements may not be fulfilled abroad. Any student who wishes to study abroad before completing at least 80% of their General Education courses should discuss how they will plan to complete their General Education requirements on their return to AU with their academic advisor.
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Financial Information
What is the purpose of my program deposit?
The Acceptance
Confirmation Deposit Form serves to reserve
your spot in the program. The $300 program deposit (Starting Spring 2006, there will be a charge of $500 for each student deposit) that must accompany this form is non-refundable,
the amount will be credited to your student account
at the time AU Abroad charges you for the program
fee.
How much does it cost to study abroad with
AU Abroad?
This can vary greatly by study destination. Yet
all students will be charged standard AU tuition
rates as well as a program fee. Please see our Costs
page for more details.
Is financial aid available?
Most AU scholarships and financial aid can be applied
to an AU Abroad program. Please consult your financial
aid advisor for more details. Non-AU students should
contact the financial aid office at the home institution
for more details. Please also see our Scholarships
page for study abroad specific scholarship information.
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Information Sessions
When can I talk face-to-face to an AU Abroad
staff member to find out more information about
my study abroad options ?
Take a look at our Upcoming
Events page to find the next campus event! General
information sessions are generally held twice a
week during January, February, March, September,
October and November. Site or region specific programs
are also available on occasion. When general information
sessions are not being offered, interested students
should visit the AU Abroad office in the Rockwood
building to make an appointment with an advisor.
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Study Abroad For Students with Disabilities
What accommodations will be made abroad
for students with disabilties?
AU Abroad makes every effort to ensure that students
with disabilities can participate successfully in
study abroad programs. Please be aware that we cannot
guarantee that facilities or support services will
be available at each location abroad in the same
range and quality as on the AU campus. We cannot
alter architecture, transportation, or laws in other
countries. We can, however, encourage students with
disabilities to meet with staff in the Academic
Support Center (ASC) or Disability Support Services
(DSS) to discuss accommodation needs and identify
appropriate sites overseas. We have outlined the
following suggested steps for AU students with disabilities
who are interested in studying abroad. ASC is located
in Mary Graydon 243 (Tel. 885-3360), and DSS is
located in Mary Graydon 206 (Tel. 885-3315).
Checklist for students interested in studying abroad
- Talk to your counselor in the ASC or the DSS
director about your particular needs, study abroad
options, and possible site-specific information
about disability issues
- Consult with multiple resources before making
a decision about whether and where to study (e.g.,
a site coordinator overseas, the AU Abroad staff,
your academic advisor, students who have participated
in a program of interest, etc.)
- Identify a study abroad site of your choice
- Submit the application to the AU Abroad office
- Complete and submit a Disability Accommodations
Request form to the AU Abroad office; this form
will be shared with the ASC or DSS
- Follow up to coordinate your accommodation request
between your ASC counselor or DSS director, the
AU Abroad office, and the site coordinator overseas
The following resources may provide further helpful
information:
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