Duke University Global Education Office for Undergraduates

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there eligibility requirements? How do students receive credit for their coursework abroad? Is it one course to one course in all programs?

Each program has its own eligibility requirements that must be met, in addition to our minimum GPA. If the course students want credit for is in the GEO Database of Approved Courses they don't need to apply for additional approval. If the course is not in the database, they will need to contact Cathy Penny in the GEO to request assistance obtaining DUS course approval. This should be done before going abroad. Several departments require approval directly from the department. There is not always a 1-for-1-course equivalency. We expect a student to take a "full load" abroad. This often means taking five courses, which, if all are successfully completed, can count towards major, minor and curriculum requirements, but only four courses will count towards graduation.

I've heard that I will only get 2 credits for non-Duke study abroad programs, instead of 4 for the Duke-in programs. Is this the case?

No. There is a two course limit is for domestic transfer credit for Trinity students. Pratt students may transfer up to four domestic courses. For study abroad, or a combination of study abroad and domestic transfer, the total can't exceed ten. This would allow a student a full year plus a summer of study abroad in approved programs. If they study on a Duke administered (Duke-in) program, generally they earn Duke credit, so the transfer limit doesn't apply--they aren't transferring courses. Exceptions to this are Duke in Glasgow, Duke in Berlin (second semester) and Duke in France-EDUCO, which are "hybrid" programs in which students receive a combination of Duke credits and transfer credits.

Can I earn credit in my major abroad?
Yes. Students who study on Duke-administered programs earn Duke credit just as if they were on campus. These courses fulfill the same requirements as courses on campus. Students who study on Duke-approved programs should consult the Director of Undergraduate Studies in their major department to find out if, and how many, transfer credits may be applied towards their major. More information about credits and course coding can be found in Grades/Transfer Credit.

Can I fulfill my foreign language competency abroad?

Yes, on a Duke-administered or Duke-approved program in a country where the target language is spoken (i.e. French in France or Senegal, Spanish in Spain or Argentina). Students studying language on a Duke-approved program will have to request foreign language coding for their language courses taken abroad, just as they would have to request Modes of Inquiry coding for any transfer course. For more information, please visit Grades/Transfer Credit.

Am I eligible for Dean's List during the semester I study abroad?

This varies from program to program. To determine whether you are eligible to earn recognition for honors like Dean's List while participating in a study abroad program, consult the Duke Bulletin under Academic Recognition and Honors at http://www.registrar.duke.edu/bulletins/Undergraduate/ or your academic dean.

Do I register on ACES for the semester I'm going abroad?

With the exception of summer programs, students attending Duke-administered programs will register through the Global Education Office, not on ACES. Students attending non-Duke programs will register for courses on their program. If a student's registration window opens, and they have not yet been accepted for study abroad, they should register for courses (through ACES) on campus. Those courses can then be dropped once acceptance to study abroad is received.

Don't I have to be a language major, or speak another language to study abroad?

No. The opportunities for year, semester or summer study are diverse enough to meet the needs of virtually any undergraduate's course of study. Study abroad is not limited to language majors or those with knowledge of foreign languages; Duke sponsors and has identified programs providing language training as well as programs taught in English in many countries. Programs are available offering courses in humanities, social sciences, and sometimes science and engineering.

Can students participate in a study abroad program in a foreign speaking country, but have the courses taught in English?

Yes. But if they participate in such a program during the semester, they are required to take one course in the host country language. Do I have to declare my major by a certain deadline in order to study abroad? Students who plan to study abroad for a semester must declare their major and submit their Long-Range Plan before their study abroad paperwork is considered complete. First-year students must declare their major by the end of classes in the spring semester of their first year. (First-year students who wish to study abroad in the summer between their first and second years do not need to declare their major.) Sophomores must declare their major by the Sophomore Declaration Deadline (the end of the eighth full week of their fourth academic semester). Sophomores are strongly encouraged (but are not required) to declare their major by the Early Declaration Deadline (the end of the third full week of the semester) if they want to study abroad as juniors. Early Declaration will result in the transfer of your academic file to your new department before you make final plans to study abroad, giving you enough time to meet with your major advisor to ensure that whatever courses you take while abroad will keep you on track for graduation

Is study abroad a question that should come up in the first meeting with my pre-major advisor in September of my freshman year, or can it be decided on a spontaneous basis during my sophomore year?

It is best to discuss the possibility of study abroad at the first meeting. Planning for the experience to complement the academic plan is easiest if incorporated early in the process. Nevertheless, if it is an issue that arises in later discussions, it generally still can be accommodated.

Is there a minimum GPA for study abroad?
Duke requires that students who wish to study abroad for a semester or academic year have a minimum GPA of 2.7; for summer study abroad, you must meet the academic requirements for continuation at Duke. Many programs, however, require that students have a 3.0 minimum, and can have quite competitive applicant pools.

How can I find out what programs offer what classes?

The Global Education website includes a list of all the approved programs, with links to those programs that generally include the academic courses available. Another resource is the Database of Approved Courses on the Global Education website. This lists courses that have been approved and is searchable by department, country, and program. This is NOT a comprehensive list of available courses. It represents only those courses that have been approved. Additional courses can be approved by working with Cathy Penny in the GEO. She works in conjunction with department DUSes to obtain course approvals.

Can I fulfill my sciences and study abroad?

Yes. There are programs and locations with science classes, as well as science themes. Students may take science classes abroad. They should discuss their interests and options with a study abroad advisor.


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Postcard from Abroad

Dear Global Education Office:

The Duke in Glasgow program begins with a week-long trip to London, with visits to Parliament and opportunities to experience some of the cultural riches of the city.

The trip to London was a great introduction to our time in Glasgow studying British politics. It was especially valuable since we had access to places and people that we couldn't see as tourists. We met with a high ranking government official, toured Parliament, went to several different plays (one in the Globe), had great dinners as a group, toured museums, and had free time to do our own thing.

It was greatly beneficial to have seen the places and things we talked about throughout the semester, as we continuously referred back to our London trip in our class discussions.

In addition to the officials we met in London, we all attended a lecture by Gordon Brown at the University of Glasgow – quite a treat. He has since become Prime Minister. We also met George Reid, the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament and the top political official in Scotland. We met with him in the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh and had a great discussion.

– Pearce Godwin

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Bullfight Procession in Spain

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Building Renovation, Paris


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Postcard from Abroad

Dear Office of Study Abroad:

One of the highlights of my time abroad in Valparaíso, Chile was spending a weekend at the home of a Chilean friend from the university I attended. He introduced me to many of his friends and family, gave me a tour of his town, took me to the vineyard where his uncle worked, and even brought me to a huge fiesta with his extended family.

No, I wasn't traveling to a booming international metropolis, nor was I getting to see famous monuments. However, I consider this experience to be more valuable than either of those. I was able to take part in an extremely close-knit environment in which it was not work, careers, or money that came first (which, in my view, can often be the case in American culture), but rather relationships with family and friends. The way I was embraced by all the people that I met during the weekend (as well as other Chileans throughout my semester abroad) was unforgettable. It didn’t matter that I was a foreigner or that my Spanish was still somewhat lacking; what was important was that I was a guest of my friend, and that made me part of the family while I was there.

The interactions I had during that weekend trip, and others similar to it, have shaped how I connect with those I am close to at Duke. Instead of spending more time than necessary thinking about how much work I have to do or how much money I need to make in my first job, I try to put those cares aside (plenty of time for those later) and just focus on enjoying the moments I have left with my friends here; after all, that time is fleeting, and as such, I try to relish every minute of it.

– Jeff Dahlberg

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Catania Market

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