Non-Tufts Programs

Before You Go

Once you have been accepted by, and plan to enroll in, one of the non-Tufts programs listed in these guidelines (or a program approved by the foreign study adviser) you must attend to the following matters:

Leave of Absence Request
If you plan to study abroad for a semester or academic year on a non-Tufts program, you must submit a Non-Tufts Study Abroad Leave of Absence request online via the WebCenter for Students*. This leave request must be approved by your academic adviser (you will be prompted to print a paper copy of the adviser approval form following your online submission, which must then be signed by your adviser and submitted to the foreign study adviser in the Office of Programs Abroad for final approval). You will then be placed on an official leave of absence from Tufts for the semester(s) in which you will be studying abroad. Notification of your leave will be sent to all the appropriate administrative offices. Consult the foreign study adviser to determine the amount of transfer credit a student can expect to earn, pending approval of courses by the appropriate departments and completion of the foreign study program at an accredited institution.

The Tufts Office of Programs Abroad must receive the leave of absence request in order to notify all appropriate offices of the university that you are taking a leave of absence. For students who will study abroad for the fall semester or academic year, the leave of absence form must be turned in no later than April 30th of the spring semester prior. The deadline is November 15th of the fall semester prior for those students who will be studying abroad for the spring semester.

Approval of a petition to study abroad applies to transfer of academic credit only; it does not imply an evaluation of current security conditions in the country in question. For updated safety information, contact the program provider and consult the U.S. State Department travel advisories, available at http://travel.state.gov.
Pre-Departure Meetings
Students taking a leave of absence to study abroad on a non-Tufts program are required to attend a pre-departure meeting held during reading period in the semester prior to their semester or year abroad (meetings are held each semester for those participating in the following semester). Important information regarding transfer of credit, health and safety, culture shock, and more will be discussed by Programs Abroad staff and, when possible, alumni of the program.
Change in Housing Status
If you previously selected on-campus housing for the semester or year in which you now plan to be abroad, you were charged a $500 room guarantee fee by the Office of Residential Life at the time of the room selection process. If you wish to update your housing needs, this fee is nonrefundable unless you submit a “Housing Update” form, along with proof of study abroad participation, to the Office of Residential Life by April 30 for fall or full-year housing cancellation, or by November 15 for spring semester housing cancellation. Submission of this form after the deadline entitles you to a refund of the room charge but not the room guarantee fee of $500. If you chose “fall-only” housing and are planning to be abroad during spring semester only, no notification of your departure is necessary.
Declaration of Major
It is required that you declare a major before you submit a leave of absence request. You will need to discuss with your major adviser the courses you have taken so far, those you plan to take while abroad, and those you will take upon returning to Tufts. Forms to declare the major are available in the Dowling Hall Student Services Center.

For other general information related to preparing for study abroad, please see the Planning/Preparing for Study Abroad section.