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Off-Campus and Study Abroad Programs offered through Non-ESF Institutions
Study Abroad—Office of International Education

All ESF students who wish to study off-campus including abroad locations as part of their academic program must obtain ESF approval prior to applying for acceptance to an off-campus program.

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ESF Eligibility Requirements for Off-Campus in the Fall or Spring Semester

  • ESF undergraduate student who has completed at least 30 credits towards bachelor’s degree; and
  • ESF undergraduate student who has achieved a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher.

A students who does not meet one of the eligibility requirements, may seek to have the requirement waived by submitting a Petition to the Faculty (available at the Registrar’s Office). The student must provide an adequate justification for the request and submit any appropriate supporting documentation. The Petition Form must be signed by the student’s Academic Advisor and Curriculum Coordinator and then submitted to the Office of Instruction and Graduate Studies (227 Bray Hall) in order for the Associate Provost of Instruction to make a determination.

If the Petition is approved by the Associate Provost of Instruction, the student may continue with the ESF off-campus study approval process.  A copy of the approved Petition must be submitted with the Off-Campus Study Request Form.

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Off-Campus Study During the Summer or Winter Break

ESF students may choose to pursue off-campus study opportunities during the summer or winter/J-term. Since these are not required academic semester, there are no ESF eligibility requirements other than to complete the ESF off-campus study approval process including submitting an Off-Campus Study Request Form, Petition to the Faculty (available at the Registrar's Office), and attaching the course description of the courses you will take off-campus to ensure that credits taken abroad meet the curriculum requirements for a student's program of study and eligibility for transfer to ESF after completing the off-campus program (must obtain a "C" or better in a course in order for the credits to transfer). Individual off-campus study programs, however, will likely have minimum eligibility requirements detailed in their application process that students will have to meet in order to obtain admission to the particular program.

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ESF Off-Campus Study Approval Process

ESF students who meet the general eligibility requirements or who obtain a waiver via an approved Petition to the Faculty, must complete the Off-Campus Study Request Form, a Petition to the Faculty listing courses to be taken off-campus (the Petition Form is available at the Registrar's Office), and attach a copy of the course descriptions for the courses you intend to take off-campus. All Off-Campus Study Request materials must be submitted to the Office of International Education (302 Bray Hall); if the Office of International Education is closed, you may submit materials to the Office of Instruction and Graduate Studies (227 Bray Hall).

As part of your request, you will have to select the courses you intend to take off-campus and consult with your academic advisor to determine how they fit into your ESF academic program. You must enter the courses you will take abroad into the Academic Plan section of the Off-Campus Study Request Form (page 2), complete a Petition to the Faculty to pre-petition the transfer of credits (be sure to list the courses you will take, what ESF program requirements they satisfy, and attach the course descriptions) and then obtain the authorization of your academic advisor, curriculum coordinator, and finally the Associate Provost for Instruction (227 Bray Hall) on both the Petition and Request Forms. If a student receives all three signatures on both forms, the off-campus academic plan would then be considered acceptable according to ESF’s academic standards. Upon the Associate Provost's review of the completed Off-Campus Study Request Form and Petition, students will receive an email notifying them of the outcome. If a student's off-campus study request is approved, s/he may proceed with applying to the desired off-campus program. The Coordinator of International Education would at this time be able to sign any application forms requiring a study abroad advisor's signature.

Approved students will receive an additional form in the approval notification email, the Approved Off-Campus Study Data Form. This form will require students to meet with the Financial Aid and the Bursar in order to discuss how their off-campus study will impact their ESF student status, financial aid package, and Bursar's bill for the semester(s) off-campus. Please note that students who are approved to attend an off-campus program ARE NOT automatically eligible for financial aid to pay for this. The Financial Aid requirements vary and you must meet with the ESF Financial Aid office to discuss your approved program to determine if it can be funded or if additional funds are available.

The completed Approved Off-Campus Study Data Form must be submitted to the Office of International Education with a copy of your letter of acceptance to the off-campus program, information regarding billing procedures for the program, and flight information prior to the off-campus experience. Additional information for students who have been approved by ESF to study off-campus is available online.

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Off-Campus Study Programs & Opportunities

Programs Offered through Non-ESF Institutions

  • Studying Off-Campus with the SUNY System
    Students who utilize an off-campus program provided by another SUNY school continue to pay SUNY tuition rates (plus associated off-campus study fees); off-campus program tuition and fees are billed by the SUNY-ESF Bursar and appear in the student account bill for the semester(s) a student is studying off-campus on a SUNY program.

    Students are still required to complete the Off-Campus Study Request Process and have their courses pre-approved prior to applying to the SUNY program. Students should enroll in a major-specific section of a 496 course (e.g., EFB 496) for off-campus study/ study abroad for the semester they will be off-campus; this will act to maintain their student status and financial aid eligibility at SUNY-ESF.  Upon submission of the official transcript to the registrar, credits for courses in which a “C” or higher is earned will be accepted for transfer, actual course grades will not transfer.

    A searchable database of SUNY programs is available on the main SUNY website. Students can search for programs by term and location. You can also search the 2012 SUNY Study Abroad Guide for program options. Interested in an internship? Check out the SUNY Global Engagement Internship Program.
  • Studying Off-Campus with SU Abroad
    SU Abroad offers two types of study abroad programs-- SU Overseas Center programs and SU World Partners programs. Please note that students enrolled in SU study abroad programs will be billed Syracuse University tuition rates.

    There are currently seven overseas centers, in Beijing, Florence, Hong Kong, Istanbul, London, Madrid, Santiago(Chile) and Strasbourg(France). These centers function as SU campuses abroad. Students interested in participating in an SU Overseas Center program are still required to complete the Off-Campus Study Request Process prior to applying to the SU program. Once accepted into the SU program, students should register for courses directly through SU; courses taken abroad at an SU Overseas Center will appear on their transcript along with the grades and credits earned.

    SU World Partner programs are affiliate universities with whom SU maintains cooperative agreements. Students interested in using an SU World Partner program are required to complete the Study Abroad Request Process and have their courses pre-approved prior to applying to the SU study abroad program. Students should enroll in a major-specific section of a 496 course (e.g., EFB 496) for off-campus study/ study abroad for the semester they will be off-campus; this will act to maintain their student status and financial aid eligibility at SUNY-ESF. Upon submission of the official transcript to the registrar, credits for courses in which a “C” or higher is earned will be accepted for transfer, actual course grades will not transfer.
  • Studying Off-Campus with an ESF Affiliate Program
    SUNY-ESF has established affiliations with institutions that provide off-campus study programs that may be of particular interest to our students. Our current affiliations are: School for Field Studies and Living Routes: Study Abroad in Ecovillages.

    To participate in an affiliate program, students are required to complete the Off-Campus Study Request Process and have their courses pre-approved prior to applying to the off-campus program. Students should enroll in a major-specific section of a 496 course (e.g., EFB 496) for off-campus study/ study abroad for the semester they will be off-campus; this will act to maintain their student status and financial aid eligibility at SUNY-ESF. Upon submission of the official transcript to the registrar, credits for courses in which a “C” or higher is earned will be accepted for transfer, actual course grades will not transfer.

ESF Programs

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Registering for the Academic Semester You Will Be Studying Off-Campus

  • Participation in an ESF Short-Term Program or SU Study Abroad Program in one of their Overseas Centers (not one of their World Partners programs)
    If you will participate in an ESF faculty-led program, please follow the enrollment instructions provided by the course instructor. If you will participate in a Syracuse University study abroad program at one of their overseas centers (Beijing, Florence, Hong Kong, Istanbul, London, Madrid, Santiago, or Strasbourg), consult the SU Abroad office regarding enrolling in courses for your semester abroad. Your transcript for your ESF course or semester abroad at the SU Overseas Center will indicate the exact courses you enroll in and grade received. You will not need to transfer the credits back to SUNY-ESF.
  • Participation in a Non-ESF Off-Campus Study Program including the SU World Partners Program
    During the registration period for the semester you will be off-campus, you must either file a paper registration form indicating enrollment in a major-specific section of a 496 course (e.g., EFB 496) for off-campus study/ study abroad for the semester you will be off-campus or if you are unable to enroll via a paper registration form, kindly ask your advisor to contact the registrar directly in order to arrange for a major-specific 496 enrollment. This must be completed prior to your departure; this action maintains your ESF student status while you are off-campus and as well as your eligibility to receive ESF financial aid as long as you qualify for it and meet the full-time enrollment requirements. Failure to enroll in a 496 course for your off-campus study will result in you being withdrawn from the College and, if you wish to return in the future, you will be required to re-apply for admission.

When you return from studying off-campus, you will have to submit your official transcript from the off-campus program to the Registrar’s Office. The credits for courses in which you achieve a C or higher will then be transferred in (not the grades). The off-campus study experience will appear on your transcript as "Advanced Standing Credit" and the University who the credit was earned through and the number of credits earned will be noted.

Educational Systems Around the World

As you go about selecting a study abroad location and preparing to study abroad, you may find it helpful to review the Online Guide to Educational Systems Around the World.

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Study Abroad/ Off-Campus Planning FAQ's 

Q: When should I start panning for my off-campus or study abroad experience?
A: You should start planning a year before you intend to study abroad/off-campus. This gives you ample time to find a program that meets your academic needs and personal interests, to meet with your advisor to discuss your course selection, to complete the ESF off-campus study approval process, to submit your application to the program administrator, and to determine how you will finance the experience. You may find it helpful to review the The Study Abroad Handbook in order to help plan for and select a program that meets your academic and personal interests.

Q: When is the best time to study off-campus for a semester?
A: Undergraduate students typically study off-campus during their sophomore or junior year.

Q: How will I pay for it?
A: Off-campus study and study abroad may be funded partially or completely through scholarship, grants, and other such programs. Please review the funding resources above and check with the program administrator to see if any additional opportunities exist. Further, you may be able to include your off-campus study/study abroad experience in your financial aid plan. Please consult the ESF Office of Financial Aid & Scholarship for additional information about how studying off-campus may impact your financial aid package.

Q: How will it impact my program of study at ESF?
A: As part of the ESF off-campus study approval process, you are required to meet with your academic advisor to discuss the courses you intend to take in the program and how they fit into your academic program at ESF. Together, you will complete a Petition of the Faculty and the Academic Plan section of the Off-Campus Study Request Form in which you identify the courses you will take and the credits in your ESF program you would like them to fulfill upon transfer to ESF after completion of the program. Your advisor and the Curriculum Coordinator must sign off on your Petition and academic plan. The completed Petition and Off-Campus Study Request Form is reviewed by the Associate Provost for Instruction and forwarded to the General Education Committee for review if necessary. Your approved Petition and Off-Campus Study Request Form from acts a pre-approval for the transfer of credits from your off-campus study experience for each course you pass with a grade of “C” or better . Please note that if you are participating in a program other than a Syracuse University Overseas Center program and SUNY-ESF program, only the credits will transfer back (not the grade).

Q: Does it have to be directly related to my major?
A: The program you select would be directly-related to course requirements you have not yet fulfilled in your ESF program of study. Some students choose to take science-based courses related to their major ; others save their electives courses and take more liberal arts courses while they are off-campus. The most important things to consider are how the courses taken off-campus will fit into your ESF program of study and if they will meet your graduation course requirements. These items should be discussed with your academic advisor.

Q: What other things should I be thinking about?
A: Passport and visa acquisition, health and travel insurance, finances, immunizations, safety, leisure are just a few of the things you should think about as you begin to plan your study abroad experience. Additional information about these topics is available on the "approved students" webpage.

If you do not have comprehensive health insurance with medical evacuation and repatriation, you may purchase the SUNY plan serviced by Haylor, Freyer & Coon at the Cashier's Office for $91/ month.

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