Frequently Asked Questions About Study Abroad

What is Study Abroad?
What types of study abroad programs are available?
Which office on campus administers study abroad programs?

How do I apply?
How likely is it that I will be able to attend my first-choice program?
What about cost?
Will Pacific pay Room and/or board (if applicable) during breaks when I study abroad for an academic year?
Can I use my financial aid?
Is additional financial assistance available?

Can students who receive tuition benefits (Tuition Remission/ Tuition Exchange) still study abroad?

Do I still need to participate in the Housing Lottery?
I am, or the person I want to live with is, studying abroad for Fall Term, how can I room with them when they return for Winter/Spring Term?

Will it take me longer to graduate?
What level of language preparation do I need?
Are programs only for language majors?

What are the eligibility requirements?

What if I am interested in a program not offered by Pacific?
Who do I contact?

What is Study Abroad?

It is an opportunity to earn Pacific University academic credit for courses taken at a foreign university or taught by a Pacific University faculty member in another country.

What types of study abroad programs are available?

Pacific University offers long-term study abroad programs, which allow students to study abroad for a semester or an entire academic year. Students can also participate in short-term study abroad programs offered typically during the Winter III term in January, or in early summer. Short-term programs are led by a Pacific faculty member, and usually consists of one 4 credit class that frequently combines preparatory work in the previous semester with a 10-14 day travel portion during the Winter term or soon after the conclusion of Spring semester.

Which office on campus administers study abroad programs?

The Office of International Programs oversees all study abroad at Pacific, and manages and coordinates all semester/academic year programs for undergraduate students. Short-term programs are led and administered by individual faculty members. Programs will be listed in the class schedule, and students should contact these faculty members for more detailed information. The International Programs Office, however, maintains a list of programs.

How do I apply?

There are three important steps you must take to be considered for study abroad including 1) a mandatory advising appointment with the Office of International Programs (OIP) 2) completing an application for the internal nomination process 3) submitting a program application. For detailed instructions on the application process, please see the "Apply Now" section of our website.

How likely is it that I will be able to attend my first-choice program?

If you meet all eligibility requirements and are approved to study abroad we will make every effort to assign you to your first-choice program. However, the likelihood of placement at your preferred site will depend on the size of the applicant pool and the demand for the same program. If we are unable to place you at this site, we will work closely with your major department and you to ensure that you are placed in a program that will fully meet your academic needs.

What about cost?

For semester/academic year programs, students generally pay standard Pacific tuition, a $250.00 semester study abroad fee, room and in some cases board. The only exceptions to the room payment are the Bamberg (Germany) and Saga (Japan) programs for which students will pay their housing costs directly to the on-site provider. In addition, students will be required to pay the tuition balance for any program with tuition and fees in excess of $11,000 per semester. Students who petition the Study Abroad Committee for approval to participate on a currently non-approved program will need to pay close attention to this policy.

Will Pacific pay Room and/or board (if applicable) during breaks when I study abroad for an academic year?

No.  Students are responsible for their own housing/meals during breaks.

Can I use my financial aid?

Students are able to use their federal aid and Pacific scholarships to pay for their semester/academic year study abroad program. In most cases the cost of attendance calculated by the financial aid office will be increased to account for additional miscellaneous costs associated with study abroad participation. Depending on a student's specific aid package this change could increase eligibility for federal financial aid loans.

Is additional financial assistance available?

Pacific University does not provide additional financial assistance for semester study abroad. However, there are several federal and private scholarships for which students can apply to supplement their standard financial aid package. These include the Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship (for which several Pacific students have recently successfully applied) and the Boren Scholarship. Links to more information on these programs are found on the study abroad web site.

Can students who receive tuition benefits still study abroad?

Yes, please see the details here.

Do I still need to participate in the Housing Lottery?

For Fall Housing/Fall Study Abroad:

In the Spring, the housing lottery process starts with a housing lottery application and then students select a room during the selection time, usually in April. As soon as students make a selection for a room, they are under contract and if the selection is canceled by the end of May (because you received your final approval, in May, to study abroad), there is a $100 cancellation fee. This fee increases $100 per month after this.

Students approved by the Office of International Programs (usually notified in March/before Spring break) are most likely approved by the program providers/universities to study abroad (usually notified in May).

It is up to you whether you want to go through with the housing lottery (though it is not required, as there is a late housing assignment process in case you don't study abroad), but keep in mind that if you are approved to study abroad, if you have selected a room already, you will be charged at least a $100 cancellation fee. If you are not approved to study abroad and did not enter the housing lottery, there is a late housing assignment process that you can go through to secure housing for the coming year, please contact housing for more information on that. 

If you are studying abroad in the Fall and need housing for the Winter/Spring semester: the Housing Office reaches out to those currently studying abroad and asks if they want housing when they return to Pacific. They also ask for requests on where you would like to live (such as a specific residence hall or specific amenities such as a kitchen, accessibility, or gender inclusive housing, etc.). Housing cannot guarantee the assignment but will do their best to make it work.

For Fall Housing/Spring Study Abroad:

If you are studying abroad in the Spring and need housing for the Fall prior to studying abroad, please do participate in the housing lottery and let housing know that you will be abroad for the spring. As you will be notified if you are not approved to study abroad by May, you will have plenty of time to let the housing office know you will need Spring Housing as well.

 I am, or the person I want to live with is, studying abroad for Fall Term, how can I room with them when they return for Winter/Spring Term?

The best way to try to make this work is to find someone to live (or that your friend should live) with that may be graduating or studying abroad, or is an international student at Pacific who will return home, after the Fall Term. Reach out to the International Programs Office to see if any international students are in need of housing for their final semester. In November, the Housing Office reaches out to those currently studying abroad and asks if they want housing when they return to Pacific. Students would then tell Housing who they want to live with. Housing cannot guarantee the assignment but will do their best to make it work.

Will it take me longer to graduate?

Not usually. Credits earned abroad in a Pacific-affiliated program count toward graduation at Pacific up to a maximum of 31 credits. However, it is important for students to consult with their faculty advisors to determine which courses taken abroad can and cannot be used toward their majors and satisfy other specific University requirements.

What level of language preparation do I need?

For students fulfilling the requirements of a language major or minor, or the International Studies major, the completion of 202 or equivalent in the appropriate language and a 3.0 GPA average in language classes are required prior to beginning the program. For students pursuing other majors who wish to study in Japan, China (or Taiwan) or countries in which the official language is French, German or Spanish, successful completion of 102 or equivalent in the appropriate language is required. The only exception to this is the Aalen Business Program, which does not require German-language preparation. It is understood that in certain cases these minimum requirements will be superseded by program-specific requirements.

Are programs only for language majors?

No! Although study abroad is required for a major in modern languages and international studies, it is open to all students who meet the selection criteria, and encouraged for students across all academic areas.

What are the eligibility requirements?

To be eligible for overseas study students must demonstrate proper personal and academic preparation for the program, be in good academic and financial standing, and have attended Pacific full-time for at least one semester immediately preceding the study abroad semester(s). In general, applicants are expected to have and maintain an overall GPA of 2.75. For language programs the completion or equivalent of 102 is required, or 202 and a 3.0 GPA average in language classes if you are majoring in a language or International Studies. A personal essay, letters of recommendation and, under certain circumstances, a personal interview are also required of applicants. Students with a GPA below 2.5 at the time of application will have their applications rescinded.

What if I am interested in a program not offered by Pacific?

Pacific University strongly encourages students to participate in approved programs, since this enables the use of financial aid and facilitates the credit transfer process. However, in some instances, Pacific may not offer a program that adequately fulfills the academic needs of a student. In such a case a student can petition the Study Abroad Committee for approval of a program that does meet their needs. However the petitioning process is time consuming and should not be undertaken unless a student can persuasively demonstrate why currently approved programs do not meet their needs, and that the provider offering the proposed program is reliable and reputable. If you wish to submit a petition, you should contact the International Programs Office to make an appointment with the Study Abroad Advisor. The deadline for submission of a petition is December 1. However, if you are planning to petition you are still required to submit the Intent to Study Abroad form by the standard the third Friday of November deadline.

Who do I contact?

If you are interested in learning more about semester/academic year programs, you can visit the International Programs Office to pick up informational brochures, or call 503-352-1600 to make an appointment with the Director of International Programs/Study Abroad Advisor. You can also request an appointment by email at: intlprograms@pacificu.edu.