1. Where can I study? Almost anywhere, but only at an institution
or on a program is that is approved by Bates for you. Bates maintains
a list of potential programs on this web site. Programs taught by
Bates are favored, but there are over 250 additional options around the
world.
2. Do I have to be a junior? The Bates Fall Semester
Abroad Programs and Off-Campus Short Term units are available for all
classes, including first years. Other programs, such as the JSA program,
require that students have determined their major, taken key introductory
courses required by the major, and have developed an academic plan that
off-campus study will enhance. Students must have a 2.50 GPA and declared
their major at the time of application.
3. What is the application process? There
is a Bates Off-Campus Study application and a program or university
application. Students need to apply for off-campus
study if they want to study elsewhere at any time during the following
year. This application is due in early February. The program
and university applications tend to be short and are on file in the
Off-Campus Study Office.
One or two letters of recommendation are required, depending on the program
and your GPA. The Bates
Fall Semester Abroad Program does not require the separate Bates application.
The Bates application contains a Parental Statement Form that must be
signed by the applicant's parent or guardian. To print an on-line copy,
click on the link below.
Parental
Statement and Information Form
4. Is there a deadline? Yes. There is a Bates deadline and
additional deadlines set by the program or university. The Bates
deadline is in early February.
This process and deadline apply for the entire next year. The deadlines
of universities and programs can be misleading since most accept students
on a "rolling basis." This means that it is best to apply early
since popular programs may fill up before their deadlines.
5. Is it hard to get in? Not in most cases.
Bates students tend to be academically talented, sincerely motivated,
responsible, and mature. In short, they are just the type of individuals
whom most universities and programs aspire to have. When students
are not admitted, it is usually because they applied too late and the
program is full. In most cases, you will likely need just one outside
application. Dean Sawyer and Mr. Das will advise you on this.
6. Does Bates limit the number of students who may study off-campus? Bates
balances on-campus semester enrollments. The number of students studying
off-campus must be approximately equal for the fall and winter semesters. More
details on this are provided in the Explanation
of the semester balance policy.
7. How is credit awarded? The course load at some
universities is four courses a year while at others it is eight courses
a semester. As this suggests, the definition and scope of a "course"
varies tremendously around the world. To deal with this, credit
in most cases is awarded on the basis of a "full course load abroad" equals
a "full course load at Bates." Students take the normal full
course load as defined by their program or university and, as of Fall 2008, students receive full credit at Bates (4 courses a semester) provided they earn the equivalent of a 3.00 cumulative GPA.
These grades are not included in your GPA. At English language universities,
at least half the course work must be above the first-year level. Greater
details about required course loads and grades are available on-line.
Extra credit is not awarded. In contrast, Bates Fall Semester Abroad Program courses are treated just
like on-campus courses.
8. Can I apply the courses toward my major, minor or general education
requirements? Yes, with the approval of your major or minor department. In the case of a general education concentration that permits non-Bates courses, the conentration coordinator must approve the course(s). Some departments have a limit of two or three non-Bates
courses that may be applied toward the major; other departments require
that certain courses be taken on campus.
9. Do I have to know a foreign language? It depends
on the location. Not if you study in an English-speaking country.
Not if you study where the languages of the country are not taught at
Bates. (In this situation, you have to take one course in a language
of the country while on the program.) Not if you study on a Bates
Fall Semester Abroad Program. This leaves non-English speaking settings
where the language is taught as a major at Bates - French, German, and
Spanish as well as Chinese, Japanese, and Russian. In French, German,
and Spanish language settings, students are required to have completed
the equivalent of two years of college-level study of the language.
At least one year proficiency is required in Chinese, Japanese, and Russian
language settings. Students without these proficiencies may petition
the Off-Campus Study Committee for an exception. "Equivalent" means that
a student who skips over the first two years of French and then completes
an advanced French course has five semesters for that language.
10. How much does it cost to study abroad? This is
difficult to answer because costs vary tremendously by program and personal
spending patterns. In most cases, study abroad costs no more than
being at Bates including international airfare and limited foreign
travel.
With careful planning, it can cost considerably less. Costs are available on program and university web sites. Up-to-date information on currency exhange rates is available at XE Currency. The Bates
Fall Semester Abroad Program and several other programs simply charge
the Bates comprehensive fee. For other programs, Bates charges an "Off-Campus
Study Registration Fee" equal to 7% of the Bates comprehensive fee
for each semester off-campus, with all the other costs set by the program.
Expenses, especially personal expenses, tend to be highest in Europe
and Japan.
Study in these locations can exceed the cost of attending Bates, especially
with extensive personal travel.
11. Is financial aid available? Yes. Aid is
available according to the same policies that apply on campus. When
financial aid is calculated, it is based on the program or university's
tuition, room, and board fees, a personal expense allocation
similar to the one provided for on-campus students, and the Bates Off-Campus
Study Registration fee. Airfare for the first semester abroad
is also included if airfare is part of your on-campus aid. A book allowance
is usually included as well. Work
study jobs are not available abroad so this amount is added to a student's
loan obligation. The
Bates grant may be as large as received on campus, but it is generally
smaller since the sum of the costs listed above is generally less than
attending Bates.
Other potential travel costs, including passport, visa, medications,
non-program travel, and extra personal expenses, are not included in
the Bates aid calculations. In English-speaking countries, aid
calculations are based on the cost of applying directly to the university
rather than through a program. A fuller discussion of how off-campus
study costs are determined is available for download.
12. This is a bit overwhelming. What should I do first?
Relax and recognize that this is a decision that takes time to evolve.
Few students know instantly that they want to study abroad, where, and
for how long. It takes time to sort it out, to think through the
opportunities available, and to evaluate the trade-offs involved with
leaving campus for a semester or year compared to remaining at Bates.
Some of the key issues are located in the Issues
to Consider section. You will want to look over the Approved
Programs which are listed by continent. Finally, plan on one and
perhaps multiple meetings with Dean Sawyer or Mr. Das to discuss the options
and find out more about the process. Please drop by the Off-Campus
Study Office in Lane Hall or call (x6223) during office hours for an appointment.
13. How are off-campus study programs and universities selected? Is there a petition process for alternatives? Bates selects study abroad programs that best enhance the academic program of our students, challenge and enrich their personal development, and promote their appreciation of different cultural contexts. The inclusion of individual programs and universities in the Bates Potential Programs List is based on many factors. The most central are Bates faculty endorsement, consistency with our curriculum, academic quality and atmosphere, emphasis on cultural immersion, attention to student support, safety and security, an on-going program evaluation process, and the responsiveness of the program or university to Bates concerns. In any given location, Bates lists only those programs or universities that best fit these criteria. In some cases, no suitable option is available.
Academic quality is recognized in multiple ways. Bates faculty assessments of programs and universities are most important. In-country rankings and national assessments are important when selecting foreign universities. Programs sponsored by colleges and universities of Bates quality and nature are most highly regarded. Similarly, programs and universities used extensively by and positively evaluated by NESCAC, Ivy League colleges and universities, and similar institutions generally provide the most serious academic atmosphere and peer group for our students. Student evaluations are required and closely monitored. To encourage serious academic engagement and cultural immersion, the duration of the program must be at least as long as the Bates semester, including our vacation and exam period. An emphasis on language learning at an advanced level is important for programs based in one of the six languages taught at Bates.
To illustrate these values and the other criteria noted above, it is helpful to note the type of programs and universities not included on the Bates Potential Programs List. Excluded programs include those that have modest academic reputations, emphasize internships, focus on subjects not included in the Bates curriculum, have a multi-location travel focus, admit high school seniors or first year students, have no or a low GPA requirements, are designed for colleges eager to get their students abroad regardless of the academic quality, do not limit enrollments, do not provide adequate student support and safety, do not emphasize cultural immersion, or do not have the minimum language requirements set by Bates.
Petitioning for an alternate program or university: The Bates Potential Programs list contains over 200 study abroad opportunities based on the standards and values outlined above; however, occasionally, students identify a university or program not on the list that they think better suits their academic interests. Students are welcome to petition for approval to study on this program or university, recognizing that the academic program of the university or program must be demonstrably better than those already listed by Bates.
In the petition to the Off-Campus Study Committee, the student needs to specify: (1) the program or university, (2) the dates of the academic program, (3) the reasons why the academic courses are demonstrably better for the student than those at a listed program or university, and (4) how the program or university satisfies the academic qualities and cultural immersion values outlined in the introduction above. The student’s petition needs to be supported by a letter of support from the student’s faculty advisor, attesting to the superiority of the program or university for the student compared to a listed program.