Frequently Asked Questions for Non-UMD Students
The University of Maryland welcomes degree-seeking and non-degree seeking applicants from other institutions in the U.S. and other countries on many of our Education Abroad programs.
Non-UMD participants are categorized by 3 main groups:
Please review the FAQs below to help answer some of your own questions about participating on a UMD study abroad program. If you have additional questions, please contact the Education Abroad advisor for the program.
1. May non-UMD students apply to a UMD study abroad program?
Yes, many of our short-term programs are open to non-UMD undergraduate and graduate students. For graduate students, the only additional requirement involves submitting an application to the Graduate School as a “visiting graduate” student. If you applied to the Graduate School before, the $75 application fee will be waived. Please view The Graduate School's Non-Degree Admissions page for additional details regarding the application process and be sure to submit your application for the Graduate School prior to your study abroad application deadline.
2. I would like to study abroad after I graduate from UMD. Is this possible? Would I need to apply as a non-UMD student or UMD student?
Any undergraduate student graduating in May can participate in a summer study abroad program offered the term after their graduation (either summer I or summer II) and any undergraduate student graduating in December can participate in a winter and/or spring break program offered the term after their graduation. In both of these cases, you would apply as a UMD applicant. You would apply as a non-UMD applicant if the study abroad program was not immediately following your graduation date (i.e. graduating in May 2020 and participating in a spring break 2021 program). If UMD seniors are taking a graduate level course, they must request permission from their department to take graduate level courses. If the department does not approve the request, students must apply to the Graduate School to receive graduate level credit. Please contact educationabroad@umd.edu for other unique situations.
3. Although UMD is not my home institution, I am part of the University System of Maryland inter-institutional enrollment program which allows me to take courses at UMD while paying tuition at my home institution. Does this apply to study abroad courses?
No, study abroad courses are considered separate from the courses taken through the inter-institutional enrollment program. This means you must apply to the program as a non-UMD student and also apply to the Graduate School as a “visiting graduate” if you are a graduate student.
4. Will I receive credit at my home institution for a University of Maryland study abroad program?
You are required to submit the Home University Approval form as part of your study abroad application. Check with your home institution's study abroad office or your academic advisor to understand the policies regarding transfer credit from a UMD study abroad program back to your home institution.
5. Do I need to drop out of my home university to participate in a semester or year UMD study abroad program?
You should check with your home institution's study abroad office or registrar to verify the process of participating in a UMD study abroad program. Most times, students maintain their enrollment at their home institution while participating on a UMD study abroad program.
6. Will my financial aid that I receive at my home institution apply to a UMD study abroad program?
You will need to check with your home institution's study abroad or financial aid office to verify how your financial aid will apply to a UMD study abroad program. In most cases, students are able to use the majority of their financial aid on UMD programs.
7. Am I required to attend the UMD study abroad program pre-departure orientation (PDO) meetings?
Non-UMD students who do not live nearby are not required to attend the pre-departure orientation meetings in person. However, you will need to follow up with program staff and faculty to ensure that you have all relevant information prior to departure and gather any information that you may have missed from the PDO. We recommend asking to participate in the PDO via Skype or phone call.
8. Will I receive a transcript for a UMD study abroad program?
Yes. For all courses on programs taught by UMD faculty or courses at partner institutions that have been evaluated and given UMD course numbers, you will receive a UMD transcript. For all other courses on programs at partner institutions, you will receive a transcript from that host institution.
9. Upon completion of the program, how will I receive my UMD transcript?
You will personally request your transcript, in advance, via the UMD Transcript Request form located on the Registrars’ office website (Transcript Request) using your directory ID/password log in information. The first request for the transcript made during the term of your study abroad will be free. Please ensure you enter the correct address to which the transcript should be sent. This is usually your study abroad office or registrar office at your home institution. It is up to you to ensure that your transcript is received. After you have followed the steps below, if there are any issues contact the Education Abroad office.
1. Go to: UMD Transcript Request
2. Enter the Recipient information: The person/dept and address the transcript should be sent to
3. Number of Copes: 1
4. Pay with: Student Account
5. Work to be Sent: All work
6. Purpose of Request: Transfer to another school
7. Hold Transcript: Hold until semester grades have been posted (once you have completed the course and the grade is posted, the transcript will then be sent out to the given address)
10. I am not currently enrolled at a university or college. Can I participate in a UMD study abroad program?
Most UMD study abroad programs require you to be enrolled in a degree-seeking program. However, there are select short-term programs open to non-degree seeking students. The only additional requirement involves submitting an application to the Graduate School as a "non-degree admissions" student. If you applied to the Graduate School before, the $75 application fee will be waived. Please view The Graduate School's Non-Degree Admissions page for additional details regarding the application process and be sure to submit your application for the Graduate School prior to your study abroad deadline.
11. I do not live in the United States. Can I participate in a UMD study abroad program?
If you currently live outside of the United States and are not a UMD student, you may apply to select UMD short-term programs. Please refer to the eligibility tab of the program's online brochure to find out whether you can apply. For more information about your specific situation, please consult educationabroad@umd.edu.
12. Do I pay the same program fee as UMD students to participate in the program?
Non-UMD undergraduate students will pay the same program fee as UMD students. The program fee is listed on the "cost" tab on the program brochure.
All other participants also pay the same program fee but will be required to submit an additional application to the Graduate School. The fee for the Graduate School application is $75.
13. Who should I contact if I have questions?
You should contact the Education Abroad program advisor who will be able to answer your question or direct your inquiry to the appropriate faculty or on-site staff member. To contact us, please view a list of advisors.
Non-UMD participants are categorized by 3 main groups:
- Non-UMD students: Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in degree-seeking programs at other institutions and not at the University of Maryland, College Park (i.e. student at UMBC or student at Virginia Tech).
- Non-degree seeking students: Participants who are not enrolled in a degree-seeking program at a higher education institution.
- UMD alumni: Participants who select a study abroad program that does not immediately follow their graduation date (i.e. graduating in May 2020 and participating in a spring break 2021 program)
Please review the FAQs below to help answer some of your own questions about participating on a UMD study abroad program. If you have additional questions, please contact the Education Abroad advisor for the program.
1. May non-UMD students apply to a UMD study abroad program?
2. I would like to study abroad after I graduate from UMD. Is this possible? Would I need to apply as a non-UMD student or UMD student?
3. Although UMD is not my home institution, I am part of the University System of Maryland inter-institutional enrollment program which allows me to take courses at UMD while paying tuition at my home institution. Does this apply to study abroad courses?
4. Will I receive credit at my home institution for a University of Maryland study abroad program?
5. Do I need to drop out of my home university to participate in a semester or year UMD study abroad program?
6. Will my financial aid that I receive at my home institution apply to a UMD study abroad program?
7. Am I required to attend the UMD study abroad program pre-departure orientation (PDO) meetings?
8. Will I receive a transcript for a UMD study abroad program?
9. Upon completion of the program, how will I receive my UMD transcript?
10. I am not currently enrolled at a university or college. Can I participate in a UMD study abroad program?
11. I do not live in the United States. Can I participate in a UMD study abroad program?
12. Do I pay the same program fee as UMD students to participate in the program?
13. Who should I contact if I have questions?
2. I would like to study abroad after I graduate from UMD. Is this possible? Would I need to apply as a non-UMD student or UMD student?
3. Although UMD is not my home institution, I am part of the University System of Maryland inter-institutional enrollment program which allows me to take courses at UMD while paying tuition at my home institution. Does this apply to study abroad courses?
4. Will I receive credit at my home institution for a University of Maryland study abroad program?
5. Do I need to drop out of my home university to participate in a semester or year UMD study abroad program?
6. Will my financial aid that I receive at my home institution apply to a UMD study abroad program?
7. Am I required to attend the UMD study abroad program pre-departure orientation (PDO) meetings?
8. Will I receive a transcript for a UMD study abroad program?
9. Upon completion of the program, how will I receive my UMD transcript?
10. I am not currently enrolled at a university or college. Can I participate in a UMD study abroad program?
11. I do not live in the United States. Can I participate in a UMD study abroad program?
12. Do I pay the same program fee as UMD students to participate in the program?
13. Who should I contact if I have questions?
1. May non-UMD students apply to a UMD study abroad program?
Yes, many of our short-term programs are open to non-UMD undergraduate and graduate students. For graduate students, the only additional requirement involves submitting an application to the Graduate School as a “visiting graduate” student. If you applied to the Graduate School before, the $75 application fee will be waived. Please view The Graduate School's Non-Degree Admissions page for additional details regarding the application process and be sure to submit your application for the Graduate School prior to your study abroad application deadline.
2. I would like to study abroad after I graduate from UMD. Is this possible? Would I need to apply as a non-UMD student or UMD student?
Any undergraduate student graduating in May can participate in a summer study abroad program offered the term after their graduation (either summer I or summer II) and any undergraduate student graduating in December can participate in a winter and/or spring break program offered the term after their graduation. In both of these cases, you would apply as a UMD applicant. You would apply as a non-UMD applicant if the study abroad program was not immediately following your graduation date (i.e. graduating in May 2020 and participating in a spring break 2021 program). If UMD seniors are taking a graduate level course, they must request permission from their department to take graduate level courses. If the department does not approve the request, students must apply to the Graduate School to receive graduate level credit. Please contact educationabroad@umd.edu for other unique situations.
3. Although UMD is not my home institution, I am part of the University System of Maryland inter-institutional enrollment program which allows me to take courses at UMD while paying tuition at my home institution. Does this apply to study abroad courses?
No, study abroad courses are considered separate from the courses taken through the inter-institutional enrollment program. This means you must apply to the program as a non-UMD student and also apply to the Graduate School as a “visiting graduate” if you are a graduate student.
4. Will I receive credit at my home institution for a University of Maryland study abroad program?
You are required to submit the Home University Approval form as part of your study abroad application. Check with your home institution's study abroad office or your academic advisor to understand the policies regarding transfer credit from a UMD study abroad program back to your home institution.
5. Do I need to drop out of my home university to participate in a semester or year UMD study abroad program?
You should check with your home institution's study abroad office or registrar to verify the process of participating in a UMD study abroad program. Most times, students maintain their enrollment at their home institution while participating on a UMD study abroad program.
6. Will my financial aid that I receive at my home institution apply to a UMD study abroad program?
You will need to check with your home institution's study abroad or financial aid office to verify how your financial aid will apply to a UMD study abroad program. In most cases, students are able to use the majority of their financial aid on UMD programs.
7. Am I required to attend the UMD study abroad program pre-departure orientation (PDO) meetings?
Non-UMD students who do not live nearby are not required to attend the pre-departure orientation meetings in person. However, you will need to follow up with program staff and faculty to ensure that you have all relevant information prior to departure and gather any information that you may have missed from the PDO. We recommend asking to participate in the PDO via Skype or phone call.
8. Will I receive a transcript for a UMD study abroad program?
Yes. For all courses on programs taught by UMD faculty or courses at partner institutions that have been evaluated and given UMD course numbers, you will receive a UMD transcript. For all other courses on programs at partner institutions, you will receive a transcript from that host institution.
9. Upon completion of the program, how will I receive my UMD transcript?
You will personally request your transcript, in advance, via the UMD Transcript Request form located on the Registrars’ office website (Transcript Request) using your directory ID/password log in information. The first request for the transcript made during the term of your study abroad will be free. Please ensure you enter the correct address to which the transcript should be sent. This is usually your study abroad office or registrar office at your home institution. It is up to you to ensure that your transcript is received. After you have followed the steps below, if there are any issues contact the Education Abroad office.
1. Go to: UMD Transcript Request
2. Enter the Recipient information: The person/dept and address the transcript should be sent to
3. Number of Copes: 1
4. Pay with: Student Account
5. Work to be Sent: All work
6. Purpose of Request: Transfer to another school
7. Hold Transcript: Hold until semester grades have been posted (once you have completed the course and the grade is posted, the transcript will then be sent out to the given address)
10. I am not currently enrolled at a university or college. Can I participate in a UMD study abroad program?
Most UMD study abroad programs require you to be enrolled in a degree-seeking program. However, there are select short-term programs open to non-degree seeking students. The only additional requirement involves submitting an application to the Graduate School as a "non-degree admissions" student. If you applied to the Graduate School before, the $75 application fee will be waived. Please view The Graduate School's Non-Degree Admissions page for additional details regarding the application process and be sure to submit your application for the Graduate School prior to your study abroad deadline.
11. I do not live in the United States. Can I participate in a UMD study abroad program?
If you currently live outside of the United States and are not a UMD student, you may apply to select UMD short-term programs. Please refer to the eligibility tab of the program's online brochure to find out whether you can apply. For more information about your specific situation, please consult educationabroad@umd.edu.
12. Do I pay the same program fee as UMD students to participate in the program?
Non-UMD undergraduate students will pay the same program fee as UMD students. The program fee is listed on the "cost" tab on the program brochure.
All other participants also pay the same program fee but will be required to submit an additional application to the Graduate School. The fee for the Graduate School application is $75.
13. Who should I contact if I have questions?
You should contact the Education Abroad program advisor who will be able to answer your question or direct your inquiry to the appropriate faculty or on-site staff member. To contact us, please view a list of advisors.