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. 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. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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. For a list of advisors, visit http://ter.ps/EAcontactus.
6. 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.
7. 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)
8. May non-UMD graduate students apply to a UMD study abroad program?
Yes. Non-UMD Graduate students are eligible to apply to select UMD short-term study abroad programs. However, they will be required to apply for “visiting grad student” status and pay an additional $75 application fee to the Graduate School. The $75 fee can be waived for any student applying to the graduate school who has previously taken any graduate level courses at UMD. Additional details about this process can be found on UMD's Non-Degree Admissions page. For any questions specific to the Graduate School application process, please direct them to: gradschool@umd.edu.
The Graduate School application must be submitted by the application deadline of the study abroad program.
9. I am not currently enrolled at a university or college. Can I participate in a UMD study abroad program?
In order to participate in most UMD study abroad programs you must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program. Select short-term programs allow for non-students to participate. Applicants who hold a Bachelor’s degree but are not currently enrolled in a degree-seeking graduate program are eligible to apply for select short-term programs by applying through UMD’s Graduate School as a Non-degree Seeking Student. Individual short-term programs may have their own eligibility requirements so it is important to refer to the Eligibility tab in the online program brochure before starting an application. For more information about your specific situation, please consult eashortterm@umd.edu.
10. 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 eashortterm@umd.edu.
11. Do I pay the same as UMD students to participate in the program?
All students, UMD and non-UMD will pay the published program fee as posted on the website.
Please note: If you are a non-UMD graduate student or a non-degree seeking applicant, you will be required to submit an additional application to the Graduate School. The fee for the Graduate School application is $75. Add: Additional details about this process can be found on UMD's Non-Degree Admissions page.
1. Will I receive credit at my home institution for a University of Maryland study abroad program?
2. Do I need to drop out of my home university to participate in a semester or year UMD study abroad program?
3. Will my financial aid that I receive at my home institution apply to a UMD study abroad program?
4. Am I required to attend the UMD study abroad program pre-departure orientation (PDO) meetings?
5. Who should I contact if I have questions?
6. Will I receive a transcript for a UMD study abroad program?
7. Upon completion of the program, how will I receive my UMD transcript?
8. May graduate students apply to a UMD study abroad program?
9. I am not currently enrolled at a university or college. Can I participate in a UMD study abroad program?
10. I do not live in the United States. Can I participate in a UMD study abroad program?
11. Do I pay the same as UMD students to participate in the program?
2. Do I need to drop out of my home university to participate in a semester or year UMD study abroad program?
3. Will my financial aid that I receive at my home institution apply to a UMD study abroad program?
4. Am I required to attend the UMD study abroad program pre-departure orientation (PDO) meetings?
5. Who should I contact if I have questions?
6. Will I receive a transcript for a UMD study abroad program?
7. Upon completion of the program, how will I receive my UMD transcript?
8. May graduate students apply to a UMD study abroad program?
9. I am not currently enrolled at a university or college. Can I participate in a UMD study abroad program?
10. I do not live in the United States. Can I participate in a UMD study abroad program?
11. Do I pay the same as UMD students to participate in the program?
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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. For a list of advisors, visit http://ter.ps/EAcontactus.
6. 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.
7. 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)
8. May non-UMD graduate students apply to a UMD study abroad program?
Yes. Non-UMD Graduate students are eligible to apply to select UMD short-term study abroad programs. However, they will be required to apply for “visiting grad student” status and pay an additional $75 application fee to the Graduate School. The $75 fee can be waived for any student applying to the graduate school who has previously taken any graduate level courses at UMD. Additional details about this process can be found on UMD's Non-Degree Admissions page. For any questions specific to the Graduate School application process, please direct them to: gradschool@umd.edu.
The Graduate School application must be submitted by the application deadline of the study abroad program.
9. I am not currently enrolled at a university or college. Can I participate in a UMD study abroad program?
In order to participate in most UMD study abroad programs you must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program. Select short-term programs allow for non-students to participate. Applicants who hold a Bachelor’s degree but are not currently enrolled in a degree-seeking graduate program are eligible to apply for select short-term programs by applying through UMD’s Graduate School as a Non-degree Seeking Student. Individual short-term programs may have their own eligibility requirements so it is important to refer to the Eligibility tab in the online program brochure before starting an application. For more information about your specific situation, please consult eashortterm@umd.edu.
10. 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 eashortterm@umd.edu.
11. Do I pay the same as UMD students to participate in the program?
All students, UMD and non-UMD will pay the published program fee as posted on the website.
Please note: If you are a non-UMD graduate student or a non-degree seeking applicant, you will be required to submit an additional application to the Graduate School. The fee for the Graduate School application is $75. Add: Additional details about this process can be found on UMD's Non-Degree Admissions page.