Frequently Asked Questions

Although UW Tacoma group-based study abroad programs remain on halt through autumn quarter 2021, we are hopeful that they will resume in spring 2022. As you plan for your study abroad experience, understand that if a program is canceled due to COVID-19, you will not be charged any study abroad program fees or administrative fees under the control of our office. Furthermore, all study abroad participants are REQUIRED to purchase UW student abroad insurance, which will provide benefits such as medical coverage abroad as well as medical, security, and natural disaster emergency evacuation services. If students are abroad during a pandemic outbreak, the UW student abroad insurance would cover the cost of medical bills, emergency evacuation, etc.

The Office of Global Affairs will consider CDC, WHO, U.S. Department of State guidance along with any travel restrictions destination countries may have in place. We want to make sure it's safe and ethical for us to send students and faculty abroad. To learn more about this, please see the COVID-19 and UW Study Abroad website.

If you have further questions about the impact of COVID-19 on study abroad, please contact uwtintl@uw.edu.

Studying abroad is a great way to earn credits towards your degree, gain skills in your area of academic or professional interest, explore a new culture, and grow both personally and intellectually.

There are a plethora of benefits linked to study abroad. To learn more, click here.

We recommend that you meet with your academic advisor to determine exactly where your study abroad credits will fit into your course of study. In some cases, you can meet degree requirements with study abroad courses. In other cases, the credits will be counted as general electives. Either way, the experience can be a valuable part of your education.

No. Some programs may be restricted, but most of our programs are open to students from any UW campus.

Students from other universities will need to enroll at UW Tacoma as non-matriculated (non-degree seeking) students in order to be eligible to apply to and receive credit for a UW Tacoma study abroad program. The application fee when applying as a non-matriculated student is waived for study abroad programs. Please contact the Office of Global Affairs for further details. Non-matriculated students who have not yet earned a high school diploma or equivalent cannot study abroad on our programs.

Yes. If you don't find a program that interests you here at UW Tacoma, you are encouraged to look into the wide variety of programs offered through UW Seattle and Bothell.

There are four categories of study abroad programs:

• Faculty-led programs are programs taught by UW faculty, and you study abroad with other UW students. These programs last from about 10 days to a quarter, and you’ll likely be abroad with 12-15 other UW students.
• University exchanges: Exchanges are an opportunity to take classes in one of over 70 UW partner universities around the world. For a complete list of available universities, go to the UW (Seattle) Study Abroad website.
• UW partner programs which are approved study abroad options administered by other universities, study abroad program providers, or foreign language schools. For more info, please go to the UW (Seattle) Study Abroad website.
• International Internships are also an option for students who would like to integrate academic credit with on-the-job experience and gain professional and cultural skills abroad. Take a look at the UW Global Research, Internship, and Service Program (GRISP).

For more information about the different types of programs, visit the “Programs at a Glance” page on the UW (Seattle) Study Abroad website.

To return to your application, click on the "apply now" button of the desired study abroad program. This will take you to your portal of in-progress applications. In the portal, select the study abroad application you were working on previously. If you have any questions, please email us at uwtintl@uw.edu. 

Yes. Your financial aid package may not cover all of the expenses related to study abroad, but certainly can be applied towards those expenses. Visit the Office of Student Financial Aid website to learn more and or watch our Study Abroad and Financial Aid webinar. We also recommend you watch our How to Fund Your Study Abroad webinar to learn more about planning for your study abroad experience.

If you have a scholarship which can be applied to your tuition expenses, then you can most likely apply those scholarship funds towards your study abroad expenses; check with a financial aid advisor or the organization that provided the scholarship to be sure. In addition, the Office of Global Affairs Scholarships website lists many UW and national study abroad scholarship opportunities you can apply for. To learn more, we suggest you attend one of our “How to Fund Your Study Abroad” info sessions, listed on our Events page, or watch the webinar located at the bottom of the page here.

You will be required to have someone submit a recommendation form as a part of your online study abroad application. Please note that the recommendation you submit may not be completed by the faculty or staff leading the study abroad program for which you are applying. Click here to learn more about this process.

If your chosen study abroad program fulfills major requirements, your VA education benefits may cover a portion of your study abroad costs. Please contact the Veteran and Military Resource Center for more information.

Yes. Passports are required for all international travel. Since it can take several weeks or even months to get your passport, we encourage students to apply early. If you already have a passport, be sure to check the expiration date to make sure it will still be valid at the time you will be traveling. Many countries require your passport be valid for 3-6 months beyond your departure date.

Some destinations will require a visa in addition to a passport, while others will not. If a visa is required, you will be informed of this requirement and provided with instructions on how to apply for the visa.

We encourage anyone participating in a study abroad program to visit their doctor prior to departing. Depending on your health and where you will be studying, there could be several things to discuss with your physician: Should you consider any immunizations? Do you need an extra supply of prescription medications? How should you prepare for possible changes to your diet or daily routine?

Study abroad insurance coverage is required. UW students must purchase the UW Study Abroad Insurance, as an easy and affordable option. Students with personal insurance may petition for a UW Study Abroad Insurance waiver. Details can be found at the bottom of the page on UW Study Abroad Insurance.

In most cases, UW Study Abroad will register you for the appropriate course once you have been accepted and submitted all required paperwork.

Payment for study abroad programs is handled differently than regular tuition. For most programs, you will be charged the a study abroad program fee and the study abroad administration fee ($450). You will need to pay the fees on the date that tuition is due for the quarter in which you’ll be studying abroad.

Yes, but there are some important things to consider. First of all, you should consider how much you can actually handle in one quarter. Secondly, be aware that if you register for study abroad credits and regular tuition credits in the same quarter, those will be billed separately, so your tuition bill may be substantially larger. Finally, other things to consider are time differences, access you’ll have to the internet, etc. This can be confusing, so please feel free to contact us for more information!

Good questions. For the best answers, you'll need to do a little research. Call your phone company first to find out if they offer coverage abroad. Your next best resource will be the faculty leading your program. They'll be able to answer general questions about strategies for cell phone use, internet access, and the need for an outlet or voltage adapter for your electronic devices. Another option is to get online and search for it; look for information specific to your country. If all else fails, go there and find out first-hand for yourself; after all, that's what this is all about.

Unfortunately, running start students cannot participate in study abroad.