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How to Apply for Study Abroad

To apply for study abroad for a semester or academic year, you will (1) submit Mount Holyoke's Request to Study Abroad (in my.mtholyoke), and once you receive approval from Mount Holyoke, you will (2) also apply to your host program or university for admission. 

To apply for study abroad for short term or summer, please see instructions here.

While you are abroad, you will be on academic leave of absence from Mount Holyoke.  You will continue to receive important information from the College, including instructions for pre-registration and housing for when you return.

Note that housing and meals for Intersession are only available to students on campus at Mount Holyoke for both fall and spring semesters.  Students going abroad for spring semester only are required to leave campus at the end of the fall semester; students going abroad for fall semester only are eligible to return to campus at the beginning of spring semester.

Remember to confirm that there is no overlap of dates between your program and the preceding and following semesters at Mount Holyoke.  We do not knowingly approve any such plan of study, but academic calendars vary and it is your responsibility to check.  Note in particular that the fall semester at some European universities extends into January or February.  MHC will not grant permission for you to take early exams and leave your program early (even if the host institution offers that option to visiting students), or to return late to campus.

1) Apply to Mount Holyoke for Approval to Study Abroad

• Submit Mount Holyoke’s Request to Study Abroad (in my.mtholyoke) and the MHC travel waiver by the appropriate deadline.  

  • The Request to Study Abroad is available in my.mtholyoke under the Self-Service Menu.  Select “Students”, then “Requests & Applications”.  Completing the Request to Study Abroad does not commit you to studying abroad. You should apply by the deadline whether or not your plans are definite.  You will have until May 15 (for fall/year) or November 15 (for spring) to complete the Study Abroad Decision Google Form (available in the Study Abroad Moodle) to notify the College whether or not you will be studying abroad.  

  • Instructions for completing the MHC online travel waiver are available on the Five Colleges, Inc website.
    After being prompted to login, you will select:
    College: Mount Holyoke College
    Activity Type: International Trip
    Activity Name: MHC Semester Study Abroad - term and year that correspond with your planned time abroad

2) Apply to a Program/University

• Follow the instructions/links in your approval e-mail from MCGI (sent late January for fall and late June for spring).

• Most programs and universities abroad have rolling admission. Early application will allow you more time to plan ahead for visas, travel plans, etc.  We strongly recommend that you apply early (February/March for fall/year programs, August/September for spring) rather than waiting for the deadline, if it is later.  

• Most students who meet the requirements for their program and apply in a timely way are accepted.  

• Many program applications require a form or letter confirming your good academic standing and Mount Holyoke's approval of your plan of study.  The McCulloch Center will sign such forms, but you must first have completed the Request to Study Abroad and been approved.