Academics

A New System of Learning

While studying abroad, your student will have the opportunity to immerse themself into a new system of learning. Students will be able to identify differences between the style of learning in the US and in their host country. Each academic program will have its own nuances and each student will navigate their academic program in their own way, but there are a few points that we hear from students consistently, including: 

1. classes are more specialized and learning is much more independent 

2. there are fewer opportunities to receive feedback from faculty throughout the semester

3. grading scales and systems are much different

4. academic support opportunities are different

5. course registration is different and much closer to the start of the semester

The academic transition is something that all students need to be prepared for, even students who excel academically in the US. Throughout orientation, we will help students contextualize their new learning environment. We encourage students to take their academics seriously and ask for help if they need it. Their program will have resources for them, but our local staff can help your student get connected to resources. 

Academic Accommodations

If your student qualifies for academic accommodations at their US university, they should apply for similar support abroad. 

Your student should disclose their academic accommodations to Arcadia Abroad on their Personal Health & Self Care form. Once they do so, we will send your student the Academic Accommodations Index. This document includes instructions about applying for academic accommodations (or disability support) abroad. There are a few things to keep in mind: 

1. Privacy laws prevent Arcadia Abroad from initiating the request for academic accommodations. Your student will need to communicate directly with their host university about their needs.

2. The host university will determine what, if any, academic accommodations are approved for your student. Host universities will only communicate with your student. 

3. The Americans with Disabilities Act does not apply abroad, so Arcadia Abroad cannot guarantee that your student will receive the same support at their host university. 

4. Academic accommodations are typically confirmed once your student arrives at their host university. We cannot change that timeline. 

If your student has really specific needs or questions about their academic accommodations, they should contact their Program Advisor or their Wellness Advisor for support. Once at their host university, our local staff can help your student navigate the process of confirming their accommodations and can help students advocate for themselves. 

Course Registration & Schedules 

The process for how your student will register for classes will depend on their program and, in some cases, their course of study. Your student should work closely with their home university and their Program Advisor to understand the details for their program. Please understand that your student is enrolling in classes as a visiting student on their program, which means that there are normal and expected differences in processes and procedures for class requests, timetabling, and registration than what they are used to at their home campus. Your student is a visitor to another educational institution and working within the structures of another system. This can be at times tedious and stressful. We do our best to prepare your student for course selection, but there are many aspects of this process that are specific to their program and that are outside of our control. 

To prepare for a successful course registration process, we recommend that your student: 

1. Read the courses page for their program on the Arcadia Abroad website, with close attention to detail (including any exceptions or restrictions for visiting students).

2. Solicits approval at their home school for at least one alternate course for each preferred course. 

3. Reviews pre-requisites for courses. 

4. Understands that we cannot guarantee the availability of any specific course and they should not expect special treatment or approval. 

Students should expect to finalize their course schedule once they arrive. This is standard practice on most Arcadia Abroad programs, but it will feel very uncomfortable for your student. Once their course schedules are confirmed, they will be asked to report their final schedule to Arcadia Abroad via their Arcadia Abroad Portal. Completing this form will help us process their transcript more efficiently when their final grades are reported. 

In general, students should expect academic obligations Monday through Friday. Some courses may take place in the evening hours and others may have weekend excursions. With this in mind, your student should not book any personal travel until they have a final course schedule and have reviewed each syllabus.