Off-Campus Studies

Semester off-campus application process

Planning ahead is an important part of a semester off-campus. The steps outlined below will guide you through the preparation for a semester off-campus.

Applying for a semester off-campus is a 2-step process

1. Apply to DePauw for approval at offcampus.depauw.edu

2. Apply to your chosen program once approved by DePauw

Applications are submitted around a year in advance.

Applications for the Fall are submitted the Fall semester prior to the semester off-campus and applications for Spring, are submitted during the Spring semester prior to the semester off-campus. Applications open on the first day of classes each semester.

Last date for applications to be submitted:

• Fall programs - December 1

• Spring programs - March 1

Checklist for off-campus study application

Prepare

❏ Speak with your faculty advisor - this is the first thing to do when thinking about a semester off-campus to make sure you have an academic plan, both for before, during and after your proposed semester off-campus.

❏ Meet with an advisor in the Hubbard Center - to get an overview of the application process and to focus your planning.

❏ Declare your major ‐ In order to study for a semester off campus, you must declare a major. You may declare more than one as well as any minors you wish or change it at a later date, however it is required that you declare at least one major prior to completing the OCS application process.

❏ Search program options - Go to DePauw's off-campus application.

You can search by subject, country, language, semester & program features.

Take the time to reflect about what things you would like to see offered in a program. How will this specific program benefit you academically, professionally and personally? Do you want a personalized small liberal arts experience or to experience being part of a large institution? Do you want to be in a big city, small town or rural/remote area? Make sure to also evaluate some requirements of the program before you apply and make sure you meet the admission eligibility requirements and are aware of any deadlines for application.

❏ Complete distribution requirements - Applicants must have completed, or have a plan to complete, all distributional requirements (2 courses in Arts & Humanities, 2 courses in Social Sciences, and 2 courses in Natural Science and Mathematics) by the end of the sophomore year and prior to departure. Students must also have completed, or have a plan to complete, the following competency requirements:

❏ Writing (W) by the end of sophomore year

❏ Quantitative Reasoning (Q) by the end of junior year

❏ Spoken/Oral (S) by the end of senior year

Note that competencies and distribution requirements cannot be completed while off-campus.

Apply

❏ Choose your program at offcampus.depauw.edu - select the program you wish to apply to and click on “Apply Now” to start your application

❏ Faculty Recommendation Requests ‐ We recommend doing this first as you will need to ask faculty for recommendations and the faculty are under no obligation to submit the recommendation within a particular timeframe. However, we recommend allowing at least three weeks for this (more at certain times of year: e.g. exams, summer). References from staff, coaches or employers are not accepted. Recommendation requests are submitted via the off-campus application. These can be submitted after the application deadline, as long as they were requested before the deadline, but your application will not be reviewed until they are received.

You will need:

❏ 1 Recommendation from each major adviser

❏ 1 Recommendation from faculty member; may not be a major adviser

❏ 1 Language Recommendation if applicable; can be from major adviser. Required if studying in a location where the primary language is taught at DePauw (currently Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese & Spanish).

❏ Complete the Academic Pre‐Requisite Section of the Application ‐ Fill in your personal responses to the questions regarding prerequisites. You will need to find what the requirements are for your specific program and make sure that you meet them.

❏ Proposed Courses ‐ Review the website of the off-campus program you're considering and create a possible list of courses that you wish to take abroad. You are encouraged to talk with your academic advisor about which courses would benefit you. If these courses will contribute to any major/minor credit, please indicate this as well.

❏ Statement of Intent/Personal Statement ‐ This is one of the most important portions of your application. Your personal statement is your chance to think about and articulate why you would like to study off‐campus on your proposed program, how it fits into your academic and/or professional track and why it will be beneficial to you and/or the wider community. What interests you about the location and why is it relevant to you? Do research and have your personal statement reflect the research you have done.

❏ Read and Sign the Application Agreement ‐ Be sure to read the agreement completely before signing.

❏ Review Application ‐ Review all of the information you have submitted carefully and thoroughly

❏ Program Documents ‐ You are required to submit an electronically signed copy of the Liability Form.

❏ Budget ‐ Complete a preliminary budget in your DePauw application portal.

Budgeting for time abroad is an essential step in your preparation to study off campus. Your application contains a Program Cost Sheet, most of which you can edit to reflect your personal circumstances.

Submit!

❏ Approval - Once you've submitted your application, it will be reviewed by the Hubbard Center committee of faculty & staff to determine fit for the program, approximately three weeks after the application deadline. The application may be approved or denied or you might be requested to revise and re-submit the application or placed on a waitlist if applications exceed available places. Only one revision will be allowed. If approved you will be asked to submit further documentation as part of your DePauw application.

❏ Apply directly to your chosen program once approved by DePauw - If approved by DePauw, approval will be conditional upon being admitted by the program provider. Approval from DePauw does not guarantee admission to your chosen program. You should apply directly on the off-campus program provider website. If admitted, your off-campus program provider will then provide directly to you, all the practical pre-departure information you need e.g. arrival details, class registration, housing registration, immigration information etc.

Pre-departure orientation

Once approved for off-campus study, you are required to participate in DePauw's pre-departure orientation either in-person or online. If you miss a session, approval to study off-campus will be rescinded. Orientation sessions will address such things as course credit expectations, billing, how to register for classes while off-campus, and techniques that will be helpful in adapting well to the new environment and dealing with culture shock. They will also cover logistical topics, such as money, travel, and health and safety, as well as some site-specific information.

Scholarships ‐ Thanks to the generosity of DePauw alumni, scholarships are available for off-campus study. These are awarded automatically based on financial aid information provided to the University, as well as the specific criteria for each scholarship.

130 approved programs on 6 of 7 continents

Spend a semester studying, interning or carrying out research on one of over 130 programs in countries including Cuba, Kenya, Argentina, Thailand, Spain, France or England, all while getting graduation credit towards your major or minor, with many programs offering generous scholarships and, for most, your DePauw financial aid going with you.

Semester Programs

Emma Stemen - SIT Argentina

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Semester-Long Off-Campus study

Whether it's in the USA or abroad, includes an internship or just for credit, you can browse over 130 semester programs and apply now or read on for more information...

Since the 1930s, DePauw Tigers have studied off-campus all over world as part their undergraduate studies.

Thanks to opportunities with a variety of providers, DePauw offers off-campus programs in 45 countries across six continents with thousands of course offerings available for transfer back to DePauw.

Tuition fees and financial aid remain the same as on-campus for most programs, and with around 130 program options, and classes in every subject area, you can go off-campus and stay on track.

Benefits of Off-campus study

Semester-long programs allow for deep engagement in academic study, internship and research opportunities, and understanding of our interconnected world.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), employers are seeking talent who can demonstrate soft skills, like problem solving, leadership, initiative, adaptability, and ability to work in teams and across difference. The global marketplace also demands knowledge of foreign markets, and foreign language ability is considered an added bonus.

Second-semester sophomores, juniors and first-semester seniors are eligible to study off-campus for a semester.

Where can I study?

Check out available programs at offcampus.depauw.edu to see locations in the USA, and abroad, where DePauw students have studied in the past.

DePauw Faculty-Led Off-Campus Courses

International or domestic travel courses that let you take a deep-dive into academic subject matter in the context of a specific location.

Learn more about example courses, and browse a full list of current offerings, below.

 Sample of Off-Campus Winter/May Term Courses

For the full list of Off-Campus Winter & May Term Courses, see the University Course Listing. To apply visit DePauw's off-campus site.

Winter Term 2025

Take a look back at the DePauw faculty-led Winter Term 2025 off-campus programs.

Many off-campus courses are offered for 0.5 DePauw credits. Financial aid is available to eligible students participating on all credit bearing (0.5 credits) courses and service-learning courses. Financial support is not available for non-credit bearing courses. Winter and May Term off-campus courses are offered for three weeks and include on-campus meeting and embedded travel. For additional program information, estimated cost, and to apply, visit DePauw's off-campus site.

How to Apply

Winter Term

• Applications Open - the Wednesday after Spring break

• Deadline - May 1

May Term

• Applications Open- the first day of classes Fall semester

• Deadline - October 1

Application

• Choose your program at offcampus.depauw.edu - select the program you wish to apply to and click on “Apply” to start your application

Complete the pre-decision section of the Application

• Agreement for Faculty-Led Off-Campus Study

• Faculty-Led Tuition Charges

• Off-Campus Study Liability form

• Traveling with Medication

• Statement of Intent for Faculty-Led Off-Campus Study

This is one of the most important portions of your application. Your personal statement is your chance to explain why you would like to study off‐campus and why it will be beneficial to you. Why is the location you are applying to the best possible option for you? Do research and have your personal statement reflect the research you have done. For more information regarding personal statements, refer to the drop-down labeled 'Writing Your Personal Statement.'

• Submit your application

Approval Process

Once you've submitted your application, it will be reviewed by the faculty leaders who will then approve or deny the application, approval is done on a rolling basis and courses may fill before the application deadline.

If approved you will need to complete the post acceptance section of the application no later than September 15.

An Intellectual Narrative

Provides the reader with a sense of your priorities and judgement, allowing them to know you more personally.

The personal statement is just one, but very important, part of an application. Each personal statement must be tailored to each specific application. Pay close attention to the prompt, as some things you may include in a personal statement for one application may make more sense to include in another part of a different application. 

Writing & Editing Suggestions

• Keep your primary points brief and clear. Reviewers will likely skim your statement because of the volume they are reviewing.

• While addressing the prompt, be sure to keep to word or character limits.

• Your opening sentence should catch the reader's attending and last sentence pulls ideas in the essay together. Conclude with something specific and visionary.

• Be sure there is a thread connecting the different parts of the essay.

• Give specific, detailed examples to illustrate each of the points made. Make it relevant; if it's not, then it doesn't belong. 

• Be sure topic sentences [first sentence of each paragraph] lay out an idea that is then developed and illustrated by the following paragraph.

• Edit your statement. Have many people read your statements and provide feedback. Cut out unnecessary words and avoid cliches.

Brainstorming Your Essay

As you begin planning your essay, consider the following:

• What is special, unique or distinctive about you and your life story?

• What details n your life shaped you or influenced your goals?

• When did you become interested in this opportunity and what have you chosen to do to reinforce your conviction in pursuing this opportunity?

• What do you know about this field and how did you learn it?

• What are your career goals?

• Are there gaps or discrepancies in your academic record worth explaining?

• Have your made any mistakes or have any regrets that taught you something important about yourself?

• Why might you be more successful and effective in this opportunity than other applicants?

Tell your story: your qualification [Background, Skills, Experiences, Traits]

Demonstrate your fit or suitability:  Connect your story with your future, Show how the opportunity is essential for a bright, More successful future

Project your Future: Short Term[1-3 years], Long Term[5+ years]

Additional Resources:  Writing Personal Statements Online, Purdue OWL

Professional References

Get to know your faculty members and let them get to know you. They can write a specific, detailed letter that speaks to your accomplishments. You can build a relationship in a variety of ways:

• Attend office hours

• Talk with them about your areas of interest and future aspirations

• Ask them about their research

• Take more than one course from a faculty member whose work closely aligns with yours

• Consider conducting research with a faculty member

Request letters of recommendation at least a month in advance of the deadline, preferably 2-3 months in advance. You can send a reminder to the letter writer closer to the deadline.

Be professional in making the request, but don't feel awkward about it. Faculty members and former employers want to support their students. They are accustomed to writing letters of recommendation. Provide them with as much information as possible to help them write the letter and be sure to share information about your proposed program or activity. A draft of your statement of purpose, application, and copy of your resume is helpful, so they have a full picture of what they are supporting you for. Establishing a portfolio of your work is helpful to share, to refresh their recollection of your skills and abilities. 

Letters for Off-Campus Study, Graduate study, or a fellowship

Request letters from only faculty members. Letters from colleagues or employers should be requested in the very rare case when your proposed study is extremely well aligned.

Graduate School: Be proactive about gaps between when you graduate and when you apply to graduate school. The best letters of recommendations are from faculty who know you well. But because they teach hundreds of students, it is harder for them to write strong letters the longer it has been since you were in their classroom.  If you have a gap between graduation and applying, consider requesting the letters while you are still fresh in their memory and keeping them on file.

Letters for an internship or Job

Request letters from a combination of supervisors and faculty members. These individuals should be able to speak specifically to the work you have done and connect it to your proposed work.

Say thanks

Send a thank you note and update them on your progress. A good reference writer will be interested in your success. It will also help next time you might need a reference from that individual.