The deadline to apply to study abroad is November 30 for semester/year-long programs and November 7 for Maymesters programs

Academics

Aidan Rogan '25, Trinity College Dublin

The 'Study' in Study Abroad

Study Abroad is primarily an academic endeavor. Therefore, when researching programs that best align with their academic course of study, students should carefully consider the requirements of their department(s) of major, plus any outstanding Common Area requirements, that might shape where they study abroad and what courses they might take.

The good news: students of any major can study abroad! This includes STEM majors, students on the pre-med track, double majors of all kinds, and students with any combination of majors, minors, and concentrations. The key to it all is informing yourself about the relevant department’s degree requirements and how you can best meet them before, during, and after your plans to study abroad. The point is, you can.

In fact, the educational advantages of study abroad- not to mention its effect on a student’s personal growth- are profound. Participants develop greater levels of self-confidence and independence when they study at a foreign institution, grow their capacity to connect with people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs, and gain newfound perspective on themselves and their home. The Office of Study Abroad maintains close ties with their partner institutions and programs abroad to ensure that Holy Cross students’ international learning experiences integrate with the College’s curriculum. Students studying abroad advance their majors, minors, and concentrations while continuing to fulfill Holy Cross Common Area requirements.

Classes & Curriculum Integration Abroad

The Office of Study Abroad curates a portfolio of 50+ programs that can integrate seamlessly with any student's academic interests. While it is primarily the student's responsibility to ensure that their program progresses them towards degree completion at Holy Cross, the Office of Study Abroad regularly advises and guides students whose academic profiles include multiple majors, minors, and concentrations.

Here’s how it works. Once Holy Cross students select and/or register for the specific courses they want to take abroad, they ensure that each class ‘maps’ onto their academics at Holy Cross by submitting a Course Approval Form (CAF) in STAR for each class at their study abroad institution. The Assistant Registrar and the Study Abroad Faculty Advisor (SAFA) for each department evaluate that class for the appropriate equivalency and credit. The Registrar's Office evaluates Common Area requirements; SAFAs evaluate Major/Minor/Concentration requirements. Students receive the “go-ahead” to pursue their classes shortly afterwards, or are requested to adjust their specific courses, or course load, as needed.

Note: If students talk to their advisors/SAFAs before they depart, and they stay in touch during the course selection process, they should not receive any 'surprise' rejections.

Study Abroad Faculty Advisors

Your Study Abroad Faculty Advisor (SAFA) is a key resource in your study abroad support network at Holy Cross. Every academic department has a designated SAFA who works closely with the Office of Study Abroad to help you seamlessly connect your international experience with your on-campus coursework and long-term goals. Many SAFAs have studied or worked abroad themselves and understand both the opportunities and challenges of international education.

Your SAFA can help with everything from selecting and reviewing study abroad courses to recommending the best timing for your semester or year abroad, based on your major. They are also the go-to people for any questions about specific academic departmental policies, such as how many courses you can take abroad and at what academic level. Additionally, your SAFA can provide letters of recommendation, offer advice on making the most of your time abroad, and share insights on how study abroad can make you more marketable in the world of work after college.

Remember, it’s your responsibility to reach out to your SAFA and discuss your study abroad plans early in the process. Their guidance and perspective are invaluable resources to help you plan confidently and get the most out of your study abroad journey, both academically and personally.

View 2025-2026 SAFAs

Mackenzi Mullaney '25 Paris, France

Browse programs by academic discipline:

Study Abroad Discipline Index

Requirements for Study Abroad

Minimum GPA / Deficiencies

All students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 prior to departure.
Any deficiencies on a student's transcript must be addressed prior to departure. (Deficiencies include: course withdrawals, failed classes, and underenrollment.)

Leaves of Absence / Semester Withdrawals

Students may not study abroad the semester directly following a leave of absence or withdrawal from the College.

Altering Program Dates (not permitted)

The Office of Study Abroad maintains a strict policy prohibiting students from altering program dates.
All students must remain at their host institution through the end of the scheduled examination period, study abroad program period, or posted term/semester dates of that institution.
Students are not allowed to approach individual professors, program adminstrators, or university staff to request different or earlier exam dates - nor any other normative, scheduled academic evaluation - to accommodate personal conflicts, including internship start dates.

Passport

All students are required to have a passport* that is valid until at last 6 months after the planned date of return from study abroad
- - - *It is the student's responsibility to advise study abroad staff immediately if they are a non-US passport holder.

Transferring Course Credit back to Holy Cross

The Holy Cross credit approval system works like this:

After students arrive in their study abroad destination (or right before, depending on the program), students will receive an email from Jared Chapman in the Registrar’s Office with instructions for submitting Course Approval Forms (CAFS). Students must submit one CAF per class.

Once the Registrar's Office receives the CAFs, they will send classes that students would like to count towards major(s), minor(s), and concentration(s) to the official Study Abroad Faculty Advisors in the relevant department(s) for approval. The Registrar's Office will manage the approval of common area requirements.

Once the Registrar's office hears back from the relevant parties about all classes, students will receive an email detailing which classes have/have not been approved. (If students talk to their advisors before they leave and stay in touch during the course selection process, there should not receive any 'surprise' rejections).

Courses that are NOT accepted for Holy Cross Credit:

1. Online or hybrid (partially online) courses;

2. Pre-professional, business, law, and marketing courses;

3. Other non-liberal arts courses;

4. Courses of similar content to those you have already taken;

5. Any major courses required by your major department to be taken at Holy Cross;

6. Courses taken without a letter grade (e.g. auditing, pass/no pass, etc.)

Would this class count for...?

One of the most common questions the Office of Study abroad receives is whether or not a certain class abroad will count towards a student's major, minor, concentration, etc. The answer is...maybe! Here's how it works:

If you think a class might work for your major...

You need to talk to the official study abroad course evaluator in your department.

You should obtain a syllabus or some information about the class before contacting the course evaluator. They appreciate as much context as possible!

If you think a class might work for your minor...

You need to talk to the official study abroad course evaluator in your department.

You should obtain a syllabus or some information about the class before contacting the course evaluator. They appreciate as much context as possible!

If you think a class might work for a common area requirment...

You need to talk to the Registrar's Office! You can send an email to Jared Chapman (jchapman@holycross.edu) to gain clarity on common areas requirements abroad.

You should obtain a syllabus or some information about the class before contacting Jared. He appreciates as much context as possible!

How do Study Abroad classes appear on HC transcripts?

All classed taken abroad are listed on a student's official Holy Cross transcript, just as they are after any normal semester on 'the hill'. Next to each class taken abroad, the letter grade earned will appear, just as it does for any class taken at Holy Cross. The difference is that grades earned abroad do not factor into a student's cumulative gpa.

For example, a student who leaves Holy Cross with a 4.0 gpa but earns all 'B's abroad will still have a cumulative 4.0 gpa upon return. The system is designed with students in mind! Opting to spend a semester or year studying in a different academic system is brave. The Office of Study Abroad recognizes the work students do abroad by recording letter grades earned on the Holy Cross transcript. Grades earned abroad do not factor into a a student's cumulative gpa in recognition of the fact that new academic environments can pose novel challenges. The goal of this policy is to encourage students to study abroad without fearing for what a semester or year away might do to their gpa.

Please be advised: Students are not permitted to take classes pass/fail abroad.

Are study abroad classes pass/fail? (Spoiler alert: NO!)

NO. Students are not permitted take any classes pass/fail abroad. This is one of those "study abroad myths" that for some unknown reason seem to be passed down from study abroad generation to study abroad generation!

A student's HC transcript, after a study abroad semester or year, will reflect the letter grades earned abroad. Those grades will not impact a student's cumulative gpa.

For example, a student who leaves Holy Cross with a 4.0 gpa but earns all 'B's abroad will still have a cumulative 4.0 gpa upon return. The system is designed with students in mind! Opting to spend a semester or year studying in a different academic system is brave. The Office of Study Abroad recognizes the work students do abroad by recording letter grades earned on the Holy Cross transcript. Grades earned abroad to not factor into a a student's cumulative gpa in recognition that new academic environments can pose novel challenges to students. The goal of this policy is to encourage students to study abroad without fearing for what a semester or year away might do to their gpa!

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