Exceptions and Petitions 

The College does not normally approve applications from students who do not have at least a 3.0 GPA at the time of application. However, if your GPA is slightly below the 3.0 GPA requirement at the time of application, you may petition for consideration of your application. To begin this process, schedule a meeting with the Associate Dean for International study at least one month before the application deadline to discuss your plans for education abroad and to obtain petition instructions. Petitions should be submitted with your completed education abroad credit application by the regular application deadline.

Students who have a compelling academic reason to pursue study on a program not on the Approved Program List must schedule a meeting with the Associate Dean for International Study at least one month before the petition deadline to discuss whether a petition for that program might be considered. Students should also discuss their plans with faculty members in the appropriate department.

Petitions for programs beginning in the fall are due on the first Monday in November and petitions for programs beginning Spring are due on the third Monday in February, with a completed Education Abroad Credit Application. For spring petitions, if you are planning to study abroad even if the program you submit a petition for is not approved, you must also submit a Education Abroad Credit Application for at least one other program on the approved list, in the event that the petition is not approved.

Programs will be evaluated on the strength of the academic offerings and their match with your goals, consistency with Smith academic standards, and arrangements for housing, health, and support services, and other factors as relevant. Petitions are generally not approved for programs in countries where a Smith Program abroad is located (France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland) unless a compelling reason indicates that you are not able to pursue your plan of study at that site.

Students are expected to study abroad in one location for one or two semesters. The rationale for this policy is based on the commitment to support education abroad as an intensive learning experience within a specific cultural environment. Research shows that a significant part of education abroad learning takes place after departure from the host country, as students reflect on and react to the impact of their experience. The immediate shift to a second program in a new destination can sometimes interfere with the reflection on the learning outcomes of the initial program.

Only in exceptional circumstances will the CSA Petitions subcommittee give permission for study in two separate program locations over the course of an academic or calendar year. Students with compelling academic reasons may request permission to study in two different locations by submitting a petition statement and a letter of support from a faculty member with a Education Abroad Credit Application for each program by the third Monday in February. Your statement should be based on an academic purpose and address some of the following factors:

• How do the academic learning objectives for each program/location reinforce or complement each other?

• Are there linguistic, cultural, and/or historical links between the two locations that offer a fuller understanding of your area of study?

• Are the courses offered at the different institutions building on each other in ways not possible with coursework at Smith or through the Five College Consortium?

• Please note that personal or family reasons will not be considered for a Two Location Petition.

If you think you can make a strong case for the viability and academic value of two separate programs, be sure that your advisers understand and approve of your plans for both semesters. You also must discuss your plans in detail with the Associate Dean in the Office for International Study at least one month before the application deadline.

Ordinarily, students are encouraged to study abroad during their junior year.  However, it is possible to study abroad during your senior year, and it is an option that is increasingly common due to the many opportunities presented in the first two years at Smith. 

In order to be approved to study abroad your senior year you must complete these steps:

• Fill out the Senior Year Elsewhere (SYE) form in November the year before you wish to go abroad:

  •  This will require you to record your course of study over 4 years including your intended education abroad terms, in order to demonstrate that you will complete your major requirements by graduation.  

    • Rising seniors must have at least 96 credits going upon the start date of their senior year. If this is not true for you, fill out the Senior Year Credit Plan to show how you will make up those credits. Obtain your Major Advisor(s) signature(s) on the form and submit it to the Senior Class Dean for their approval and signature with your SYE form(s). Once you hear back from the Class Dean that your Senior Year Credit Plan is approved, send the completed form to studyabroad@smith.edu

  • You must complete a separate SYE form for each major and each program you are applying for.

    • For double majors seeking approval to two programs in their senior year, this means you will have four SYE forms.

  • Email/ Meet with your Major Advisor(s) and your Department Chair(s) in order to secure their approval for your plans and obtain their signature on the form(s).

  • BEFORE you submit the form(s) to the Class Dean's Office for their approval and signature, you must submit a petition to the Administrative Board using the Petition Form. This petition puts your form(s) on the agenda for the Administrative Board's next meeting. 

  • Compile a document with the course titles and descriptions of those you wish to take abroad your senior year to be submitted with your SYE.

  • By January, submit your SYE form(s), class description document, and Senior Year Credit Plan--if needed--by noon on Friday to the Class Dean's office, either in person or via email (classdean@smith.edu), and they will likely be reviewed by the Administrative Board the following Tuesday.  

  • Once the Class Dean's Office emails you back with their approval and signature on your SYE form(s), you should email the form(s) to the Office of International Study at studyabroad@smith.edu

  • YOU'RE DONE!!

Please, do not hesitate to email the Office of International Study at studyabroad@smith.edu if you have any questions about this process, or need any help.