Course selection & Approvals

1. After reviewing the courses offered at your institution abroad, consult with your academic advisor about which classes to choose. Finding courses offered are discussed within your program's page, under the relevant country page.

2. Check the Course Approval Database to see if any of your chosen courses already have a pre-approved equivalent.

3. For courses that aren’t pre-approved, seek approval from departmental Study Abroad Course Advisors.

4. Turn in the Course Approval Summary Form to your college when complete.

Read the instructions below to find out how to get your study abroad courses approved by your college.

Follow the instructions for the college in which you are enrolled during your term abroad. For example, if you are a student in the College of ACES, but go on an LAS study abroad program, you need to follow the ACES course approval instructions. Depending on your college, you may need to complete the Course Approval Process prior to departure. Click on the links below to find the course approval instructions for your college.

• • College of ACES

  • College of Applied Health Sciences

  • Gies College of Business

  • Division of General Studies

  • College of Education

  • College of Engineering

  • College of Fine & Applied Arts

  • College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

  • College of Media

  • School of Social Work

Grading and credits may differ from your host university or program to Illinois. You will need to be mindful of this when choosing courses abroad, and when you receive grades for your coursework abroad. Click on the button below to view the list of the grade and credit equivalency scales between the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and our partner institutions.

Enrolling in Illinois online courses while abroad is not encouraged, and should only be done in cases where program progress would be delayed. If you are uncertain about this, talk to your academic advisor. Online courses at Illinois do not count towards the minimum of 12 Illinois-equivalent credit hours abroad (9-credits for graduate students), and is considered above a full course load at your host institution. You must enroll in the Illinois online course yourself.

You do not need to enroll in any Illinois courses for your study abroad term. The Registrar’s office will automatically enroll you in a 12-credit hour placeholder course. However, if you are a MAP grant recipient and need to maintain a 15-credit hour course load, you will need to adjust the placeholder course in your portal to 15 hours. You can do this manually yourself, or reach out to the Registrar’s office.

You will also be automatically enrolled in the orientation course (LAS 291 & LAS 292). Most students will begin the LAS 291 course after the all-campus study abroad launch. Completion of 291 is done by the end of the semester prior to departure. If you have any questions about the LAS course, contact las291-292@illinois.edu.