Academics
Credits
All UW-Madison Business School study abroad participants earn UW-Madison residence credits for the work they complete abroad. This means the credits they earn while on a study abroad program will appear on their transcripts with a UW-Madison department number, course title, and grade. UW requires that students earn the last 30 credits of their degree while in residence in Madison. Credits earned on our programs are counted towards this requirement the same as if the students were physically in Madison during the time they are abroad. For this reason, in most cases, studying abroad does not delay the student's graduation (depending on specific degree requirements in the major). Consult UW's Undergraduate Catalog for more information how residence credits relate to degree requirements.
Before students participating in a UW Business School study abroad program depart for their program overseas, they are required to attend and complete course work for a 1-credit international perspectives class, and complete a thorough online orientation. They are also encouraged to review the list of established course equivalencies for their specific program site and to meet with an academic advisor of their major(s). Doing so will help them anticipate what UW course credits they may be able to receive for the courses they take abroad and how those courses will work into their degree requirements.
Soon after arriving at their program location, students correspond with an International Programs staff member to facilitate the granting of course equivalencies via e-mail. The process of granting course equivalencies generally continues after students have returned from their overseas program, depending on the nature of the program, the students' overseas courses, the students' individual needs, the UW department reviewing and granting the equivalencies, and whether specific overseas courses have already been granted general or individual equivalencies. Students are asked to be patient through this process because it can often take several weeks or months to complete. For more information about this process please check http://www.bus.wisc.edu/international/studyabroad/whileabroad.asp.
Expectations
UW-Madison Business School International Programs are, above all, academic. They are not vacations in foreign countries. Students are expected to attend class and meet all courses requirements during the time abroad. Grades in courses taken abroad will be on your student's transcripts as if the student had taken the courses in Madison. All grades received abroad will be reported to the Registrar's Office regardless of whether the student needs the course for graduation.
Registration from Abroad
UW students are required to register for courses online through the My UW-Madison link, whether they are located in Madison or abroad. Business school study abroad participants can therefore register for courses they want to take the following semester directly from their program location overseas. Up-to-date information about UW courses is available through the Web Timetable.
Graduating while Abroad
Since students earn UW residence credits while on School of Business study abroad programs, it is possible for seniors to complete their degree requirements and graduate abroad. Students can choose when (or if) to attend commencement ceremonies, either in the semester of their official graduation or in a previous or subsequent semester. International Programs strongly recommends that students who decide to exercise this option plan their course selection both in Madison and abroad carefully, and in close coordination with their academic advisor.
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