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Which office should I contact if I have questions regarding the program?
This program is offered by the Learning Abroad Center in partnership with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). Many of the program materials and communications will be sent to you directly from CIEE. If you have questions pertaining to University of Minnesota processes, credit policies, and billing, contact the Learning Abroad Center. For on-site specific questions, you are encouraged to refer to the CIEE website, publications, and program staff in the CIEE Portland office.
What should I do before I apply?
You are encouraged to use the resources available to you: visit the Learning
Abroad Center and speak with a program staff member, check out the CIEE
website and catalog, talk to CIEE program staff, and ask your college and
advisers about degree requirements.
Application
What should I send to CIEE and what should I hand in to the
Learning Abroad Center?
You will be submitting some of your application materials to the Learning Abroad
Center, but the majority of your application materials will be submitted online
and via mail directly to CIEE. Please refer to your Learning Abroad Center application
instructions for a complete and thorough checklist of application materials.
Which application deadline
should I follow, the Learning Abroad Center's or CIEE's?
You must apply by the dates set by the Learning Abroad Center and listed on
the Learning Abroad Center application
instructions. The Learning Abroad Center's deadlines are set earlier
than CIEE's in order for us to complete and forward the Home School Nomination
form to CIEE by their deadline.
Is there an application fee?
No, CIEE's usual $30 fee is waived for University of Minnesota students.
Do I need to pay the school of record fee?
No, because the University of Minnesota program fee already covers the processing of your transcript.
Do I have to be an undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota
to participate?
Yes. Only degree-seeking U of M students are eligible. Graduate students may apply, but will only receive undergraduate credit.
Who completes the Home School Nomination Form?
This form is part of the CIEE application, which you may print out from the CIEE website. Fill out the top portion of the form and hand it in
to the Learning Abroad Center along with your unofficial transcript and Learning
Abroad Center application. The Learning Abroad Center will complete the rest
of the form and forward it to CIEE.
Why am I required to complete the CIEE application on-line?
To ensure accuracy of your personal and academic data, you must complete the CIEE application on-line. This also helps speed up the program review process and allows CIEE and the Learning Abroad Center to follow up on the progress of your application. Applying on-line should take you approximately 20 minutes to complete.
How do I know all my materials
have been received by CIEE?
You can check your record online using my
CIEE. From there, you can use the checklist to see if you are missing any application materials.
What do I do if I don't yet have a passport?
If you do not have a passport you must apply for one immediately. When filling
out CIEE's application, leave the passport section blank and contact CIEE with
the passport number once you receive it. You need to have a valid passport
in order to apply for a student visa, so it is important to apply for a passport
early to give yourself enough time to apply for a visa.
Timeline
What does it mean when I receive a “nomination email”
from the Learning Abroad Center?
This means your Home School Nomination form has been forwarded to CIEE, and
that the Learning Abroad Center believes you would be a good candidate for the
program. The nomination email contains important steps for you to take once
accepted to the program by CIEE, and you are encouraged to review the steps
and materials so that you can budget your time accordingly once you receive
yor official acceptance. You will receive an email notification of your acceptance
directly from CIEE.
What does it mean if my application was forwarded to CIEE without a nomination?
This means that your application did not meet the minimum eligibility requirements for the program, and that our office must defer to CIEE to make the final acceptance decision.
When should I expect to hear back from CIEE regarding my acceptance?
You should receive an email from CIEE within two to three weeks once your application
is complete (all materials have been submitted to CIEE, and CIEE has received
the Home School Nomination form from the Learning Abroad Center). CIEE
will not review your application until all materials are submitted.
Fees
Will I have to pay anything other than the program fee?
Yes. You will pay a non-refundable deposit to the Learning Abroad Center. This will be in place of the program deposit to CIEE, which will be included later in the program fee. However, if you cancel after paying the Learning Abroad Center deposit, you will also lose the CIEE deposit in addition to any other non-recoverable fees. Do not send any money directly to CIEE. Note that the deposit reserves your place on the program and should be paid once you are sure of your participation. Financial aid will likely not disburse before this fee is due
Credit
How many credits will I receive and what kind of credit will I get?
Students typically receive 15 University of Minnesota resident credits per semester. During the summer session, students usually receive 6-9 credits.
How long will it take for my credits to show up on my transcript?
Typically, this takes three to six months after the program ends.
How will I know if these credits will count toward my degree requirements?
You must complete an Academic
Planning Form. By going through the academic planning process, you will
know how the program credits will fulfill your degree requirements.
Financials
Can I use my financial aid for this program?
Yes, most existing financial aid may be applied to the cost of the program. We strongly recommend that you complete the Financial Aid Preview process prior to applying or confirming your place in the program. Students who plan to use financial aid (loans and grants) must obtain a Study Abroad Cost Estimate (SACE) to document your study abroad cost of attendance. This information is needed by the Office of Student Finance to reassess and possibly make adjustments to your financial aid award. For more details on the financial aid process, visit the financial aid website.
Can I use my scholarships for this program?
Most scholarships can be applied. Check with the scholarship
provider.
Are there other scholarships that I can apply for?
The University of Minnesota offers several scholarships.
CIEE also offers scholarships and reduced
fees for some programs. Check with CIEE's
website for more information on CIEE scholarships. You may also qualify
for the NSEP, Gilman, or Freeman-Asia scholarships.
Orientation
Will I attend an orientation before I leave?
Yes, the Learning Abroad Center will hold an orientation prior to your departure.
Check our orientation
schedule for updated orientation dates, times and locations.
Will I have an orientation once I arrive on-site?
Yes. You will receive more information directly from CIEE.
Insurance
Will I be covered by insurance while abroad?
You will receive international insurance through the Learning Abroad Center.
You will also receive limited insurance from CIEE, but the Learning Abroad Center
insurance provides a more comprehensive level of coverage and is required for
University of Minnesota students.
Do I need to keep my US insurance while I'm abroad?
It is recommended that you maintain your current insurance in order to cover
pre-departure, return, and pre-existing conditions. Because you will not be
paying student service fees while you are abroad, your University of Minnesota
insurance will be affected. Please contact Boynton
Health Services to inquire about how to continue your Boynton coverage while
abroad.
Last modified on October 12, 2009 |