Semester/Year Programs
As a Tufts student, you have the option to attend one of our ten Tufts Programs Abroad or an approved external program.
Explore Semester/Year Programs
Compare Tufts and External Programs
| Tufts Programs Abroad | External Programs | |
|---|---|---|
| Application Deadlines | November 1: Register your Intent to Study Abroad for fall, spring, or full year of the next academic year. March 15: Update your status to 'Commit' in the Tufts application portal to confirm your participation in a Tufts program in the next academic year. | November 1: Register your Intent to Study Abroad for fall, spring, or full year of the next academic year. February 1: Submit Tufts external program application for all fall, spring, and full-year external programs in the next academic year. External program application deadlines vary by program. Verify with your program provider. March 15: Update your status to 'Commit' in the Tufts application portal to inform Tufts of your final choice of program for the next academic year. |
| Enrollment | Remain enrolled at Tufts. | Take a Study Abroad Leave of Absence – other types of institutional leave do not qualify. We recommend initiating this process two weeks in advance of the listed deadline. |
| Tuition and Fees | Pay Tufts tuition and a comprehensive fee roughly equivalent to Tufts housing and food. | Program costs vary. Pay the external program directly for all program costs. Tufts University will assess a study elsewhere fee for all external programs. |
| Financial Aid | All financial aid automatically transfers. | Only federal or state financial aid and personal educational loans transfer. To do so, complete a Consortium Agreement via the Tufts Financial Aid office. Tufts University grants and scholarships do not transfer. |
| GPA Requirements | GPA requirements vary by program; refer to Application Process: Tufts Programs Abroad for details. | GPA requirements vary by program. Note for Engineering students: you must have a minimum GPA of 2.75 at the time of application and at the start of the program. However, your program provider may have a higher minimum GPA requirement than Tufts. |
| Academic Credit | Courses taken on Tufts Programs abroad will automatically count toward Tufts graduation credits; specific course equivalencies may be requested in SIS. | Transfer Credit: It is your responsibility to get each individual course approved by the relevant academic department at Tufts. To do so, complete a Transfer Credit Request in SIS for each course and monitor the status of the request in SIS. |
| Grades | Grades show on your Tufts transcript, calculate into your Tufts GPA, and count towards Latin honors. | Grades do not show on your Tufts transcript, calculate into your Tufts GPA, or count towards Latin honors. Only course titles and SHUs earned will be visible. |
| Pass/Fail | Some courses may be taken pass/fail, following the same rules as at Tufts. | Courses need to be taken for letter grades. Student must receive a U.S. equivalent of a C- or above to be eligible for transfer credit. Courses taken pass/fail are not eligible for transfer credit. |
| On-Site Staff | Program directors are Tufts employees or contractors, who have visited Tufts and are familiar with Tufts policies and procedures. For most programs, you will meet with the Director at Tufts or online prior to going abroad. | Program directors and staff vary by program. |
| Locations | 10 locations. Four programs have no language prerequisite. | 150+ approved external programs in 50+ countries around the world. Language prerequisites vary by program. |
| Housing | Students who register an Intent to Study Abroad will not receive an On-Campus Housing Lottery number for the academic year they plan to study abroad and can choose to be placed on a waitlist for on-campus housing. Questions about the waitlist and housing application should be directed to Residential Life. Participants in Tufts Programs Abroad are required to live in program-arranged housing and may not seek nor engage independent housing. Should you have any question or extenuating circumstances, medical issues, etc., please contact your program well in advance of departure to discuss. Tufts Global Education remains available for support and consultation. | Students who register an Intent to Study Abroad will not receive an On-Campus Housing Lottery number for the academic year they plan to study abroad and can choose to be placed on a waitlist for on-campus housing. Questions about the waitlist and housing application should be directed to Residential Life. Participants in External Programs are required to live in program-arranged housing and may not seek nor engage independent housing. Should you have any question or extenuating circumstances, medical issues, etc., please contact your program well in advance of departure to discuss. Tufts Global Education remains available for support and consultation. |
How to Apply
The application process and timeline will vary depending on the type of program you choose. Select your program type below to learn more about how to apply.