How to Apply
Application
Your application should be submitted to the Office of International Programs for initial approval. All materials should be submitted to Dean Ana María Wiseman. After the initial review the application is forwarded to the appropriate Consortium for further approval.
Deadlines
The application deadline for students studying abroad in spring is October 1st, for fall and summer it is February 15th. Please have your completed application turned in to the Office of International Programs by 5:00 pm on these dates. Some programs are popular and fill up quickly. It is your responsibility to submit your application early if your program of choice has earlier deadlines or special requirements.
Ongoing OrientationYou will be invited to a number of events which will form part of an ongoing orientation program. This program is designed to prepare you for your semester overseas. For more details consult
Ongoing Orientation. You are expected to attend the following events:
- a General Orientation Session is usually offered by the study abroad provider
- Visa Orientation Sessions
- consult Alumni of your program throughout the semester
- a Health and Safety session
- an Orientation Session on Geo-political Awareness
- the Pre-departure Family Orientation for you and your family on the last Saturday before exams from 9am-12pm
Application Requirements-
NOTE: These requirements and deadlines supercede information listed in program materials with the exception of specific programs that require extra application materials. All application materials should be submitted to the Office of International Programs, NOT directly to the program.
CIEE
Download application materials here
Personal Data Form
Academic Information Form
Home School Nomination Form (to be completed study abroad advisor)
2 Evaluations (forms included in application above)
Statement of Purpose (see below)
Official transcript
7 passport-size photos
application fee is waived |
IES
Download application materials here
Part 1: Student Information
Part 2: Authorization and Evaluation (to be completed by study abroad advisor)
2 professor evaluations- regardless of GPA (forms included in application above; if language is relevant, one should be a foreign language evaluation)
Statement of Purpose (see below)
Official transcript
1 passport-size photo
application fee is waived |
DIS
Wofford Application
Statement of Purpose (see below)
2 letters of recommendation
Official transcript
1 passport-size photo |
SIT
Online application only; print a copy of application and submit to Office of Int'l Programs
To be submitted by mail by Office of Int'l Programs:
$50 non-refundable application fee
Official Transcript
1 passport-size photo
Approval of Participation Form (to be completed by study abroad advisor)
2 letters of recommendation |
University of St. Andrews
Download application materials here
Statement of Purpose (see below)
Official Transcript
1 passport-size photo
2 letters of recommendation |
CHIP
Download application materials here
$250 deposit made out to Capitol Hill Internship Program
Official Transcript
1 passport-size photo
Current résumé
A 3-5 page writing sample
2 letters of recommendation (forms included in application) |
How to write an effective Academic Statement of Purpose
The Office of International Programs requires that all students submit a personal statement of purpose along with their application. These personal statements should be approximately 500 words in length, typed, double-spaced and checked for spelling and grammatical errors.
Students who wish to study abroad must submit an Academic Statement of Purpose detailing their personal academic goals and interests and why they want to study at the overseas university. This essay can be used to present the application to the overseas university and sometimes to specific faculties or departments. Acceptance is influenced greatly by this statement. Students should take this statement seriously and spend some time and effort on a well-written, well-considered essay which shows commitment and dedication to the proposition of studying at a specific university. This 500-word statement should also:
- State exactly the academic goals the student hopes to pursue while abroad.
- Explain which specific areas of study and courses the student would want to pursue. Study Abroad catalogs and university websites can be a good source for preliminary course selection. Please note that Master's level courses are not open to undergraduate students.
- Give a brief explanation of current studies which provides a very general overview of academic background. Do NOT specifically list all classes taken to date, just mention relevant coursework.
- Mention relevant previous study, work, or experiences overseas if any.
- If you are interested in an internship, field placement or service learning opportunity, include a paragraph explaining desired placement and goals.
- Include a specific project of study if your major requires it (ISB, world politics concentration, SIT applicants, etc).
- Include your name at the top of the statement.
Statement Tips: We encourage students to write an academically focused statement of purpose. While we know many students consider traveling to be part of their purpose for going abroad, it is more appropriate to make this statement a formal and academic declaration. While a student should certainly reveal what kind of person s/he is, the level of discourse is important-- avoid jokes and colloquial language (for instance avoid using expressions such as, "This will be an incredible/awesome experience").
Remember: You will be judged by the quality of your statement.
Address
You will be asked to provide a permanent home address and your current Wofford mailing address. The latter is current until the last day of classes of the current semester.
Passport number
The application will ask for your passport number. If you do not have a passport, mark “currently applying,” then apply ASAP.
Billing Information
All billing information will go to Michelle Smith in the Business Office. Do not mark your parents as the billing contact. The consortia charge Wofford and Wofford will send your parents a bill. A detailed budget sheet will be provided upon submission of your completed application.
Application Fee
The application fee is waived for IES and CIEE because Wofford is a partner institution. Pay close attention to other applications and their application fees.
Letters of Recommendation
Talk to your recommenders and tell them why you have selected a particular program. Get them involved in the process early so that they can refer to your conversations in the letter. Give the recommendation forms to your professors early so that they will have time to complete them and return them to the Office of International Programs. If you decide to pick them up yourself, they must be in a sealed, signed envelope. If the professor returns them directly to Office of International Programs, they need not be in a sealed envelope.
Passport Photos
Passport photos can be obtained at most photo labs and copy places. It’s a good idea to have several sets made for various uses. You will use them, not only for passports, but visa applications, bus passes, rail passes, etc. You should submit one passport photo with your application unless otherwise stated.
Financial Aid
If you are a Financial Aid recipient, please make an appointment with Mrs. Kay Walton in Financial Aid. Many programs have separate Financial Aid forms if you are interested in applying for scholarships. It is your responsibility to get those forms submitted.
Applications for Scholarships and Internships
Pay close attention to Financial Aid/Scholarship and Internship application deadlines for your consortium. You will be responsible for sending these applications. Contact the office if you have questions.