Introduction

The ORC deals only with Non-Stanford Programs. If you are interested in going through a Stanford Program, please see the Stanford Overseas Studies website

Although almost six hundred Stanford students each academic year study overseas with Stanford's Overseas Studies programs, other Stanford students study overseas either:

1) --through programs offered by other U.S. institutions or

2) --through direct enrollment in overseas institutions

For students who, for whatever reason, do not study abroad with Stanford's programs, there are, literally, thousands of academic programs available to choose from. However stopping out from Stanford requires careful planning in order that students avoid problems upon their return.

This guide discusses steps that need to be taken when a student takes a leave of absence from Stanford University to study abroad on a non-Stanford overseas program; (Stanford's overseas programs do not require stopping out.)

Although study abroad is the main focus of this guide, it should also be useful to others stopping out from Stanford for other reasons.

Stanford is a very flexible university in regard to allowing, and even encouraging, students to spend time away from campus. The opportunities available to students are many and varied. In regard to identifying a program of study overseas the following resources are some of those available to you at Stanford:

• Your academic advisor or faculty teacher. Often Stanford faculty will have knowledge of programs overseas.
• StudyAbroad.com - This site lists programs by country, area of academic concentration, length of program, and other criteria. The results at the top of any search are typically the larger, better known program providers. Feel free to check with the ORC office staff with questions about a particular program.
• TransitionsAbroad.com - This site, an extension of the print edition of the Transitions Abroad magazine, provides articles regarding abroad programs, visas, and employment opportunities overseas.

However you choose a program, and which ever program you choose (provided it is not a Stanford program), there are some standard procedures you should follow. It is important to plan early and to come to some decision about the kind of program that you might find suitable

In regard to university administrative procedures you will need to be aware of the following issues facing you if you study overseas with a non-Stanford program. After reading this guide you might feel that there is a lot of paperwork. It might seem so, but many Stanford students have successfully studied overseas this way, so don't be alarmed!

CREDIT TRANSFER

While credit is guaranteed on Stanford Programs, it is not guaranteed on non-Stanford programs. To find out if credit is transferable you need to consider the following requirements:

1) it is completed at an accredited institution

2) it is substantially similar to Stanford courses

3) it is completed with a grade of C- or better

4) it does not duplicate, overlap or regress previous work

To find out whether credit from a non-Stanford program is transferable, please contact Peter Huang at the Office of the Registrar, 630 Serra St., Ste. 1200, (650) 725-2529, and see the Registrar's Office website for more information on how to petition to transfer work already completed.

STANFORD REGISTRATION AND TUITION WHILE OVERSEAS

When you have decided to leave for the quarter, you may choose to not advance-register for the upcoming quarter. If you do this you will not need to file a Leave of Absence Petition. *Those on financial aid however should advance register for the full year, so as to guarantee their allotment of aid*. Visit the Financial Aid office for more information.

Leave of Absence Petition:

If you are leaving after having registered for the upcoming quarter you must complete a Leave of Absence Petition at the Registrar's Office, 630 Serra St, Ste 1200. Do this as soon as possible in order to have the best chance for a refund. Refunds are determined by deadline dates, which if passed could preclude your full or partial refund. As long as you have not attended class or used Cowell Health Center, the deadline for a full refund is the second day of each quarter. This refund includes tuition and health insurance. If you wait until after the second day, you will not be refunded for your health insurance, but you will get a full tuition refund, provided you have not attended class.

Miscellaneous:

Make sure that you have cleared all debts; such as telephone bills and tuition payments before you leave, so as to not incur late fees, and bad financial standing with the University.

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid is taken to mean aid provided by the federal government, state government or institutions of higher education.

Financial aid administered through the Stanford Office of Financial Aid cannot be used for non-Stanford programs. The possible exception is if a program is involved in a consortia agreement with Stanford. If such an agreement exists it may be possible to obtain federal financial aid for a non-Stanford program. Information on consortia agreements and your eligibility status for financial aid is available at the Financial Aids office, 723-3058.

Another option is to inquire of the program whether they have any means to offer financial aid, so that you can afford the program.

If there is a chance of using your financial aid for study abroad you need to start planning very early in the process in order to complete the required documentation. It is important that when you first write to a study abroad program for information that you ask at that time for information on financial aid.

Limitations on the use of financial aid can often determine the kind of program that you might finally decide upon. For example direct enrollment in a university in Western Europe is often cheaper than going to that institution with a US sponsored program. If you find that the program you are interested in is too expensive, (perhaps because you cannot use your financial aid), please ask in the ORC whether it is possible to study in that country at a cheaper cost and still transfer credits.

Scholarships for undergraduate study abroad are not plentiful. However if you start your search early it might be possible to find some funds to help you with your study overseas. The following are some places where you might find further information.

Your department: Ask if there are any scholarships available for study abroad.

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Office (Sweet Hall): If you are intending to pursue some research overseas then you should contact this office.

Overseas Resource Center: The ORC has information on scholarships for study and research abroad. While many are for graduating seniors and graduate students, the following scholarships are available for undergraduate study abroad:

Rotary
Institute of International Education's Freeman Asia award
National Security Education Program Undergraduate Scholarship
Gilman Scholarship

The ORC has listings of scholarships for overseas study and research that range from help cover travel expenses to awards that offer one or more years of fully-funded study. Please see also, Financial Aid Resources.

HOUSING

For information on Termination of Occupancy while on a leave of absence from Stanford, please contact Housing Assignment Services: 725-2810. Complete information on preparing to leave your university residence while studying abroad can also be found on the Housing Assignment Services' website:

http://www.stanford.edu/dept/hds/has/