Study Abroad Credit
Education Abroad at EKU
Education abroad provides the opportunity for students to earn academic credit on programs around the world. Experiential learning through study abroad may include coursework, internships, research opportunities, or service learning. EKU students are eligible to study abroad if they are in good academic and disciplinary standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0. Students may be eligible to study abroad on a short program as early as the first winter term after admitting to EKU, however, longer study abroad program options (full-semester or academic year) require students to be Sophomore level or higher. Students must also meet any additional prerequisites required for admission to their specific study abroad program or course.
Summer, Winter, full semester, or academic year options are available through the Education Abroad office or through EKU’s approved study abroad providers. An up-to-date listing of approved providers and programs can be found by visiting the study abroad website.
Students planning to participate in a study abroad experience should visit the study abroad website (https://www.eku.edu/study-abroad/) to set up an in person or virtual appointment to help select a program and to start the application process. Once a study abroad program is selected, students must complete all required paperwork with the Education Abroad office before course/program approval may be granted. All study abroad students must complete EKU’s pre-departure orientation prior to their study abroad term. Students who choose to participate on an unapproved study abroad program may not be eligible for financial aid, scholarships, or course credit.
Students should visit https://www.eku.edu/study-abroad/ or stop by the Education Abroad Office in Crabbe Library Atrium 225A for more information.
Transferring Study Abroad Credit from Another Institution
Current university students are advised to contact the Education Abroad Office for additional information on study abroad opportunities through Eastern Kentucky University. The information below is intended for new transfer students that completed a study abroad program or study abroad courses through their transfer institution.
Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS)
All KIIS course credit is awarded by Western Kentucky University. Transcripts are sent automatically to your home institution after grades are posted. When transferring from your home institution to Eastern Kentucky University, you must request an additional transcript from WKU in addition to an official transcript from your home institution. All transcripts should be sent to Admissions.
Each KIIS course is sent for evaluation to the appropriate academic department. On occasion, a course description is not sufficient enough to evaluate. If this is the case, a syllabus is needed to evaluate. If a syllabus is needed, your audit will list “Syllabus Needed” next to the transfer course. It is the student’s responsibility to submit a syllabus to oats@eku.edu.
A direct equivalency at your home institution for a study abroad course does not guarantee a direct equivalency at EKU for that same course; however, if you are transferring from a Kentucky public university and the study abroad course satisfied a general education requirement at that university, you will receive essential education credit for that course at EKU even if there is no direct equivalency.
Other Study Abroad Programs
General, credit-bearing study abroad courses recorded on a domestic university transcript that were intended to maintain full-time enrollment at the institution while abroad and completed on a pass/fail basis will receive IES elective (X) credit.
Each study abroad course recorded on a domestic university transcript is sent for evaluation to the appropriate academic department. If a course description translated in English is needed to evaluate, it is the student’s responsibility to provide this to the Office of the Registrar. On occasion, a course description is not sufficient enough to evaluate. If this is the case, a syllabus is needed to evaluate. If a syllabus is needed, your audit will list “Syllabus Needed” next to the transfer course. It is the student’s responsibility to submit a syllabus to oats@eku.edu.