Study Abroad Approval Information

Please read this information carefully before completing the Study Abroad Permission Form.

General Information

  • You must earn a grade of “C-“ (1.7) or higher for your course(s) to transfer back to ECU.
  • Grade replacement cannot be applied for previous ECU courses with any Study Abroad transfer credit.
  • You may not receive direct transfer credit for any course you previously completed at ECU in which you earned a“D-“ or higher.
  • Transfer grades do not affect your ECU GPA; however, some degree programs include transfer GPA to determine acceptance into a major.
  • Transfer semester hours are included when determining your retention requirements.
  • The total hours taken through Study Abroad and ECU may not exceed 18 hours per fall or spring semester, or 7 hours for summer I and II, or 14 for full summer session.
  • Course(s) taken at another institution will apply to General Education, major, minor, or other requirements based on ECU standards, not the transfer institution’s classification of the course(s).
  • If you have been withdrawn through the Counseling and Student Development Center with stipulations regarding attendance at ECU, those stipulations are also in effect for courses taking through Study Abroad.
  • If you are completing Study Abroad courses during your semester of graduation, you must submit your official transcript by the first day of the subsequent term.
    • For example, if you’re studying abroad and graduating in Spring, your transcript needs to be received and processed by the first day of Summer term.
    • Your degree will not be conferred until your final, official transcript is received.
    • Official transcripts should be sent to the Office of the Registrar or crediteval@ecu.edu.

Course Approval Process

All courses must be approved before your advisor signs your Permission Form.

  • Meet/consult with your Academic or Faculty Advisor to determine course equivalencies.
    1. Course equivalencies that have already been established can be found using the ECU Course Equivalency Look-Up.
    2. Course equivalencies that have not been established must go to the department for approval. The student or the advisor may submit the courses for review.
      1. For students: Please submit all necessary materials through the Transfer Credit Evaluation Form to have the course reviewed.
        1. If you have a course syllabus, please include it!
      2. For advisors: Please submit all necessary materials through the CE Advisor Request Form.
        1. Please note: most, if not all, International universities must be built in TES. If you don’t see the university, please ensure you provide us with all the specific information for the university and courses you are planning to enroll in.
  • Departments will approve or deny a course equivalency in TES within 15 days.
    • Depending on whether you or your advisor submitted the courses to be reviewed, Credit Eval staff will notify the appropriate person(s) of the results of their request.

Permission Form Submission

  • Download and fill in all required information.
  • You (the student) are responsible for submitting the form to all appropriate offices with the assistance of your advisor.

Study Abroad Permission Form PDF

Registration

  • Once the Office of Global Affairs has approved your form, it is your responsibility to register for the course(s) at the other institution.
  • If any change in approved courses occurs during registration, it is your responsibility to return to the course approval process for the new course(s).

Financial Aid Information

  • Students receiving financial aid must inform the Office of Student Financial Aid in advance of taking courses elsewhere.
  • Your Academic or Faculty Advisor must verify that the course(s) satisfies the requirements for your major, and the Office of Student Financial Aid must receive documentation that the course taken elsewhere will fulfill graduation requirements at ECU for the course to meet Course Program of Study Requirements (CPOS). Completion of the Permission Form satisfies both needs.
  • Students may not receive aid at two different schools for the same semester.
  • Students registering for international courses not through Study Abroad may use the Study Abroad Permission Form; however, if using financial aid, you may need to register for at least one course at ECU to retain home institution status, or you may need to complete a Consortium Agreement for the other school through ECU’s Office of Student Financial Aid.