International Education
The Office of International Education (OIE) facilitates first-rate off-campus opportunities that accommodate a range of disciplines throughout diverse regions of the world. The Office works with students and faculty to identify and promote programs that support Bucknell University’s educational goals, combine outstanding academic coursework and experiential learning in a safe and supportive environment, and integrate into the students’ undergraduate plans of study to the fullest extent possible. Through this, the Office strives to enhance students’ cross-cultural competency through international programs that facilitate a deep understanding of the cultural, social, political, and historical conditions of the host country while highlighting the students’ unique positions as responsible actors in a global context. Bucknell University offers study-abroad opportunities through third-party providers, Bucknell faculty-led programs, and summer study abroad. The staff of the Office of International Education advise and assist undergraduate students who wish to incorporate an off-campus study experience into their academic work. Students typically spend a semester, year, or summer in another country or on a specialized program in the United States.
Bucknell provides third-party study opportunities for students in Asia, North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and Central and South America. Students in all majors are encouraged to consider a summer, semester or academic year abroad as it fits their curricular plans.
Bucknell University participates in formal relationships with Advanced Studies in England (ASE) in Bath; Associated Kyoto Program in Japan (AKP); Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS); the University of Nottingham in England; the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), the Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE), Arcadia University’s College of Global Studies, the Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the American Councils for International Education, Russia Programs (ACTR) and the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. In addition, off-campus programs sponsored by other American colleges or institutions have been approved for Bucknell University student participation. Within the United States, students may participate in the Duke University Marine Laboratory Program in North Carolina, or semester internships programs in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
Students who participate in any approved program are still regarded as enrolled at Bucknell University while off campus, allowing them to receive academic credit, to continue most financial aid (except work study), and to maintain their place in their academic class. Students receive transfer credit but no grades are posted on the Bucknell University transcript. Bucknell University charges all students studying with third-party providers on-campus tuition. Bucknell University then pays the tuition component of the program costs whether the tuition is higher or lower than Bucknell University’s tuition. If the program tuition is lower, the differential amount remains at Bucknell University and is applied to the same University expenses that tuition always covers. If the program tuition is higher, Bucknell University pays the full amount to the program without charging the students for the extra cost. Students on Bucknell-approved programs pay all non-tuition costs (e.g. room and board) directly to the program. Students studying in the Bucknell en España and Bucknell en France programs will be billed by Bucknell for the cost of tuition, room and board fees. Students studying with the Bucknell in London program will be billed by Bucknell for the cost of tuition and room fees.
Information and applications may be obtained at the Office of International Education. Because prior planning, deadlines, and appropriate arrangements are crucial, it is necessary to consult with the Office’s staff well in advance of the semester to be spent off campus. Specifically, applications must be completed in December or February by students who wish to be off campus during the fall semester, and in April or September by students who wish to be off campus during the spring semester. Check with the Office of International Education for specific dates. Off-campus study during the semester or for the full academic year is open to all eligible students. In order to gain approval, qualified students should demonstrate the academic appropriateness of their program choice.
Students proposing to pursue off-campus studies should have an excellent academic record, a history of good conduct, and a minimum grade point average of 2.80 for study abroad in the fall and 3.0 for study abroad in the spring. Exceptions to the preceding may be considered when there is evidence that the student is capable of sustained academic effort of high quality in a study-abroad environment. All requests for special consideration will be reviewed by the Director of International Education.
Juniors and first-semester seniors are eligible for off-campus study. The last semester of the senior year must be spent on campus if a Bucknell University degree is desired. Only students of the College of Engineering may be advised to go abroad as early as second semester sophomore year. Students may study off campus for two semesters and may earn maximum credit equivalent to four full courses for a semester and eight full courses for a full academic year. It should be noted that courses elected off campus must be pre-approved for transfer credit by the appropriate department chair and must be passed with a grade of “C” or higher if credit is to be awarded. Before leaving campus, students must submit to the registrar a regular schedule indicating off-campus study rather than the usual on-campus courses.