Getting Started
F&M Elligibility Requirements
In order to study off-campus, Franklin & Marshall requires that all students:
- have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA,
- have a plan to declare a major area of study before attending a semester-long program,
- be making satisfactory academic progress,
- demonstrate evidence of social maturity
It's also important to recognize that ultimately you may apply to a program that has additional eligibility requirements, including additional GPA requirements, previous language study, or course pre-requisites.
NOTE: students who do not meet required eligibility requirements or who want to study off-campus during their last semester at F&M will need to petition the Committee on Academic Standing. Students with questions about this should contact Sue Mennicke, Associate Dean for International Programs
Starting Points
If you are interested in international or off-campus study, your first step in planning is to attend Starting Points. These meetings, which are mandatory for all students interested in off-campus study, will provide you with information about F&M policies for off-campus study, resources for searching for programs, and next steps for making off-campus study a key part of your education at F&M.
Starting Points meetings are held every Monday at 4:30 pm and Tuesday at 11:30 am in the Joseph International Center (during the academic year). Please note -- if you are more than five minutes late to a meeting, you will be asked to attend on another day.
Meeting with an Off-Campus Study Adviser
After attending Starting Points, each student is required to have at least one 30-minute advising appointment. We recommend that you see your adviser to discuss program choice, and then again to discuss application procedures and timelines.
Advising Philosophy
The goal of the advising staff is to provide individualized assistance to students in identifying an off-campus program of study. We consider three elements of the student's experience when providing advice on program choice:
Academic/Long-Range Career Goals
Cultural Learning Opportunities
Personal Identity Development
The purpose of the advising staff is to facilitate your decision-making process. The choice of program is yours to make; we are here to give advice and ask questions to help you define your goals.
Resource Library
Our library of program materials is available to any student, at any time. Come, browse, read through program books and evaluations, and take things home to share. The library is on the main floor of the Joseph International Center.
