Frequently Asked Questions
We have created the following list of most frequently asked student questions. Please note that they are organized both by topic and by relevant stage of the off-campus study process. To see questions that only relate to finances and financial policy, for example, type “Financial” in the Search feature to limit the list to questions only relevant to cost, finances, financial aid, and scholarships.
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[Getting Started] How do I get started?
Start on our main webpage, and then click on “Get Started” to see the process one step at a time. -
[Getting Started] When should I study off campus?
Like many aspects of off-campus study, the answer to this question depends on the student. Please take a look at the Choosing a Term page for important information about how to determine which term is best for you. -
[Getting Started] When should I get started with the planning for Off-Campus Study?
You should start the Off-Campus Study process at least 2 semesters in advance of the intended term off-campus. Refer to our timeline information as often as you need to as a reminder of when you should be working on certain tasks. -
[Getting Started] How many semesters can I spend off campus?
Unless a program is an Academic Year term only (London School of Economics, Oxford, University College London, etc.), students should expect to be off-campus for a maximum of one semester term.Students may, however, enroll in a semester program and one or more summer programs. -
[Getting Started] How do I make an appointment with an OCS Advisor?
Please follow the instructions you see in Step 3 on the Get Started page. -
[Getting Started] What if I can’t find a program that fits my cultural and academic interests on the pre-approved list?
The pre-approved list is meant to be comprehensive but not exhaustive. If a program that meets your academic goals is not represented on the list, your OCS Advisor will guide you through the Individual Program Approval Request process, which can be found on the OCS Programs page.Please make sure you have gone through the first 3 steps listed on the Get Started page, including meeting with an OCS Advisor, before you submit an individual program approval request. -
[Applications] How do I begin my application to a program?
Please follow each step outlined on the Get Started & Application Process page to understand how and when to open a program application (Step 5). -
[Applications] Who do I contact if I have a question about my application?
If you have a question about something in your F&M Off-Campus portal, you should contact your F&M OCS Advisor with your question. If you have a question about the application for the program that you are applying to, you should contact your program advisor within that organization. -
[Applications] How do I request that my F&M transcript be sent to the program I am applying to?
Transcripts can be requested from the Academics tab of InsideF&M. You can send either a hard-copy transcript or an official digital transcript. For detailed instructions, please visit the Transcript Request page. -
[Applications] My program is asking where the final transcript from the program abroad should be sent.
Your transcript from the program should be sent directly to the F&M Registrar’s Office. The contact is:
Sarah Esh, Associate Registrar
Registrar’s Office, Franklin & Marshall College
P.O. Box 3003
Lancaster, PA 17604-3003You may also wish to have an additional transcript sent to your home or campus address for your own record.
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[Applications] What is the application deadline?
The F&M Off-Campus Study deadlines are posted on the timeline page. These deadlines supersede the individual program deadlines UNLESS the program deadline is before the F&M deadline. In that circumstance, your OCS Advisor will work with you to ensure you complete all items before the earlier program deadline. -
[Applications] The program I’m applying to is asking that F&M sign a Program Approval Form or Home Authorization Form. What is this and how do I get it signed?
Your program wants to make sure that our office knows about your application and that we approve you to apply to that program. Information about how that process is handled by our office is available in the "NEXT STEPS" document in the OCS APPROVAL materials in your F&M Off-Campus portal.)
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[Courses & Academics] How will my grades appear on my F&M transcript, and will they affect my GPA?
For all students:
The letter grades you receive from your Off-Campus Study program will appear as letter grades on your F&M transcript.
For students participating in the Advanced Studies in England program or an F&M Summer Travel Course:
The grades WILL be calculated into your cumulative GPA.
For students not participating in the Advanced Studies in England program or an F&M Summer Travel Course:
The grades WILL NOT be calculated into your cumulative GPA. (Keep in mind, however, that future employers and graduate schools might recalculate your GPA based on your grades from Off-Campus Study.)
Courses on off-campus study programs must be taken for a letter grade and cannot be taken on a pass/fail/audit basis.
Please visit the Academic Policy page for additional resources.
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[Course & Academics] Can I take courses toward my major or minor or distribution requirements?
Yes! Remember to look at your Degree Works! You may be able to earn credit toward your major, minor, and/or distribution requirements (Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Non-Western, Language Studies) while off campus. You will work with your Academic Advisor, a faculty member in the relevant department, and your OCS Advisor to see about getting courses pre-approved. There will also be a more formal course approval process that you will go through later in the application process.Please visit the Academic Policy page for additional resources. -
[Courses & Academics] What other courses can I take?
For any courses that you take that do NOT apply to your distribution, major or minor credits, you will most likely just receive general elective credit so that you accrue credits needed to graduate. There ARE certain categories of courses that cannot transfer back to F&M for any kind of credit, even general elective credit: Courses in vocational/pre-professional/career, physical education, engineering, drafting, military science, criminal justice, communications/journalism, tourism/hospitality, most education courses, music lessons, and wine/gastronomy courses may not be transferred back to Franklin & Marshall for credit.If you have a question about whether or not a course can be taken for credit, ask your F&M OCS Advisor.Please visit the Academic Policy page for additional resources. -
[Courses & Academics] How do I know how much credit I will receive for the program?
The general rule is: 4 U.S. semester credit hours = 1 F&M credit.
When you are looking at your program, calculate the number of U.S. semester credit hours and then divide by 4 to determine the F&M credit equivalent. For a semester, you must enroll in what is considered a full-time schedule abroad, which is determined to be 15-16 U.S. semester credit hours, or 4 F&M credits.
For students taking courses directly at a university abroad, you may have to do two calculations. For example, at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, 15 points = 4 U.S. semester credit hours = 1 F&M credit.
Please visit the Academic Policy page for additional resources.
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[Courses & Academics] What if I have not declared my major/minor yet? How do I know how credit taken off campus will transfer back?
- Remember that you will not need ALL courses from off-campus to count toward your major/minor. You can enroll in courses that you are interested in that might transfer as one of your Gen Ed distribution credits or will just come back as general elective credit.
- If you have an intended major/minor, remember to us the “What If” feature in your Degree Works to see what requirements you would have for that major/minor.
- Have conversations with faculty in your intended major/minor department(s).
- You can still have courses evaluated by faculty in our formal course pre-approval process that we’ll give you access to about 3 months prior to departure. Even if you haven’t declared, we will still contact the department through this process to see if the course(s) could count toward your intended major/minor.
- If you still have not declared your major/minor when your transcript from off-campus arrives in the F&M Registrar’s Office, the credit will simply be applied as general elective credit initially (except for the categories of courses listed in the “What other courses can I take” question above). Then once you have officially declared, the credit can be applied according to how it was pre-approved.
Please visit the Academic Policy page for additional resources.
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[Courses & Academics] What if my courses change once I arrive on my program?
It is very common for your courses to change once you arrive on your program. There could be course cancellations, scheduling conflicts, or a number of other reasons that your course enrollment is not exactly how you planned it. Please don’t panic!
For courses you just want general elective credit for, there is nothing you need to do about the changes other than keep in mind the categories of courses not appropriate for any type of credit at F&M (see “What other courses can I take?” above). If you want to make sure the course is appropriate for general elective credit, email your OCS Advisor.
For courses that you would like to fulfill major, minor, or distribution credit, there is a formal process in your portal that you’ll access. On the start date of your program, your offcampus.fandm.edu portal will provide a new document titled “Additional Course Approval Process”, which will walk you through your next steps.
Please visit the Academic Policy page for additional resources.
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[Financial Policy] How much will it cost?
For the semester or academic year:
Your tuition will remain exactly the same as it is now at F&M, billed by the F&M Student Accounts Office, with any financial aid you normally receive applied to that bill.
You will not pay any room & board to F&M, but your program (for example DIS, IFSA, IES, SIT, BU, SFS, etc.) will bill you directly for your program deposit, housing, and any other non-tuition fees.
Except for campus employment packages, all other financial aid applies as normal, including any aid you would normally receive for your F&M room and board. Students who have financial aid should contact the Financial Aid Office for specifics about how your financial aid would apply to your chosen program.
For summer programs:
All fees will be billed directly by the program, not by F&M. The exception to this is F&M Summer Travel Courses, which will be billed by the F&M Student Accounts Office.
You should also factor in other expenses that might be required, such as passport fees, visa fees, books, meals, and any personal travel. Sample budgets can be found on your program website.
Please visit the Financial Policy page for additional resources.
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[Financial Policy] Will my financial aid apply?
Except for campus employment packages, all other financial aid applies as normal to semester and academic year programs, including any aid you would normally receive for your F&M room and board. Students who have financial aid should contact the Financial Aid Office for specifics about how your financial aid would apply to your chosen program.Please visit the Financial Policy page for additional resources. -
[Financial Policy] Are there additional funding opportunities or scholarships?
Yes! You can find information about scholarships offered by F&M, your chosen program, the U.S. government, and other organizations on the Scholarships page.Please visit the Financial Policy page for additional resources. -
[Financial Policy] My program is asking for a deposit. Who pays that?
You are responsible for all deposits, housing fees, and any other non-tuition fees. All program deposits are to be paid directly to your program by you (this deposit will be credited back to you in some way, either on your program housing bill or on your F&M student account).Please visit the Financial Policy page for additional resources. -
[Preparing to go] How do I get a passport?
For U.S. citizens, you can find more information on how to apply for or a renew a passport online at www.travel.state.gov/passport. If you are not a U.S. citizen, please confirm passport requirements with your home country. Please remember: Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your return date in order to obtain permission to enter your host country. If your passport will expire early, you should renew your passport. -
[Preparing to go] How do I get a visa?
Your Off-Campus Study program should provide you with specific information regarding any visa requirements and the process to obtain a visa. It is important to note that not all countries require student visas, and that visa requirements are different for non-U.S. citizens.
If you are required to obtain a visa, it is important that you begin your application as soon as you are allowed to, and you should carefully read all required visa materials provided by your Off-Campus Study program. Students who have questions about their specific visa process should first contact the advisor for the program they're applying to, but you can also contact your F&M Off-Campus Study Advisor for support.
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[Preparing to go] How do I arrange my housing for my return to F&M?
Lori Foust is F&M's Residential Coordinator. She will contact you while off campus to arrange the housing lottery and roommate matching for when you return to campus. If you have any specific requests or concerns, you should contact her directly. Otherwise you should continually check your F&M email while abroad, and make sure to read and respond to emails from Ms. Foust. -
[Preparing to go] How do I register for next semester’s F&M courses while I’m away?
Midway through your off-campus semester, the F&M Registrar's Office will email you with instructions for F&M class registration for the following semester. Please be sure to regularly check your F&M email for any emails from Laura Medvic or the Registrar's office. If you have any specific questions or concerns, you should contact the F&M Registrar's office directly. -
[Preparing to go] What else do I need to be doing and thinking about before I go?
Please reference this checklist for specific tips and reminders for the week and month before you go.