Franklin & Marshall - Get Started with OCS

Get Started with OCS

In order to study off campus, you must work through our office to make sure both financial aid and credit transfer, and to receive other important information and services that will help you have a successful experience.

WE ARE NOW ADVISING FOR SUMMER & FALL 2020!

Remember that approval for OCS semester terms is done on a rolling admissions basis and terms fill according to the rate at which applications are submitted.

The deadline to complete the first two steps of the advising process for Fall 2020
has now passed.

If you did not complete Steps 1 and 2 of the advising process before October 22,
you may wish to consider studying off campus in Spring 2021. (Note that this does
not apply to Summer 2020 off-campus study. The deadline for all Summer 2020
program applications is February 1. This is NOT a rolling deadline.)

IF YOU COMPLETED STEPS 1 AND 2 OF THE ADVISING PROCESS BEFORE OCTOBER 22 AND YOU WISH TO REMAIN IN CONSIDERATION FOR FALL 2020 OFF-CAMPUS STUDY YOU MUST:

1) Meet with an OCS advisor before Friday, December 6, 2019. Bear in mind that during busy advising times, appointments can fill up 2 weeks or more in advance, so please schedule early and email the OCS advisor if you are unable to find an appointment time that works for you.

2) Communicate your program choice to your OCS advisor before the Winter
break.

If you are interested in Spring 2021 off-campus study, you do not need to begin the process now. Timelines for Spring 2021 will be posted soon.

If you are interested in Summer 2020 Summer Travel Courses, please follow the instructions at each site. If you are interested in other Summer 2020 off-campus study programs, your deadline is February 1.

Step 1: Watch Starting Points video series

This 12-minute video series will discuss basic policies regarding credit transfer, cost & financial aid, scholarships, the timeline you should expect for the process, how to get started working with our office, and much more! Watching this video series is the very first step you must take to begin the process of off-campus study.

Starting Points video series
Step 2: Enter your information in the online Off-Campus Study portal

To begin working with our office, please click here to Begin Advising.

Complete the Starting Points assessment. Refer back to the videos as much as you need to answer all the questions correctly.

Complete the Initial Interest Application, which will ask about your intended major, your interests, and what you hope to gain from studying off-campus. This will give us a little more information about you before you meet with one of our advisors.

Complete any other questionnaires or signature documents that appear.

Off-Campus Study portal
Step 3: Make an appointment with an OCS advisor
OCS ADVISING WINDOW:

PLEASE NOTE THE SPRING 2020 TERM IS NOW CLOSED. We are now advising for Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 programs. If you are interested in either of these terms, please complete the steps above and make an appointment with an Off-Campus Study advisor during this fall term.

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT:

To make an appointment with an OCS advisor during the designated advising window, go to offcampus.fandm.edu, click on “Staff” in the upper right corner, and click on each advisor's name to review their program portfolio.

If you are unsure where you want to study, just book any appointment with the adviser of your first-choice program location. You do not need to make an appointment with more than one advisor for your initial appointment.

When you are ready, click the link at the bottom of the advisor's staff page to access their appointment calendar.

BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS:

All students interested in studying off-campus must meet with an off-campus study advisor at least once. In that meeting, you'll talk about:

Your academic and long-range career goals

Your goals for off-campus study

Ways each off-campus study program offers unique cultural learning opportunities that can help you reach these goals

Academic requirements and credit transfer policy

Cost and financial policy

Program application timelines and procedures

What your next steps should be
Off-Campus Study Advisors
Additional steps: Search programs and talk to others!

You can view the 1 00+ pre-approved programs and use the simple and advanced search functions to find what you’re looking for.

You can get exposure to more information by talking to the OCS ambassadors and other OCS alumni, attending our OCS Fall Fair, and reading stories from other students who have studied off-campus.

And be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

OCS Timeline

You should begin the off-campus study process at least two semesters in advance. For science majors, you may begin as early as your freshman year. Refer to this timeline checklist as often as you need to as a reminder of when you should be working on certain tasks.

Which term should you study off-campus? Consult the Choosing your Term page for important advice.

You may also find our Eligibility & Deadlines and Off-Campus Study Timeline videos useful. All students are required to watch these videos before meeting with an OCS advisor.

Other Ways to Connect

Come to a Dips Abroad News Hour! Throughout the semester, our office will be offering info sessions and workshops on a variety of topics related to Off-Campus Study. They will take place in the Joseph International Center. Please watch for regular emails announcing upcoming news hours.

2019-2020 Off-Campus Study Ambassadors

The Off-Campus Study Ambassadors are F&M seniors who have studied off-campus previously (sometimes more than once!). Ambassadors organize events across campus for both prospective and returned off-campus study students and are available to communicate with students and answer questions.

Meet the 2019-2020 Ambassadors

Off-Campus Study Student Stories

Animal Behavior majors conducting field research in the Australian rainforest. Government majors interning in Scottish Parliament. Art majors taking studio classes in Florence. Classics students walking to class through the streets of Rome. Read about F&M students off-campus, where they went, what they studied, and how it impacted their studies.

Browse Our Stories