TRANSFER OF CREDIT  (click for more detailed info.)
Each course not taken at Tufts must be approved by the appropriate department (courses are approved by content, not by the language in which the course is taken). On-line transfer of credit requests can be accessed via WebCenter for Students at http://studentservices.tufts.edu. It is always wise to get approval for alternate courses, since program changes are common. Be sure, however, that you do not enroll in a course similar to one for which you have already received credit at Tufts.

Make every effort to get courses pre-approved before your departure. While we prefer that you complete the course approval process before leaving, we realize that you may not receive final course listings and descriptions until some time during the summer and occasionally not until your arrival abroad. (This is most likely to happen if you are enrolling directly in a foreign university.) In such cases, you should discuss the types of courses you plan to take with your adviser and the department from which you are requesting credit, even though you do not have exact descriptions and numbers. As soon as you obtain the final listings, you should seek approval via WebCenter for Students at http://studentservices.tufts.edu. At the end of your studies, be sure to have an official transcript of your work sent directly from the university or program provider to the Student Services Desk in Dowling Hall, not to the foreign study adviser. Transcripts handed in by students, even in a sealed envelope, are not accepted for credit transfer. Under no circumstance can the Office of Programs Abroad approve courses for credit if you are not able to find an academic department to do so.  More details

LEAVE OF ABSENCE FORM
When you fill out the leave of absence form and submit it to the Tufts Office of Programs Abroad, you will be placed on an official leave of absence from Tufts during the semester(s) you are studying abroad. This form must be signed by your academic adviser and then submitted to the foreign study adviser in the Office of Programs Abroad for final approval. Copies of this form will be sent to all the appropriate administrative offices. Consult the foreign study adviser to determine the amount of transfer credit a student can expect to earn, pending approval of courses by the appropriate departments and completion of the foreign study program at an accredited institution.

The Tufts Office of Programs Abroad must receive the leave of absence form in order to notify all appropriate offices of the university that you are taking a leave of absence. For students who will study abroad for the fall semester or full year, the leave of absence form must be turned in no later than April 30. The deadline is November 15 for those students who will be away during spring semester.

Approval of a petition to study abroad applies to transfer of academic credit only; it does not imply an evaluation of current security conditions in the country in question. For updated safety information, contact the program provider and consult the U.S. State Department travel advisories, available at http://travel.state.gov.

PRE-DEPARTURE MEETINGS
Students taking a leave of absence to study abroad on a non-Tufts program are required to attend a pre-departure meeting held during reading period in the semester prior to their semester or year abroad. Important information regarding transfer of credit, health and safety, culture shock, and more will be discussed by Programs Abroad staff and, when possible, alumni of the program.

CHANGE IN HOUSING STATUS
If you previously selected on-campus housing for the semester or year in which you now plan to be abroad, you were charged a $500 room guarantee fee by the Office of Residential Life at the time of the room selection process. This fee is nonrefundable unless you submit a “Housing Update” form to the Office of Residential Life before April 30, indicating that you will be studying abroad for the full year, fall semester, or the spring semester. Submission of this form after the deadline entitles you to a refund of the room charge but not the room guarantee fee of $500. If you chose “fall-only” housing and are planning to be abroad during spring semester only, no notification of your departure is necessary.

DECLARATION OF MAJOR
It is required that you declare a major before you file a leave of absence form. You will need to discuss with your major adviser the courses you have taken so far, those you plan to take while abroad, and those you will take upon returning to Tufts. Forms to declare the major are available in the Dowling Hall Student Services Center.