Study Abroad For Students

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STUDY ABROAD POLICY FOR STUDENTS AT TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

The primary goal of the Office of International Affairs (OIA) at Tennessee State University (TSU) is to strengthen the global and international dimensions of teaching, learning, research, and service.

We believe:

  • Global and international awareness, knowledge, and proficiency are essential for our students to participate effectively in the 21st century.
  • International education is an orientation and approach across the curriculum as well as a separate subject.
  • International education at should be an integrated and collaborative effort on the part of all levels of the university.

OIA administrative and support services provide:

  • Student Study Abroad Programs
  • Faculty Led Study Abroad Programs
  • Study Abroad Scholarships & Grants, Exchange Programs
  • Cultural Immersion Initiatives (CI2)
  • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), and Comprehensive Internationalization using the American Council on Education (ACE) model

 

Please select the following for more options:

Study Abroad Programs
Scholarship and Financial Aid
Steps to Study Abroad
 - 2018 Study Abroad Program for Students

 


 

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STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS

OIA offers TSU students education abroad program options within 20 different countries. While it is quite beneficial for students to have a wide variety of choices, it can also be somewhat overwhelming. Therefore, we highly recommend that students read these brief descriptions below before researching programs to assist with their navigation and understanding.

The minimum grade point average for participation on an TSU education abroad approved programming is:
• 2.0 overall combined for summer or other short term
• 2.5 overall combined for semester/academic year
• Exceptions can be requested from the OIA.  Consideration is only
for participants whose GPA is within range of achieving the minimum GPA prior to the actual departure of the program.

In addition to GPA criteria, a TSU Student Conduct and Judicial Affairs check will be required for each education abroad participant.  OIA can also deny a student’s participation based on behavior reports and /or removal from a previous education abroad program.

All study abroad grants are funded from the $10 International Education Fee students are assessed each academic semester.

TSU Faculty Led Programs

TSU faculty member(s) teach TSU courses which are specifically designed for the overseas location. Each program provides students with an academically enriching experience in the host country while also providing culturally relevant excursions that complement the academic experience. Programs are taught in English (with the exception of language credit programs) and are generally 3-6 credit hours. TSU Faculty Led Programs are available in the summer and are 2-4 weeks in duration, although a few options during spring and fall breaks also exist. While any student can participate in Faculty-Led programs, they work especially well for those who have not traveled abroad previously, are seeking more guidance and structure, and would prefer to travel with a group.

Consortia: TnCIS, Scholar Laureate, and Mid-Continent


TSU is affiliated with three Consortia program options. The Tennessee Consortium of International Studies (TnCIS) is the most popular program with our students. These programs are very similar to Faculty-Led programs in that the courses are taught by the U.S. Consortia member faculty (which sometimes means a TSU professor), are typically 2-4 weeks in duration throughout the summer, provide a good deal of structure and support as a group option, and provide the student with three (3) credit hours.

Exchange Programs: International Student Exchange Program (ISEP)


These programs are offered through bilateral exchange agreements between TSU and our partner universities abroad or within the ISEP network. Exchange options are generally offered as semester or full academic year in length and require the student to be enrolled in a full-time course load each term. Participants will be enrolled as regular students at the partner university but will pay TSU fees for tuition (and sometimes room and meals depending on the exchange agreement). At the same time, students from these partner universities come to study at TSU. Exchange programs are ideal for students who want to challenge themselves by fully integrating into the day-to-day academic and personal life of the host country. Because these programs do not offer the level of support as our other options, participants should be highly motivated, interested in planning their own semester activities and excursions, and feel comfortable seeking out details without a great deal of guidance.

Other Options:

Program Providers: CIEE, GlobaLinks, ISA, LAC, and USAC


TSU is affiliated with particular third-party provider organizations to supplement the overall portfolio of education abroad options. There are hundreds of third party provider programs in existence. These programs work well for students who want the immersion of attending a foreign university, but are seeking a high level of support both here in the U.S. prior to departure and while abroad. Application procedures and deadlines vary by provider and programs range in length from a few weeks during the summer or winter to a full academic semester or year.


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SCHOLARSHIP AND FINANCIAL AID

Numerous scholarships are available to students wishing to study abroad. Additionally, students may be able to use their financial aid while studying abroad. To find out if aid can be used while studying abroad, a student may contact any counselor in the TSU Financial Aid Office.

The following list includes but is not limited to information on existing aid and will assist the students in finding other sources.

 A. TSU’s Study Abroad Grant:
This grant is available to qualified full-time and degree seeking TSU students. This grant could provide up to 50% of your program fee for TnCIS programs, up to 33% of your program fee for CIEE & EF Tour Programs or airfare support (Other).  Additional financial aid may be available so please contact the Office of Financial Aid for details and to confirm potential eligibility.   You will need a PDF file of your transcript and your passport, if you have been previously issued one.  This grant award application opens in September and closes in December of the Fall semester prior to the next calendar year’s summer execution. Example:   For travel during the summer of 2019, grant applications will be accepted from September 2018 – December 2018.  

B. Program-specific scholarships
There are various programs offered through the Office of International Affairs (OIA), many of which have their own unique scholarships to help students with expenses abroad. The following websites provide information on possible opportunities and procedures for applying.
ISEP:
http://www.isep.org/students/Programs/financial_aid_scholarships.asp
ISA:
http://studiesabroad.com/interested/document/scholarships
GlobaLinks (AustraLearn, AsiaLearn, EuroLearn):
http://www.globalinksabroad.org/study_abroad/scholarships/
(Click on Study Abroad, then Scholarships)
USAC:
http://usac.unr.edu/money-matters/financing/scholarships-and-discounts

 C. TSU Financial Aid
It is advisable to search out all scholarship opportunities before using federal loans, however many students take out loans as a safety net in case problems arise abroad. Students may be able to use their financial aid while studying abroad. The TSU Financial Aid Office can counsel students on availability of funding.

D. Gilman scholarship:
This scholarship is awarded to U.S. citizens that are recipients of Pell Grants. The length of study has a minimum of four weeks; students who have never been abroad before and are traveling to non-Western European nations are the most competitive. The application form and current deadlines can be found at www.iie.org/en/programs/gilman-scholarship-program.

E. Boren scholarship:
NSEP (National Security Education program) will award students up to $10,000 for undergraduate students studying in non-traditional (non-Western European) areas. This is a competitive scholarship; application can be found at http://www.borenawards.org/.

F. Fulbright, and other International competitive undergraduate opportunities:
http://www.cies.org/


G. Fund for Education Abroad (FEA):
Scholarships, of up to $5000 are intended to support students planning to participate in a high-quality, rigorous education abroad programs of 4-weeks or longer.
http://www.fundforeducationabroad.org/


H. Diversity Study Abroad Scholarships:
Diversity Abroad partners with dozens of study abroad organizations. Several of these organizations offer diversity study abroad scholarships.
http://www.diversityabroad.com/minority-study-abroad-scholarships


I. General Search Engine for Study Abroad Funding Opportunities:
This valuable funding resource allows students to search by country or subject to find study abroad funding information. It is a comprehensive database of study abroad scholarships, fellowships, and grants can help make any student’s dream of studying abroad a financial possibility and a profound reality.
http://www.studyabroadfunding.org/  or https://lendedu.com/blog/study-abroad-scholarships/

 


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STEPS TO STUDYING ABROAD

The Office of International Affairs provides leadership in advocating and promoting excellence in international education.  Through numerous collaborative partnerships, students and faculty can explore the world by participating in study abroad experiences, research projects, and cultural exchanges.

The steps a student should follow to study abroad are found below:

STEP 1:

The intention of of the Global Scholar Online Courses, developed by The Center for Global Education, is to introduce students to the opportunities and challenges inherent in participating in study abroad programs. The courses provide them the opportunity for cross-cultural learning, making better sense of their experiences abroad, and further refining their skills in cross-cultural observation, adaptation, and communication.

Go to http://globalscholar.us/index.asp  to register prior to STEP 2.

 

STEP 2:
Students should register for Course 1 of the Global Scholar Online Courses prior to meeting with a Study Abroad Advisor in the Office of International Affairs (OIA). No reservations required. Appointments can also be made by emailing the Director of International Education-mbrinkley1@tnstate.edu

During this session, the student will be guided through the study abroad process including program research, course options, scholarships, budgeting, and the application procedures. An advising session will be more productive if some research has been conducted online prior to the meeting.

STEP 3:
Student should select the Country, Program, and Course for the study abroad/student exchange experience. Recommended but not limited to the following:

http://www.tncis.org              http://www.ciee.org/study                  http://www.isep.org              

View Countries, Programs, and Course offerings provided by the Tennessee Consortium for International Studies (TnCIS) and other programs available to discover the world

STEP 4:

Student is to complete the application process for the program selected. The applications for individual programs and the OIA-Study Abroad Grant are two distinct processes. Both applications must be completed.

STEP 5:
Student is to complete and submit an application for an Office of International Affairs (OIA)-Study Abroad Grant. Additional financial aid may be available from internal and external sources. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for details and to confirm potential eligibility. Notification of student awards will be made in February.

The Office of International Affairs has an established timeline to ensure students and faculty are adequately prepared for the traditional study abroad season, which could begin as early as Spring Break and end as late Summer II.

August– December

  • ·         Work with the Academic Departments to create awareness of the study abroad/research/cultural exchange opportunities available in the Spring and Summer semesters
  • ·         Share best practices of executing study abroad experiences with Faculty and Staff. 
  • ·         Recruit student participants
  • ·         Train faculty on program changes and student deadlines 
  • ·         Gain alignment with faculty on best practices and reinforce the Standards of Good Practice for Education Abroad
  • ·         Students to focus on completing the program application  
  • ·         Ensure students and faculty understand deadlines for the study abroad program, grants, and financial aid.   Most applications should be completed and submitted prior to leaving for semester break.

January – March

  • ·         Communicate to students and faculty the deadlines and process to complete the pre-departure requirements for the study abroad program. 
  • ·         Ensure students and faculty understand their program payment deadlines.
  • ·         Ensure the students understand the academic course they need to enroll in prior to departure.  
  • ·         The academic departments must post the study abroad courses to allow students to register for the summer courses. 
  • ·         Summer enrollment begins after Spring break.   
  • ·         Enrollment in the study abroad course is confirmed at the pre-departure briefing. 
  • In-country itineraries and a manifest should be submitted to OIA by the faculty leader prior to the first pre-departure briefing






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