Through its Center for International Programs (CIP), Kalamazoo College sponsors study abroad programs in the following countries: Ecuador, France, Germany, Kenya, Mexico, and Spain. In addition, Kalamazoo College students are able to participate in programs organized by foreign or U.S. institutions in a number of other countries including Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, England, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Senegal, South Korea and Thailand. For specific information about the study abroad or study away programs available to Kalamazoo students and their requirements for participation, please contact the Center for International Programs. A database of study abroad and study away programs pre-approved for transfer of academic credit is updated and published by the Center yearly. It is available on the CIP website. Some study abroad/study away programs offered through the Center are subject to annual enrollment limits. In the case where a program does not have sufficient minimum enrollment to meet academic and/or financial requirements, the College reserves the right to cancel the program for that particular year and advise students to consider other programs. The complete policies and regulations that govern Study Abroad and Study Away Programs at Kalamazoo College are found in the Study Abroad and Study Away Policies and Procedures, which are published by the Center for International Programs (CIP). The Policies are available online. Programs may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn at any time due to political, economic, or other conditions.
The Center determines which study abroad and study away programs qualify for transfer of academic credit and Kalamazoo College financial assistance/scholarships. Students should consult the Hornet Passport database regularly to determine if a program qualifies for the transfer of academic credit and Kalamazoo College financial assistance/scholarships. Programs may be changed, suspended, or withdrawn at any time due to political, economic, or other conditions. No credit will be awarded for any academic work done outside the United States without prior endorsement by the Center. Requests for endorsements after the fact will not be considered. Students interested in enrolling in a program not in the Hornet Passport database can petition the Center to have the program endorsed on a one-time basis. Such petitions must be filed by November 1 of the calendar year prior to the year in which students wish to participate. A description of the petition process is available on the CIP website.
As a general policy, participation in Kalamazoo College study abroad programs will be limited to a maximum of 18 students per program, although some programs have different limits. Long-term and extended-term programs are open to juniors only (students with a minimum of 17 academic K-units). Transfer students to the College should consult with the CIP about their eligibility to study abroad/away.
Kalamazoo students are eligible to participate in only one extended-term, long-term, or short-term study abroad experience and only one domestic study away program for credit during their time at the College. No more than ten units of credit from off-campus programs (including study abroad and domestic off-campus programs such as New York Arts or Philadelphia Center) can be used to meet a student’s graduation requirements.
Study Abroad Program Length
The study abroad programs available to Kalamazoo College students include one quarter, two quarters and three quarter programs. In a two quarter program, the academic experience typically lasts 15 to 20 weeks (requiring students to enroll in 6 units of credit), beginning in the fall or winter. Students who intend to participate in three quarter programs must pass all classes taken during the previous two quarters with a C or better. If a student has not met this requirement, they are not eligible to participate in the three quarter program and will need to make arrangements to return to campus for the spring quarter. Fall, winter or spring one quarter programs typically last ten weeks (requiring students to enroll in 3 units of credit). For information regarding specific program dates, please contact the Center for International Programs. Students need to meet with their academic advisers and consult the CIP well in advance of participation in order to determine the programs that will best fit their academic program at the College. Summer study abroad for credit is available to Kalamazoo College students through CIP-sponsored International Study Seminars or the summer off-campus study programs approval process described in this catalog under “Transfer Credit.”
Study Abroad/Study Away Eligibility
Students are required to obtain approval in advance for participation in study abroad/study away programs through application to the Center for International Programs. Students wishing to participate in study abroad/study away must have a minimum 2.0 GPA at the time of application; some programs have higher minimum GPA requirements. Students whose GPA does not meet the College’s 2.0 minimum or the program’s minimum and who still wish to study abroad must meet with CIP staff prior to submitting an application for study abroad. NOTE: Kalamazoo College cannot waive GPA or other eligibility requirements established by other programs. Therefore, only certain Kalamazoo-sponsored study abroad programs may be available to these students. The final decision regarding admission to and participation in specific programs rests with the Executive Director of the Center for International Programs and host institutions abroad. The Executive Director reserves the right to deny participation in study abroad/study away when students’ actions either on or off campus raise doubt that they are ready for an international study experience or prepared to represent Kalamazoo College appropriately.
Students on academic probation, or who have a history of significant disciplinary problems, are not eligible to participate in the study abroad/study away program. All incomplete grades must be resolved prior to departure for study abroad/study away.
Students whose physical, mental, or emotional condition may require accommodations to participate in study abroad/study away must contact the Center staff well before the deadlines for applications. The Center staff will assist by providing the student a clear description of the physical and emotional requirements of the program as well as the accommodations that could be available. The student will be asked to provide the Center staff with a clear description of the accommodations which the student believes will be necessary for the student to meet the requirements of the program as well as a list of the accommodations provided the student by Kalamazoo College. The Center staff will determine the availability of those or other reasonable accommodations at the program location. The student’s acceptance into a specific study abroad/study away program is contingent upon the determination to the Executive Director’s satisfaction that reasonable accommodations are available at that program location.
Study Abroad/Study Away Application, Selection, and Placement
Students must meet specific requirements and deadlines in order to be eligible to participate in any study abroad/study away program. These requirements differ from program to program, but for all of them prospective participants must fill out and submit required application materials, which are available on the Hornet Passport. Students must complete a Kalamazoo College study abroad/study away application and, in most cases, will also need to complete additional materials for the host institution or university.
Information on specific program requirements and applications is available online. With the exception of a single required foreign language course, students must meet all study abroad requirements at the time they apply and continue to meet the set requirements prior to departure. Academic performance and probationary status for violations of the student code of conduct will be evaluated by CIP staff following each quarter prior to departure for study abroad/study away.
Students may only apply for one study abroad/study away program at a time, regardless of the application deadline of that program. If a student is not admitted into his or her first choice study abroad program, the CIP will assist the student in applying for another study abroad program for which he or she is eligible and in which there is space available.
Participants are admitted to specific study abroad/study away programs based upon student qualifications, program capacities, and other conditions deemed relevant by the Executive Director of the Center for International Programs. Students meeting the College’s and any program-specific eligibility requirements are selected for participation in the study abroad/study away program on the basis of such items as their cumulative grade point average, their grades in the appropriate foreign language (where applicable), the strength of the required essay(s), faculty letters of recommendation, an evaluation of the transcript, and other information provided in their application and their College records.
Transfer students should expect that their previous academic work will be reviewed as part of the selection process and must supply the Center with an official transcript from their previous institution(s) at the time of application. The Office of the Registrar cannot release copies of non-Kalamazoo College transcripts. A combined transfer and Kalamazoo GPA will be used to determine eligibility.
Applications for participation in the winter quarter one term study abroad programs are due on Thursday of the third week of fall quarter. Applications for participation in spring one term study abroad programs are due eighth week of fall quarter; applications for participation in two or three quarter study abroad programs are due in the Center third week of winter quarter. Study Away application deadlines can be found in the CIP office and on the CIP website.
Study Abroad Foreign Language Prerequisites
Students who desire a university-integrated experience, in which they take classes with host country students in French-, German-, or Spanish-speaking programs, must have advanced proficiency in the appropriate foreign language equivalent to at least level 202 or 203. Students who have proficiency in a foreign language through level 201 will most typically take courses in the target language but offered through a language and culture institute for foreign students attached to or otherwise affiliated with a university.
Students who are not able to complete the program’s language requirement prior to the conclusion of the last quarter on campus before study abroad may be placed on conditional admission status until proof of completion has been received and approved by the language department and the Registrar.
Study Abroad/Study Away Fees
For Kalamazoo College students participating in a two quarter Kalamazoo College study abroad program, the comprehensive fee for 2024-2025 is $48,468; for an three quarter Kalamazoo College program, the 2024-2025 fee is $72,702. The fee for students participating in Kalamazoo College 2024-2025 fall, spring or winter one quarter programs is $24,234. Fees for CIP-sponsored International Study Seminars will be noted on the program description and may vary according to the program’s itinerary. Fees for study away vary by program and can be found on the CIP website.
The comprehensive fee includes room and board while classes are in session, all academic tuition and fees, and excursions included as part of the academic program
Note: The US Internal Revenue Service requires that Kalamazoo College report tuition separate from other fees on the form 1098-T. Study Abroad students at Kalamazoo College are charged a comprehensive fee for participation in the program. For the purposes of the 1098-T form, tuition will be listed in the same amount charged for the on-campus program. The remaining portion of the study abroad comprehensive fee will be noted as “study abroad program fee.”
Study abroad fees do not include items such as the following:
- round-trip transportation between the student’s home and the program’s location (note: transportation subsidies are available for qualified students)
- books and other required educational materials (including photocopies and personal printing—approximately $75 per quarter) or additional lab or music fees
- room and board during academic breaks, Christmas, Holy Week, and other extended vacation periods, particularly in Spain and France (note: funds are available to support travel during this time for qualified students)
- data/mobile phones or Internet fees/usage (note: funds are available for qualified students)
- passports (note: funds are available for qualified students)
- required physical exams, x-rays, and other medical tests (note: funds available for qualified students)
- required and recommended immunizations (average cost for immunizations at the College Health Center is $200 to $300-note: funds available for qualified students)
- required health and accident insurance
- required antimalarial prophylactic pills (where recommended by the CDC) that the student takes abroad (average cost $10 per pill, taken on a weekly basis; total cost varies from $300 to $400, depending on the length of the program-funds available for qualified students)
- independent travel while abroad (funds available for qualified students)
- incidental expenses en route and abroad
- Visa fees (for certain programs)
- personal property insurance; personal liability insurance; program cancellation insurance
Note: The CIP tries to estimate these additional miscellaneous expenses on the individual budget program sheet found on the Hornet Passport Website.
Kalamazoo College reserves the right to change or modify what is included in the comprehensive study abroad/study away fee without prior notice. For details on what the comprehensive fee includes, please consult the the CIP website and Hornet Passport budget information.
Study Abroad/Study Away Billing and Payment
Payments for study abroad/study away programs are made according to the regular college tuition payment schedule. For specific billing dates, contact the Kalamazoo College Student Accounts Office.
All student accounts, including fees, must be cleared before students can leave for study abroad/study away. Non-payment of the comprehensive fee installments will jeopardize a student’s continuing participation in the program and may result in withdrawal or dismissal from the program.
Study Abroad Financial Assistance/Scholarships
International education is supported at Kalamazoo College by a number of generous gifts, including the S. Rudolph Light Endowment and the Arcus Gay and Lesbian Fund Study Abroad Endowment.
For a list of outside scholarships and/or fellowships available to college students, please see the “Scholarships” page on the CIP website. Kalamazoo College students with demonstrated financial need as determined by the Kalamazoo College Office of Financial Aid may be eligible to receive a travel subsidy for their study abroad program. More information on travel subsidies is available in the Travel Subsidy FAQs on the CIP website.
Work/Study: No employment is available to students while on study abroad. Students travel overseas on a student visa that specifically prevents them from seeking employment or earning money while they are in that country: If work/study is part of their financial aid package, students should consult the Office of Financial Aid and should find an alternative source for those funds for the quarters spent abroad.
Study Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation
CIP staff members recognize that an important first step in preparing for the study abroad experience is for participants to have an opportunity to learn more information about their study abroad program. During the quarter preceding study abroad participation, CIP and other College staff members offer question-answer sessions as well as formal meetings providing information about the academic structure of the programs abroad, health and safety information, and details about logistical components of the program. Where feasible, study abroad returnees as well visiting international students will contribute to sessions to help students prepare to make the most of their time abroad. Kalamazoo students must attend all mandatory study abroad orientation workshops and sessions, sign up for/or complete and submit all signature or material submission documents, and read all learning content material in the Hornet Passport, the College online study abroad/away application and information system. Students are also encouraged to participate in optional workshops, which provide additional information and preparation. Failure to attend these mandatory sessions or complete required orientation assignments may result in the student’s withdrawal from study abroad.
Academic Credit from Study Abroad/Study Away
All academic work completed in the study abroad/study away program is certified by the Executive Director of the Center for International Programs and the Registrar and is recorded on the Kalamazoo College academic transcript on the basis of examinations and reports supplied by supervisors and teachers abroad. Study abroad/study away credits may be used to satisfy graduation requirements. Major, minor, or concentration requirements are at the discretion of departmental faculty. Credit distribution for other College graduation requirements is determined by the Registrar. When registering for courses abroad, students should direct inquiries regarding such credits accordingly. Students are encouraged to obtain approval from the department in advance if a student wishes to use a course from study abroad/study away to satisfy requirements for a major, minor, or concentration. Kalamazoo College students are eligible to earn three Kalamazoo College units of credit for a one quarter program, six units for a two quarter program, and nine units for an three quarter program. Only those courses from study abroad/study away which are within the “Liberal Arts Tradition” of the College will be accepted for credit.
Independent Study on Study Abroad/Study Away
No independent study for credit, including “distance education” courses, may be pursued in any study abroad/study away program without advance approval from the Executive Director of the Center for International Programs.
Grades from Study Abroad/Study Away
Study abroad/study away grades will be reviewed, translated, and certified by the Center for International Programs and will be recorded by the Registrar on the official Kalamazoo College transcript according to the Kalamazoo A, B, C grading system. Grades from study abroad/study away courses will not be counted in the student’s Kalamazoo grade point average. To receive credit for a study abroad/study away course, students must earn a C or better according to the local grading scale. (Note: Courses taken as “pass/fail” on study abroad will not be transferred.) Credits will normally be listed on the Kalamazoo College transcript with the same academic rubric used at the foreign institution; for example, a class listed as a “History” course will be listed as a “History” course on the Kalamazoo transcript.
Students seeking a grade change for a course taken on study abroad/study away must petition the Center for International Programs no later than six weeks following notification of their grades. Requests for a grade review must be accompanied by complete documentation from the course in question including syllabi, assignment sheets, reading lists, homework and other assignments, essays, examinations, etc. Grade appeals must follow the College’s standard change of grade procedure as outlined in the catalog.
Incomplete Grades on Study Abroad/Study Away
Students must complete all course work while they are enrolled in the study abroad/study away academic program; no Incomplete (I) grades will be given for course work taken in a program off-campus. All course work must be completed by the deadlines set by the staff and/or instructors at the program. Courses that are not completed abroad will be recorded with a grade of F on the Kalamazoo College transcript.
Attendance Policy on Study Abroad/Study Away
Students are expected to attend classes Monday through Friday and to participate in scheduled group activities and excursions. Unexcused absences often result in a lowered grade and may be deemed a sufficient reason for withdrawal from the program.
Withdrawal from Courses on Study Abroad/Study Away
Students are not permitted to arbitrarily underload, drop, or add courses while on study abroad/study away. Students must enroll in the required number of courses as specified by Kalamazoo College and cannot exceed or reduce the required number of courses in the program without the written permission of the Executive Director of the Center for International Programs. Approved course withdrawals will be noted on the transcript with a “W”. If a petition for a course withdrawal is made on the basis of medical reasons, appropriate documentation and the signature of a health care provider is required. The availability of “extra credits” in the form of AP and/or dual-enrollment credits will not be accepted as a sufficient reason for course withdrawal.
Students wishing to withdraw from a course must first submit the “Course Withdrawal Form” to the CIP. Approved withdrawal petitions will be sent by the CIP to the study abroad/study away partner institution.
Change of Student Status: Study Abroad/Study Away
Students who decide not to participate in the program after being admitted will be required to pay any costs incurred on their behalf (including, but not limited to, moneys advanced on their behalf for nonrefundable deposits at other institutions, airfare, legal documents, visa and application fees, housing deposits, host university tuition, etc.). Students who leave the program with the permission of the Executive Director of the Center for International Programs after the program abroad has begun may be entitled to a partial refund as specified in the College’s policies. Students will still be responsible for covering any non-recoverable costs paid on their behalf. Eligibility for possible refunds will be computed according to the on-campus calendar. These students may be eligible to receive grades of W (withdrawal) on the Kalamazoo College academic transcript or depending on the date of departure, be eligible for a change of status from study abroad/study away to on-campus student. Students who leave the program without earning any academic credit will be withdrawn from the College. Students will be charged for any non-recoverable costs paid on their behalf and they will be subject to the withdrawal policies of the College.
Students who wish to travel home for a personal or family emergency must notify the Executive Director of the Center for International Programs, or designee, and complete a “temporary leave of absence” form.
Dismissal from Study Abroad/Study Away
Application to and acceptance into the study abroad/study away program is separate from admission to the College. Participation in study abroad at Kalamazoo College requires that students meet eligibility criteria as well as exercise responsible judgment and behavior. The Executive Director of the Center for International Programs or designee may dismiss students from the study abroad/study away program for violations of College policy and/or regulations, disruptive behavior or conduct which could bring the program into disrepute, misuse and/or abuse of alcohol or drugs, medical or academic grounds, or behavior that poses a danger to the student or others.
When students accept their admission to the study abroad/study away program, they agree to abide by the policies and regulations set forth in the Study Abroad Policies and Procedures, the Academic Catalog, and other relevant Kalamazoo College publications. Of particular importance for students participating in study abroad is the “Statement of Social Behavior” from the Study Abroad Policy and Procedures that states, in part, that acceptable behavior includes compliance with local laws and regulations, host university policies and regulations (including local housing regulations and policies), and adherence to the social patterns of the homestay family (or local housing placement) and the local community. Any behavior that, in the judgment of the Executive Director of the Center for International Programs, causes pain or discomfort to others, reflects discredit on the individual or upon the College, or poses a danger to the individual student or to others is considered unacceptable and may subject the offender to immediate administrative action by the Executive Director of the Center for International Programs including, but not limited to, immediate dismissal from the study abroad/study away program. Immediate administrative action may also be required for behavior or medical conditions which affect a participant’s ability to perform the essential functions of a student.
Students who are dismissed from the study abroad/study away program will be withdrawn from their courses overseas and receive a grade of W for each course. They will also be removed from their program-provided housing and will be expected to return to the home country. Examples of student behavior while on study abroad/study away that may lead to immediate administrative action by the Executive Director of the Center for International Programs or designee include, but are not limited to, illegal drug use, abuse of alcohol, failure to attend class and/or other required academic activities, unauthorized absence from the study abroad/study away program, unauthorized changes in housing, arrest for infractions of local laws, and violations of Kalamazoo College policies. Furthermore, the Center for International Programs reserves the right to notify the parents of any student whose behavior abroad, which in the judgment of the Executive Director, is unacceptable or in violation of study abroad/study away and/or College policy. (See the Study Abroad and Study Away Polices and Procedures for copies of the Student Agreement).