Interested in Studying Off-Campus? You’ve Come to the Right Place!
Scroll to see the complete application process
Crucial Note – You must complete TWO (2) applications to go abroad with Wooster.
- You must apply and be approved by Wooster (step 4).
- PLUS you will need to apply to your specific program on their website (step 5).
You MUST complete BOTH of these applications. If you don’t, you will have an incomplete application and will not be able to study abroad.
❑ Meet with a GEO Peer Advisor to go through the basics of studying about at Wooster. Click the button above to schedule an appointment.
❑ If possible, look around at geo.wooster.edu ahead of time and come prepared with some possible ideas for where you might study or what kinds of classes you might want to take. GEO 101 is a time for you to get the general information and begin to ask your questions.
❑ After you’ve participated in GEO 101 and understand more about what’s involved in studying abroad at Wooster, spend time researching various study abroad programs, universities, and countries.
❑ Consider your academic and personal goals, as well as any language or other prerequisites.
❑ Select the specific study program you want to pursue.
❑ Determine what classes you’d be able to take on this program.
❑ Book an appointment with one of the directors for the Global Engagement Office (link in the button above) to go over more specific questions and goals you have for your study abroad. Come to this meeting with clear ideas of where and what you’d like to study. You might consider bringing a couple of programs and locations that really interest you and talk through the pros and cons.
- GEO’s director, Candace Chenoweth, specializes in advising students with STEM-related interests study abroad. Candace studied abroad in West Germany as an undergraduate, an invaluable experience that sparked her interest in all things international. She earned a M.A. in Asian Studies from the University of Hawaii and later taught English in Japan for three years. She has worked almost 30 years in international education.
- Associate Director of GEO, Ebed Sulbaran, primarily advises students studying the arts, humanities, history, and social sciences. He has a long background in international studies; his study abroad was in the United States, and he has since taught in a variety of settings in multiple countries, worked with students coming to the US for study abroad, and now assists students who wish to study around the world.
❑ In order to begin your application with Wooster, log in on geo.wooster.edu using your Wooster credentials. Go to the page of the specific program you’ve selected, click “Apply Now,” and fill out the application there.
❑ Click here to review the application components you’ll need to complete and/or read and sign before you can be approved by GEO to study abroad.
❑ Once you’re approved by Wooster, you’ll also need to do the Post-Decision Application Components found in your account at geo.wooster.edu. These do not have to be completed before you apply to your program provider, but they must be completed before you can study abroad.
Application Deadlines
For semester programs, apply by March 1, the school year before you want to go.
Examples:
- If you want to travel Fall of ’25, you’ll need to apply by March 1, 2025.
- If you want to travel Spring of ’26, you’ll need to apply by March 1, 2025.
For TREK programs, apply by December 1 the school year before.
Example:
- If you want to go on a TREK during the summer of 2025, you need to apply by Dec. 1, 2024.
For summer programs, apply by April 1 the school year before.
Example:
- If you want to go on a program with one of our providers during the summer of 2025, you need to apply by April 1, 2025.
Third-Party or Exchange application deadlines will vary. Please see your program’s website for the exact date.
❑ Once approved by the Global Engagement Office, you must complete a second application, this one on your program provider’s website (SIT, IES, Arcadia, ARCOS, etc.). This is a crucial step; skipping it will result in you being unable to go overseas.
❑ Carefully review the admission requirements of your chosen university and program. Take special note of GPA, academic prerequisite, and language proficiency requirements.
❑ Fill out the university or provider’s online application form or designated study abroad application.*
- Submit your application along with all required documents by the specified deadline.
- Ensure that all materials are complete and accurate.
- Ask your Provider Advisor any specific questions you have.
- Pay the program deposit, typically $500.
*Most providers accept applicants on a rolling basis, so if you apply early and meet admission requirements, you most likely will be accepted.
Once Accepted
❑ Go to this site for resources on preparing to go abroad.
❑ Follow the university/provider’s instructions to start the class selection.
❑ Apply for a student visa or residence permit for your host country. Follow your provider’s instruction to apply for your visa from the country’s embassy or consulate. Check here for additional helpful information.
❑ Attend all Pre-Departure Orientation sessions provided by GEO and your study abroad provider.
❑ Research tips for funding your trip, budgeting & packing for your time away, planning for possible emergencies, preparing to be healthy and safe, setting goals, and so many more things to reduce stress and maximize your time studying off-campus. Don’t forget to make sure you know what to do to ensure that credits & housing are set for when you come back to Wooster.
❑ Go! (and be sure to attend the university’s orientation for international students upon arrival.)