FAQs and Forms

Study Abroad FAQs

What are some good reasons for studying abroad?
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Research shows that studying abroad increases cultural literacy, retention rates, 4 year graduation rates, grade point averages, future employability, future salary and overall opportunities. In addition, it will paint your life in a more interesting light because it’s adventurous, creates lifelong bonds and allows students to gain enlightening new perspectives. FGCU International Services Office and FGCU Career Services to help students frame their international experiences for job searches.
Where can I go?
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You can go almost anywhere. At FGCU, staff and faculty members lead study abroad tours and other short-term study abroad programs. These programs change from year to year depending on where faculty decide to propose programs. Lutgert Business students have the option to study abroad with one of our exchange partner universities in France, Germany, Spain or Sweden. We also work with a host of education abroad program provider organizations and chances are that if you have a country in mind, we can help find a program for you there. We follow safety and security guidelines set forth by the U.S. State Department to determine regional risks around the world.
Do I have to be fluent in a foreign language?
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Speaking the language of the country is not a requirement, but it is helpful. Most programs offer courses taught in English and also offer language courses to assist you in learning the local language. We believe it should be a goal of every FGCU student to learn a language at some point in their lives, and studying abroad is a great opportunity to do so. But it is not a requisite.
Will I receive academic credit for studying abroad?
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With the appropriate approval signatures on your study abroad approval form, credits you receive while studying abroad may be transferred back to FGCU. Transfer credit is dependent on the course content, equivalency to FGCU courses, and degree requirements in your particular major.
How long can I study abroad?
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How much does the program cost?
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The cost may vary depending on the type of program and program sponsor, location, length, services provided, and course tuition fees. Some of the costs to consider are: course tuition, living expenses (room and board, personal expenditures, health care/insurance, local transportation, cultural tours, etc), airfare, application fees, passport, visas, etc. As you research different programs be sure to pay attention to what’s included in the programs fees.
Do I have to have a certain cumulative GPA to study abroad?
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Eligibility will vary from program to program. In general, programs will require a 2.0 or better cumulative average. A strong start in your freshman year will be very helpful, but there are programs of study or work abroad for all students. When in doubt, come in and talk to us about requirements for different programs.
What accommodations are provided?
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Housing arrangements vary among the study abroad programs. Some offer a room in a residence hall, or with a host family. Others offer a shared apartment. Meals may be provided in a dining hall, or kitchen facilities may be provided so that you can prepare your own meals.
What are the application deadlines?
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Deadlines vary according to the program. Generally, for year-long programs, you should begin to prepare your application a year in advance. For semester programs, a semester ahead of time is usually appropriate. For summer programs, you should begin the application procedure in January.
How do I find the right program and apply?
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There are so many programs out there. FGCU’s International Services Office will help you sort through all of the options and help you find the right one. We tend to promote longer term programs that involve deeper cultural immersion, but we also know that studying abroad for a semester is not always possible. We recommend that if you plan on studying abroad at FGCU to try to save your general elective courses, this will give you more flexibility in choosing the right program. The process involves a series of tasks and hoops to jump through, but then you find yourself on a plane heading towards the adventure of a lifetime
Where can get I more information?
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Schedule an appointment with our staff, or attend one of our information sessions or our Study Abroad Fair.

Office of International Services and Study Abroad
Reed Hall 122
Florida Gulf Coast University
10501 FGCU Blvd. S.
Fort Myers, FL 33965-6565

Phone: 239-590-7925
Fax: 239-590-7977

Faculty Forms

Documents for Proposing a new Faculty-Led Study Abroad (FLSA) Program

FLSA 2020 Program Development Guidelines- Please use these guidelines to fill out the FLSA Proposal Form.

Intent to Propose a Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program for 2020- Start here! This form will be used to facilitate a discussion on how to move forward from the idea stage to the final program stage. Please limit information to 1-2 pages. To discuss your program idea (for programs that plan on departing in any semester of 2019) you should make an appointment by May 31st, 2018, to meet with Matthew Ryan, Assistant Director, International Services, by calling the International Services Office front desk at 239-590-7925.

FLSA 2020 Proposal Form- This form is used to formulate your program outline/budget and to obtain approvals to run your FLSA program.

FLSA 2020 Budget Form Use this form to plan out your budget for your proposed FLSA. This form will provide an overall budget breakdown and calculate per capita cost.

Faculty proposing new programs should not hesitate to contact Matthew Ryan, Assistant Director, International Services Office if assistance is desired for filling out these forms.

Student Forms

Course Pre-Approval Form for study abroad transfer credit.

Submit and application in Horizons when a program has been chosen.

FGCU Waiver Form for Program Provider, Direct Enroll or Exchange Programs

FGCU Waiver Form for Faculty Led Study Abroad Programs

Study Abroad Information for Academic Advisors

Study Abroad Course Transfer Equivalency Approval Process
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1. Student attends an FGCU International Services Information Session.
2. Student researches their options and chooses a study abroad program.
3. Student meets with Assistant Director of International Services for Course Pre-Approval Form signature and to determine transcript source.
4. Student schedules appointment with their Academic Advisor for FGCU equivalency / general elective determination and signature.
5. Student turns in completed Course Pre-Approval Form to the International Services Office.
6. Student applies to provider program (This step may be done any time after step 2).
7. Student studies abroad. If the student arrives in country and finds that they must alter their courses due to course unavailability, a new Course Pre-Approval Form must be filled out. This may be done over the Internet and may take the form of email correspondence that is attached as an addendum to the original form.
8. Student returns to campus. The transcripts are articulated by the Admissions Office as indicated on the Course Pre-Approval Form. If the transcript is issued from a foreign university, the student needs to have that transcript evaluated by a foreign credential evaluation service. International Services Office can guide the student through this process.