Student Status Issues

Studying Abroad as a Transfer Student

Whether transfer students may study abroad depends on their Undergraduate Residence Requirement. If you are a transfer student, your URR was included in the credit evaluation form that you received from the Office of the Registrar after you applied to transfer to Northwestern. If you no longer have this form or have questions, call the Office of the Registrar at 847-491-5234 to make an appointment with your degree auditor.

Study Abroad & Early Graduation

If you hope to study abroad and graduate early, you need to review your plans with your degree auditor in the Office of the Registrar before going abroad. Whether or not you can do both depends on a number of factors, including but not limited to: the amount of time you have spent taking classes full-time on Northwestern’s campus; whether you are getting a single or double degree; and whether you received AP credit.

See the Northwestern University Undergraduate Catalog for details on the university enrollment requirement, the Undergraduate Residence Requirement, and the graduation requirements in your school.  To review your plans in light of your overall career at Northwestern, contact the Office of the Registrar at 847-491-5234 to make an appointment with your degree auditor.

Studying Abroad As A Senior During Your Final NU Quarter

While it is possible for graduating seniors to study abroad during their final quarter at Northwestern, it is important to keep the following issues in mind:

  • It is essential that you keep in contact with your degree auditor before and while you are abroad to discuss the timeline of your graduation and the process for receiving your diploma.

  • In the past, some seniors who have studied abroad during the winter/spring quarters have not received their diploma until early fall, even though they are eligible to "walk" at graduation in June. Keep in mind that it can take a few months for study abroad transcripts to arrive at Northwestern and for final credits to get transferred, which may delay your actual date of graduation.

  • Some programs do not end until after Northwestern's quarter is over, and you are required to complete all courses, coursework, and final assessments on-site. If your program does not end until after Northwestern’s graduation, you cannot return early to walk. 

  • Students planning to return to the U.S. to walk with their fellow graduating classmates may experience difficulty in obtaining tickets to the graduation ceremony while abroad. Contact the Office of Special Events (847-491-3600 or commencement@northwestern.edu) for further details. 

  • If you are hoping to apply to graduate schools for the fall immediately following your study abroad program and Northwestern graduation, make sure your graduate schools understand that your final diploma and transcript from Northwestern may not be available until early fall.

International Students

Studying in your home country, or anywhere outside of the United States during the fall, winter, spring, or summer terms, is considered study abroad!

All students who hope to earn credit at Northwestern for courses taken during any term outside of the U.S. must follow the application procedure. Students who do not follow the correct application procedure will not be eligible to receive any credit at any time for their work done abroad.

Retroactive requests for study abroad credit of any kind, during any term, will NOT be accepted.

International students who plan to study abroad should also consult with Northwestern's International Office (847-491-5613 or intoff@northwestern.edu) about their plans and to ensure that their U.S. visa status will not be affected.