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Northwestern Study Abroad Requirements




Note: Northwestern Study Abroad APPLICATION requirements are not listed here. To view application requirements, click here.

I. General Academic Requirements
Northwestern Study Abroad has a number of general academic requirements, which are explained in the “Academic Issues” section of the Study Abroad 101 Handbook.

Reminder regarding CREDIT ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS:
Unless stated differently in your program listing under II.b. below, you must enroll in at least the following amount of credits:
(Most programs abroad operate on a semester system. Semester credits are calculated back into Northwestern credits after students return to campus.)

Term* Credit Enrollment Requirement
Full Year 30 semester credits**
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Fall-Winter Quarters
Winter-Spring Quarters
15 semester credits
Fall Quarter
Spring Quarter
(Very few programs fit in this category.)
12 semester credits
4 quarter credits

*If you are not sure of your program’s term, see the list of affiliated programs. For unaffiliated programs, contact the Northwestern Study Abroad Office at 847-467-6400.

**PLEASE NOTE: 30 semester credits convert to roughly 11 Northwestern credits. If you need to receive a full 12 credits for a year abroad, you should enroll in 31-33 semester credits for the year. However, some programs may have a maximum enrollment of 30 credits. Please check with your program coordinator to find out how many semester credits you will get for your year abroad.

II. Other Study Abroad Requirements: Identify Which Ones Apply to You!
Northwestern Study Abroad also has a number of other, more specific requirements, all of which are intended to help students have the most academically challenging and immersion-oriented study abroad experience possible. These requirements are listed below. Please read them over carefully, identify which requirements (if any) apply to you, and make sure to adhere to them. Students who do not abide by these requirements risk losing credit. Your study abroad programs have been informed of these requirements also, but it is your responsibility to make sure that you follow them.
Note: Some of the “requirements” listed below are not actually requirements but rather are suggestions. The wording should make this clear.

A.Special Requirements
Housing Requirement for All Programs
Internships/Field Placements/Practicums for Credit
Independent Study/Research Projects Abroad for Credit
International Program Development Exchange Programs:(ETH-Zurich, Ecole Polytechnique, Universite Louis Pasteur, Sciences Po and Hong Kong)
Enrolling in Language Courses—For Students Studying in Countries Where the Official Language is Not English
Students Studying in Spanish-Speaking Countries or Brazil
Planning to Take Business Courses Abroad?
Planning to Take Law Courses Abroad?

B. Program-Specific Requirements
American University in Cairo
Arcadia- UK Programs
Arcadia-University College London (Semester-Only)
Arcadia-University of Melbourne
Australia-All Programs
Consortium for Advanced Studies in Barcelona
Boston University-Madrid-Full Year/Winter-Spring Quarters Only-Level II
Boston University-Padova-Level II
Budapest Semesters in Mathematics
Chicago-Toledo
Collegium Hieronymi Pragensis (CHP)
C.V. Starr-Middlebury School in China
Danish Institute for Study Abroad
Ecole Polytechnique-Northwestern Exchange
ETH Zurich-Northwestern Exchange
IES-Berlin-Full Year/Winter-Spring Quarters Only
IES-Freiburg-Full Year/Winter-Spring Quarters Only
IES-Milan
IES-Nantes
IES-Paris
IES-Tokyo
IES-Vienna
Internships in Francophone Europe
Japan-All Programs
Japan Study-Waseda- Fall Semester Only (Fall-Winter Quarters)
London School of Economics
Sciences Po-Northwestern Exchange (not the EU Studies or Public Health Program)
Sweet Briar France
Sweet Briar Spain
Syracuse-Florence-Options I & II
Syracuse Florence-Fall-Winter Quarters Only-Option III
University of Otago

A.Special Requirements

Housing Requirement for All Programs
As a rule, when a program offers housing arrangements for its students, Northwestern students are required to live in this housing. In other words, you are not permitted to make your own housing arrangements when the program you are on has housing options for you. The only exception to this rule is the American University of Cairo, where we permit students to either live in the dorm or find their own apartments. For all other programs, if you have mitigating circumstances and believe you should be allowed to make your own arrangements, please talk to the Northwestern Study Abroad Office.

Internships/Field Placements/Practicums Abroad for Credit
(All IES programs, IFE, French Field Study Program, Danish Institute for Study Abroad-Child Development Practicum, Syracuse-Florence, BU Madrid and possibly other programs)
Northwestern is very strict about the requirements that an internship (or field placement or practicum) course needs to meet in order to qualify for Northwestern credit. If you are planning to do such a course as part of your regular course load, you should immediately read the document, "Policies and Procedures on Internships (including Field Placements and Practicums) Done Abroad for Academic Credit at Northwestern University" and make sure that you will be comfortable adhering to the requirements. All students planning to do credit-bearing internships abroad are required to meet with a Northwestern Study Abroad adviser and submit an internship petition. Please come to the Study Abroad Office to pick up a petition form.

Independent Study/Research Projects Abroad for Credit
(SIT, COPA-Santiago/Buenos Aires, Antioch Buddhist Studies, ETH, possibly other programs)
Be sure to read our guidelines, “Getting Northwestern Credit for Independent Study & Research Projects Abroad.”

All International Program Development Exchange Programs:(ETH-Zurich, Ecole Polytechnique, Universite Louis Pasteur, Sciences Po, Chile and Hong Kong)
When choosing one of these world-class institutions, careful academic counseling and planning is essential to successful integration into non-American settings. Working with the IPD office (467-6953), your college and departmental advisors, and following up with your own research, will make issues such as credit, cultural adjustment and course selection work for you as an individual student. A high degree of independence and initiative are also qualifications for an exchange program, which often offers less structure and on-site support than other types of programs.


Enrolling in Language Courses—For Students Studying in Countries Where the Official Language is Not English
You must enroll in at least one language course, or one course taught in the official language, throughout your program. (This requirement does not apply to students on the Duke Classics program in Rome.)

Students Studying in Spanish-Speaking Countries or Brazil
If you think you might declare a major or minor in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, either before studying abroad or once you return, we encourage you to meet with a study abroad adviser in the Department before you leave. To arrange an appointment, contact the Department at 847-491-8249.

Planning to Take Business Courses Abroad?
To receive credit for business courses, the courses must be comparable to ones offered at Northwestern. For more information, see the document, "Planning to Take Business Courses Abroad?,” available online here or from the Study Abroad Office.

Planning to Take Law Courses Abroad?

To receive credit for law courses, the courses must be comparable to ones offered at Northwestern. If you would like to discuss your course options with an adviser, please contact the Legal Studies Program at 847-467-2207.

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B. Program-Specific Requirements


American University in Cairo
1) Before you leave, you are required to meet with Professor Lynn Whitcomb, who teaches Arabic and attended AUC in the past, to discuss your course choices. To schedule an appointment, email her at l-whitcomb@northwestern.edu.
2) While abroad, you are required to take an Arabic language course or one regular course taught in Arabic.

Arcadia-UK Programs
In an effort to promote immersion in the UK University system, Northwestern students are required to live in University campus housing whenever possible. Therefore, Arcadia will place you in University housing if it is available. You will only be placed in Arcadia housing if University housing is full.

Arcadia-University College London (Semester-Only)

Please note that due to UCL housing shortages, semester-only students often end up living in Arcadia housing with other Arcadia students from the U.S., 20-40 minutes away from the university. If living with British students is a priority for you, you may wish to consider other programs.

Arcadia-University of Melbourne

NU students will not receive any kind of NU credit for the following courses offered by the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne—both special courses taught just for study abroad students:
1) "Education in Natural Landscapes." Students interested in the content of this course should consider enrolling instead in “Exploring Central Australia,” a course taught by the Australia Centre in the Faculty of Arts for which students may receive Northwestern credit.
2) “School Experience—International.” This is a course that involves a teaching practicum in a local school. Northwestern students may not enroll in this course as part of their regular course load.

Australia-All Programs
1) As a rule, Northwestern students are required to live in residential colleges with Australian students. Northwestern students report that this is one of the best ways to meet Australians and learn about Australian culture. For quotes from returnees about living in residential colleges, see our document, “Studying Abroad in Australia/New Zealand.” If you have mitigating circumstances and believe you should be allowed to live in an apartment, please talk to the Northwestern Study Abroad Office.
2) Check out our document, “Off to Oz! A Student’s Guide to Australia,” written by returnees, downloadable here.

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Consortium for Advanced Studies in Barcelona
Course enrollment requirements:

  • Fall: 5 courses including 1 ProSeminar, 1 Center course, and 3 university courses at Universitat Pompeu Fabra and/or Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona
  • Winter/Spring: 5-6 courses including 1 ProSeminar, 1 Center course, and 3-4 university courses at Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona and/or Universitat de Barcelona
  • Full Year: 9-10 courses including 1 ProSeminar, 2 Center courses, and 6-7 university courses at Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona and/or Universitat de Barcelona
  • Students cannot take any courses taught in English at the local universities.
  • Students cannot take any courses from the Hispanic and European Studies Program (HESP) at the Universitat Pompeu Fabra.

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Boston University-Madrid Full Year/Winter-Spring Quarters Only-Level II
1) You must take at least two regular courses at the University each semester you are abroad. A "regular course" is defined as a course taught in the host language, for local university students (not study abroad students). This will allow you to experience what it is like to be a local university student! If you are a full year student, you may have the skills to move up to Level III by Spring Semester, which would entail taking all of your courses at the University. If you are qualified for Level III, we encourage you to advance to that program.
2) If you are majoring or minoring in Spanish or thinking of doing so:
- If you plan to petition the Department of Spanish and Portuguese to receive major or minor credit for a regular course taken at the University, you must complete the entire course and take the same final assessment as the Spanish students in the course, at the same time.
- For more information on the Department's policies, see their Web site.

Boston University-Padova-Level II
Full Year students must take at least one regular course at the University during the fall and two during the spring. Students staying for Fall Semester only or Winter-Spring Quarters only must take at least one regular course at the university. We encourage you to take more if you think you are up to the challenge. A “regular course” is defined as a course taught in the host language, for local university students (not study abroad students). This will allow you to experience what it is like to be a local university student!

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Budapest Semesters in Mathematics
1) Northwestern Study Abroad requires that you enroll in at least the following amount of credits:

Full Year: 8 courses
Fall Semester: 4 courses

2) You are required to take one Hungarian language course each semester you are enrolled in this program.

Chicago-Toledo
If you are planning to use this program to fulfill the WCAS language requirement:
Please note that successfully completing this program will not automatically allow you to fulfill the WCAS language requirement. Rather, upon your return to Northwestern, you will take a placement exam. If you place into third-year Spanish, you will have fulfilled the requirement. If you do not, you will have to take the necessary classes to complete second-year Spanish. Please contact the Department of Spanish and Portuguese prior to departure and upon your return early in Winter Quarter to review college language requirements.

Collegium Hieronymi Pragensis (CHP)
Students should enroll in 5 courses per semester including one Czech language course and the core course (which consists of the Czech Culture & Civilization course and the Let’s Talk Czech course). Students can choose their 3 remaining courses.

C. V. Starr-Middlebury School in China
Northwestern Study Abroad requires that you enroll in at least the following amount of credits:

Full Year: 9 units
Fall Semester: 4 units
Jan. Term + Winter-Spring Quarters: 5 units*

*NU students studying abroad during the Winter-Spring Quarters only are required to participate in the Jan. Term

Danish Institute for Study Abroad (All Terms)
1) Please note that Northwestern students are required to enroll in at least 15 credits per semester. On the DIS program, this is generally equal to five courses.
2) You are required to live in housing arranged by DIS, either in homestays or a kollegium.
3) You are required to take a Danish language course while enrolled at DIS.

Ecole Polytechnique-Northwestern Exchange
1)When choosing a world-class institution, careful academic counseling and planning is essential to successful integration into non-American settings. Working with the International Program Development office (847-467-6953), your college and departmental advisors, and following up with your own research, will make issues such as credit, cultural adjustment and course selection work for you as an individual student. A high degree of independence and initiative are also qualifications for an exchange program, which often offers less structure and on-site support than other types of programs.
2)Consult with the Office of International Program Development at Northwestern (847-467-6953) to determine how many credits you are required to take abroad.

NU-ETH Zurich Exchange
1) When choosing a world-class institution, careful academic counseling and planning is essential to successful integration into non-American settings. Working with the International Program Development office (847-467-6953), your college and departmental advisors, and following up with your own research, will make issues such as credit, cultural adjustment and course selection work for you as an individual student. A high degree of independence and initiative are also qualifications for an exchange program, which often offers less structure and on-site support than other types of programs.
2)Consult with the Office of International Program Development at Northwestern (847-467-6953) to determine how many credits you are required to take abroad.

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IES-Berlin-Full Year/Winter-Spring Quarters Only
Full Year students must take at least one regular course at the University during the fall and two during the spring. Students staying for Winter-Spring Quarters only must take at least one regular course at the University. We encourage you to take more if you think you are up to the challenge. A “regular course” is defined as a course taught in the host language, for local university students (not study abroad students). This will allow you to experience what it is like to be a local university student!

IES-Freiburg-Full Year/Winter-Spring Quarters Only
Full Year students must take at least one regular course at the University during the fall and two during the spring. Students staying for Winter-Spring Quarters only must take at least one regular course at the University. We encourage you to take more if you think you are up to the challenge. A “regular course” is defined as a course taught in the host language, for local university students (not study abroad students). This will allow you to experience what it is like to be a local university student!

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IES-Milan
1) You are required to live with at least one Italian roommate for the full year.
2) If you have already taken two years or the equivalent of college-level Italian:
If you place into intermediate-advanced instead of advanced Italian language:
a) Northwestern will allow you to take only one of your fall semester content courses in English—and we encourage you to challenge yourself and take all of your content courses in Italian.
b) During the spring, Northwestern requires that you take all of your courses in Italian.
3) We encourage you to enroll in at least one regular course each semester taught in Italian at a local university, if you think you are up to the challenge. A “regular course” is defined as a course taught in the host language, for local university students (not study abroad students). This will allow you to experience what it is like to be a local university student!

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IES-Nantes
Full Year students must take at least one regular course at the University or one of IES’ affiliated institutions during the fall and two during the spring. Students staying for the Fall Semester only or Winter-Spring Quarters only must take at least one regular course. We encourage you to take more if you think you are up to the challenge. A “regular course” is defined as a course taught in the host language, for local students (not study abroad students). This will allow you to experience what it is like to be a local university student!

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IES-Paris
Full Year students must take at least one regular course at a French university during the fall and two during the spring. Students staying for the Fall Semester only or Winter-Spring Quarters only must take at least one regular course. We encourage you to take more if you think you are up to the challenge. A “regular course” is defined as a course taught in the host language, for local university students (not study abroad students). This will allow you to experience what it is like to be a local university student!

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IES-Tokyo
Spring Semester Program -- Spring Semester begins in March, so students must enroll for Winter Quarter at Northwestern and finish final exams before leaving in Spring OR if students do not enroll at NU for Winter Quarter classes, you must enroll in at least 15 semester credits in Tokyo.

IES-Vienna
1) If you have already taken two years or the equivalent of college-level German, we encourage you to enroll in at least one regular course at the University each term that you are abroad on this program. A “regular course” is defined as a course taught in the host language, for local university students (not study abroad students). This will allow you to experience what it is like to be a local university student!
2) We also encourage you to request housing that is integrated with Austrians rather than shared apartments with other program students. This is another way to immerse yourself in Austrian culture.

Internships in Francophone Europe
1) Northwestern Study Abroad requires that you enroll in a full load of courses as determined by IFE.
2 ) Please note that students may only earn a maximum of 4 Northwestern units of credit from this program: 1 for each regular course and 1 for the internship course. The credit for the internship course must be approved by the returnee’s Northwestern faculty adviser (see the above requirement titled "Internships, Field Placements, and Practicums Abroad for Credit").
*Please note: this requirement does not apply to students studying on the French Field Studies Program. For the specific requirements of the French Field Studies Program, please contact Greg Buchanan in the Office of International Program Development at g-buchanan@northwestern.edu.

Japan - All Programs
In order to promote language and cultural immersion, all students studying in Japan must live in homestays.

Japan Study-Waseda- Fall-Winter Quarters Only (Fall-Winter Quarters)
The program to which you are applying ends during Northwestern's Winter Quarter. Northwestern requires that you complete the program on site in order to receive any credits for your term abroad. This means that you will not be able to enroll at Northwestern during Winter Quarter.

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London School of Economics
The LSE gives students two grades for each course: a course grade and an exam grade. Northwestern requires that you receive passing grades for both (C or above) in order to receive credit for your LSE courses. No credit will be granted for courses in which you are missing one of these grades or receive a grade of C- or below for either the course or exam grade.

Sciences Po-Northwestern Exchange (NOT the EU Studies or Public Health Program)
1) Northwestern Study Abroad requires that you enroll in at least the following amount of credits:

Full Year: 60 ECTS credits
Fall-Winter or Winter-Spring Quarters: 30 ECTS credits

2 ) Fall-Winter students: The program to which you are applying ends during Northwestern's Winter Quarter. Northwestern requires that you complete the program on site in order to receive any credits for your term abroad. This means that you will not be able to return to the Northwestern campus to take classes during Winter Quarter.
3 ) Check out our document “A Northwestern Student’s Guide to Sciences Po,” written by a returnee, dowloadable here.
4)When choosing a world-class institution, careful academic counseling and planning is essential to successful integration into non-American settings. Working with the International Program Development office (847-467-6953), your college and departmental advisors, and following up with your own research, will make issues such as credit, cultural adjustment and course selection work for you as an individual student. A high degree of independence and initiative are also qualifications for an exchange program, which often offers less structure and on-site support than other types of programs.

Sweet Briar France
1) Northwestern Study Abroad requires that you enroll in at least 5 units of credit per semester (inc. orientation).
2 ) Northwestern does grant general credit for the Sweet Briar Orientation Course.
3 ) Full Year students must take at least one regular course at a French university in the fall and two in the spring. Students staying for Fall Semester or Winter-Spring Quarters only must take at least one regular course. We encourage you to take more if you think you are up to the challenge. A “regular course” is defined as a course taught in the host language, for local university students (not study abroad students). This will allow you to experience what it is like to be a local university student!
4 ) As a rule, Northwestern students are required to live in homestays or family stays arranged by Sweet Briar for the duration of the program, rather than apartments or foyers. If you have mitigating circumstances and believe you should be allowed to live in an apartment or foyer, please talk to the Northwestern Study Abroad Office.

Sweet Briar Spain
1) Full Year students must take at least one regular course at the University during the fall and at least two during the spring. Students staying for Fall Semester or Winter-Spring Quarters only must take at least one regular course. We encourage you to take more if you think you are up to the challenge. A "regular course" is defined as a course taught in the host language, for local university students (not study abroad students). This will allow you to experience what it is like to be a local university student!
2 ) Northwestern does grant general credit for the Sweet Briar Orientation Course.
3 ) If you are majoring or minoring in Spanish or thinking of doing so:

  • VERY IMPORTANT TO NOTE: Northwestern's Department of Spanish and Portuguese will not grant major or minor credit to Fall Semester only students for regular courses taught at the University of Seville. Thus, in choosing one “regular” university course there, do not take a course you would expect to get major or minor credit for as this credit will not be granted. Rather, choose a course that is of interest to you and for which you will be able to obtain general credit upon return. The reason the Department of Spanish and Portuguese will not grant major or minor credit for University of Seville courses is because Fall only students leave Seville before the end of the University semester, thus taking early assessments; the Department will only grant credit for courses taken at a foreign host university for the complete length of the course. Please note, however, that Northwestern will grant general credit towards graduation for regular courses, assuming they are the types of course that are transferable to NU. You also may petition for credit for these courses from other departments on campus (e.g., history, political science, etc.).
  • Full Year/Winter-Spring only students: If you plan to petition the Department of Spanish and Portuguese to receive major or minor credit for a regular course taken at the University, you must complete the entire course and take the same final assessment as the Spanish students in the course, at the same time.
  • The Department of Spanish and Portuguese will accept petitions for credit for Cursos Concertados (special courses for foreigners taught in Spanish at the University of Seville), Sweet Briar Seminars, and the Sweet Briar Orientation Course.
  • For more information on the Department's policies, see their Web site.


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Syracuse-Florence-Options I & II
1) If you have already taken two years or the equivalent of college-level Italian, we encourage you to enroll in regular (non-language) courses taught in Italian. Note, however, that Syracuse offers a very limited number of such courses (literature and one other, plus independent studies, and possibly independent internship courses). Contact Syracuse for more information. If taking courses in Italian is a priority for you, you should consider studying abroad a different term or on a different program in Italy.
2 ) Students staying for the Full Year or Winter-Spring Quarters only: If you have already taken two years or the equivalent of college-level Italian, we encourage you to enroll in Option III and take at least one regular course at the University during the fall and, if you are a Full Year student, two during the spring—or more, if you think you are up to the challenge. A “regular course” is defined as a course taught in the host language, for local university students (not study abroad students). This will allow you to experience what it is like to be a local university student!
3 ) As a rule, Northwestern students are required to live in housing arranged by Syracuse (generally homestays). If you have mitigating circumstances and believe you should be allowed to arrange independent housing, please talk to the Northwestern Study Abroad Office.

Syracuse Florence-Fall-Winter Quarters Only-Option III (University of Florence courses)

1) The program to which you are applying ends during Northwestern's Winter Quarter. Northwestern requires that you complete the program on site in order to receive any credits for your term abroad. This means that you will not be able to return to the Northwestern campus to take classes during Winter Quarter.
2) As a rule, Northwestern students are required to live in housing arranged by Syracuse (generally homestays). If you have mitigating circumstances and believe you should be allowed to arrange independent housing, please talk to the Northwestern Study Abroad Office.

Syracuse Florence-Fall-Winter Quarters
1) The program to which you are applying ends during Northwestern's Winter Quarter. Northwestern requires that you complete the program on site in order to receive any credits for your term abroad. This means that you will not be able to enroll at Northwestern during Winter Quarter.
2) As a rule, Northwestern students are required to live in housing arranged by Syracuse (generally homestays). If you have mitigating circumstances and believe you should be allowed to arrange independent housing, please talk to the Northwestern Study Abroad Office.

Syracuse-Florence-Winter-Spring Quarters Only
1) If you have already taken two years or the equivalent of college-level Italian, we encourage you to enroll in Option III and take at least one regular university course—or more, if you think you are up to the challenge. A “regular course” is defined as a course taught in the host language, for local university students (not study abroad students). This will allow you to experience what it is like to be a local university student!
2) As a rule, Northwestern students are required to live in housing arranged by Syracuse (generally homestays). If you have mitigating circumstances and believe you should be allowed to arrange independent housing, please talk to the Northwestern Study Abroad Office.

University of Otago
1) Northwestern Study Abroad requires that you enroll in at least the following amount of credits:

  • Full Year: 108-144 points (6-8 papers)
  • Fall Semester or Spring Semester (Winter-Spring Quarters): 54-72 points (3-4 papers)
  • (Papers is the term for courses in New Zealand)

2) As a rule, Northwestern students are required to live in University Flats, since this accommodation houses international students with students from New Zealand. Living with students from New Zealand is one of the best ways for international students to immerse themselves in the local culture. If you have mitigating circumstances and believe you should be allowed to live in other housing, please talk to the Northwestern Study Abroad Office. Please note that the University of Otago is experiencing a housing shortage. Therefore, it is crucial to submit your housing applications by the deadlines stated on the University of Otago Web site: by the end of April for Fall/Full Year study abroad or the end of October for Winter-Spring study abroad.

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