Northwestern Policy and Procedure FAQs

Policies for courses taken abroad:

  1. Can I register for less than the recommended number of courses?
  2. For the courses for which I do not care if I receive NU credit, do I have to follow Northwestern University's policies and procedures?
  3. Are there any program-specific requirements that I must adhere to while abroad?
  4. If I do not complete all of the coursework for a class, can I receive partial credit?
  5. Can I take any classes P/N while abroad?
  6. What is the lowest grade Northwestern will accept for transfer credit from your study abroad program?


Procedures for changing your study abroad plans:

  1. Can I extend my study abroad program to a full year?

    Planning for your return:
    1. How do I register for classes at Northwestern?
    2. Where should I have my study abroad transcript sent?

    Procedures for returning students:
    1. How do I get a copy of my study abroad transcript?
    2. How can I get an official study abroad transcript?
    3. How do I resolve a problem a grade on my study abroad transcript?
    4. Why haven't my study abroad grades been posted on CAESAR?
    5. Where can I get a copy of the Welcome Back Guide from the Returnee Roundtable Discussion?

    Policies for courses taken abroad:

    1. I do not need a full term's worth of credits. Can I register for fewer than the recommended number of courses?
    No. Taking courses abroad is an integral part of your study abroad experience--which is why it's a study experience, as opposed to a travel experience. All Northwestern students abroad are required to register for a full course load, whether or not they need all the credits. This is defined as the recommended number of courses suggested by the sponsoring institution (e.g., Arcadia University-Edinburgh, IES-Berlin, the London School of Economics, etc.).

    2. I do not need a full term's worth of credits from Northwestern. For the courses for which I do not care if I receive NU credit, do I have to follow Northwestern University's policies and procedures (taking the courses for a grade, completing the course and taking the regular assessment, etc.)?
    Yes, you must still adhere to Northwestern's policies and procedures. Students who fail to do so risk losing credit for their entire time abroad.

    3. Are there any program-specific requirements that I must adhere to while abroad?
    See your specific program's web page (in the Programs section of this web site) for these requirements.

    4. If I do not complete all of the coursework for a class, can I receive partial credit?
    No. To receive credit for a course taken abroad, Northwestern students are required to complete all coursework, including any final assessments (exams, papers, projects, etc.) in their host country. As a rule, students will not receive partial credit for courses in which they did not complete all coursework and final assessments.

    5. Can I take any classes P/N while abroad?
    Not if you want to receive Northwestern credit for them.

    6. What is the lowest grade Northwestern will accept for transfer credit from your study abroad program?
    Students must earn a C or above in order to receive credit.

    Extending your study abroad program to a full year:

    Northwestern encourages students to study abroad for the full year, and if you would like to extend your stay, you may be able to do so. If you are approved to extend your stay after completing the steps below, the Study Abroad Office will email you an updated acceptance letter.
    1. Contact your program directly to find out if it's possible to extend your stay.
    2. E-mail studyabroad@northwestern.edu explaining why you would like to extend your stay to the full year.
    3. If you receive Financial Aid through Northwestern, contact the Assistant Director of Financial Services, Sue Kwan, to discuss how extending your term abroad might affect your aid package.
    4. WCAS, McCormick, and Communication students only:
      Contact your adviser in your major department. Tell her/him that you would like to stay abroad for the whole year. Explain the kinds of courses that you are taking and that you plan to take abroad, and ask him/her if they approve your extension. If the adviser approves, s/he should e-mail studyabroad@northwestern.edu stating this approval.
    5. Contact your School Representative and tell her/him that you would like to stay abroad for the whole year. Explain the kinds of courses that you are taking and that you plan to take abroad, and ask him/her if they approve your extension. If the adviser approves, s/he should e-mail studyabroad@northwestern.edu stating this approval.
    6. Have your parent or guardian e-mail studyabroad@northwestern.edu stating their approval of your extension and their understanding that you will be charged the full-year Study Abroad Administrative Fee.
    7. Complete another University Residence Requirement Form. By completing this form you will determine if you need your degree auditor to review your graduation requirements again.
      • If you do not need verification of the University Residence Requirement from your degree auditor, forward the completed form to studyabroad@northwestern.edu. Your e-mail will serve as your signature.
      • If you need verification of the University Residence Requirement from your degree auditor, forward the form to her and explain that you are trying to extend your stay abroad to a full year, and that you need to have your URR reviewed again. Ask her to review your requirements, sign and forward the form to studyabroad@northwestern.edu.
        If your last name begins with A-L your degree auditor is: Jane Baugher
        If your last name begins with M-Z your degree auditor is: Isabel Vega-Gomez
    8. If you are approved to extend to a full year, you will need to contact HTH Worldwide Insurance to change your policy so that you are covered until the end of your program. If you are on a program through Arcadia, The Alliance, IES Abroad or Middlebury they will take care of this for you.

    Planning for your return:

    1. How do I register for classes at Northwestern?
    You will register online through CAESAR, just as you would at Northwestern. Your enrollment appointment time appears on CAESAR in Central Standard Time. Pre-registration is performed in some departments a week prior to normal registration to allow majors and minors special access to course selection.

    Important tips when registering from abroad:
    • You will not be allowed to register if your NetID password is inactive. Your password needs to be changed every four months.
    • Plan to be in your host country during registration, because it can be difficult to find Internet access in an unfamiliar city.
    • If you have outstanding financial obligations to Student Accounts, Student Loans, or the Northwestern Library, you will be unable to register. Check with these offices before departure, so that you don't run into trouble during the week of registration.
    See the Registering for Courses from Abroad web page for additional information.

    2. Where should I have my study abroad transcript sent?
    It should be sent to:
    The Northwestern Study Abroad Office
    630 Dartmouth Place
    Evanston, IL 60208-4195

    Procedures for returning students:

    1. How do I get a copy of my study abroad transcript?
    The Study Abroad Office (open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday) can make a copy for you. To make sure we have your transcript, check CAESAR to see if your credit has been posted.

    2. How can I get an official study abroad transcript?
    If you need an official copy of your transcript for graduate school or some other application, contact your study abroad program (IES, SIT, Arcadia, etc.) office.

    3. How do I resolve a problem a grade on my study abroad transcript?
    Contact your study abroad program (IES, SIT, Arcadia, etc.) office.

    4. Why haven't my study abroad grades been posted on CAESAR?
    There are a variety of reasons that your grades may not have been posted:
    • It has been less than two months since you returned to your program.
      Be patient! The processing of transcripts from foreign universities usually takes about two months, and then it takes a couple weeks for the Registrar's Office to post the credit.
    • You have not turned in a program evaluation.
      The Study Abroad Office will only forward your transcript on to the Registrar once we have received your evaluation.
    • You have not turned in a copy of your final paper and cover sheet for your independent study/research project or internship.
    • The Study Abroad Office will only forward your transcript on to the Registrar once we have received your final paper and cover sheet.
    5. Where can I get a copy of the Welcome Back Guide from the Returnee Roundtable Discussion?
    Download a pdf version of the Welcome Back Guide.