Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Health & Safety Abroad

Your health & safety while abroad is very important. Please see our Health & Safety Abroad page for details.

Preparing to Study Abroad

Click here for answers to the common UCEAP application questions.

Once you’ve been nominated to participate in your UCEAP program, be sure you complete all pre-departure requirements.

Please note that you are also responsible for maintaining all eligibility requirements through departure (e.g. GPA). If you fear a drop in GPA you should do what you can to keep your GPA up (e.g. attend tutoring, professor’s office hours, etc). If you fall below the requirements, you should inform your study abroad advisors right away.

UCEAP and the UCI Financial Aid Office have provided resources to help lead you and answer your questions regarding UCEAP 2021 finances abroad. Click below to find the presentation slides relevant to your concerns.

  • UCEAP programs do not have an application fee and program fees are due several months after applying.
  • Other UC Programs and Independent Programs vary. Some have non-refundable application fees. Check the program page for information.

Remember that you must request Campus Approval to participate on any global program.  If you cannot find your program in UCIAbroad, please email studyabroad@uci.edu with these details so we can add it: Provider Name, Program Name, Program website URL, Term Abroad.

Once you’ve been selected to participate in your program, be sure you complete all pre-departure requirements.

Airline Ticket

After you have been accepted by your program and know your official start and end dates, confirm with your program to determine if you should buy your airline tickets independently or if they will be assisting you with this.

UC Central Travel and Student Universe travel agency

  1. Airfare options at discounted rates
  2. Ideal for individual students studying abroad as well as faculty members leading groups of students abroad
  3. Airfare Deposit program exclusive for UC students on financial aid
    1. Book airfare through an agent
    2. Pay a non-refundable deposit of $350
    3. Pay remaining balance 7 days prior to departure (your UCI financial aid should be disbursed to you by this time so you can use those funds to pay the balance)
  4. Note that the website indicates you must be under 26 but you can disregard that note when you are UC student

Applying for a Passport

All Students:

  • A valid passport is required for all participants. If you do not currently have a passport that is valid until at least six months after the end of your program, apply for one immediately.
  • The name on your passport should be the same name that appears on your study abroad program information. Ideally, it should also be the same as your name on your UCI records. You should not officially change your name in the middle of applying for or participating in your study abroad program.

U.S. Citizens:

  • Routine processing for a U.S. passport can take up to 14 weeks. You may visit the UCI Passport Office web site for more information on obtaining a passport.

Non-U.S. Citizens:

  • Non-U.S. citizens must obtain a passport from the embassy of your country of citizenship.

Applying for a Visa

U.S. Citizens:

  • If required, information on how to obtain a Student Visa for U.S. citizens should be provided to you by your study abroad program. If you are uncertain as to whether or not you need a visa, ask your study abroad program.

Non-U.S. Citizens:

  • Non-U.S. citizens should contact the consulate of your host country immediately to inquire as to the paperwork necessary to obtain a visa. Processing can take up to 6 months.

Notary

If any of your study abroad participation forms require your signature in the presence of a Notary Public, the on-campus UPS Store offers notary services.

Photos

If any of your study abroad forms or instructions require photos of you, you can obtain them at the UCI Passport Office or the following suggested places: U.S. Post Office at UTC (appointment required), local drugstores like CVS or RiteAid, or Costco (membership required).

Connect with others students who have either gone abroad in the past (returnees) or are international students happy to share from their own experiences.

If you would like to meet with an advisor prior to withdrawing to see if there is any way we can assist you, call 949-824-6343 to schedule an appointment.

If you are confident that you would like to withdraw, complete our Withdrawal Form prior to your program’s withdrawal deadline. Note: After the withdrawal deadline for your program, you will be liable for withdrawal fees.

UCI Matters

For details on how to get credit and fulfill degree requirements (major, minor and/or GE) while abroad, visit our Academics page.

Physics Series Abroad: There are 2 UCEAP summer programs that have been approved to fulfill the full, lower division physics series and labs. Click here for details if you wish to fulfill physics while abroad.

For details on financial aid and scholarships for study abroad, visit our Finances page.

Do NOT enroll in any classes at UCI for any quarter/s you will be abroad. Enrolling at UCI will cause issues with administrative and financial tasks that need to be done to your records.

Note for UCEAP participants: When you study abroad through UCEAP, you will pay UCEAP fees and enroll in UCEAP courses following the instructions provided to you in the UCEAP Portal. But, it’s important to note the following relate to your UCI records:

  • Each quarter prior to the fee payment deadline the Study Abroad Center will enroll you at UCI in a special 16-unit UCEAP placeholder course. This ensures that you retain your status at UCI, continue to be eligible to receive financial aid, and receive credit for your completed coursework upon return from UCEAP. The classes you actually take abroad will replace the UCEAP placeholder course once your UCEAP classes are reported to the UCI Registrar upon completion of your program. Final units and grades received while abroad on UCEAP will be posted to your UCI transcript within 90 days of your official program end date.
  • Do NOT apply to graduate for a term that is before the conclusion of your study abroad program.
  • DO NOT pay registration fees to UCI for any quarter(s) you will be on UCEAP. The Study Abroad Center will “pay” your UCI registration fees with a fee waiver approximately two weeks prior to the UCI fee payment deadline each quarter that you are abroad.]
  • DO pay any unpaid bills at UCI (library fines, lab fees, housing fees, USHIP Fee, etc). Check your Zot Account online before you go abroad to make sure you do not owe any money to UCI. Pay any outstanding fees to UCI, including USHIP if you do not typically waive out, before the fee payment deadline.
  • DO enroll in classes for the quarter you plan to return to UCI from abroad. You will need to access the Schedule of Classes (SOC) and enroll in classes via the UCI web site. You can view the SOC and find out when your enrollment window opens beginning 7th week, and registration begins 8th week of the preceding quarter. See the Registrar’s Course Enrollment web page for more details. Look at the Calendar to see when your enrollment window opens.
  • DO pay your fees to UCI for the quarter you plan to return to UCI by the fee payment deadline.

Note for Independent Program participants: When you participate on an Independent Program, you take a leave of absence from UCI so that you do not pay UCI tuition. This also means you cannot enroll on both the Independent Program and take UCI courses at the same time.

If you have questions about concurrently enrolling in a study abroad program and taking UCI courses at the same time, please see the table below.

Study Abroad Program Option


Concurrent Enrollment Policy


UCEAP

Fall/Winter/Spring

(in-person and virtual)
It is not recommended to concurrently enroll in UCI courses while studying abroad. It is possible to enroll in one course at UCI if it is absolutely necessary to meet your graduation requirements. Please contact your study abroad advisor for more information.
UCEAP

Summer

(in-person and virtual)
It is not recommended to concurrently enroll in UCI courses while studying abroad. It may be possible to enroll in one course at UCI if absolutely necessary to meet your graduation requirements or if your program dates don't conflict with UCI summer session dates. Please contact your study abroad advisor for more information.
Other UC Programs

Fall/Winter/Spring
(in-person and virtual)

Other UC Programs

Summer
(in-person and virtual)
While we do not recommend concurrently enrolling, please reach out to your Other UC program contacts for information on concurrent enrollment policies.
Independent Programs Study

Fall/Winter/Spring
(in-person and virtual)

Independent Programs Study

Summer


(in-person and virtual)

Independent Programs Non-Study
(in-person and virtual)
Students going on Independent Programs cannot concurrently enroll in their program and coursework at UCI.

Please reach out to studyabroad@uci.edu if you have any questions about dual enrollment.

The UCI Residence Requirement states that students must take 36 of their final 45 units of work immediately preceding graduation in residence at UCI (See the UCI Catalog for details). The following is how the university residence requirement applies to students studying abroad. Note that this is distinct from any residency requirements your major or minor may have (see your Academic Counselor in the School of your Major for these details).

UCEAP:

  • Students studying abroad on UCEAP are considered “in-residence”.
  • If you plan to study abroad the summer immediately following your senior year, you must postpone your official graduation date until the end of summer. Contact an Academic Counselor in the School of your major to see if it is still possible to participate in commencement ceremony prior to studying abroad.

Other UC Programs & Independent Programs Study Option:

 Grades:
  • Please keep in mind that grades can take 2-3 months to post after the program end date. Hence your transcripts will not be updated until then. The Study Abroad Center advisors can write a letter (for jobs, graduate schools, etc.) to explain why there is a delay. 

 Graduation:

  • If you are a senior planning to graduate immediately after your time abroad, please be aware that your participation in the commencement ceremony will depend on your program end dates. Please check your program end dates to make sure they do not conflict.

HOUSING INFORMATION FOR CONTINUING UCI STUDENTS

This page contains both On-campus and Off-campus housing information for study-abroad students returning to UCI. The off-campus housing information is also useful for students who need to find someone to take their space in their UCI housing while they will be abroad.

On-Campus Housing

Information about on-campus housing – including descriptions, costs, and application procedures – can be found on the UCI Student Housing website.

NOTE: If a student has signed a contract for Arroyo Vista, Campus Village, Mesa Court, or Middle Earth and subsequently learns that he or she has been accepted for a UCEAP program, the student can cancel the contract without being subject to the contract cancellation fee as long as he or she has not yet moved in.  The student will need to show his/her UCEAP acceptance notification as proof. Students living in Vista del Campo, Vista del Campo Norte, Camino del Sol, or Puerta del Sol can sublease their room for the quarter they are away. Contact the housing office and ask to be put on their sublet list, and see the off-campus housing links below for additional ways to find someone to sublease.

Off-Campus Housing

Engage in an online seminar with UCI students studying abroad all over the world! Participating in this seminar will allow you to share and compare the experiences you are having abroad with others. See more information here.

Diversity & Access

We encourage you to think about your identity(ies) at home and how those might be perceived, challenged and/or strengthened while abroad. See our Diversity and Access page for details.