Academic Planning
The UCEAP Difference
Students on UCEAP programs earn direct (not transfer) UC credit while studying for a summer, quarter, semester, or year at UCEAP’s exchange or partner institutions around the world. Participants remain UC students while abroad and can apply their financial aid and UC scholarships to their UCEAP program. All UCEAP programs are approved by the UC Academic Senate, comprised of faculty and administrators from each of the 10 UC institutions. You can have confidence knowing your study abroad courses maintain the academic integrity of your UC degree, while providing a culturally immersive experience.
UCEAP converts coursework taken abroad into UC units and grades and reports the course information directly to your UC Office of the Registrar to be posted to your UC record. Final grades are calculated into your cumulative UC GPA.
Applying Courses to Your UC Degree
Fulfilling Major, Minor, and GE/Breadth Degree Requirements
If you plan to fulfill specific degree requirements abroad, talk with your campus academic advisors about how UCEAP coursework can fit into your academic plan at UC. UC campus departments, colleges, or schools determine if UCEAP courses fulfill specific degree requirements. Typically, courses must be taken for a letter grade to be eligible to fulfill degree requirements.
Consult with your advisors on the process to apply UCEAP courses for campus degree requirements. The process and timing vary by department and college. Refer to your UC Campus Study Abroad Office resources to get started.
Academic Considerations When Selecting a Program
Encountering academic cultures that are new to you should be expected as part of the study abroad experience. UCEAP programs are designed to be academically rigorous by UC standards. Your host institution may have different practices and expectations on class attendance, participation, homework, and assessment than you’re used to at UC. Depending on the program, online course catalogs and syllabi may not be available in advance, and the course enrollment process could be online or in person. The Academics page of each UCEAP program page includes information on academic culture to help you determine if the program is right for you.
Program calendars may differ from regular terms at UC. Review the Dates and Eligibility subpage of the UCEAP program page for the general program timeline. Many host institutions abroad use a version of the semester system, and students from quarter campuses may be abroad for two quarters on some programs.
Many programs offer courses across a wide range of subject areas while others are designed around specific themes or a pre-determined curricula. Refer to the Academics subpage of any UCEAP program page for detailed information about course options available on that program. Availability of course catalogs and syllabi vary by host institution. Course offerings for your planned term abroad may not be available when you are investigating programs and final course offerings are typically published by the host institution closer to the program start date. Similar to UC, enrollment in specific courses you plan to take abroad is not guaranteed. Being flexible and having alternative course options is important.
Both UCEAP and your UC campus require that you to be enrolled as a full-time student while on study abroad. The Academics subpage for each UCEAP program page lists the minimum enrollment requirements, which are intended to reflect a normal course load for a term at the host institution. The course enrollment process varies by program. You will receive detailed instructions after your application is nominated.
UCEAP receives grades directly from the host institution and electronically transmits them to your UC campus Office of the Registrar to be posted to your UC transcript. Your UC transcript is the official record for coursework taken on UCEAP.
Grades are generally reported within 90 days of the end of a program due to differences in grade-reporting practices abroad. The Academics subpage of each UCEAP program page indicate when grades for the program are usually available.
If you’re a graduating senior, consult your UC campus study abroad advisors before departure about the timeline for declaring candidacy to graduate. Requests to receive early grades from study abroad cannot be accommodated.
UCEAP students can do internships and research while studying abroad. Search by experience type on the UCEAP Find a Program page to identify programs with built-in internship or research components. Some programs may offer the opportunity to arrange your own internship or research project through the host institution. Review the Academics subpage of the UCEAP program page for information about the opportunities on each program.
Academic accommodations and their availability abroad vary by country and program. If you receive disability accommodations on your UC campus or think you may need additional support abroad, reach out early in your exploration process to the UCEAP Program Specialist listed on the Contacts page of your preferred program. Review the Support page of the program for more information on arranging disability accommodation abroad.
Check with your UC campus study abroad office for campus-specific policies related to simultaneous enrollment in UCEAP and your UC campus. If you are approved for concurrent enrollment, any course enrollment at your UC campus is considered to be in addition to the UCEAP program’s minimum enrollment requirement.
Opportunities for graduate students include language learning, independent study and directed research abroad, and an immersive academic experience. Search by class level on the Find a Program page to find programs open to graduate students.
Availability of graduate credit varies by program. Review the Graduate Student Application Instructions for information on requirements, program exploration, and the application process.