Academics Abroad

No. As a study abroad student, you are subject to the rules, regulations, and academic policies of the host university / program. TCU cannot intervene, change, or provide exceptions to their academic policies. This may include:

• Add / drop processes and policies
• Attendance / absence policies
• Grading structure
• Grade disputes
• Dates, times, and locations of exams

Information on academic policies is covered in on-site orientation, but may not be exhaustive. Students should not assume the host program has the same academic policies as TCU and should ask questions as needed.  

If you wish to request academic accommodations while studying abroad, contact the Student Acces & Accomodation Center staff. They can be reached by email or by calling 817-257-6567. They are located in the Harrison, Suite 1200.  Requests for accommodations should be made at least 3 months before departure, following university procedures.

The credit earned and how it works in your degree plan depends on which type of program you choose:

1. Programs / courses taught by TCU faculty (TCU Summer / Short-Term Programs): you will enroll in a TCU course and get direct credit. All major, minor, and core attribute will be identified by the course catalog.
2. Programs / courses taught at another university / institution for which TCU gives you credit (TCU-In Programs and Global Portfolio Programs): Your coursework may be eligible to count for major, minor, core, or upper level elective credits. You will work through the credit approval process with your academic advisors and dean to determine how the coursework abroad will apply to your degree plan (major, minor, core, or upper level elective requirements). Click here for a video on the credit approval process, including instructions.

All coursework, regardless of program type, counts for grades and will be included in your TCU GPA. Your program will provide a grade conversion indicating how the grades from abroad will be converted to the TCU scale.

Yes! Plan early and talk to your academic advisor to see if a semester fits with your degree plan. If it doesn't, you can still go abroad during the summer!

Most of our programs are general not major-specific, and they offer a wide range of courses. Summer programs can be more specific since students only take 1 or 2 classes, but most summer programs are open to all majors too.

You should expect the classes to be different. The pace, the grading, the approach of professors, and the structure will all be different. Students who take the academics seriously, attend class diligently, and ask for help tend to do very well. But be aware that absences, negative attitudes, comparisons to U.S. academics, and a "vacation" mindset will make it much harder to be successful.

Yes. If you are taking coursework at a TCU-in program or a TCU Global Portfolio program, your program will provide a grade conversion indicating how the grades from abroad will be converted to the TCU scale.

Audits are not allowed for Study Abroad classes.

You may elect a Pass/No-Credit (P/NC) grading option per TCU's P/NC policies. To select P/NC, you must contact the Center for International Studies (studyabroad@tcu.edu) before the P/NC deadline communicated on the program calendar (for courses offered at a partner institution) or select it in your my.tcu.edu portal (TCU courses).

For courses offered at a partner university, you will still receive a grade from the university, but it will not be recorded on your TCU record or calcuated into your TCU GPA.

Please carefully read TCU's P/NC policy to verify course eligibility for P/NC.

TCU cannot override host university policies and regulations. You are considered a student of the host program / university, and you are subject to their academic policies and regulations. This includes but is not limited to policies on:

• Attendance / Absence policies
• Add / Drop process
• Grade Appeals
• Final Exam schedule