Registration & Credit
Learn about the types of credit you can earn on study abroad programs and review registration requirements.
Credit Type
You may earn one of two types of credit on your study abroad program. Most Northwestern study abroad programs offer direct credit, while exchange programs, affiliated programs and unaffiliated programs offer transfer credit.
Direct Credit
Most Northwestern study abroad programs offer a set curriculum of Northwestern courses that have Northwestern course numbers with an “-SA” (study abroad) designation. You will be registered for these courses in CAESAR, and the courses will appear individually on your Northwestern transcript along with letter grades and credit totals for each course. You do not need to petition for credit, but you will need to work with your academic advisers if planning to fulfill major or minor requirements. Grades received in these classes are calculated into your Northwestern term and cumulative GPAs. No drops are permitted. Additionally, students must take all courses for a letter grade; no pass/no credit options are permitted. Review the list of Northwestern study abroad programs offering direct credit.
Transfer Credit
Exchange programs, affiliated programs, unaffiliated programs, and a small number of Northwestern programs offer transfer credit. During your term abroad, you will be registered in a study abroad placeholder course in CAESAR, which corresponds to your program. You will be issued a transcript from the university or institution that hosts your program, and eligible course credit will be transferred to Northwestern following completion of the program. Course grades will not appear on your Northwestern transcripts or figure into your term or cumulative GPAs.
Minimum Transfer Credit Requirements
As a reminder, you are required to enroll in a full-time load for your program, and in a sufficient number of credits to maintain full-time enrollment at Northwestern. Review credit requirements for various program types.
Registration
All students will be registered at Northwestern for the appropriate study abroad course(s) for their program. Students participating in the Northwestern study abroad programs will be enrolled in their program courses; students participating in exchange and affiliated programs will be enrolled in a study abroad placeholder course listing their program name; and students participating in unaffiliated programs will be enrolled in an unaffiliated placeholder course. GLO will register students directly, so you should not register yourself for any Northwestern classes during your term abroad.
Undergraduate Registration Requirement (URR)
Only Northwestern study abroad programs offering direct credit count toward the Undergraduate Registration Requirement. All other programs, including exchange programs, affiliated programs, and unaffiliated programs do not count toward the URR.
Additional Study Abroad Credit Considerations
No Retroactive Study Abroad Credit Policy
You cannot petition retroactively for credit for study abroad undertaken while at Northwestern. All students who wish to earn credit for coursework completed outside the United States must apply through the Northwestern Study Abroad Application by the appropriate deadline.
International Students Studying in Their Home Country
International students on F1/J1 visas, as well as dual citizens not on J1/F1 visas, who are seeking to enroll independently in courses at foreign institutions in their countries of permanent residence/citizenship may be exempt from applying for permission to study abroad by the study abroad application deadlines. Refer to information for international students.
Pre-Matriculation Foreign Transfer Credit
If you are a transfer student and studied abroad while at your former university, or an incoming first-year student who studied abroad at the university level prior to matriculation, you may be eligible to seek pre-matriculation transfer credit through the Office of the Registrar.