Returning from Abroad
Schedule an appointment
If you have questions, schedule an appointment with a study abroad advisor.
Receiving Academic Credit
For WFU study abroad programs, your academic credit will appear on your transcript. Please contact your study abroad advisor if you have questions.
For students participating on the WFU/Barcelona: Business & Global Studies and the WFU/Chile: Immersion (Fall only) programs, transcripts will be sent to the Center for Global Programs and Studies by the host university. Transcripts for the fall Barcelona and Chile programs typically arrive in late February. Transcripts for the spring Barcelona program typically arrive in mid-June.
Once GPS has received the transcripts they will convert the grades into a US format and draft a report to be sent to the Office of the University Registrar for a final upload onto the student’s final Wake Forest transcript.
Transcripts
For some affiliate programs, you may need to request that your program send your transcript to WFU’s Registrar’s Office. Some programs automatically send a copy of your transcript once your grades have been processed.
Transcripts should be sent to:
Wake Forest University
Registrar’s Office
P.O. Box 7207
Winston-Salem, NC
27109-7207
Electronic transcripts can be sent to credits@wfu.edu.
Once an official transcript has been received by the Registrar’s Office, your Wake Forest record will be updated and you will be notified via email to check your records. Typically, this takes 2-3 months. If you have not heard from the Registrar’s Office, chances are your transcript has not arrived.
Contact the Registrar’s Office if you have questions.
Course Approvals
If the Registrar’s Office has received your transcript, but some of your courses have not transferred back, then missing course approvals might be the cause.
You can continue to get courses through the Global Transfer Credit Evaluation app on WIN after you return, but GPS cannot guarantee that your courses will be approved since courses are evaluated by academic departments. Here are the steps to submitting additional course approvals.
- Go to WIN → Virtual Campus and click on Global Transfer Credit Evaluation
- Click on “New Course Approval” to submit the course for review.
Reverse Culture Shock
Returning home from study abroad can take some adjustment. This article discusses the experience of culture shock and provides some suggestions to help deal with culture shock: How to Deal With Reverse Culture Shock After Studying Abroad
Reflecting on your time abroad
CGS 152 (Cross-Cultural Engagement and Re-entry)
Wake Forest offers a 1-credit cross-cultural engagement course for you to reflect on your experience abroad and your re-entry to life in the US. You will delve deeper into culture and also learn how to leverage your international experience in your future career or in further international experiences. Half-semester course; taken in the semester after you studied abroad. (1h P-POI)
See the Cross-Cultural Engagement website for more information about the course and how to register.
Office of Professional and Career Development
The Office of Professional and Career Development (OPCD) has resources to help you unpack your experience abroad and incorporate the skills you practiced abroad into your job search. Check out the OPCD website for resources.
Global Ambassador Program
A great way to continue to stay involved with the Global Programs and Studies office is by applying to be a Global Ambassador. Global Ambassadors are student volunteers who will supplement the advising process by providing a student perspective to prospective study abroad participants. They meet with interested students and groups and act as guides throughout the study abroad preparation process. If you are interested in applying to be a Global Ambassador, visit: Global Ambassador page.
Post-Graduate Abroad Opportunities
Are you interested in post-graduate opportunities abroad? If so, check out the post-graduate opportunities abroad page.
