Academics Abroad
Schedule an appointment
If you have questions, schedule an appointment with a study abroad advisor.
General Academic Policies
The following policies apply to all program types.
Students are required to take a full course load on semester programs according to your abroad institution’s standards of pre-approved courses. This is typically four to five courses per semester program.
If you want to take more than the equivalent of 17 hours/semester while abroad, you must have permission from the Office of Academic Advising (OAA) before you leave campus. The Registrar’s Office can only award a maximum of 17 hours without OAA permission.
Students must consult the Registrar’s Office if they plan to study abroad at any point during their final two semesters.
Attending a study abroad program during your final year at WFU may delay your graduation date. This is because some programs might not be able to provide WFU with a transcript until after the graduation deadline. Speak to your study abroad advisor and the Registrar’s Office early if you plan to study abroad at any point during your final year at WFU.
Academic Policies on WFU Programs
WFU programs have lists of approved courses posted on each program page.
- If you participate in a Wake Forest program, you will receive course credit that will apply to your GPA.
- Divisional credit is given if you participate in a Wake Forest program and a divisional course is taught.
- Even though you will receive credit for these courses, it is your responsibility to speak to your major and minor advisor(s) regarding the abroad coursework and how (or if) it will count towards your overall degree plan.
Academic Policies on Affiliate Programs
Students on Affiliate (non-WFU) programs complete the course approval process to ensure they receive credit for courses taken abroad before departing for their program. Course approvals can be completed in the Global Transfer Credit System.
Students may transfer a maximum of 60 hours to Wake Forest University. This includes all coursework taken outside of WFU. After matriculation to WFU, students can transfer a maximum of 30 hours to Wake Forest University. Some majors and minors also have transfer credit limits. Contact your Academic Advisor or the Office of Academic Advising if you have any questions.
Approved courses with a grade of C or better will transfer to your WFU transcript. While grades from courses abroad do not show up on your WFU transcript, some graduate programs request students’ abroad transcripts and will be able to see all attempted credits.
Students on Affiliate (non-WFU) programs complete the course approval process prior to studying abroad to ensure they receive credit for courses taken abroad.
- Courses are reviewed by the academic department corresponding to the subject of the course.
- Lists of previously approved courses can be viewed on WIN → Virtual Campus → Global Transfer Credit Evaluation.
- Not all academic departments approve courses for divisional credit on affiliate programs.
- Study abroad grades of a “C” or better will count as transfer credit and do not apply to your GPA.
Students can review course approvals on study abroad programs using the Global Transfer Credit System, located in WIN under Virtual Campus.
- Once accepted to a program, students can use Global Transfer Credit Evaluation to facilitate the review of courses for credit.
- Approved courses can be added to a student’s course approvals list.
- New courses and expired course approvals can be submitted to the academic department for review. A complete syllabus is required to get new courses reviewed for credit.
- It can take 2-4 weeks for a course to be reviewed for transfer credit. GPS recommends starting the course approval process early.
- Sometimes, a pre-approved course is no longer offered when you register abroad. In this case, you may log in to the Global Credit Transfer System and choose an alternate course from the approved courses list or submit a new course for approval.
On affiliate programs, courses may be approved for 500 or 520 credit.
- A course approved for 500-level credit will count as an elective in that particular major/minor department unless the department chair notes an exception on the approval. Please note that academic departments may have transfer credit limits that affect how many courses taken abroad may count toward the major/minor.
- A course awarded 520 credit will not count toward the major/minor; it will only count toward the credits/hours you need to graduate.
The following departments may approve divisional credit abroad on affiliate programs:
- Division I: Religion
- Division II: Classical Languages • German & Russian
- Division III: Music • Theatre • Dance
- Division IV: Communications • Economics • Political Science • Psychology – Education
The following departments will not approve divisional credit abroad on affiliate programs:
- Division I: History • Philosophy • Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies
- Division II: English • East Asian Languages • Humanities
- Division III: Art History • Studio Art
- Division IV: Sociology
- Division V: Biology • Chemistry • Computer Science • Math • Physics
Some study abroad programs will only send transcripts to home institutions by request; others automatically send a copy 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
Digital Transcripts can be sent to credits@wfu.edu
Once the Registrar’s Office receives an official transcript, your Wake Forest record will be updated, and you will be notified via email to check your records. 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. If your transcript has not arrived within three (3) months after your return, contact your study abroad program and specifically request your transcript.
Cross-Cultural Engagement Courses
Wake Forest has designed three courses to help you prepare for and engage with the cultural aspects of studying abroad. These cross-cultural engagement courses (1 hour each) are taken in succession and will help you develop skills necessary to study, live and work effectively in cultures other than your own. These courses are optional (not required).
See the Cross-Cultural Engagement website for more information about the courses and reflections from Wake Forest students who have taken them.
Registering for Next Semester
You should meet with your academic advisor before you depart for your program to discuss registration for the semester you return to campus. You will register for those classes while you are abroad. Check your email frequently during March (spring programs) or October (fall programs) for important registration information. The course schedule, major/minor registration dates, and elective registration times (eastern) and dates are sent out during these months.
For more information about registration while abroad, refer to the University Registrar’s site. If you have any problems or questions concerning registration while abroad, you can contact Richard Titus at titusr@wfu.edu or call (336)-758-5208.
