Academics

Academic Planning 

Consult Your Academic Advisor 

The first step in preparing for your study abroad experience is to consult your academic advisor to determine the best term for your study abroad. Identify specific degree requirements, if any, you need to fulfill abroad in order to stay on track towards graduation. 

• Create a flexible schedule to allow you various options 
• Consider fulfilling a mix of degree requirements abroad – Core, major/minor, Engaged Learning, Honors, and general elective requirements
• Discuss if you plan to take major/minor electives, upper-level courses, or introductory courses abroad 

Your academic advisor is responsible for completing an academic advisor recommendation for your study abroad application. The first time they hear from you should not be when they receive an academic advisor recommendation request. It will take about two weeks for academic advisors to complete your recommendation request. 

Complete Requirements Towards Degree Plan 

• General Elective Credits: General elective credits count towards the 120-credit hour requirement set to graduate by Loyola. Depending on your academic plan, you may or may not need these credits. Work with your academic advisor to determine if you need general elective credits.  
• Core Requirements: While Tier 1 and 2 courses may be available abroad, Tier 2 courses generally offer more flexibility and may be easier to get approved. Make sure to have taken the Tier 1 prior to departing if you plan to take a Tier 2 core abroad. Students are not able to take their writing intensive while abroad, except for Rome. You can find a list of required Loyola Core courses here. 
• Major/Minor Courses: Work closely with your major advisor or first and second year advisor to identify which major or minor requirements are easiest for you to fulfill while abroad. In many cases, this might be major/minor elective credits. If you are a nursing major, you will work with your nursing advisor, even if you are a freshman or sophomore. 
• Engaged Learning: The Engaged Learning requirement embeds opportunities for students to explore the many different forms of experiential learning as part of their academic coursework. To learn more about Loyola’s Engaged Learning requirement please visit the Engaged Learning website.
• Honors Requirements: Studying abroad is the only scenario in which the Honors Program accepts substitutions for its required courses at LUC. The Program Director receives a request for approval of the course substitution from the Study Abroad Office. Students may substitute one study abroad course for an Honors requirement, provided they receive a B or higher in the course. The course cannot be a language instruction course. 

Loyola offers over 200 study abroad programs that are categorized into five different program types.  The academic structure and experience will vary based on the program type you select. For more details on the overall program differences, visit our program types page. 

The Rome Center

Academics at the Rome Center offer the same high-quality structure you are familiar with on Loyola’s Chicago campuses. Courses are taught in English and follow a grading system consistent with what you are used to. Your instructors are Loyola faculty who are based in Italy, all of whom enrich the classroom with their deep knowledge of Italian culture and its local approach. What makes the experience unique is the chance to take on-site courses that bring learning to life, exploring Rome’s monuments, museums, artifacts, and historical sites as part of your studies.   

Faculty-led

Faculty-led programs are short-term study abroad programs with high impact learning. They are cohort style, led by Loyola faculty, and allow you to connect in-class learning with experiential learning. These programs can be quite fast-paced with a lot of content packed into a short amount of time. You may feel fatigued initially, but you will adapt quickly to your new learning environment maximizing your time in your host country. 

Exchange/Direct Enroll

While abroad on an exchange program, you will likely have the chance to take courses alongside locals at an international university. Many exchange programs allow you to take your courses in the local language, such as Spanish or French. Academically, exchanges will likely feel different than courses at Loyola. Exchange programs typically follow the grading and academic structure of the host country. This may mean that final grades are based on exams as opposed to participation/attendance, you might be held to the same academic standard as the locals, and courses are not built around a U.S. academic structure.  

Jesuit-Affiliates

Jesuit-affiliate programs, SLU Madrid, Fordham London, and Marquette Cape Town allow you to engage with the host country culture, while potentially taking courses at an accredited, U.S., Jesuit university abroad. Jesuit-affiliate programs may follow a similar academic structure to Loyola. Some Jesuit-affiliate programs offer courses at a local university. Ask your Study Abroad Advisor for more information! 

Affiliates

Affiliate programs are study abroad providers who help facilitate your study abroad program. This means they are highly supportive and often times, they manage the housing process for you overseas. There are three types of affiliate programs: 

You’ll likely notice key differences between U.S. academics and those at international institutions. Being aware of these changes can help you adapt and succeed. The Rome Center and Faculty-led program models offer Loyola courses and are relatively congruent with the style of teaching and learning at Loyola University Chicago. 

Here’s what to expect when directly enrolling at an international institution abroad: 

• Grading & Assessment: Final grades may rely heavily on one or two exams or papers—there may be no class curves, extra credit, or frequent quizzes. Additionally, the grading system at some universities in Europe and the UK tends to be more rigorous than U.S. grading scales. There can be less of a focus on GPA and overall grade (like at Loyola) and instead the focus is on learning the material and passing. Top grades equivalent to an A are generally less commonly awarded within the European grading system. 
• Academic Rigor: Some countries and programs are known for being particularly challenging, such as the Netherlands, Japan, and direct-enroll programs whether direct enrollment at an international university or through an affiliate partner’s facilitated direct-enroll program. STEM & Business disciplines abroad may be more rigorous than coursework at Loyola.  
• Support & Structure: Office hours may be limited or unavailable, and students are often expected to be more independent in managing their workload. 
• Class Culture: Class participation, structure, and expectations can vary widely. You may find fewer class meetings but more reading and self-directed work. 

Adapting to a new academic environment is part of the experience—embrace it as a chance to grow academically and personally!

You are responsible for taking final exams and submitting all assessments for your study abroad courses by the due dates determined by your instructors abroad. For some programs, these dates might be up to one month after your final class of the semester. Students wishing to request an earlier final exam date must make arrangements with the instructor and/or host university/provider directly. Such requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students must adhere to their specific university or providers policies and procedures surrounding final exams. Some host institutions abroad permit retaking of exams, also known as "re-sitting" for an exam.  You should make yourself aware of your host institution's policies regarding the retaking of exams and prepare accordingly.  

If the host university abroad approves your exam retake request, you must arrange for a time, place, and proctor approved by your host university abroad and comply with the host institution's retake schedule and process. Note that universities may require that retakes occur on their own campus, not after the student has left the country. 

Some courses make final exams optional. Be sure to discuss your present grade with the faculty of the course before making the determination that taking the final exam is not necessary. Your transcript will reflect your final grade for the course and Loyola is unable to change or alter grades reflected on the official host university and/or supplemental grade report from the study abroad program.