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Step 1: Create a profile by clicking the “Login” button. Log in using your regular Davidson username and password. Be sure to include your cell phone number, academic interests, and study abroad goals.

Once you create a profile, you may search for programs and save your favorites to your profile. This is your personal site; be sure to check it often for important announcements.

Step 2: Watch the Study Abroad 101 video series on our Web site.                                                                              
Step 3: Request an appointment with a study abroad counselor by clicking on the “Request an Appointment” link. If you feel confident of your program choice and do not think you require an advising session, you may skip to step 4.

Step 4: Apply to programs by clicking on the “Approved Programs” link.

All students, regardless of program, must complete a Davidson online application.

Students applying to a Davidson-administered program for the fall, spring, academic year, or summer must select the desired Davidson program then complete that Davidson online application.

Students applying to a third party-administered program such as IES or CIEE for the fall, spring, or academic year must select the desired third party provider program, complete the Davidson online application for that program and apply directly to the approved third party provider. (Davidson = permission; third party provider = admission.) If you choose to apply to more than one third party provider program, apply directly to all of them, but you only need to complete one Davidson application because our requirements are the same for all third party programs. There’s no need to do extra work!

Students applying to a third party-administered program for the summer must select “Summer Program - Third Party Provider” then complete that Davidson online application and apply directly to the approved third party provider.

Most programs accept qualified students on a rolling admission basis. All application materials, including transcripts, recommendations, and any supporting documents, must be submitted to Davidson and/or the approved third party provider program by the Davidson application deadline:

Fall, Academic Year, and Summer:  February 1

Spring:  September 14

Please note: Third party provider deadlines may differ from the Davidson deadline. If you do not submit all of the materials by the Davidson deadline, your study abroad permission may be revoked. Please pay attention to the Davidson deadline.

Step 5: Complete the Application for Leave form:

The Application for Leave Form notifies study abroad, financial aid, business services, residence life, and the registrar of your plans. Pay close attention to your email for further instructions from each office. The Application for Leave deadline is:

Fall and Academic Year:  March 15

Spring:  November 1

Note that students participating in a third party provider program for the spring/fall/academic year will be billed a nonrefundable $350 administrative fee when the Leave form is submitted. An Application for Leave Form is not required for summer study abroad.

There is a $250 penalty if a student submits the On Leave form after March 15 for the Fall Semester/Academic Year or after November 1 for the Spring Semester. There is a $500 penalty if a student submits the On Leave form after June 15 for the Fall Semester/Academic Year or after January 1 for the Spring Semester.

Additional Information:

Recommendations: Most study abroad programs require 1-2 letter(s) of recommendation from professors. Professors need at least 3 weeks advance notice before the deadline. In addition, you should:

1) Ask recommenders politely (preferably in person) if they feel they can write a positive letter for you and if they feel they know you well enough in XX academic area to write a letter. For language assessment recommendations, it is to your advantage to ask your most recent professor to write the letter.

2) Share the deadline with your professor and remind him/her of your request a few days before the deadline.

3) Remind your professor of the course(s) you had with him/her, the semester, and your final grade. Including a written assignment or exam from the class is helpful. If a more extensive letter is required, please include your resume, or at least information about your GPA, extracurricular activities, accomplishments, interests, reason for selecting your study abroad program and the goals you hope to accomplish during the semester.

4) Include a pre-addressed, stamped envelope if your professor needs to mail the recommendation.

Passports: Be sure your passport is valid for at least six months after your program ends. If you need to obtain a new passport, please note it can take up to six weeks for US citizens to receive it. More details can be found on the US Department of State passport site.

Visa Warning: Passports must be surrendered as part of the visa application process. Since it may take up to 90 days to receive a visa and have your passport returned to you, participating in consecutive study abroad programs in different countries, particularly between summer and fall, may be problematic or impossible.

Davidson College and consulate staffers cannot guarantee that a visa will be granted by a foreign government in any circumstance or in any time frame. International students should schedule a consultation with International Student Advisor Jennifer Glass to discuss their visa status.

Petition: Students who have a compelling academic reason to study abroad through a program that is not on Davidson's approved list may submit a petition. For more information, please refer to the 'Study Abroad FAQs' link.