Thinking about Studying Abroad?

Studying abroad can be a great experience and this is the place to start. Take a look at our application process and program types to gain a better understanding of what is available to you before you apply.

Or have you already decided that you want to see the world while getting the great education that Ball State has to offer? Then its time to beginning exploring our study abroad programs and apply.

Apply

Find Programs


Application Process

Step 1: CLICK HERE to learn about our program types, search, selection, and deadlines

Ball State University offers programs of various lengths and academic disciplines, and each has its own unique components (excursions, accommodation type, etc.) so be certain to look at all aspects of the program beyond location and discipline. You can research programs by searching by program type, academic subject, program duration, or you can use the map tool, which will show you every program offered in the country you select. When you have decided on the program that best meets your academic and personal interests, you can apply for the program. 

Step 2: Select the Program in Which You Wish to Participate 

Step 3: Click “Apply Now” on Your Program’s Information Page 

  • Once you click the button, you should be directed to an application creation wizard. If you are a current Ball State Student, select “Yes” on the first page.
  • Use your Ball State username and password to log in to the application.
  • Select the term you wish to study abroad and click “Apply.” Here, you will see the checklist of what you need to do to complete your application.
  • All materials must be turned in by the program deadline.

Step 4: Complete the Application and Submit the Materials Listed

Your study abroad advisor or faculty director will guide you through this process.

Download the Study Abroad Participant Handbook (PDF) 

If you have additional questions or when you are ready to schedule an advising meeting, email the Study Abroad Office.

 

 

Each year, a number of Ball State professors enrich course work by leading a short-term course abroad for our students.

Faculty led programs are available every year, and they typically change from year to year. They are discipline-specific and focus on an academic theme or geographic region abroad.

Because they are often shorter in length, they are a great choice for students who cannot spend a semester abroad.

Ball State credit, accommodations, excursions, and often flights, are all prearranged.

Provider programs are managed by a study abroad partner organization. Some providers allow for direct enrollment at universities abroad. Others have their own curriculum, or a mix of the two.

Provider programs have local contacts on-site who can offer academic and cultural guidance throughout the term. They often have built-in excursions to emphasize immersion into the host culture. Many offer homestays or community service to enhance the cross-cultural experience.

Credits are arranged in conjunction with the appropriate Ball State academic departments.

Exchange programs are designed to be a reciprocal exchange of students from one institution to another.

Ball State students enroll in partner universities abroad and earn credit at our university.

Most programs are available in English, however in some cases students need foreign language proficiency to participate in an exchange.

Exchanges are designed for independent students who are comfortable with limited academic and social support. They are ideal for students who are studying a foreign language or have a more flexible study plan. Immersion is achieved by integration, but this is largely up to the student.

We have more than 20 partner schools around the world.

Credits are arranged in conjunction with the appropriate Ball State academic departments.

Accomodation types vary, your host university will assist you with accommodation selection.

You can gain hands-on work experience, and earn academic credit, by participating in an internship abroad in your selected field of study.

We currently offer internships of varying length at many locations all over the world.

Programs include job placement, accommodation, and travel arrangements.

Credits are arranged in conjunction with your Ball State internship coordinator.

Information on Non-BSU Programs 

Earning Credit on Your Program

All study abroad programs are credit-bearing, but the way the credit is awarded and how it appears on your transcript differs according to the type of program you pursue. The information below explains what you need to know about earning credit abroad.

The Request for Study Abroad Credit (RSAC) Form

Except for Faculty Led programs, all credits from your study abroad program will count only as elective credit and cannot be used for major/minor/core course requirements unless all the necessary preliminary authorizations from the departments listed on this form have been obtained.

Please note that the request for study abroad credit (RSAC) form is good for only one semester. If you study abroad for an academic year, you must complete one RSAC for each semester. You are encouraged to work closely with your advisors and to have more courses approved than you intend to take abroad.  In case you opt to change registration once abroad, having additional course approvals will provide you with options.

Download the Request for Study Abroad Credit Approval (RSAC) form

The Study Abroad Office must receive an original transcript from the program abroad. Students are responsible for ensuring that an official transcript is sent to the address below and not to the Office of the Registrar or to the students’ home address. Failure to have your transcript sent to our office will result in delays to credit transfer and possibly graduation.

Study Abroad Office
Rinker Center for Global Affairs
Ball State University
Pittenger Student Center, Room 102
Muncie, Indiana 47306
USA

Grades

Ball State exchange and study abroad courses will appear on a student's transcript as transfer credit and will not be factored into a student's cumulative Ball State GPA. Since many international universities do not use the same credit hour or grading system as we do, the Study Abroad Office will provide credit and course equivalencies for each overseas institution.

We use grade conversion tables created in part with the World Education Services International Grade Conversion Guide for Higher Education and our academic units.

If you have any questions or would like any clarification regarding credit or grading equivalents, please contact the Study Abroad Office.

1. You should contact your Ball State departmental advisor to seek approval for any courses not previously approved. It is your responsibility to ensure the Study Abroad Office receives any new course approvals, and confirmation from the department advisor, within one week of the start of classes at your study abroad institution.

2. You should request host institution transcripts to be sent to the Study Abroad Office at the address below before the end of your program. (See Course Articulation.)

  • When the Study Abroad Office receives your overseas transcript, we attach the transcript, Request for Study Abroad Credit (RSAC), and Grade Equivalency Form, then forward the materials to Academic Advising to indicate transferable credit denoted on your Ball State transcript. The Rinker Center also shares the transcript with primary departmental advisors to allow them to note any course completions within DegreeWorks.
  • All non-approved courses will be listed as INSA 400 and remain on your transcript as elective INSA 400 credit. They cannot be retroactively approved.
  • Once we have registered you for study abroad, all other courses you might be registered for that term will be deleted. Thus, if you have been accepted for participation on a study abroad program but you do not wish to participate, it is vital that you let us know in writing or email [link to studyabroad@bsu.edu] immediately. If you do not, there is a good chance that we will register you for study abroad and delete all of your other courses for that term. Please remember, it is your responsibility to ensure that your status with us is clear. We cannot fix any problems that occur with your courses if you fail to alert us as soon as possible that you do not wish to participate in the study abroad program.
  • All credit earned overseas will articulate back to Ball State as transfer credit. Only those courses earning the equivalent of a C grade or higher will come back as credit. Courses that receive a C- or less will not be brought back here. This can have very serious consequences on your financial aid award, and you may be asked to return all or some of your award if you receive less than full-time credit.

Transfer Credit Hour Guidelines 

Argentina

Credits and Hours - Universidad Blas Pascal

Credits and Hours - Universidad de Belgrano

Credits and Hours - Universidad de Palermo

Australia

Credits and Hours - Deakin University

Credits and Hours - Murdoch University

Credits and Hours - Wollongong

Austria

Credits and Hours - AIFS, University of Salzburg

Botswana

Credits and Hours - University of Botswana

Brazil

Credits and Hours - PUCRS

Chile

Credits and Hours - Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso

Credits and Hours - Universidad Adolfo Ibanez

China

Credits and Hours - Hong Kong Baptist University 

Credits and Hours - Shanghai Normal University

Costa Rica

Credits and Hours - Universidad Veritas

Czech Republic

Credits and Hours - Charles University in Prague 

England

Credits and Hours - Keele University 

Credits and Hours - Richmond: The American International University in London 

Credits and Hours - Roehampton University

Credits and Hours - University of Reading

Credits and Hours - University of Worcester

France

Credits and Hours - Institut Catholique de Paris

Credits and Hours - Sorbonne

Credits and Hours - Universite de Lorraine 

Credits and Hours - Universite de Grenoble

Credits and Hours - Universite Paul Valery - Montpellier III

Credits and Hours - Universite de Savoie, Chambery

Germany

Credit and Hours - Freie Universitat Berlin

Credits and Hours - Humboldt

Credits and Hours - University of Mainz

Credits and Hours - University of Marburg

Credits and Hours - University of Regensburg

Ghana

Credits and Hours - University of Ghana

Greece

Credits and Hours - American College of Greece

India

Credits and Hours - AIFS, University of Hyderabad

Ireland

Credits and Hours - Maynooth University

Credits and Hours - University of Limerick

Italy

Credits and Hours - AIFS Study Abroad in Florence

Credits and Hours - AIFS Study Abroad in Rome

Credits and Hours - American University of Rome

Japan

Credits and Hours - Aichi University of Education 

Credits and Hours - Kansai Gaidai University

Credits and Hours - Nanzan University

Credits and Hours - Sapporo University 

Credits and Hours - Tokyo Gakugei University 

Netherlands

Credits and Hours - University of Groningen

New Zealand

Credits and Hours - Massey University

Credits and Hours - Victoria University of Wellington

Poland

Credits and Hours - E Geppert Academy

Scotland

Credits and Hours - Edinburgh Napier University 

South Africa

Credits and Hours - Stellenbosch University

Spain

Credits and Hours - Universidad de Almeria

Credits and Hours - Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona

Credits and Hours - Universidad de Granada 

Credits and Hours - Universidad de Murcia

Credits and Hours - Universidad de Nebrija

Credits and Hours - Universidad de Salamanca

Faculty-Led and Internship Programs 

Students participating in faculty-led and internship programs will register for courses as usual. Your faculty leader will tell you into which course you should enroll.

Exchange and Provider Programs

Students participating on exchange and provider study abroad programs will automatically be enrolled in a study-abroad placeholder course during their participation on the program.

The course is INSA 400.

The section number assigned will indicate the total number of credits your originally requested for the program.

The Study Abroad Office will register you into this course. You do not register for Ball State courses for your study abroad program.

  • All courses will now come in as transfer credit.
  • The courses will not be included in transfer credit institutional limitations.
  • You will receive credit for courses equivalent to a C or above.
  • You will not receive credit for less than a C equivalent.
  • You will not receive grades on your Ball State transcript for your study abroad program.
  • Your study abroad classes will not count toward your Ball State grade point average.
  • If you fail course work abroad and do not make satisfactory academic progress according to financial aid regulations, you may be required to repay financial aid. Please consult with the financial aid office to understand your obligations if you use financial aid.

Study Abroad Insurance Coverage

If you are planning to study abroad on a Ball State University program, the Ball State University International Travel Policy mandates medical and evacuation insurance coverage during your time abroad. The purchase of this insurance is included in the total cost of University-sponsored study abroad programs.

For a summary of the study abroad insurance plan benefits, please download the AXA Student Summary of Benefits.

For 24/7 AXA Travel Assistance, Contact: 1 888-287-4741 (toll-free) or +1 515-365-3990 (direct or collect)

If you need personal assistance, please contact the Rinker Center for Global Affairs at +1 765-285-5422

AIFS and KIIS Program Participants

For students participating in AIFS and KIIS programs, your program provider’s insurance should serve as your primary policy for medical insurance. The BSU policy can serve as a secondary insurance provider in the event of an emergency or mishap. Please consult with your program provider about insurance coverage and claims processing.

Study Abroad Office Policies

Study Abroad Office Travel Policy

This policy supplements the University’s International Travel Policy. The Study Abroad Office reserves the right to amend, suspend or cancel a program or other travel (prior to departure or in progress) if facts and circumstances are such that the Study Abroad Office concludes that the traveler’s health, safety and well-being may be jeopardized or would be inconsistent with applicable U.S. government sanctions or export control laws. Key indicators for evaluation include Department of State Travel Advisory level, CDC guidance, entry or re-entry restrictions, and restrictions on traveler mobility (e.g., quarantine, lockdown, flight restrictions, among others).

Financial loss resulting from such cancellation is primarily the responsibility of the program participants, but the Study Abroad office will make every effort to make decisions about amendment, suspension or cancellation in a time frame that minimizes financial loss for participants.

GPA Requirements

All programs set minimum GPA requirements for program admission; however, no program is allowed to set a minimum GPA requirement of lower than 2.0. In addition, students on academic probation are not allowed to participate on BSU-sponsored study abroad programs. Individual student exceptions to this policy must be approved by the Executive Director of Academic Services.

Participant Withdrawal from Program

Student must provide written notice to the Rinker Center for Global Affairs of intention to withdraw.

Program Withdrawal after payment of deposit but prior to application deadline

Participant will forfeit the $500 non-refundable deposit. Upon request at time of withdrawal from original program, the deposit may be transferred one time only to another authorized program (scheduled within one year of original program start date).

Program withdrawal after Application Deadline

Participant will forfeit the $500 non-refundable deposit and assume responsibility for any non-recoverable expenses incurred or committed by BSU and its affiliates on participant’s behalf at the time of withdrawal, up to the entire program cost.

Course Load

Students on Ball State University sponsored semester programs are required to remain enrolled in a minimum of the equivalent of 12 BSU credits, on site, while participating in their international program. Partner University requirements that require higher course load supersede Ball State requirements. Online courses cannot count towards on-site minimum enrollment requirements.

Passports and Visas

Participants are responsible for ensuring they have the proper passport and visa(s) for their travel. As a service to our students and staff, the Rinker Center is pleased to offer free passport/visa photo services for international travel. Contact the Rinker Center for more information and to set an appointment for photos.

 

Visitors for Students

Visitors are not allowed to stay with the students and must source housing on their own.  With permission from Faculty Leader/Program Leader, visitors may participate in program activities; however, visitors must absorb all costs associated with their participation.

Program Assessment

Participants will be provided an opportunity to evaluate their program’s content and provide feedback to the Study Abroad Office for review and follow-up (if requested).

Scholarship Awardee Selection

Scholarship applicants must be degree seeking Ball State University students. Scholarship applications are to be reviewed anonymously by a committee composed of Rinker Center staff and independent faculty to provide independent impartial selection of awardees.

Students on Academic or Disciplinary Probation

A student who is on academic or disciplinary probation* or does not meet academic continuation requirements will not be permitted to study abroad/away during the period the sanction is in effect, regardless of the student's acceptance in a program. Any financial losses are the responsibility of the student

*Disciplinary Probation exceptions may be provided in consultation with Student Rights

Health and Medical Insurance

All participants are required to be covered by BSU approved medical and accident insurance for the duration of the program. 

Student Conduct

Students are expected to adhere to Ball State University standards while abroad/away.

Immunizations

It is the participant’s responsibility to receive any required and recommended vaccinations.