The university offers its students the opportunity to pursue their studies in foreign countries and apply this experience to their University of Maryland degree. In many cases, study abroad courses can be used to satisfy department requirements. Please note that all University of Maryland students must complete a minimum of 30 University of Maryland resident credits. Furthermore, students must complete their Fundamental Studies CORE requirements before they will be given permission to study abroad. If students are interested in studying abroad, they should plan to do so during their sophomore or junior year, because students who study abroad during their senior years often violate the Final 30 Credits in Residence Rule and delay their graduation.

There are three categories of study abroad courses. Each category is treated differently for purposes of satisfying the university's Final 30 Credits in Residence Rule.

1. Resident Study Abroad Credits:

Credits earned through a University of Maryland-sponsored study abroad program and taught by University of Maryland faculty members satisfy the university's Final 30 Credits in Residence Rule. In other words, these credits are considered resident credits. As such, the grades earned through these programs are also used in the calculation of University of Maryland student grade point averages.

2. University of Maryland-Sponsored Study Abroad Credit:

Up to 18 credits earned through a University of Maryland-sponsored study abroad program (but not taught by University of Maryland faculty) can be used to fulfill the Final 30 Credits in Residence Rule if the student meets all 3 of the following criteria:

• The student has a minimum grade point average of 2.50.
• The student has department and college approval.
• The student returns and completes at least 12 University of Maryland resident credits.
• Students must complete a total of at least 30 University of Maryland resident credits.

While the grades earned through these study abroad programs are not included in the computation of student University of Maryland grade point average, graduate programs, professional schools (e.g., law schools) and many others will review the students' study abroad grades, basing their decisions on student's entire academic record.

3. Non-University of Maryland-Sponsored Study Abroad Credit:

The credits earned in all other study abroad programs are treated like any other transfer credits. These credits cannot be used to satisfy the Final 30 Credits in Residence Rule. While the grades earned through these study abroad programs are not included in the computation of University of Maryland grade point average, graduate programs, professional schools (e.g., law schools) and many others will review students' entire academic record, including study abroad grades, and base their decisions on these grades, as well as student's academic performance at the University of Maryland.