Resources

Getting Started

Being enthusiastic about studying abroad is only a very important beginning to an opportunity of a life time. Below you will find a brief overview of the process to become an exchange participant through HPU and it's partner institutions.

Complete the Outbound Student Application to get an interview with Dr. Davidann, Director of Exchange Porgrams. At this meeting, Dr. Davidann will review the exchange program with you. Please bring a one-page grid version of your academic degree plan with you (available from the Academic Advising Center, 1164 Bishop St., Suite 123 (UB), phone: 544-9355). This plan will be used to see if the courses you need are available at your intended exchange campus. Also, print out a copy of your unofficial HPU academic transcript from your Pipeline account and bring it to the meeting.

If it appears there is a suitable student exchange site for you to study at during your preferred time period, Dr. Davidann will review your coursework and grades to determine academic eligibility. The key to determining a partner university is looking for that which offers the courses you need that match courses in your HPU degree plan.

If a university match is found, a Memo of Understanding is drawn up, explaining how your foreign course work will be used to substitute for specific courses in your HPU degree plan. Identifying these courses enables you to formally begin the process of becoming an exchange student.

In summary, here is what you need to do to start the formal application process:

1.    Complete an online Student Exchange Program data sheet listing your contact information, major, etc.

2.    Have a qualifying interview with Dr. Davidann

·        be prepared to discuss your motives for studying abroad and your degree plan

·        identify an exchange partner university which has courses that can be used for your HPU degree

·        complete a Memo of Understanding (MOU) verifying your foreign coursework and HPU equivalents

3.    Now that you have found a partner university, you should educate yourself about where you will be going by:

·        contacting students who have been to or are from the school and country you want to attend and get information about their personal experiences

·        go on-line and read the Internet site about the school you want to attend

·        prepare a budget to plan out your costs while studying abroad

4.    You are now ready to formally apply to your host school, by…

·        completing relevant application documents, which may include personal and family background information, educational experiences, housing preferences, health review, source of financing, language competency (if foreign language proficiency is required), personal essay and other forms.

·        Make sure you complete your application documents and promptly send them to the host school. Soon thereafter you will receive a formal acceptance notice—note: if HPU nominates you to be an exchange student at a particular university, you are automatically accepted at that university under the reciprocity terms of the exchange agreement.

Your application documents should include the following items (may vary depending upon the university you are applying to):

-       Host institution’s application

-       Statement of purpose (usually an essay detailing why you want to attend the host university)

-       HPU transcript

-       Copy of passport

-       Letter of certification (request one from the Office of Exchange Programs)

-       Proof of health insurance and financial security

-       Extra passport style photos (for certificates of eligibility)

-       Other documents may apply

5.    Now that your application papers have been mailed out, you can now do the following:

·        register at HPU in the appropriate Student Exchange (SE) courses applicable to the time period you will be abroad. By enrolling in (usually 5) SE courses, you are officially registered at HPU. SE courses are what make an exchange different from a regular study abroad: the credit you earn overseas is directly used for what you might have taken at HPU. In other words, there is no need to worry about transferring credits. SE enrollment also permits you to use any scholarship, loan or financial aid you have for your study abroad expenses (since you are registered at HPU), even though your studies will be done abroad.

*Note: since participation in the Student exchange program requires pre-qualifications, you need to get from the Student Exchange office a “permission to register” form to enroll in SE courses. On-line registration in SE courses is not possible otherwise.

·        use your acceptance letter from the school you will attend to apply to the appropriate consulate for a Student Visa

·        book airline ticket and notify host school of your arrival time and flight

·        read the pre-departure information the host school will send you and ask questions of the host school coordinator by email if you have any concerns.