FAQ
- What is The N.U.in Program?
- Why was I admitted to The N.U.in Program?
- Can I change my admission decision to enter in the fall or defer my admission and begin classes in the spring without going abroad?
- How do I choose an N.U.in location?
- Can I choose a location that is not compatible with my college or major?
- Do I need to know a foreign language to study in Greece or Costa Rica?
- How much does The N.U.in Program cost, and what is included in the program fee?
- How can I pay my bill, and what payment options are available to pay The N.U.in Program fee?
- Am I eligible for financial aid during the Fall N.U.in semester?
- What types of courses do N.U.in students take?
- Will students who participate in The N.U.in Program graduate on time?
- Why is there a Service-Learning requirement for N.U.in students?
- Do students need health insurance while abroad?
- What happens if there is a medical or health emergency while students are abroad?
- How are students supervised when they are abroad?
- Are students allowed to travel in country and internationally while at their N.U.in locations?
- Can parents visit students while they are abroad?
- Where will students live when they arrive on campus for the spring semester?
- Are N.U.in students at a social disadvantage when they arrive on campus in January?
About
The N.U.in Program is Northeastern's spring-admit option that allows the University to admit additional, well-qualified students. N.U.in students spend their first semester studying at one of our five international locations - Australia, Costa Rica, England, Greece, or Ireland - and then matriculate to Northeastern in the spring for their second semester.
Why was I admitted to The N.U.in Program?
This year, Northeastern received over 47,000 applications for approximately 2,800 seats in the class of 2018. All applications are evaluated holistically and individually to assess a diversity of factors. Students admitted to The N.U.in Program demonstrated qualities within their applications that makes them a good fit for both the Program, as well as Northeastern as a whole.
Can I change my admission decision to enter in the fall or defer my admission and begin classes in the spring without going abroad?
When applying to Northeastern, applicants can expect to hear one of four decisions:
- Accept for the fall semester
- Accept to The N.U.in Program
- Waitlist
- Deny
Students offered admission to The N.U.in Program were reviewed with the same applicant pool as the fall, and all admissions decisions cannot be changed. Students admitted to The N.U.in Program cannot be added to the fall waitlist.
How do I choose an N.U.in location?
Students may attend locations that are academically compatible with their major and age. Capacity at each location is on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information, please visit the Location Eligibility page of our website. Need additional assistance? Please call our office at 617.373.6447 or send us an email at nuin@neu.edu.
Can I choose a location that is not compatible with my college or major?
The N.U.in curriculum at each host institution is carefully evaluated and chosen to align with specific majors, and as such, students cannot choose a location that is not compatible with their college or major. The courses taken at our host institutions are comparable to those that fall-admit students take at Northeastern so that when N.U.in students arrive to campus in the spring, they will be on track to continue within their chosen majors.
Do I need to know a foreign language to study in Greece or Costa Rica?
No. All classes, with the exception of the language course, are held in English. Students will take a language placement test upon arrival to place them in the appropriate level of Spanish or Greek. However, students will find it helpful to learn a few key phrases on their own before departure.
Enrollment & Finances
How much does The N.U.in Program cost, and what is included in the program fee?
For more information on the cost and inclusions at each N.U.in location, please use the links below:
For information about financial aid for the spring semester, please contact Student Financial Services.
How can I pay my bill, and what payment options are available to pay The N.U.in Program fee?
The program fee must be paid, or a payment plan must be in place, before students depart for their N.U.in locations. Click here to learn how to pay bills and for more information regarding payment plans.
Am I eligible for financial aid during the Fall N.U.in semester?
Students can view their financial aid package through the Application Status Check site where they also found their admission letter. Because The N.U.in Program is a pre-matriculation program, only need-based Northeastern grants can be applied to the Fall N.U.in semester. All other federal loans, grants, and work study funds can be applied to future semesters, beginning in the spring.
Academics
What types of courses do N.U.in students take?
Students will take a course specific to the host-country and its culture, the one-credit Global Experience course in conjunction with Service-Learning, as well as courses that fulfill NU Core and/or major requirements. For more detailed information on courses, please visit the “Academics” pages for each location.
Will students who participate in The N.U.in Program graduate on time?
Students who meet the following criteria will be on track to graduate on time:
- Successfully complete all N.U.in courses, acheiving a "C" or better in all classes
- Remain in the same major throughout his/her academic career with Northeastern
Please note the the second criteria listed will not affect all major changes, but is more likely to be a factor when changing from a liberal arts/humanities focus to a science/math/engineering/health science field due to the pre-requisites needed for these more technical majors.
Service-Learning
Why is there a Service-Learning requirement for N.U.in students?
The main aim of The Global Experience course and Service-Learning requirement is to help participants prepare for, gain from and reflect upon their term abroad as a profound global experience. By actively engaging in the local community, participants will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the local language, history, and culture. Many students who visit a Service-Learning site regularly find that they build relationships with the local people with whom they work alongside.
Health & Safety
Do students need health insurance while abroad?
Yes. Students are required to have international health insurance coverage while abroad. Please see the “Health & Safety” pages under each location for more information.
What happens if there is a medical or health emergency while students are abroad?
The N.U.in site staff that accompanies students abroad is fully trained and prepared to handle any emergency that may arise. Our partner institutions have assisted with setting up relationships with local hospitals nearby, and staff are aware of all safety protocols. There is a duty phone number that students can call 24/7 to reach a staff member should an emergency situation present itself. Boston staff also have an emergency phone and are kept aware of any situations occuring at the locations abroad. Parents are typically notified either by their students or staff of emergencies.
Orientation
Will there be an orientation for students before they go abroad and when they return to campus?
Yes. Participants attend a Pre-departure Orientation during the summer, an On-site Orientation once they arrive at their N.U.in locations, and finally Spring New Student Orientation upon arriving to Boston for the spring semester. Students receive more information about the spring orientation via email in mid-October.
Travel
How are students supervised when they are abroad?
The N.U.in Program provides a comprehensive 24/7 staff to support students while they are abroad. View a description of each staff position >>
Are students allowed to travel in country and internationally while at their N.U.in locations?
Yes. Students must fill out a “Program Deviation” form whenever they leave the city. View our Policies section for more information >>
Can parents visit students while they are abroad?
Parents are always welcome to visit their students! We recommend waiting until students arrive and receive their course schedules for the semester so that both parties can consider when the best time to visit may be, based on coursework and break dates.
Transition to Boston
Where do students live when they arrive on campus for the spring semester?
All N.U.in students are guaranteed on-campus housing in the spring. During the fall semester, while they are abroad, students are prompted to fill out a housing survey, and once submitted, our Department of Housing and Residential Life does their best to place students in housing according to their preferences. Students are placed in either dorm- or apartment-style accommodations depending upon availability.
Are N.U.in students at a social disadvantage when they arrive on campus in January?
Northeastern's campus is transitional in nature, meaning students are constantly coming and going, either for co-ops, both domestic and abroad, study abroad semesters, or other experiential learning opportunities. The N.U.in Program fits in perfectly with this culture, and students are not at a disadvantage by entering in January. Due to this constant movement on campus, there is always a Spring New Student Orientation, a full student activities fair, and Welcome Week activities offered each January for all new incoming students. The N.U.in Progarm also holds a welcome back event for N.U.in students, and former parents have commented that arriving to campus can be likened to a reunion, as students are excited to see each other after forming such close friendships while abroad.
Additionally, The N.U.in Program has full time Transition Managers who work to assist students in their transition to campus, providing opportunities to meet new students and feel comfortable while they adjust to the Boston campus environment.