Policies and Forms

Withdrawal and Charging Policies

The decision to enroll in a study abroad program requires a significant investment of University resources and commitment on the part of the student to prepare fully to experience the program's full benefits. Students interested in enrolling in a study abroad program are urged to plan carefully and to be completely familiar with this withdrawal policy before applying. This policy is different from and supersedes the University's refund policies.

Definition of Non-recoverable Expenses

An expense becomes nonrecoverable when it has already been paid out to a vendor. Nonrecoverable expenses vary by program and may include, but are not limited to: airfare, housing, transportation, and administrative fees. Northeastern will return all expenses that can be recovered from a program to a student.

Traditional Summer/Semester Programs (8-20 credits)

If a student withdraws from the program 45 days or less from the date of departure, there will be a $300 administrative fee charged to the student's account in addition to any non‐recoverable expenses.

Short Term, Faculty Led and Dialogue of Civilizations Programs (8 credits)

If an accepted student withdraws from a Dialogue of Civilizations (DOC) program, the student will be charged according to the following schedule:

Date Signed Withdrawal Form is Provided to OISP	Amount Charged
Before 3/1	$300 administrative fee
On and after 3/1 and before 3/15	25% of tuition and student accommodation cost for student’s specific DOC program plus $300 administrative fee
On and after 3/15 and before 4/1	50% of tuition and student accommodation cost for student’s specific DOC program plus $300 administrative fee
On and after 4/1 and before 4/15	75% of tuition and student accommodation cost for student’s specific DOC program plus $300 administrative fee
On and after 4/15	100% of tuition and student accommodation cost for student’s specific DOC program plus $300 administrative fee

How to Withdraw from a Traditional Summer/Semester or Short-Term Faculty-Led Dialogue of Civilizations Program

Students must submit a Withdrawal/Deferral Request Form to the Office of International Study Programs in 403 Richards Hall.

Form can be found here: Withdrawal Deferral

Medical Leave of Absence

Due to the non‐recoverable costs associated with studying abroad, the University's medical and non‐medical leaves of absence policies do not apply to students participating in International Study Programs.

Program Cancellation/Suspension Policies

Unless a Travel Warning or Travel Alert has been issued (see section below), after the start date of a Dialogue of Civilizations and/or traditional study abroad program all students are responsible and will be charged the full amount of the applicable Dialogue and/or traditional study abroad program in all cases regardless of any of the following situations/reasons:

Illness or accident
Homesickness
Family emergency
Language difficulties
Adjustment issues due to climate, geography, cultural differences, etc.
Any other reason (except a Travel Warning or Travel Alert).

Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings

If the U.S. State Department issues a Travel Alert or Travel Warning or if the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issues a Travel Health Warning in a country in which Northeastern University offers a program, Northeastern may suspend or cancel the program in that country at the recommendation of the Risk Assessment Committee for International Programs for Students and by order of the Provost. If a Travel Alert or Travel Warning, including a Travel Health Warning, is issued prior to the start of the program, students who do not participate in a substitute program will be entitled to a full refund of any amounts paid to the University by the student for such program. In the event such a warning is issued thereafter:

All students are required to return immediately to the U.S;
Students will be evacuated by International S.O.S;
All transportation and housing costs not covered by S.O.S. will be covered by OISP;
OISP will make every effort to assist students to find an alternative program for the semester if possible; and.
If it is not possible to find an alternative program, participants and accepted applicants are entitled to a refund or credit on a pro-rata basis.

Study Abroad manual can be found here: Study Abroad Manual - Northeastern University.

Additional Forms

All students studying abroad on traditional summer, semester and year long programs must complete the OISP Course Approval Form.

Course Approval Form

Students interested in partaking on an internship abroad and receiving academic credit for the internship must complete and submit the OISP Internship Credit Form. Please note that students participating on the following internship programs do not need to complete this form: Hansard Scholars Society, Australian National University, Institute of Public Administration, and the Louvain Institute. Students participating on all other internship programs must complete this form.

Internship Credit Form

Students participating on the Global Engineering Education Exchange program (GE3) must meet with Joy Erb in the department of Engineering, complete the GE3 form below and submit it to OISP.

GE3 Course Form

Forms can be submitted in person to 403 Richards, via email: studyabroad@neu.edu or by fax at 617-373-5702.

Courses

Traditional Semester Programs

Students are required to enroll in four courses to receive full credit and maintain full Northeastern student status.

Traditional Summer Programs

Students are required to enroll in two courses per summer session to receive full credit and maintain full Northeastern student status.

Dialogue of Civilizations

Students are required to enroll in the two specific courses outlined in each Dialogue of Civilizations program. Faculty cannot make exceptions to this policy. If a student chooses to voluntarily enroll in an online course in addition to the two required courses, this student will incur an overload fee.