Majors, Minors and LSM
Students must declare their major, minor, and LSM prior to studying abroad. This provides students clear information about their unique degree requirements that can guide them when choosing courses abroad. It also enables staff in the Office of International Education and the Academic Services office to advise students more accurately prior to and during study abroad.
Course Selection and Registration
The Office of International Education makes every effort to advise students on course selection and registration prior to the start of the program; however, courses and course availability abroad can change without notice and the Office of International Education cannot be responsible for such changes. Therefore, students should plan to have alternative courses identified before departure. Only the courses listed in the 'Previously Approved Courses' sections in BentleyAbroad have been pre-approved for credit. We strive to have as many courses as possible approved in advance by Bentley faculty, however in some cases the large volume of courses available at a particular university makes this impractical. If you are interested in taking a course that is not listed, contact your study abroad advisor to request course approval as early as possible. Students are not authorized to take any other courses abroad unless they receive written permission from a study abroad advisor. If a course is taken that has not been approved, the student will receive no credit for that course.
Students must follow the host university's registration process to register for courses. Please keep in mind that registration practices vary widely across universities and countries. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that they are officially registered and will receive an official transcript upon completion. Students must report their finalized course registrations in BentleyAbroad soon after arrival.
Course load Policy
For semester programs, students must enroll in a minimum of four courses* and a minimum of 12 Bentley credits. Enrolling in four courses is required regardless of the number of credits per course. Enrolling in at least 12 Bentley credits is required to maintain full-time student status for student visa and financial aid purposes. *Exceptions to the 'Four Course Minimum' policy:
- University of Manchester: It is acceptable to enroll in fewer than four courses if enrolling in three 5-credit classes
- University of Glasgow: It is acceptable to enroll in fewer than four courses if enrolling in three 5-credit classes
Required Course Policy
If the study abroad program has a required course, whether it is a requirement of Bentley or the host institution/program, Bentley mandates that students enroll in that course and remain enrolled for the duration of the program.
Course Withdrawal Policy
Students are subject to the host university's withdrawal policy which governs if, when, and how a student may withdraw from a course. Withdrawals will be reported on the Bentley transcript only if the host university official transcript reports a withdrawal. Therefore students must follow the official withdrawal procedure rather than simply informing the professor.
Language Course Policy
When registering for a language course, students must take the highest level suitable for their ability. Bachelor of Arts majors and Modern Languages majors and minors are not guaranteed credit in the major/minor. These students must reach a certain proficiency level in a language, and their approved language courses abroad must fit the requirements of their degree plan. Before declaring their major or minor, interested students should meet with the faculty coordinator to determine the specific courses that will satisfy the degree requirements.
Course Focus Requirement Policy
Study abroad courses are not eligible to fulfill the communication intensive, diversity intensive, and international intensive course focus requirements in the student’s degree plans.
Exam Policy
Students must complete all required exams onsite.
Alternative Assessment Policy
Occasionally, a student might need to make arrangements to take alternative final exams (assessments); typically, this happens when students take the first half of a course that runs for the full academic year, or if the host university's academic calendar conflicts with Bentley's. In this case, students are responsible to arrange alternative assessments with their professors before returning home. When arranging an alternative assessment, it is the student's responsibility to pay careful attention to what the professor requires in order to satisfy the alternative assessment. Students should make sure they have evidence in writing of what was agreed with the professor, especially if it differs from something in writing in a syllabus or email.
Grading Policy
Students studying abroad at Bentley partner and affiliate programs earn Bentley credits and Bentley grades for all approved courses. Bentley will post grades according to Bentley’s equivalency scale. The Bentley transcript will show the term abroad with all approved course titles, Bentley credits, and Bentley grades, but study abroad grades will NOT be included in the Bentley cumulative GPA calculation*.
Courses may not be taken pass/fail and students cannot choose to omit any approved course from the Bentley transcript. All approved courses will appear on the transcript regardless of whether they are needed to meet degree requirements. Grading systems vary significantly around the world. Students who have any issues with grades earned abroad must address them with the faculty and program administrators abroad as early as possible, ideally before returning home. Bentley is obligated to honor the courses and grades as reported by the partner institution or study abroad program. Bentley cannot change or omit any courses or grades reported by the host institution or program. For more information about transcripts and equivalencies, please visit Transcripts and Grades from Abroad. * Exclusion of grades from Bentley GPA calculation does not apply to non-Bentley programs, domestic study away programs, or intensive faculty-led programs offered by Bentley faculty.
Academic Integrity Policy
As a Bentley student abroad, you continue to be responsible for following the policies in the Bentley Student Handbook, including the academic integrity policy. Upon return to Bentley students can be held responsible for violations of policy that occur during the education abroad program.
Non-Bentley Programs Policy
Bentley students are not permitted to submit an application directly to any Bentley partner university or affiliate organization. To earn Bentley credit, you must apply for admission through the Office of International Education by the stated deadlines. There are no exceptions.