Receiving Credit for Study Abroad

Transfer Credits from Other Programs:

As per the GW University Bulletin, Graduate Programs:

"No more than 6 graduate credit hours may be transferred from other accredited institutions or another division of the University, and these may be accepted only under limited conditions of time, grades, and relevance to the student's [Elliott School M.A.] program."

For credits earned on other/non-GW programs, graduate students should complete the Elliott School Transfer Credit Approval form . For each course taken abroad, a student must obtain approval from a faculty member in the corresponding department for each course to be transferred into the degree program. Students should request that the GW faculty member review the course description and determine the most suitable GW course equivalent. The professor should indicate the specific equivalent GW course for the course taken abroad (e.g. course ABC from abroad = IAff 224).

Transfer Credits from International Exchange Partners:

The Elliott School allows an exception to the transfer credit policy for M.A. students who attend an International Exchange Partner and will allow the transfer of a maximum of 10 hours of graduate credit, provided the student has received no prior transfer credit. Transfer credits from International Exchange Partners will be transferred as appropriate IAff Special Topics courses (218, 238, 258, 288, 318, 328, 338, 358, etc) with the same name as the course taken at the Partner. Transfer credits may be used as electives or major field requirements, as determined by the Program Director and the Office of Academic Advising & Student Services. Students who wish to receive credit as equivalent to a specific GW course must follow the process outlined above.

Other details on transfer credit:

No student may earn more than 10 transfer credits total(e.g. students cannot combine 6 transfer credits and 10 transfer credits from an International Exchange Partner).

Students who participate in GW Summer Abroad courses earn direct GW credits; thus the transfer credit policy does not apply to those courses.

Further information about allowable transfer credits is available on the Academic Advising and Student Services website.

Transcripts:

The Elliott School will process the transfer of credit for your successfully completed courses. Upon your return, please bring your official, sealed academic transcripts from your host institution and your approved transfer credit petitions. All study abroad transcripts should be sent to:

Director for International Programs and Education
GW Elliott School of International Affairs
1957 E Street NW, Suite 401
Washington, DC 20052 USA

Last updated: 07.09.2009