FAQ's
| Students at Lake Constance |
How do I get started?
Where is the Study Abroad office? What are the hours?
Why should I study abroad?
When to start planning?
Isn't education abroad expensive?
Can I still study abroad if I don't speak a second language?
What will be living situation be like?
How long can I study abroad?
Can I Co-Op overseas before or after my study abroad term?
Do I have to go to an Exchange Partner in Germany or can I study elsewhere?
How do I know if I am eligible for a study abroad program?
Will I have time to travel while I'm abroad?
How can I be sure credits earned abroad will count toward my degree?
When are the application deadlines for study abroad programs and scholarships?
When will grades for courses taken at a host university appear on my transcript?
What about health insurance? What are my options in terms of coverage?
What about medications? Can I get prescriptions refilled abroad?
How do I get started?
Students seeking a global academic experience are advised to attend one of our Study Abroad Information Sessions which are held several times a year. It is also recommended that you visit the Office of International Programs to discuss your options and learn specific details about the programs. There is also an online application system where you can search programs, learn about term dates and complete an online application. For additional advising prior to applying to a program, students may request an appointment with a study abroad coordinator at international@kettering.edu.
Where is the Study Abroad office? What are the hours?
The Office of International Programs is located in the Academic Building, room 3-340. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8 am until 5 pm.
Why should I study abroad?
Studying abroad offers the opportunity to grow personally and professionally in new ways. While abroad, students experience new cultures that expands their perceptions of the world and encourages growth in cross-cultural appreciation and cultural identity. Students become more confident and independent, aiding in their success at Kettering and their career.
When to start planning?
Students are encouraged to visit the Office of International Programs at least one year prior to the start of the program to be counseled on application procedures. Application deadlines are six months before the program, generally falling around May 1 for fall programs and November 1 for spring programs.
The application process falls into two steps: students receive a Study Abroad Approval Form from the OIP, and work with their home department for academic advisement to complete the form. After the Study Abroad Approval Form is uploaded onto the student's study abroad portal on Terra Dotta, students receive counseling specific to their program on completing the rest of the application documents, which are made available to them through Terra Dotta.
Isn't education abroad expensive?
You should consider an education abroad as an investment, but studying abroad does not have to be expensive. Kettering University has a tuition exchange for students going to Germany. This means you pay your regular tuition fee to Kettering but you get to experience a term abroad! If you are studying at an institution other than our Exchange Partners (Germany), then tuition will be paid via alternative methods.
Kettering also offers all students a $1500 stipend, this is intended to help offset costs for round-trip air travel, Euro rail pass, etc.
All Kettering students may apply for grants and scholarships and can apply their financial aid to education abroad program costs as well.
The Oswald International Student Fellows Program provides need- and merit-based financial grants for travel and living expenses for Kettering students involved in the international exchange program. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis for the spring and fall exchange programs each academic year. In general, consideration is given to the financial needs of students, the student’s academic record, the student’s plan for the expenditure of the grant, and the country to be visited. Each spring and fall, students will be selected as Oswald International Student Fellows and will receive travel grants in addition to the Kettering travel stipend provided to study abroad students.
Can I still study abroad if I don't speak a second language?
All programs are taught in English so you do not have to have another language to experience a term overseas. We do require that all students take a German language course and a German history course. A study abroad experience can greatly enhance learning of a foreign language and provide an intense cultural immersion. Mastering a second or third language can set you apart from the masses in the job market and this is a great opportunity to learn a new skill.
What will my living situation be like?
Accommodation choices vary depending on the program, but all students are required to stay in housing provided by the host institution. Usually, all housing is within a 10-minute walk or ride to the host university's campus. Sometimes these housing facilities are owned and run by the host institution. Other times, they are run by separate housing companies, but the host institution approves them and reviews the cost and lease agreement to help ensure the safety and well-being of the student. Housing will either be residence-hall style or apartment style. Most residence hall style housing facilities will have access to a kitchen. Depending on the program and room availability, students may be able to select a single room, but many times students reside in a double room. Oftentimes, host institutions will have a dining hall, but there will most likely not be a meal plan. We encourage students to utilize their kitchens, explore area cafes and restaurants, and purchase cafeteria meals a-la-carte.
How long can I study abroad?
All our partner programs in Germany are approximately 11 weeks long but there are opportunities to complete two work terms back-to-back to experience a longer stay in Europe. Speak to one of our coordinators for more information about this.
Can I Co-Op overseas before or after my study abroad term?
Students may have the opportunity to participate in a Co-Op term before or after their study abroad program. We recommend you talk to a study abroad coordinator as well as the co-op office on Campus. If your co-op has a partner in Germany, or another country, we suggest that you talk to your supervisor to see if they can facilitate in coordinating this fantastic opportunity.
Do I have to go to an Exchange Partner in Germany or can I study elsewhere?
All our programs based in Germany are partnered exchanges, meaning that the process is quite simple and term durations have been adjusted to fit Kettering's term schedule. Should you wish to visit a school outside of Germany then that is something that we can help you with. The onus will be on the student to do most of the initial research into choosing the right school, syllabus equivalency, term duration, housing, visa arrangements, etc. Once the initial research has been done, we ask that students visit the Office of International Programs to discuss how to move forward. We have pilot programs currently in Japan and China and hope to expand our programs to other European destinations.
How do I know if I am eligible for a study abroad program?
Please visit the Office of International Programs to speak to one of our advisors. As long as you meet the prerequisites, students and your department head/academic advisor provide approval, there will be no reason as to why you cannot study abroad.
Will I still be able to graduate on time if I study abroad?
It is important that you plan ahead. We ask that students visit with their academic advisor as soon as possible to make sure all prerequisites are met and you are on target to graduate on time. There is no reason as to why you need to delay graduating if you are prepared.
Will I have time to travel while I'm abroad?
Most study abroad participants have time to travel while they are overseas. How much you decide to travel will depend on your workload and your financial situation. Students take the weekends as an opportunity to travel to local or regional places of interest, if your schedule and wallet allows for it, short distance, budget flights are available to neighboring countries. Some students decide to extend their stay overseas and take advantage of a longer stay; this will depend on your academic situation. Please speak to a study abroad advisor for more information.
How can I be sure credits earned abroad will count toward my degree?
Any courses listed on the Study Abroad Approval forms are already pre-approved for transfer toward your degree program. However, any courses you select must be approved by your advisor and department head. Additionally, any changes to your course choices after you have received approval will require a second approval process. If you change courses without approval from your department head and advisor, it is very likely your courses will not come back for credit. Additionally, you must pass your courses in order to receive credit. Currently all study abroad courses are taken as pass/fail. In order for credit to transfer back to Kettering University, a student must earn a grade of 3.7 or higher on the German grading scale. On that scale, a 1.0 is the best grade possible and a 5.0 is the lowest grade possible.
Some programs offer courses outside those listed on your approval forms. If you are interested in taking courses that are not part of the pre-approved list, you are welcome to do so; however, this will require approval from the Office of International Programs and your host institution, and additional courses are not always available. If you would like the additional courses to come back to Kettering for credit, you will need receive special approval to do so.
When are the application deadlines for study abroad programs and scholarships?
Please see the individual schools and scholarships for application deadlines.
When will grades for courses taken at a host university appear on my transcript?
Generally speaking, grades are finalized at the host institutions at the end of their semester. Once grades are finalized, official transcripts are issued and mailed to Kettering. Once the Kettering University Registrar receives these transcripts, they will be added to your Kettering University transcript within a week of receipt. Please note, however, that our exchange program end dates often do not match the host institution's end of semester as our exchange programs are only 3 months. This means there can be a waiting period of a couple months between end of study abroad program and the issuance of official transcripts.
What about health insurance? What are my options in terms of coverage?
Beginning with the Fall 2018 Study Abroad programs, all students going abroad will be required to purchase the host institution's health insurance. The insurance offered by your host institution will usually cost around $80 per month and the coverage is usually excellent, including low to no deductibles or copays. Personal insurance can be used as a secondary insurance as needed.
What about medications? Can I get prescriptions refilled abroad?
Pharmacies abroad will not refill prescriptions written by out-of-country physicians. Students should speak with their physicians in advance of traveling to arrange for sufficient medications to cover the duration of their program abroad. See our Health & Safety page for more information.