The application process for study abroad begins during your sophomore fall. Academic and semester abroad programs are open to juniors and first semester seniors only, but summer programs are open to all students (see Summer Abroad). Students are reminded that all study abroad for credit during an academic year at Boston College must be approved by the Office of Global Education. Independent study outside of approval from OGE will not count for credit.
Read along for further information.
- Deadline for fall 2023, spring 2024 and AY 2023-2024 programs
- January 5
2: Study Abroad 101
Schedule your Study Abroad 101 Meeting. Students will learn about general OGE policies, programs, and procedures and begin thinking critically about their intended abroad experience. The Study Abroad 101 meeting is an application requirement and must be completed in order to schedule a meeting with an OGE advisor.
3: Research & advising
Continue to research programs after the Study Abroad 101 meeting and note any questions or concerns for your next meeting with an OGE Advisor. Students should consider how going abroad fits their academic plans and speak to their academic department about what courses may count.
Meeting with an OGE Advisor is strongly recommended and required for select programs. OGE Advisors are experts in their abroad regions, who can explain BC partner and external programs, academic culture abroad, and help students decide which program may be the best fit for them. Ask your advisor about application strategy and what programs to list on your application.
Students wanting to study abroad for a full year or attend a program not approved by BC must meet with an advisor. Certain programs, as indicated, require that students meet with an advisor in order to submit an application.
Montserrat students are encouraged to schedule a meeting with the Montserrat Advisor next.
Learn about scholarships and grants.
Submit the BC Study Abroad Application on MyOGE. The application will only be available to students who have completed both an Initial Advising Questionnaire (Step 1) and attended a Study Abroad 101 Presentation (Step 2). Please plan accordingly as both are mandatory requirements.
All students hoping to study abroad for a semester or academic year on any program (BC or Approved External) must complete the BC Study Abroad Application. The deadline to submit the BC Study Abroad Application on MyOGE is January 5. Students who submit later than January 5 will not be considered.
By submitting the application, all students agree that changes to programs or program terms will not be allowed after the deadline and agree that OGE’s decision regarding program and term placement is final.
5: Review process
After the January 5 application deadline, the OGE will review students’ academic and disciplinary records against specific BC policies as well any program specific requirements. Programs may have space restrictions. After the review, OGE will notify students of their abroad status.
The most important criterion OGE considers in making decisions for high demand programs is a student's academic record, including their GPA, previous courses taken, and degree. Inevitably, there are more qualified candidates than there are available positions for these programs.
If the OGE is unable to grant you one of your six choices, you will be placed in a program which most closely resembles your prior selections, in either the fall or spring semester. Students who wish to add their name to a waitlist will be able to beginning February 25.
If approved, students will apply to their chosen host program. Information regarding applying to the host program will be made available via MyOGE.
6: Host application
Once approved, students complete the application for the host institution. An Application Instructions PDF will be available in MyOGE under "Learning Content."
If students have questions about the host university/program application, they can contact the OGE Applications Team at: firstname.lastname@example.org
Students usually receive official acceptance from their host institution as listed below:
- Fall & academic year acceptances are typically sent in late April-June
- Spring acceptances are typically sent in November
Students with questions regarding the status of their application should contact the OGE Applications Team (email@example.com), not the host institution.
Students will be given access to an online pre-departure module on Google Sites. Access will be granted the semester prior to their time abroad.
Students are also expected to attend an in-person orientation prior to departing for abroad. OGE Advisors will provide details directly to the students.
Students should keep in mind that they may need to complete additional post-acceptance paperwork for their abroad program. This may include housing applications, visa documentation, vaccinations, etc. Each program is different and students will be advised accordingly.
For more information about preparing to go abroad please review our Pre-Departure page.
By the Numbers
students with approved first-choice program
students with approved first-choice fall program
average GPA of students approved for spring
of applicants received a program placement
Denmark, Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden
Africa, Asia, Middle East, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, the Ocean
Australia & New Zealand, Austria, Czechia, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Switzerland
Affording a study abroad experience is possible. Studying abroad is not necessarily more expensive than a semester at Boston College. While some programs in large metropolitan areas may cost more than a semester in Chestnut Hill, expenditures for many other programs may be the same or less than at BC.
Students seeking guidance in applying for prestigious merit awards for study abroad, as well as need-based scholarships and grants for the academic year or summer, are encouraged to meet with the Scholarships Advisor. To prepare for this meeting, students are asked to review scholarships information on the OIP website and arrive with specific questions.
Montserrat students are encouraged to meet with the Montserrat Advisor early on in the process of selecting programs. Students receive guidance with long-term financial planning and scholarship/grant applications. The advisor will go over the estimated student budget for BC semester, year, and summer programs, and refer students to meeting with their Financial Aid Advisor.
“This experience helped me grow in a way that I feel like I understand the world better and I understand my place in the world better. I feel a sense of ownership and security in myself that I didn’t feel a year ago.”