How do I earn credit at UM for classes I took abroad?

• You earn credit at UM for all of the classes you pass at your host institution.

• Credit transfer is performed by UM's Enrollment Services office, based on the transcript you receive from your host institution upon completion of your studies.

• If you enroll in and pass a full-time course load at your host institution, you usually earn 12-16 UM credits for the classes you take abroad.

• Remember, other universities will have different credit standards for what is considered a full-time course load. If you are unsure about what is considered a full-time course load at your host institution, ask Education Abroad for assistance at studyabroad@umontana.edu.

• Credits transfer back to the UM as general elective credits. However, you can take steps to have abroad credits approved to meet specific graduation requirements (see the next section).

How do I earn credit towards my major, minor, or General Education Requirements?

• Complete your Study Plan Approval Form.
  • This form requires you to log in to your UM application account. This is the account you had to create to submit an application to UM and it is also the account you have used to access Beartracks.  If you do not remember your login credentials, you can request to have your password reset. Contact admiss@umontana.edu if you have problems logging in.
  • Enter your student and study abroad program information.
  • Acknowledge that you understand the credit pre-approval and transfer process by signing your initials.
  • List the course numbers, titles and number of credits for the study abroad courses you plan to take. You must submit course descriptions or outlines (in English) for the classes you want reviewed for general education credit.
  • Submit the form. If you have additional courses to report, complete and submit an additional form.
• You will receive your Study Plan Approval Report to your UM email in about 5-10 business days.  The report will show how the courses you plan to take will appear on your UM transcript once you’ve submitted your official transcript from abroad.
• Once you receive your Study Plan Approval Report email, take the report to your advisor/GLI to discuss pre-approvals for specific degree (major/minor/certificate) credit (if needed). Your advisor should enter the pre-approved substitutions in the space provided on the report. Your advisor should then sign the report.

1. Your advisor approves credit applied to your major (including electives).
2. Your minor department chair approves credit applied to your minor.
3. The Franke Global Leadership Initiative approves requirements for the certification program.

• After your advisor has pre-approved courses for major/minor/certificate credit and signed the form, make a copy of the completed report with signature(s) and submit a copy to studyabroad@umontana.edu.

Helpful Tips

• Important: the Study Plan Approval Form is your responsibility. You need to be aware of your graduation requirements, and you need to seek approval for credit transfer from the appropriate people before or during your exchange.
• Your transfer grades will appear on your transcript, but they won't be calculated into your GPA, except for when you apply for graduate school or professional programs, or if you apply for honors. Then your transfer grades will impact your GPA.
• You must abide by your host institution's requirements if you add, drop, or withdraw from classes. If you make any special arrangements to deviate from normal academic procedures at your host institution, obtain the conditions of your agreement in writing.
• If you are unsure of any academic advice given to you by your host institution advisor, reach out to Education Abroad for assistance at studyabroad@umontana.edu. Remember that your host coordinators can only advise you about the host institution. While their advice is well-intended, they have no knowledge of UM's credit transfer policies.
• Keep copies of course descriptions, syllabi, assignments, and any other records you think may be important for the proper evaluation of your courses upon your return. This is especially important if you are seeking a Transfer Course Evaluation or re-evaluation for Upper Division credit.
• After you have completed your program, Education Abroad will automatically receive one official transcript from your host institution or from ISEP. It is highly encouraged that students still check in with their host institution to ensure that the transcript will be correctly sent to the Global Engagement Office c/o Education Abroad. This transcript is the only way that Enrollment Services can give you academic credit for your study abroad experience. Before you leave your host institution, order additional transcripts sent to your home address in the U.S. You might need copies at a later date, for graduate school applications, professional programs, etc.  It is very difficult to order transcripts once you have returned to the US. 
• Some credits at host institutions can carry more credits than their UM equivalent. Ex. In Wales, Marketing Communications may be worth 5 credits, but the equivalent course at UM may only be worth 3 credits. Ask your advisor if any extra credits can be counted toward other general requirements or toward upper-level electives for your degree.
• Remember, your Study Plan Approval Form is a work in progress. Once you are abroad, you might decide to take classes that have not been pre-approved. That's okay! However, you must submit a new Study Program Approval Form with the new courses and wait for a new report email. You can then forward the report email to your advisor/department chair to use to give major/minor/certificate pre-approvals for the new class. Save this emailed pre-approval or forward it to our office (studyabroad@umontana.edu) where we will keep it in your file. Don't forget to take your advisor's email address with you!

Important: Students studying abroad during their senior year must have a completed Study Plan Approval Form on file, regardless of whether or not the plan is just to take elective, lower-division credits while abroad or to satisfy graduation requirements while abroad.