IMPORTANT NOTE:
“Getting credit” and “fulfilling degree requirements” are two separate things:
- Getting Credit refers to how the course titles, grades, and units appear on your UCI transcript. This is addressed below and on the "Credit Limitations" tab above.
- Fulfilling Degree Requirements refers to whether or not the courses you take abroad can be applied toward your major, minor, or GE/breadth requirements for graduation. If you want to fulfill degree requirements, read the “Fulfill Degree Requirements” tab above, and view this webshop.
UCEAP
You can receive UCI credit. Units, course titles, and grades are posted on your UCI transcript. The grades received abroad are averaged into your UCI GPA.
UC Summer Abroad (non-UCEAP)
You can receive UC credit. Units (but not course titles or grades) are posted on your UCI transcript. Thegrades received abroad are averaged into your UCI GPA.Course titles and grades will appear on a separate transcript from the UC campus offering your summer abroad program.
IOP Study
You can receive transfer credit. Units (but not course titles or grades) are posted on your UCI transcript. Thegrades received abroad are not averaged into your UCI GPA.Course titles and grades will appear on a separate transcript from the IOP institution.
- The IOP program must provide a transcript from a U.S. or foreign college or university (not a Center, Institute, Academy, etc.). Confirm with your IOP program the name of the institution that will provide your transcript.
IOP Non-Study
You cannot receive credit for non-study programs.
Fulfill Degree Requirements
You can fulfill degree requirements (major, minor, or GE) on UCEAP, UC Summer Abroad, and IOP Study programs. Follow these steps. Watch this Webshop for more detailed guidance.
1. Review the Get Credit and Credit Limitations tabs above.
2. Know your degree requirements. See the UCI Catalog.
3. Locate the courses offered on the study abroad program(s) you are considering. Most are accessible from the program's web site.
4. Compare the courses offered abroad to the courses you need to fulfill your requirements. Compare course titles, descriptions, levels (i.e. upper or lower division), etc. to determine if they seem roughly equivalent.
5. Final Approval:
- EAP: Follow the process for Academic Advising and Approval for the School of your major at Study Abroad in Your Major.
- UC Summer Abroad: Inquire with an Academic Counselor in the School of your major to determine the procedure to follow to determine how UC Summer Abroad courses can fulfill your requirements.
- IOP: Complete the on-line IOP Credit Contract, available at the UCI Study Abroad Center once you have chosen an IOP program. Allow 4-8 weeks for this process to be completed.
Credit Limitations
- You cannot receive credit for duplicate courses (i.e. courses taken abroad that are the equivalent of courses already taken at UCI, any other collegiate institution, high school language courses, or AP language exam results). In terms of high school language and AP exam results, be sure to consult the UCI Catalog for details.
- You cannot receive credit for courses that are prerequisite to, or more elementary than, courses already taken at UCI, any other collegiate institution, high school language courses, or AP language exam results (e.g. you cannot get credit for the equivalent of Spanish 1B if you have already taken Spanish 1C). In terms of high school language and AP exam results, be sure to consult the UCI Catalog for details.
- You can only receive credit for fields offered at a UC campus. For fields not offered at UCI, consult the on-line catalogs for the other UCs to determine if they offer it (e.g. Architecture is not offered at UCI, but it is offered at UCB and UCSD, so you can receive credit for architecture courses taken abroad).
- You can only receive credit for an internship if offered by a UC program.
Transfer Students
- There are no limitations to the total number of units that can be transferred to UCI from a 4-year U.S. accredited institution.
- There are limitations to the total number of units that can be transferred to UCI from a community college (no more than 105 quarter units or 70 semester units).
University Residence Requirement
The UCI Residence Requirement states that students must take 36 of their final 45 units of work immediately preceding graduation in residence at UCI. The following is how the university residence requirement applies to students studying abroad. Note that this is distinct from residency requirements for your major/minor, if any (see the UCI Catalog for details).
UCEAP:
EAP courses are UC courses, therefore, students studying abroad on EAP are considered "in-residence".
If you plan to study abroad the summer immediately following your senior year, you must postpone your official graduation date until the end of summer. Check with an Academic Counselor in the School of your major to see if it is still possible to participate in commencement ceremony prior to studying abroad.
IOP Study & UC Summer Abroad:
IOP Study and UC Summer Abroad courses are non-UCI courses, therefore, students studying abroad on these programs must request an exception to the University Residence Requirement, which may be allowed. Check with an Academic Counselor in the School of your major to find out if a process is required to waive the residence requirement.
