Non-Approved Programs

Overview

Participating in a program that is not approved by ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder comes with additional considerations. While we encourage you to go abroad, you must be aware of the major differences between approved and non-approved programs.

  1. Read and understand the info on this page
  2. Make an informed decision about choosing a non-approved program

If you choose to participate in a non-approved program, you opt out of all ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder Education Abroad (EA) services. This means no advising on program selection, no access to federal, state, or institutional financial aid, no course pre-approval or academic advising, no in-residence credit, no emergency assistance, no ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä-provided international health insurance, no support before departure or while abroad, and no graduation cords from our office.

Why are some programs non-approved?

¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder Education Abroad (EA) offers a carefully selected list of over 400 approved programs. To ensure high-quality advising and meet standards set by the Forum on Education Abroad, EA limits its options and regularly evaluates each program’s academics, services, and safety. The approved programs provide a variety of courses, costs, scholarships, and experiences. New programs may be added if gaps are identified, but this process takes 1–2 years for proper vetting and contract approval. EA does not accept ad-hoc requests for program approval.

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Considerations for Non-Approved Programs

Academics & Course Approvals

The Course Approvals List provided by Education Abroad only applies to approved programs. It does not apply to non-approved programs. If you are participating in a non-approved program, the course evaluation process is different. Even the same course, taught at the same institution, may not receive the same credit designation as it would in an approved program.Ìý

Education Abroad does not decide if you’ll get credit for participating in a non-approved program, before or after you attend. Please contact your Academic Advisor or the Office of Admissions with any questions about credit.

will provide you with forms to fill out to allow the Office of Admissions to evaluate whether they will accept a transcript from your non-approved program before you start your program. You cannot receive advising on what credit you will receive (major, CMCI Core, etc.) until you return to ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder.

  1. Ìýwill provide you with forms to fill out to obtain approval prior to your program. You can get advising on the transferability of credit to ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder from your major advisor, your college advisor, and from the Admissions office before you attend your program.
  2. Obtaining course advising or pre-approvals does not implyÌýprogram approval, oversight or responsibility on the part of Education Abroad or the University of Colorado.

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Finances

You cannot use your federal, state, or institutional aid to pay for a non-approved program or any costs associated with going on the program.ÌýIf you are looking for scholarships, you should contact your chosen study abroad program about options.

Many students choose non-approved programs abroad thinking they are cheaper, but this is often false. ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Education Abroad’s costs may appear higher because they cover all expenses such as airfare, books, meals, housing, visas, and personal costs, while non-approved program fees might only cover the program itself.Ìý

Check the page and compare what each fee includes, adding extra costs for an accurate comparison.
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Health & Safety

If you choose to participate in a non-approved education abroad program, you will be ineligible for any of the health and safety resources and support that ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder and Education Abroad provide. Research your program’s health and safety protocols and closely follow the resources it provides. Additionally, regularly monitor the following health and safety resources:

Education Abroad discourages students from participating in international travelÌýwhere the CDC or U.S. State Department has restrictions/advisoriesÌýagainst travelÌýto specific countries orÌýregions.

Health Insurance

If you participate in a non-approved education abroad program, you willÌýnotÌýbe eligible to enroll in the ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder Education Abroad insurance policy. Visit to research possible coverage options. These policies may not cover you while you are in your home country.

Assessing a Non-Approved Program

Finding a quality education abroad program can be difficult since there’s no official rating system beyond student reviews. It’s important you evaluate which program best fits your needs. Talk to campus experts, past participants, and others familiar with the program. Ask the program sponsor key questions such as:

  • Is the program accredited and who issues transcripts?
  • How many students and staff support the program?
  • What is included in the program fee and refund policy?
  • What courses and housing options are available?
  • Does the program provide orientation and ensure student safety?

¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder Programs vs. Non-Approved Programs

Ìý¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder ProgramsNon-Approved Programs
AdvisingThe study abroad advisors on campus are available from 9:00am-4:30pm M-F on a walk-in basis or on Zoom.Students can call or email the program sponsor with questions.
Application ProcessThe application process is easy and convenient. Students can go over the application pieces with a study abroad advisor.Students need to contact the program directly if they have questions about the application process.
Academic CreditStudents earn ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder "in residence" credit; not transfer credit. Credits earned abroad can be applied to GenEd and/or major requirements with prior approval from your academic advisor.Students may be able to earn transfer credit for a non-approved program but, there are no guarantees. See the Academics section above.
Financial Aid and ScholarshipsFinancial aid and ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder scholarships can be applied to the program fee. Education Abroad scholarships are available for ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder program participants.No financial aid from ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder can be used for non-approved programs. Students can contact the their program sponsor about scholarships.
On-site SupportProgram on-site staff and university contacts are familiar with ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder regulations & procedures.On-site staff are not usually familiar with ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder regulations & procedures which can make certain processes more challenging.
Pre-departure
orientations in Boulder		All ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder programs will have a pre-departure orientation on campus before the start of the program.Not available.
Program Alumni & EvaluationsFormer student evaluations are available on the ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Education Abroad website. Program alumni also participate in pre-departure orientations and students can contact them directly with any questions.Students need to contact the program directly to request evaluations and a list of program alumni.
Program Offerings¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Education Abroad offers a wide variety of program sites and program models at costs that fit all budgets. We help match you with a good fit.There is a wide variety of program sites and program models but it can be hard to sift through the thousands of programs in existence to find a good match.

Applying to a Non-Approved Program

You are required to apply directly through the program sponsor, not through the ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder Education Abroad office. However, you must register your program with our office using the green button on this page. This registration is mandatory for us to report essential statistics on all ¶¶ÒõÂÃÐÐÉä Boulder students studying abroad. Failure to comply will hinder your access to the step-by-step guidance necessary for having courses from your non-approved program evaluated for transfer credit. Registering your program does not imply program approval, oversight or responsibility on the part of Education Abroad or the University of Colorado.

ÌýÌýIceland by Kieran White