Frequently Asked Questions

Students on CU Denver Global Study and semester programs are provided with extensive international health insurance coverage. The plan covers medical expenses in-country (no co-pay at in-network medical providers, reimbursement for out-of-network medical providers) and evacuation due to medical, natural disaster, or political emergencies. This insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions or any medical visits needed in the U.S. prior to or post travel. It is highly recommended that students maintain coverage with their U.S. health insurance policy.

Third-party providers typically include international health insurance in their program costs. If the provider does not offer international health insurance coverage or if you are traveling independently, contact the Office of Global Education at study.abroad@ucdenver.edu for enrollment instructions in our recommended plan.

Students are not automatically covered by the international health insurance plan if they choose to travel before or after their actual program dates. Students can contact the provided health insurance plan and pay to extend coverage, which is highly recommended.

All students, undergraduate and graduate, going abroad for academic purposes are required to complete an application with the Office of Global Education. This includes students on both the downtown and Anschutz campuses. For more information, make an appointmentwith a study abroad advisor.

This depends on a variety of factors: the host country, the program duration, the program type (for example, some countries require a work visa for internships, while others require a student visa, while others do not require a visa at all), and your country of citizenship. For U.S. citizens, the easiest way to find out entry visa requirements is by checking the specific country page on the S. State Department's travel website. Non-U.S. citizens should consult with their home country’s office of consular affairs.

All students who study abroad need a valid passport from their country of citizenship. Plan to apply for your passport two or more months before you leave. The passport process can sometimes take much longer than expected. If you already have a passport, be sure to check the expiration date. Many countries require that your passport expire three to six months AFTER your scheduled date of return to the United States. Keep in mind that some countries may also require a visa.

Read about how to apply for a U.S. passport on the State Department Website.

Yes, OGE recommends students connect with the Disability Resources and Services Office to discuss accommodations. Students can learn more on the Disabilities and Accommodations page on OGE’s

The best timing for studying abroad can vary widely by major and location. Students are eligible to study abroad after a semester of study at CU, and they can begin planning to study abroad as soon as they arrive on campus. Advanced planning ensures students receive the credit they need to graduate on time. It also allows students to plan for other experiences they seek at CU, such as internships or undergraduate research. Although many students study abroad during junior year, second semester freshman year or sophomore year can be very strategic times for many majors. Studying abroad right after graduation is also possible. Regardless of when you study abroad, we recommend starting the process at least 5-6 months in advance and a year in advance is even better.

It's never too early to start thinking about studying abroad! Even if you don't plan to go for a number of months or years, get in touch with our office so we can help you familiarize yourself with the application process and discuss options about where and what you can study!

If you are applying to a CU Denver Global Study program, you can find the application deadline on the program's webpage. The deadline for Winterim programs is typically October 1. The deadline for Maymester and Summer programs is typically February 15.

Anywhere and everywhere! Some of the most popular places for our students to study abroad are South Korea, the UK, Italy, Spain, Cuba, Germany, and Ireland. We have also had programs in Nepal, Guatemala, the Czech Republic, Bosnia & Croatia, and Japan! You can see a list of current programs here.

Our program offerings include CU Denver | Anschutz programs (short-term faculty-led programs or semester programs) and third-party provider programs. The faculty-led programs tend to be between 2-4 weeks and offer between 2-6 credits. We also have two semester-length programs in Beijing and Berlin. Students also have the option of studying abroad with one of our third-party providers, which are study abroad companies that offer a wide variety of destinations, academics, and program lengths.

Studying abroad expands your perspective, teaches you skills and provides you experiences that make you a better candidate for employers, and allows you to learn about your area of study in a different and enriching setting. You’ll be able to work towards completing your degree with the added benefit of this once-in-a-lifetime experience. To see other reasons why you should study abroad, check out the testimonials from our study abroad alumni on our Humans of Global Education

Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits usually end up covering less than 25% of the overall short-term program fee and cannot be applied to third-party programs. Please speak with VMSS prior to or during the application process to understand your benefits as they work with study abroad fees.

Absolutely! Visit our scholarships page to learn about university and external scholarship opportunities. The Office of Global Education offers scholarships specifically for all of our Global Study and semester programs. If you have chosen a program with an independent (or third party) study abroad provider, most providers offer their own scholarships as well.

You can also visit goabroad.com or iiepassport.org to see more scholarship options.

We offer scholarship advising appointments here.

Financial aid funds cannot be released until ten days prior to the official start date of the study abroad program. You will receive funds in your student account. However, if your study abroad program begins before the regular corresponding semester start date for CU Denver | Anschutz classes, your funds may not be available to be released until the regular first disbursement date for that term/semester (usually the week before regular classes begin). It is the student’s responsibility to plan accordingly for these types of situations.

Yes! Most federal, state, and institutional sources of financial aid for which a student may normally qualify are eligible to apply towards costs associated with authorized study abroad programs. Known exceptions include: work study, certain scholarships, and CU dependent tuition. You must be enrolled as a student at least half-time for the term/semester in which you are participating in a study abroad program. You can contact the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO) to get advice about your specific financial aid package:

• Downtown students: financialaid@ucdenver.edu, 303.315.5969, or schedule an appointment online.
• Anschutz students: aid@cuanschutz.edu or 303.724.8039

Please note Medical, Pharmacy, Public Health and Dental students from the Anschutz Medical Campus must have their OGE application completed and approved before OGE will connect you with Financial Aid.

 

Program costs vary depending on location, term, and the duration. For example, Australia is more expensive while places like Costa Rica are more affordable. Some study abroad programs cost the same as a semester at CU Denver or less!  In many cases, you can use your financial aid, and scholarships are often available. International students pay the same price as local students. Students can schedule an advising appointment to discuss funding opportunities or check out the Financial Planning page on our website. Most short-term CU Denver programs range from approximately $4,000 to $7,000 depending on the location and program length.

Absolutely! The language of instruction for most third-party programs is English, unless otherwise specified. Universities all over the world have English-speaking courses. All CU Denver programs are taught in English.

Study abroad can be a great way for you to learn a new language or improve on a second language you may have studied in high school. It is common to take foreign language courses abroad in conjunction with courses taught in English. If you are fluent in another language, it is also possible to take all your classes in that language, depending on the country you choose.

Yes! Non-CU Denver students can participate on CU Denver short-term or semester programs under certain conditions, but are not eligible for our third-party programs. You can review the full non-CU Denver student policy here.

Yes! You can check out our short-term, faculty-led programs – many of them offer a graduate section or are designed for graduate students. You can also chat with an advisor to see if there are any other options available, or to find out more about the faculty-led programs.

Yes, graduating seniors can participate on our study abroad programs, under certain conditions. Graduating seniors who wish to participate in a Maymester/Summer global study program should change their graduation term to summer in their student portal and initiate a conversation with their academic advisor to make sure they are on track for graduation. Students can then email diplomas@ucdenver.edu during the Spring semester with the following information to request approval to walk in the Spring Commencement ceremony: Name, Student ID, and Remaining Courses (and credits) after commencement.

All majors at CU Denver are able to study abroad! To understand the full scope of your options, we recommend that you schedule a 30-minute advising appointment.

Most short-term programs offer 2-6 credits. We have a variety of major classes offered through our faculty-led and semester programs. All programs can fulfill major, minor, or elective requirements, as well as the International Perspectives requirement. If you choose to study with a third-party program, we will assist you in seeking course approvals prior to your departure so you know exactly what credit you will be getting and how it will apply to your degree.

You can review our eligibility policy here

You can view our contact information here.

• Office of Global Education
  Campus Box 158
  1201 5th Street
  Denver, CO 80204, USA

If you are a student on a third-party program, please have your provider send your transcripts directly to study.abroad@ucdenver.edu or to the following address:

• Office of Global Education
  Tivoli Annex 439
  1201 5th St.
  Denver, CO 80204

The Office of Global Education is located in the LynxConnect building in the Tivoli Student Annex. Our address is 900 Auraria Parkway Suite 339 Denver, CO 80204. To find us, cross the street from the Tivoli Parking Garage and go up the steps. You will enter into a small courtyard. The LynxConnect building will be on your left, across from iPie. If you are having trouble finding us or need access to the building, you can call the LynxConnect front desk at 303-315-4000 during working hours.

You can schedule a 30-minute advising appointment with our staff here.