Program Policies

Curriculum Requirements

Prior to studying abroad, students must complete the lower division business core requirements:

Minimum GPA & Academic Standing

Students must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA in the lower division business core courses (listed above), and must remain in good standing during the term prior to their study abroad experience. Freeman reserves the right to deny or revoke approval for participation in study abroad if a student does not meet the eligibility requirements.

Disciplinary, Academic and/or Honor Board Probation

Students who are on disciplinary probation, academic probation and/or honor board probation during the semester or term in which they intend to study abroad are not eligible to participate in a Tulane study abroad program. Approvals are revoked for students who are placed on probation after being approved to study abroad.

Students on disciplinary, academic and/or honor board probation during time of application are considered only if the probation period ends prior to departure for study abroad. Such applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis by Study Abroad & Exchange in consultation with Tulane's Division of Student Affairs and/or Academic Affairs. If the application is approved, the host institution will be notified of the probationary status. It is within the discretion of the host institution and/or Tulane to place additional restrictions on a recently-disciplined student's participation in a study abroad program.

Program-Specific Requirements

Some programs have additional eligibility requirements, such as language prerequisites or cumulative GPA requirements. Please see the program brochure pages on the Freeman Abroad web site for eligibility requirements.

Freeman Application

All undergraduate Freeman students who meet the eligibility requirements are invited to apply for study abroad during their desired semester of study abroad. Applications for Fall and Summer semesters are due February 5 annually. Applications for Spring semesters are due September 5 annually. Students must attend an info session for their preferred semester abroad in order to start an application. Schedules for info sessions and more details can be found on the Freeman Abroad web site. 

Students are required to submit the following in the initial phase of the application:

• Participant Profile
• Copy of passport (must be valid for 6 months beyond program end dates)
• Personal statement
• Host university request list
• Conditions of participation

Students are notified approximately 10 days after the application deadline. If selected and offered placement at a host university, students have one week to accept/decline the placement. If programs fill, students are put on a waitlist and offered a spot as spots become available. All students who accept a placement are then required to submit the secondary application.

Secondary Application

Most programs require a secondary application. Students must submit the secondary application directly to the host university after nomination. The secondary application will be due by a date determined by the host university and may require some of the same documents Freeman requires. It is up to the student to understand the requirements and submit the secondary application by the deadline.

Pre-departure Orientation & Advising

Students are required to attend a pre-departure orientation scheduled later on during the semester prior to their program. They are also expected to make appointments as necessary with Study Abroad Advisors and BSM Academic Counselors in order to obtain assistance with such issues as course selection and approval (see Learning Agreement information)

Registration at Tulane

In the semester before studying abroad, students must register for a 12-credit placeholder course to maintain full-time enrollment at Tulane while abroad. This ensures proper tuition billing, financial aid disbursement, and eligibility to register for courses in the semester of return to New Orleans.

Students are responsible for clearing any holds on their accounts in order to register. Neither the Registrar nor Freeman are responsible for following up on delayed registrations due to holds. Students cannot participate in an exchange program if they are not registered. 

The number of placeholder units (12) may or may not reflect the actual number of units students may earn abroad. Once Tulane receives the transcript from the exchange partner school, the appropriate course credit will be applied. 

All Freeman students are required to complete a Learning Agreement form (with required signatures) prior to departure in order to confirm the credits they will receive for courses taken abroad. Only those courses listed and approved on the Learning Agreement form will transfer. Students are also responsible for notifying their Study Abroad Advisor and BSM Academic Counselor in the event of an enrollment change while abroad. Any student who submits an incomplete Learning Agreement form, takes courses different from those listed and approved, or does not seek prior approval risks not having credits transferred from the partner institution. 

Enrollment in Courses Abroad

Freeman recommends that students enroll in the equivalent of at least 15 units abroad to allow for course changes. Many partner schools have firmly established add/drop periods. Students must adhere to the host institution's policies and may not add/drop a class after this period.

Students can find links to course information on the program brochures online on the Freeman Abroad web site . Contact Freeman Study Abroad & Exchange for assistance if the host institution's class list is unavailable.

For many of the host institutions, “course schedules” are not part of the culture and not commonly available for student use, and students should expect to officially choose and enroll in courses after arriving in the host country.

At most universities it is each student's responsibility to make sure all pre-requisites have been met. Students typically cannot withdraw from classes after the drop deadline, even if pre-requisites have not been met.

Students that participate in a Freeman exchange program are enrolled as full time Tulane students, thus they pay Tulane tuition and academic fees as usual. Students are not responsible for the Reily Center, Health Center or Student Activities Fees during their semester abroad, but will be charged a $1200.00 study abroad fee. This fee covers the cost of providing services and resources to Freeman students going abroad, such as:

• Pre-application advising and information sessions;
• pre-departure orientation,
• pre-departure handbooks for students and families,
• one-on-one advising meetings;
• visa advising;
• visa application services (when permitted by Embassy/Consulate)
• Scholarship advising;
• free survival language classes (Spanish, French, German);
• pre-approval of courses;
• GeoBlue comprehensive travel medical insurance;
• services of Global Rescue medical and travel security services;
• academic transcript;
• transfer of credits and grades;
• study abroad returnee programming; etc.

Housing is not charged by Tulane University but rather paid directly to the housing provider abroad. Students are responsible for additional expenses, including international airfare, passport, visa, meals, local transportation, books and supplies, and personal expenses. Meal plans are not available at most host universities abroad.

It is Tulane University’s policy that all study abroad participants maintain domestic medical insurance in the U.S. even when abroad and provided with international coverage through GeoBlue Worldwide. Students can use their domestic policy for pre-departure check-ups as well as any medical needs should they return to the U.S. prior to the end of the term. Insurance coverage needed may be obtained through the Tulane student health insurance program as they are considered matriculated students, or they can obtain other insurance as long as it meets the guidelines by the University for necessary coverage. If you purchase other insurance, you will need to waive the Tulane-sponsored Student Health Insurance Plan (T-SHIP) by the waiver deadline. For more information please see the Campus Health web site.

For billable and estimated additional expenses, please see the budget sheet on the Freeman Abroad program brochure page. Some countries (e.g., Australia, France, Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland) require that students participating in study abroad programs purchase local health insurance in that country. Students are responsible for purchasing this insurance if it is a requirement for the country where they will be studying. The estimated cost is included in the budget sheet on the Freeman Abroad program brochure page.

Tulane Academic Fee

The Academic Support Services Fee is a universal fee that is charged regardless of whether or not a Tulane student is on campus. The Academic Support Services Fee covers the cost of providing academic resources to all Tulane students. The fee enables students to have access to Tulane email, Gibson, online registration, the Tulane online library resources, University's computer services, including those services provided by all outside vendors. In addition, this fee covers the cost of students' academic advising (support of the academic advisor in the advising center) and BSM academic counseling.

Study Abroad Fee

The Study Abroad Fee is charged each semester a student is abroad on a Freeman exchange program. The Study Abroad Fee covers the cost of providing resources to Freeman students going abroad. The fee covers such services and resources as pre-application advising, pre-departure advising and orientation, visa advising, visa application courier services (Spain only), scholarship advising, pre-departure survival language classes (Spanish, German and French), GeoBlue comprehensive travel medical insurance, services of Global Rescue medical and travel security services, pre-approval of courses, academic transcript, transfer of credits and grades, and study abroad returnee programming.

Financial Aid

All students enrolled for credit in a study abroad program are eligible for financial aid for that term.

Students will be eligible for grants and loans as if they were on campus, with the exception of Federal Work Study (FWS) in some cases. The normal FWS component of an aid package will be covered with additional loan funds, upon request. Students should make an appointment with the Office of Financial Aid for specific advisement for each program.

Students are required to follow the Financial Aid guidelines/deadlines and complete all forms as they normally would each year at Tulane.

In addition to the regular financial aid forms, there may be additional special steps for studying abroad. Students should consult the Office of Financial Aid for further information.

Scholarships

Students planning to study abroad are encouraged to apply for scholarships early. They may inquire about scholarship opportunities with Office of Financial Aid and Freeman Study Abroad & Exchange. Students are welcome to make an appointment with a Freeman study abroad advisor to find answers to general questions about scholarship application(s). Please visit our Scholarships page for a list of possible study abroad funding opportunities. 

Exchange programs are academic, credit-bearing programs offered through the A. B. Freeman School of Business and as such, the academic expectations for students participating in an exchange program are equal to—and sometimes more demanding than—those expected on campus. These expectations include, but are not limited to, quality of work, attendance and participation. Students should enter into the program understanding that time management, dedicated study, and discipline will be required to fulfill the academic expectations of the program.

To ensure that students fulfill their academic obligations, attendance is required at all classes, lectures, course activities and exams. Class schedules are determined by the host university and students may have classes Monday through Friday. Students frequently choose to travel independently during their programs. Students are not excused from program activities for independent travel. Before making travel arrangements, students should contact the host university instructors to ensure that there are no conflicts between program obligations and personal activities.

Host university exam dates cannot be changed. Students are expected to check with the host university to confirm the final exam schedule prior to planning their return from study abroad. In some cases, the exam schedule is not determined until late in the semester. It is each student's responsibility to schedule (and reschedule, if necessary) all travel plans in accordance with the host university’s exam schedule. Any student who fails to be present at an exam will receive a failing grade on the exam.

Grades, course titles, and credits for all business courses will show up on students' transcripts but will not factor into the cumulative Tulane GPA. Letter grades will be awarded for all business classes. Students are not allowed to take business classes for S/U. 

Many international universities do not use the same grading systems as Tulane. Tulane uses the international credential evaluator, World Education Services (WES), to determine U.S. grades. Grade conversion information can be found on the program brochures online at the Freeman Abroad web site.

To receive Tulane credit for coursework abroad, students must comply with all policies of the host institution. Students are strongly encouraged to retain a personal copy of all work submitted abroad and relevant course syllabi until all grades and courses have been posted to the official Tulane transcript. 

Students are subject to the Add/Drop schedule of the host institution and must notify Freeman Study Abroad & Exchange and the BSM Academic Counselors in writing of any schedule changes as soon as they occur (and an updated, approved Learning Agreement is issued). Failure to do so may result in a loss of credit.

If students audit a course while abroad, that course will not be officially recorded and the audit will not receive credit.

Students are held to the academic polices of their host institutions. Grading policies, exam dates and academic performance expectations are determined by the partner school. Students are responsible for meeting the host university's performance expectations and for following the institution's processes and policies regarding grades and credit. Tulane will not overrule another instructor's evaluation or another institution's policies. Any questions or issues students have concerning a grade earned abroad must be directed to the host university.

It normally takes three-quarters of the semester following the exchange semester to transfer grades, classes and credit earned abroad. It may take even more time for students with unique and individual situations. If students have questions about the course approval and credit transfer process, please contact a study abroad advisor.

Should a student decide to cancel enrollment in any study abroad program for which he or she applied and was accepted to, the student must immediately notify Freeman Study Abroad & Exchange in writing. Tulane is not responsible for indirect costs paid directly by the student, including, but not limited to, passport and visa fees, vaccinations, insurance, housing, meals, and transportation costs.

Students are subject to the withdrawal deadlines and policies established by the Office of the Registrar and Accounts Receivable. For more information visit the Tulane Registrar and Student Accounts.

Freeman Study Abroad & Exchange, acting on behalf of and in consultation with the Dean of the A.B. Freeman School of Business and the Vice President of Student Affairs, has the right to dismiss from the Program, at any time, a participant whose continuation would be detrimental to himself, to others, or to Tulane University. Tuition, return passage and any other expenses due to such involuntary withdrawal are to be defrayed by the student or the parent or guardian of the student concerned. A student who is suspended, dismissed, or withdraws while under investigation for violation of the Student Code of Conduct will not have tuition payments refunded.

Student safety is of critical importance. The University reserves the right to cancel any study abroad program in a location that is considered unsafe. Freeman Study Abroad & Exchange and the Tulane Office of Insurance and Risk Management regularly review information provided by the U.S. Department of State and monitors other sources, such as announcements from the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), for information about the countries where Tulane students are or will be studying.

Should a program cancellation become necessary for safety reasons, an emergency, or for reasons beyond the University’s control, after students have arrived overseas, every effort will be made to refund recoverable costs to the participants. Additionally, the A. B. Freeman School of Business will make every effort to help students complete the academic work from the program and, depending on the circumstances, possibly earn the intended academic credit from the program. Whether or not this is possible depends largely on the particular program, the circumstances of the academic work of the program, and the length of time remaining in the program after the official cancellation date.

Unrecoverable program expenses including, but not limited to, passport and visa fees, vaccinations, housing fees, or airline costs, paid for directly by the student cannot be refunded.

Because full refunds are often not possible, students should consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance that can be obtained through many travel agents or insurance companies. When researching policies, it is important to carefully weigh the cost of the insurance against the value of travel expenses. Policies vary on what triggers trip cancellation, so students should check with travel insurance providers for more details.

The Financial Aid office will review program cancellations on a case-by-case basis for students who are receiving financial aid.

The A. B. Freeman School of Business regards all students as responsible citizens who have the same obligations as other citizens to observe the laws of the United States and the local and national laws of the host country. The school does not regard itself or its members as above the law in any way. In addition, as members of an academic community, students assume rights and responsibilities inherent to the nature of that community and bear a responsibility to preserve a collegiate environment that encourages the maximum development of students.

Students who participate in a Freeman exchange program are enrolled at Tulane University and are subject to the provisions of the Code of Student Conduct to the same extent they would be if studying on campus. Any student who engages in conduct that violates the Code of Student Conduct will be subject to review and sanctions, including, where appropriate, dismissal from the program. This will be done in consultation with the appropriate offices and prior violations will be considered.

All students have the right to learn in an atmosphere that is supportive and encouraging. Students should feel free to express their views but may not do so by infringing upon the rights of others. Students who feel that their rights have been violated have the right to have the matter reviewed through the Code of Student Conduct. The University also holds inherent authority and reserves the right to bring charges against students in this process. The Office of Student Conduct coordinates, implements and responds to questions about the Code of Student Conduct.

Traffic-related accidents are the leading cause of student injuries and deaths while abroad. Students are prohibited from driving motor vehicles (including but not limited to scooters, motorbikes, motorcycles, and cars) while participating in Freeman exchange program outside of the U.S. unless they possess a valid driver’s license and driver’s insurance in the host country. Students should obey all local vehicle and pedestrian laws and use public transit wherever that option exists and is safe.