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CEA CAPA Education Abroad Student Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Credit Transfer & Transcripts
- How do I know if the credits I take abroad will transfer to my home university?
- Will my credits from abroad impact my GPA at my home university?
- How do I find out my grades? Will I know my grades before my transcript is sent to my university?
- How long will it take to receive my transcript?
- I need my transcript from CEA right away. Can my transcript be expedited?
- Why aren't my grades showing up on my home university transcript?
- I'm taking classes at a foreign partner institution. Will my transcript be in English?
- I took classes at a CEA Study Abroad Center and a foreign partner institution. How does the transcript process work?
- I am applying to graduate school programs. Will I need to submit my study abroad transcript?
- How can I request additional copies of my transcripts?
- Who do I talk to if I have questions about my grade report, transcripts, grades, and credits?
FUNDING
- Does CEA offer financial aid?
- Will my home university let me use my financial aid to study abroad with CEA?
- I have already completed my FAFSA. Now that I have decided to go abroad, do I need to complete a new one?
- Does CEA have a Title IV Code that I can use on the FAFSA?
- Can I use a CEA partner university’s Title IV code on my FAFSA?
- Can I get more financial aid if my study abroad program costs more than my home university?
- My final payment due date is getting close, but my home university has not distributed my financial aid yet. What do I do?
- Can I use a 529 plan to pay for my CEA study abroad program?
- What Financial Aid forms do I need to turn in to CEA and when?
- My home university is a “direct bill school;” what does this mean?
- I won’t receive my financial aid disbursement until after I’m already abroad; how do I make a payment to CEA?
- Who can apply for CEA scholarships?
- How are CEA scholarship recipients chosen?
- How many scholarships are available?
- Can I apply for more than one scholarship?
- What information will my financial aid and study abroad offices need?
- What is a Consortium/Contractual Agreement?
- Are 1098-T forms issues for tax purposes?
- How do I update my FAFSA for my term abroad?
- Does CEA have a U.S. Department of Education (DOE) School Code?
- What should I use to fill in the School Code section of my FAFSA forms?
- What is a Master Promissory Note (MPN)?
- How do I apply for a Direct Loan?
- How much will I be awarded?
- How do my parents or I apply for a Direct PLUS Loan?
- How much money can I borrow?
- When does repayment begin on the Direct PLUS loan?
- How and when will I receive my financial aid?
- What is a consortium?
GENERAL
- What is CEA Study Abroad?
- Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to study abroad?
- Do you offer programs for high schoolers or for graduate students?
- Is there a minimum age requirement?
- Does CEA offer internships?
- Does CEA offer scholarships?
- What's included in the price of the program?
- Do I need a passport to study abroad?
- Do I need a visa to study abroad?
- What are CEA’s application deadlines?
- Will my credits transfer?
- How many classes will I take?
- Where will I go to school?
- What type of housing will I live in?
- Do you offer homestays?
- Can I room with my friend?
- Is a foreign language required?
- What will my schedule be like?
- Will I be taking classes with other CEA students or can I take courses with local students?
- Can I travel in my spare time?
Health & Safety
- How will CEA CAPA contact me if there is an emergency?
- Is it safe to study abroad?
- What’s done on-site to ensure student safety?
- Does CEA CAPA cancel programs in the event of an emergency, such as a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or pandemic?
- Does CEA CAPA have an emergency evacuation plan? Under what circumstances would CEA CAPA evacuate students?
- If there’s an emergency situation while I’m abroad, could I withdraw from my program and receive a refund?
- Should I be concerned about being the target of anti-American actions while abroad?
- Who can I talk with at CEA CAPA if I have safety concerns?
HOUSING
- Are housing options comparable to those in the U.S.?
- Are housing options similar in every CEA destination?
- How are roommates selected?
- How do I indicate my housing preferences?
- Are single rooms available?
- I don’t know anyone and am nervous that I will feel alone. How do I meet other CEA students?
- What will my commute to class be like?
- Does all CEA housing have Internet?
- What are the differences between housing kitchen types?
- What if I have a housing maintenance request?
- What kind of safety precautions should I take when living in CEA housing?
How do I know if the credits I take abroad will transfer to my home university?
We recommend saving copies of course syllabi and completed coursework from your study abroad program to help facilitate successful credit transfer upon program completion. Your home university may need records of your work to determine course equivalencies, or in the event of a grade-related question or appeal.
Will my credits from abroad impact my GPA at my home university?
How do I find out my grades? Will I know my grades before my transcript is sent to my university?
If you take courses at a foreign partner institution, discuss grade-related questions with your instructors while you’re abroad. If you have additional questions, CEA onsite academic staff are available to assist you.
How long will it take to receive my transcript?
I need my transcript from CEA right away. Can my transcript be expedited?
Why aren't my grades showing up on my home university transcript?
I'm taking classes at a foreign partner institution. Will my transcript be in English?
To assist in your university’s review, CEA includes an English translation template when sending transcripts issued in a foreign language. CEA is not certified as an official translation provider, so the English translation template will not include your personal information or grades.
I took classes at a CEA Study Abroad Center and a foreign partner institution. How does the transcript process work?
I am applying to graduate school programs. Will I need to submit my study abroad transcript?
How can I request additional copies of my transcripts?
Who do I talk to if I have questions about my grade report, transcripts, grades, and credits?
Does CEA offer financial aid?
Will my home university let me use my financial aid to study abroad with CEA?
I have already completed my FAFSA. Now that I have decided to go abroad, do I need to complete a new one?
Does CEA have a Title IV Code that I can use on the FAFSA?
Can I use a CEA partner university’s Title IV code on my FAFSA?
Can I get more financial aid if my study abroad program costs more than my home university?
My final payment due date is getting close, but my home university has not distributed my financial aid yet. What do I do?
Can I use a 529 plan to pay for my CEA study abroad program?
What Financial Aid forms do I need to turn in to CEA and when?
My home university is a “direct bill school;” what does this mean?
I won’t receive my financial aid disbursement until after I’m already abroad; how do I make a payment to CEA?
Who can apply for CEA scholarships?
How are CEA scholarship recipients chosen?
How many scholarships are available?
Can I apply for more than one scholarship?
What information will my financial aid and study abroad offices need?
What is a Consortium/Contractual Agreement?
Are 1098-T forms issues for tax purposes?
How do I update my FAFSA for my term abroad?
Does CEA have a U.S. Department of Education (DOE) School Code?
What should I use to fill in the School Code section of my FAFSA forms?
What is a Master Promissory Note (MPN)?
How do I apply for a Direct Loan?
How much will I be awarded?
How do my parents or I apply for a Direct PLUS Loan?
How much money can I borrow?
When does repayment begin on the Direct PLUS loan?
How and when will I receive my financial aid?
What is a consortium?
What is CEA Study Abroad?
Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to study abroad?
Do you offer programs for high schoolers or for graduate students?
Is there a minimum age requirement?
Does CEA offer internships?
Does CEA offer scholarships?
What's included in the price of the program?
Do I need a passport to study abroad?
Do I need a visa to study abroad?
What are CEA’s application deadlines?
Will my credits transfer?
How many classes will I take?
Where will I go to school?
CEA offers three program options:
- CEA Study Center – Our Centers include our own facilities, faculty, staff, and curriculum, all approved by our School of Record, the regionally accredited University of New Haven (UNH). Your credits and transcripts will be issued by UNH.
- Partner University – Our carefully chosen partners are local universities in host cities, where you’ll take classes with local and/or other international students. Classes are taught by the partner’s faculty and your transcript will be issued by the partner university.
- Hybrid – If you choose a hybrid program, you’ll take classes at both a CEA Study Center and a partner university. UNH will issue one transcript for courses completed at the CEA Study Center; you'll receive a second transcript for courses taken at the partner university.
What type of housing will I live in?
Do you offer homestays?
Can I room with my friend?
Is a foreign language required?
What will my schedule be like?
Will I be taking classes with other CEA students or can I take courses with local students?
Can I travel in my spare time?
How will CEA CAPA contact me if there is an emergency?
Additionally, all students are required to download an emergency communication app during orientation. This app allows CEA CAPA to send emergency messaging to you via a phone call, text message, email and SMS push notification.
Is it safe to study abroad?
CEA CAPA global staff closely monitor the current safety and security conditions in all program locations and regions around the world. We review intelligence information from credible sources such as security intelligence companies, U.S. government reports, reports from local authorities in the program destination, open-source information, as well as intelligence from local resources and networks. The Health, Safety and Student Affairs Team, along with CEA CAPA leadership review this information to make appropriate decisions about program operations and activities.
Before you depart for a program, we will send you information on safety and security, and you will have access to this information in the CEA CAPA Student Portal. When you arrive abroad, we conduct mandatory orientation sessions that include safety information, location-specific safety tips, and what to do in an emergency.
You are strongly encouraged to research your destination and be informed about location conditions, safety and security guidelines and the local culture. While CEA CAPA provides information and student support, your health and safety is ultimately your responsibility. We encourage you to follow established guidelines and safety precautions and use your best judgement while navigating your program location.
What’s done on-site to ensure student safety?
Going abroad is an exciting opportunity for students, and naturally it can cause students and their families to be nervous about safety and security. CEA CAPA cannot guarantee or ensure a student’s safety while participating on a program, just as a U.S. college or university can’t promise the same. However, student safety is important to us, and we take this seriously when planning, developing, and implementing abroad programs.
CEA CAPA is a member of the Forum on Education Abroad, as well as other nationally recognized professional organizations, and we follow best practices and standards established by the Forum for the field of international education. Each program location is carefully vetted and frequently reviewed for health and safety considerations, and we follow local health and safety standards and guidelines.
CEA CAPA team members are experienced professionals who have been trained in student affairs matters, health and safety support, and emergency response. The mandatory health and safety orientation provides students with need-to-know information on guidelines, precautions and steps to take in an emergency. Additionally, each location has a 24-7 emergency phone that students can call in the event of a health and safety emergency.
Does CEA CAPA cancel programs in the event of an emergency, such as a natural disaster, terrorist attack, or pandemic?
CEA CAPA has a dedicated Health, Safety and Student Affairs team that regularly monitors information published by the U.S. Department of State, governmental reports from allied countries, security reports from private sources, as well as consulting with a variety of reputable in-country sources and experts.
Every emergency or crisis event is different and may impact a program location in a variety of ways. CEA CAPA’s Crisis Management Team (CMT) works closely with onsite team members to respond to a crisis situation, locate and verify the safety of participants, provide emergency response or assistance, and communicate with emergency contacts and institutional partners. Additionally, the CMT collaborates with CEA CAPA leadership to assess program viability and the impact of the crisis on daily student life. A variety of factors are reviewed before making a decision to evacuate students, suspend or cancel a program.
Does CEA CAPA have an emergency evacuation plan? Under what circumstances would CEA CAPA evacuate students?
If there’s an emergency situation while I’m abroad, could I withdraw from my program and receive a refund?
As participation in a program is voluntary, students can choose to withdraw from a program at any time. Please see CEA CAPA’s Education Abroad Policies, section 3.2, for our withdrawal and refund policies.
Should I be concerned about being the target of anti-American actions while abroad?
Once abroad, you may notice that people you encounter may more openly talk about political and social issues, and their views may be different than yours. This is a great opportunity to learn about how others view the U.S. government’s position on various issues. Additionally, you may encounter more public protests and demonstrations abroad, which are typically peaceful in nature.
Use your best judgement when involved in conversations about controversial topics and remember you are a guest in your host country. Avoid protests, demonstrations or large public gatherings as they could turn violent quickly. Dress to blend in with your environment, speak softly when in groups, and listen with an open mind to what others have to say. Should you encounter any difficulties while abroad, our onsite team members are available to speak with you.
Who can I talk with at CEA CAPA if I have safety concerns?
Are housing options comparable to those in the U.S.?
The life you’ll discover abroad will differ from the life you’re used to back home—embrace it! Some common differences you may encounter include:
- Dishwashers are not common; prepare to wash dishes by hand
- Clothes dryers are rare; clothes are often hung to dry on a line
- Think small; rooms, closets, kitchens, and homes in general tend to be smaller abroad than in North America
- Your bed will most likely be a single-size or a bunk bed
- Air conditioning is not available in many housing options, markets, stores, etc.
- Walking and using public transportation becomes a common (and enjoyable) part of your everyday life
Are housing options similar in every CEA destination?
How are roommates selected?
How do I indicate my housing preferences?
Are single rooms available?
I don’t know anyone and am nervous that I will feel alone. How do I meet other CEA students?
What will my commute to class be like?
Does all CEA housing have Internet?
What are the differences between housing kitchen types?
- Equipped/Full Kitchen: a fully-equipped kitchen with a sink, pots, pans, cups, dishes, utensils, stove, oven (in most cases), a refrigerator, and storage space. Although you can expect to have kitchen supplies comparable to North American standards, kitchen space is limited, appliances tend to be smaller, and cookware is basic.
- Kitchenette: a small space with a sink, dishes, cups, utensils, a microwave, mini-oven or hot plate, small storage area and, in most cases, a small refrigerator.
- Limited: a small space with a sink, some dishes, cups, and utensils. In homestays or residencias, there may be limited hours/resources available to students as the host family may provide some of the meals.
What if I have a housing maintenance request?
What kind of safety precautions should I take when living in CEA housing?
Your best resource for keeping safe is using common sense.
- Keep your doors locked at all times and use BOTH locks.
- Close windows and blinds and lock all doors when leaving your housing and before going to bed.
- Don’t let strangers follow you into your building and do not prop doors open for friends.
- Be observant and aware of your surroundings; call the police if you think you’re being watched.