Heavener international study abroad and exchange programs

Benefits

• Offered in 7 different countries
• Live and study with other UF students
• Courses taught in English
• Language, culture, and business courses offered through international partners
• Take select online UF business courses
• Internships available in London and Dublin.
• Package program (activities, transport, housing)
• More affordable than comparable programs
• Offered Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters

Eligibility

• Students must have a minimum 2.5 UF GPA and be in good standing.
• Students must have completed two full semesters at UF by program start.
• Students should avoid studying abroad in their final semester.
• By the application deadline, students must have a passport that is valid through at least six months after program end date.
• All majors considered (preference for business majors).

Benefits

• Placements at 27 partner universities across the world
• Independent experience – live with other exchange students or local students
• Courses taught in English
• Take required coursework at international universities
• Enhance your major with discipline-specific courses that may not be offered at UF
• Get involved in a variety of student groups and activities
• Support services are primarily provided through the host university
• Typically the least expensive type of study abroad program for in-state students
• Available Fall and Spring semesters

Eligibility

• Students must have a minimum 3.0 UF GPA and be in good standing.
• Students must have completed two full semesters at UF by program start.
• Students should avoid studying abroad in their final semester.
• By the application deadline, students must have a passport that is valid through at least six months after program end date.
• All majors are eligible, but business students receive priority.

Please consult the following links to learn more about the University of Florida and the Business Exchange program in the Heavener School of Business.

• University of Florida International Center
• University of Florida
• Virtual campus tour
• About Gainesville
• Critical dates
• Housing
• Cost of attendance

You may apply for the exchange program if you attend a business partner school and receive a nomination from your home university. The international office at the home university should send nominations directly through the UF International Center.

Nominated students should complete the online UFIC exchange application by the posted deadlines. Course registration cannot begin until all application documents have been submitted and all university holds have been removed.

Courses offered

• Contact your international academic advisor to review the courses you should take.
• Business course syllabi
• Schedule of Courses (all UF courses)
  This page contains all courses offered by the University of Florida, many of which may not be available to undergraduate business students. Specific course schedules for incoming exchange students are released in April (Fall semester) and October (Spring semester).

Business core courses – Electronic Platform

All undergraduate exchange business students should plan on taking at least one of the business core courses. These courses are taught via Electronic Platform, which allows students to attend lectures and view past lectures online.

Credit hours

Undergraduate exchange students must take a minimum of 12 credit hours and can take up to 18 credit hours. The average course load at UF is 12-16 credit hours. Credit hours represent the amount of hours spent in class each week. Students should expect to spend an average of 1-2 hours outside the classroom for every credit hour enrolled.

Recommended Undergraduate Student Schedule

• 4 credits: Core course
• 4 credits: Business elective #1
• 4 credits: Business elective #2
• 3 credits: Elective taught by other UF colleges

Exchange students are not able to register themselves for courses which have a pre-requisite. To be registered, students must complete all application requirements and submit an online course request form. Students are encouraged to submit their course request and complete application requirements as early as possible so they can get their top choices.

Please review the course registration instructions.

Course eligibility

Exchange students from business partner schools have access to all business courses, but seats are not guaranteed in any courses. Pre-requisites are enforced for some courses but not for all. Exchange students from non-business partner schools may enroll in business elective courses at the start of the semester if space is available. Due to space restrictions, seats may not be available in many business courses at this time.

How to request business courses at UF

Business exchange students and exchange students wishing to take business courses should complete the online business course request form as early as possible so the college can reserve seats accordingly.

Add/drop period

Students can modify their schedule during the first week of classes. This provides students with the opportunity to meet the instructor and review the syllabus. Although classes can be added through the end of the first week, many classes will not have seats available at this time.

Courses at the University of Florida fill up quickly, so students are encouraged to complete course registration requirements as early as possible. The Heavener International Programs office will register exchange students for courses in the order applications are completed and send each exchange student a tentative course schedule prior to the start of term. Please pay close attention to the course registration requirements, as one hold will prevent registration.

Course registration requirements:

1. Submit Online Course Request Form.
   • Find business course availability and syllabi on our website.
2. Submit all required immunization and insurance documents
   • Course registration cannot begin until all immunization and insurance holds are cleared. Submit these forms as soon as possible and ensure documentation conforms to the guidelines. Email Health Compliance at the UF Student Health Care Center or call (352) 294-2925 for questions about insurance or immunizations. Students will not be contacted if forms are completed incorrectly.
3. Create GatorLink account.
   • Create a GatorLink account through the UF Computing Help Desk.
   • Students must enter their UFID, your last (family) name, and your date of birth. In the U.S. always list month (mm) before day (dd).
   • Contact the UF Computing Help Desk or call (352) 392-HELP to resolve any issue.
4. Complete emergency contact information.
   • The emergency contact information can be updated via One.UF.
   • Navigate to “Student Self Service”.
   • On the left menu under “My Record,” select “Update Emergency Contact Info”.
   • Login with the GatorLink credentials
   • Complete the emergency contact information form and submit.
5. Complete local address information.
   • The local address information can be updated via One.UF.
   • Navigate to “Student Self Service”.
   • On the left menu under “My Record,” select “Holds”.
   • Login with the GatorLink credentials
   • Submit local home data using address line 3 (country, city, state & zip code).
6. Complete registration acknowledgement.
   • The registration acknowledgement can be updated via One.UF.
   • Navigate to “Student Self Service”.
   • On the left menu, select “Registration Preparation”.
   • Login with the GatorLink credentials.
   • Follow the instructions to complete the form and submit.
7. Complete mandatory health insurance acknowledgement.
   By completing this step, you are acknowledging that you will be automatically registered and financially responsible for a UF insurance policy if you have not provided evidence of another accepted policy by a certain date.
   • The acknowledgement can be updated via One.UF.
   • Navigate to “Student Self Service”.
   • On the left menu under “My Record,” click “Holds”.
   • Select the “Health Insurance Acknowledgement” hold.
   • Login with the GatorLink credentials.
   • Carefully read the policies and confirm your understanding of them.
8. Check your holds.

Mandatory Business Orientations

Students should arrive a few days before the term begins to finalize housing, take care of technology and administrative needs, become familiar with the UF campus, and attend mandatory orientations. Students are required to check in with the UF International Center as soon as they arrive in Gainesville so visa requirements can be verified. Students should verify housing check-in dates with their housing provider.

Students taking business courses at UF are required to attend both the Warrington orientation and the UF International Center Orientation. Please refer to the UF International Center website and communications for specific dates and times for the UFIC Orientation.

Note: Students who don’t attend both orientations will be withdrawn from their academic courses unless other arrangements have been made in advance. If special circumstances prevent attendance at the mandatory orientations, students should seek permission for late arrival from the College of Business. Students may be permitted to arrive after the orientation in certain instances. Students will not be allowed to arrive after the first week of classes under any circumstances.

Global Gathering

In the third week of each semester, the College holds an event to welcome incoming exchange students. Students introduce themselves and their home universities to UF students and enjoy a pizza party together.

Global Business Society

The Global Business Society is a group of business students who welcome incoming exchange students to the college through events and activities. Each incoming exchange student will be matched with a UF student (Gator Guide) prior to their arrival to help them navigate campus and university life.

UF Navigators International

The UF Navigators pair incoming exchange students with UF students and organize several trips outside of Gainesville, including a weekend in Orlando visiting the theme parks, a trip to the beach, and other weekend events.

Heavener Study Abroad academic advisors assist with updating your degree audit once your internship credit is eligible. To receive internship credit for a study abroad program, your study abroad transcript must first be processed, a process that can take three or more months the program end date.  

Once your study abroad transcript is visible in your ONE.UF account, submit an Internship Credit Approval Form.

If you have questions about transcript processing times, contact international.business@warrington.ufl.edu  

To receive credit for non-Heavener program or to have your non-Heavener academic advising form signed, complete the Non-HSB Academic Advising Form Request.

Student insurance packages are designed to protect the student from unforeseeable health circumstances while abroad. The medical benefits provide coverage for doctor visits, prescriptions, hospital care or any unexpected medical emergencies. 

All students who participate in an international program or an exchange program will be covered by CISI Insurance as part of their program fee. Students on other programs are required to show proof of international health and accident insurance with a minimum coverage of $200,000.00, unless the program provider carries UF insurance. 

Although it can vary by program, all Warrington programs require students to make their own travel plans to and from the program location. Students are typically given a time frame for when to arrive. 

Students are also responsible for their travel outside of the program: 

• Book flight directly with airline if possible. 

• Be aware of all policies associated with the travel tickets. Many providers will not cancel or change a ticket. 

• Research travel costs and book flights in advance to maximize savings, but do not book travel before the academic schedule is known. 

• Students may encounter travel delays and therefore should avoid booking travel close to the dates of exams. 

Financial aid, Bright Futures, and pre-aid scholarships do count toward the tuition costs of the program. Pre-paid monies can also be applied to the housing costs and other program expenses. 

Scholarships are available through the Warrington College of Business, the University of Florida International Center, and the federal government.

The process of studying abroad is often accompanied by a large range of emotions, ranging from joy and excitement to stress and sadness. While it is important to support your student and ensure their safety, it is equally important to protect their independence in navigating the challenges on their own. Here are some simple Do’s and Don’ts for your consideration:

Do

• Encourage your student to study abroad.
• Let your student know that you can be reached at any time.
• Listen to frustrations with a supportive ear.
• Encourage your student to be open-minded and flexible and to treat everyone with respect.
• Encourage your student to talk with host staff about issues or concerns.
• Encourage your student to follow up on important details/considerations.
• Tell your student that feeling uncomfortable is normal and okay. Focus on learning.
• Observe and discuss changes that you see in your student. Be accepting of a student’s new ideas of self (political, dress, food).

Don’t

• Tell your student what program to choose.
• Call your student every day to check on them.
• Try to solve all their problems.
• Call study abroad personnel on the student’s behalf to handle issues and concerns (unless student cannot do it themselves).
• Get too involved.
• Correlate studying abroad with a vacation experience.
• Stay with your student or take them out of class to sightsee.
• Worry about personal changes when your student returns. Changes will balance out over time.

General resources

• U.S. Department of State
• University of Florida International Center
• The Center for Global Education Study Abroad Student Handbook – Advice for Parents

No program can completely guarantee safety abroad, just as no one can guarantee safety at home. We can tell you, however, that the cities where our students study are almost always statistically safer than Gainesville, Florida.

Despite the relative safety of these locations, any person in a large and unfamiliar city can be a potential target for thieves and wrongdoers. Nevertheless, the most predictive elements of a safe experience abroad are preparedness and individual behavior. Common sense and street smarts are heavily emphasized in pre-departure and orientation sessions with our students. Here are some additional resources for students and parents:

• U.S. Department of State (Travel Alerts and Warnings)
• U.S. Department of State (Safety)
• The Center for Global Education Study Abroad Student Handbook

The other issue of safety relates to student health. To ensure a safe time abroad, students need to be prepared for the entire duration of the trip, informed about what they might encounter in other countries, and knowledgeable about what to do in case of an emergency. Here are some useful tips:

• Supply student with needed medication for entire trip.
• Research health information for the countries the student will visit and get the appropriate shots and medication.
• Have a general physical and dental exam while in the U.S.
• Pack a complete medical record and a typed copy of any prescriptions needed.
• Make an emergency plan for any medical issues that may arise.
• International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• U.S. Department of State (checklist)

In general, all students will need a passport, and most students will need a country-specific visa to study in another country. Here are some tips related to travel documents:

• Double-check that your son or daughter’s passport and visa documentation are in order. Make sure their passport is valid for at least six months beyond the end of stay.
• Make two photocopies of all travel and financial information — one for the student and one to keep at home (passport, credit cards, bank cards, insurance, etc.).
• Encourage the use of a money belt to help keep valuables safe during the trip.
• Passport information – U.S. Department of State
• Visa information – U.S. Department of State

All study abroad credits will be accepted by UF, regardless of the program, as long as the student applied for the program through the University of Florida International Center. Grades will be applied depending on the program:

• Exchange Programs: All grades earned are posted and computed into the UF GPA.
• Transfer (third party): Grades will be computed as transfer credit, meaning that the grade received abroad will be posted on the UF transcript but not computed into the UF GPA.

Heavener programs: Some grades earned are posted and computed into the UF GPA, and some are posted to the transcript but not computed into the UF GPA.

Transportation also varies by location and program, but most locations have comprehensive public transportation systems including trains, subways, and buses. Since transportation can be costly, it is important to plan transportation needs and include the cost in the student’s budget.

Our Warrington programs accommodate every level of host language proficiency. Courses are taught in English, and there is always English-speaking support available for students. In most countries, English-speaking people are quite common and fairly easy to find. Nevertheless, students should make every effort to learn the local language. They will learn that they can actually communicate quite a bit with even just a few key phrases. Our programs also offer survival language classes aimed at equipping students with basic communication skills. Many other study abroad programs have a similar feature as part of the program.

• Students may individually purchase or rent a country-specific cell phone or SIM card. There are many providers, such as PicCell Wireless, that rent and sell this equipment at a reasonable cost. (Note: International roaming fees apply when traveling outside of the host country unless a new SIM is inserted to match the location.)
• International calling cards are often the cheapest way to communicate over the phone, but the student will have to call from a landline.
• Prepaid phones require the student to pay charges before calling and can be refilled as needed.
• Video calls offer video and text conferencing for free and cheap computer-to-phone calling. Must download Zoom or a similar program and sign up.

Here are some additional communication tips:

• Discuss what time of day students can be reached.
• Establish a communication plan in advance.
• Contact your phone service provider to discuss the best plan for international calling.
• To save on telephone communication, it may be better to set up a regular schedule for emailing, instant messaging, or talking via Zoom.

Students can usually manage most of their stateside responsibilities through planning and preparation but may require coordination with parents/friends. Students and parents should plan for possible responsibilities such as:

• Renewing a driver’s license
• Voter registration
• Income taxes
• Paying monthly credit card bills
• Preparing for the next semester at their home school
• Select a housing option upon return
• Preparing forms to continue financial aid (FAFSA®)

It is beneficial for students to sign financial and medical power of attorney forms, which give a designated representative, such as a family member, the authority to speak to university representatives and/or other relevant representatives on behalf of the student.