Office of Study Abroad

Application Process & Deadlines

You will need to complete two applications for study abroad (except for DIS program applicants) in order to be eligible to study off-campus:

  • Brandeis Online Study Abroad Application
  • Your external study abroad program's application

Brandeis Study Abroad Application Deadline

  • Wednesday, March 1, 2023: Deadline for Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and full Academic Year 2023-2024
    • All application materials are due by 11:59 p.m.

Application Decision Notification

The study abroad application decisions will be posted in mid March. The Study Abroad Application Review Committee will review each application and consider it in terms of the selection criteria. Once the Committee has reached its decision, you will receive an email with your decision.

Application Overview

The Brandeis application consists of the following pieces:

1. The Proposed Courses Abroad form allows students to outline how their semester or year abroad aligns with their academic plans at Brandeis. The complete this form students will:

  • Proposal course choices for primary and alternate study abroad program(s)

  • Receive a signature from any Study Abroad Faculty Liaison signature(s) where credit is desired

Students will receive access to this form when they open a study abroad application.

2. External Program Advisor Approval (Fall and Academic Year students; spring applicants will complete this at a later date)

As part of the external application process, many study abroad programs have either an electronic or paper Study Abroad Advisor Approval / Home School Nomination form that requires a signature from our office before you will be accepted to their program.

3. Declared a Major(s) / Minor(s)

An important piece of your Brandeis Study Abroad Application is the requirement that you declare your Major(s) / Minor(s). Your application will be considered incomplete without a declared Major. By having your Major(s) / Minor(s) declared you'll be able to have a fuller conversation with your faculty about your programs' requirements and ensure you understand how courses taken abroad will count towards your academic career at Brandeis.

In order to declare your major, please visit this webpage on the Registrar's website.

5. External Application Submitted - Fall and Academic Year

Fall and Academic Year applicants are required to submit their external program applications by the Brandeis deadline (your program deadline may come earlier).

6. Study Abroad Funding Workshop & Scholarship Information

This online workshop will help explain some of the billing, budgeting, and financial processes, resources, and implications of studying abroad. Information on study abroad scholarships is also provided.

7. The Statement of Agreement is your acknowledgement of awareness of Brandeis study abroad policies and procedures.

8. Community Agreements for Study Abroad reviews our Cultural Integration and housing philosophy and asks students to confirm their academic and conduct standing at Brandeis.

9. The Application Statements for Brandeis Study Abroad. Students will be asked to answer:

a. Academics Abroad (at least 200 words)

  • What are your academic and intellectual goals for study abroad?
  • Why do the courses you proposed on your Academic Proposal of Study form interest you and how do they complement your studies at Brandeis?
  • What do you know about the academic environment of your program and why is this the best match for you academically? (For example, are you taking courses in a large lecture hall or in small, field-based courses?)
b. Culture and History (at least 200 words)

  • What differences do you expect to encounter between your culture and your prospective host culture?

  • Share something you have learned about the colonial history of the location in which you hope to study abroad. How do you expect your host country's history to impact your time studying there and your relationships with local people?

c. Resiliency Abroad (at least 100 words)
  • What do you believe will be your biggest challenge while abroad? What will you do to prepare for this challenge and how will you manage it while abroad?
d. Reflection and Preparation (at least 200 words)

  • Think about your identities (race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship, ability, religion, socioeconomic status, etc.) and how you understand these aspects of yourself. How might these identities be impacted by or impact your study abroad experience?

  • If you could jump ahead in time, what do you hope you gained from studying abroad? How do you plan to move beyond being a tourist and engage with your host community and culture?
e. Term of Study and Rationale

  • Studying abroad in the spring can often be more competitive than studying abroad in the fall. Given the need to balance the number of students going abroad during a given semester, would you consider studying abroad during a different semester than the one indicated on your application? You may expand upon your answer if you would like.

f. Alternate Program Selection and Essays

  • Applying for an alternate program is optional. Students are encouraged to select a primary program that is most appropriate to their academic, personal, and career goals. In some cases, an alternate program is recommended due to the competitiveness of a program or if there is more than one program that meets an individual's goals.

  • Alternate essay questions are the same as the primary program essays.

11. For Oxford and Exchange programs only: A recommendation. In this case, in the online application you can email a request for a Brandeis faculty member to fill out a recommendation form. However, since this email is automatically generated through the online system, we suggest that you first personally contact your recommender and inform them that they will receive the email request from the Office of Study Abroad.

12. Sachar Scholarship Eligibility: This questionnaire will ask if you receive need-based financial aid and if you are interested in being considered for a Sachar Study Abroad Scholarship.

Please schedule an appointment with the Office of Study Abroad if you would like to open a study abroad application. More information regarding the sections of the application are below but further information is available inside your individual Brandeis online study abroad account.