Important Information Regarding Program Providers

Some study abroad organizations, often called "program providers," are companies (which may be for- or non-profit) who generally act simply as intermediaries to enroll American students in foreign universities, offering differing degrees of help with housing, course registration, and other student services not always readily available to international students at foreign institutions. Maryland students who take courses at a nationally recognized, accredited degree-granting university through a program provider are eligible to transfer credits to Maryland, provided they complete all necessary steps with the Study Abroad Office for approval of the program and of the coursework.

A number of reputable study abroad program providers also administer hybrid programs, meaning that students take one or two courses at a foreign institution, supplemented by one or more courses taught by faculty hired directly by the program provider. When the program provider is not a U.S. or foreign university, but is a third-party organization (for example, CEA, CIEE or IES), the University of Maryland will allow students to transfer credit from one of these programs ONLY in the following cases:

1. Students enrolled in hybrid programs for a semester must take at least two courses (or six credits) at a nationally recognized, degree granting local host institution. They cannot elect to take only Study Center courses.  In the summer, many of these programs are not approved by Maryland because they only offer classes at the study center, not at a host institution.

2. If students enroll in hybrid programs, they must get their records from both the foreign institution and the School of Record (an accredited U.S. institution that has academic oversight over the development of syllabi and the hiring of faculty for the study abroad program, i.e. University of New Haven, Spelman College, University of Minnesota, etc.).

Maryland will accept just the School of Record transcript if it is clearly indicated on said transcript that the student has taken at least two courses (or six US semester credits) at a local host institution.
Note: The University of Maryland cannot evaluate transcripts or grade reports issued by program providers (because they are not universities themselves).

The student must complete all necessary steps with the Study Abroad Office to ensure their choice of program is approved and complete Permission to Study Abroad paperwork before departure.
The student is responsible for requesting that these transcripts be sent to Maryland's Study Abroad Office. The provider may charge an additional fee for a School of Record transcript.

Any programs administered by a third party program provider where students take all classes at a Study Center are not approved for transfer credit by the University of Maryland, regardless of whether or not a U.S. university issues the transcript. Students who take all classes at a Study Center will not be able to transfer any credits back to Maryland.

If you have questions about program providers, please contact a study abroad advisor.