Secondary Application Deadline: October 1st

Applications for those BBA exchange programs* which still have spots available for spring 2014 may be turned in by 5 p.m. on October 1. You are strongly encouraged to submit everything as soon as possible as they are reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis. Applications must be COMPLETE before they will be reviewed.

Countries with spring 2014 availability:  List coming soon.

Applicants must first attend an information session and then schedule an appointment with a study abroad coordinator in CBA 2.400 before accessing the online application. GPA eligibility is a 2.0 overall.

*Note: Partner schools in Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Spain (ESADE), Switzerland and Thailand have an application deadline earlier than October 1st.

Online Application Requirements:

1) Application and fee: UT charges a $50 non-refundable study abroad application fee when a student submits the on-line application. Before you can access the system, you must meet with a BBA Exchange Coordinator. Click here to access the online application.  

2) Program/Application Code: All BBA International Program exchanges start with “15.”  Some partner schools have more than one program at UT, so if you want a BBA Exchange, make sure you select the “15xxxx” code. The application allows you to enter a first a second choice; if you have a third or fourth choice program, please mention those in the last line of your essay.

3) Essay: A strong essay is essential for a good overall application, and offers you the opportunity to expand beyond the facts and numbers in your resume and application. These points will help you to shape a good essay:

• Motivation:  How/why did you become interested in studying abroad? Why did you choose the country(ies) and school(s) you have indicated? Be brief, but specific.
• Goals: What gains do you hope to draw from your experience? Will you build language skills? From your research are there particular courses, programs, and/or facilities from which you hope to benefit?  Is international experience important to your educational and/or future professional plans? If so, please describe why/how. Be as concrete as possible.
• Preparation: Why should the selection committee choose you? Why are you right for the program(s) you have chosen?  Use examples to illustrate what would make you a good ambassador of UT. Include:
• How your academic and social preparation match the demands of the exchange(s) you’ve selected.
• Any involvement you have had with international students, activities or groups.
• Your maturity, responsibility, adaptability. Draw from your personal experience. Think of how someone close to you would describe you in this area. Just a few things to consider: Do you balance a heavy schedule with school, work, and activities? Are you helping to finance yourself? What responsibilities have you had at work, in the community or in university organizations? 
• Anything special about your circumstances that the committee should know.
• YOU are the subject of this essay. Every line should communicate something about you. Don’t use your limited space for general statements like “One must experience a new culture to...” or “Studying abroad broadens one’s horizons” which do not contribute to your goal of acquainting readers with you, your motivation, goals and preparation. Enter your essay onto the web application form, maximum length of 2 pages.

4) Recommendations:

• Two recommendations are required, addressed to “Study Abroad Selection Committee.” We prefer email, but they can be mailed, hand delivered. Recommendation letters should include your UT EID.
• One recommendation must be from an instructor in one of the business courses you’ve had at UT.  The second should be from a supervisor/employer, or another instructor. 
• There is no specific format for the letters; recommenders should indicate how they know you and why they think you would be a good candidate for a BBA exchange program.
• Provide recommenders with a copy of your resume and an outline or rough draft of your essay, so they are better acquainted with you, your experience and your goals. Request recommendations 4-6 weeks in advance!
• If you are applying for exchange programs and scholarships, you may use recommendations from the same people.  Organize your needs so you can present it all together when making recommendation requests. With minor alterations recommenders can use the same format for all your letters. NOTE: you must submit separate recommendations for any scholarship, but they could be from the same sources as for your study abroad application.
• Selection considerations begin immediately after the deadline, so it's in your best interest to have the recommendations arrive on time. Contact your recommendors well in advance!

5) Language Evaluation:  Only students applying for a foreign language program need an evaluation. 

Items to be turned in to the Undergraduate Programs Office, CBA 2.400:

6) Resume: Please provide your one-page resume, including activities/involvement.  Write your EID in the corner.

7) Degree Plan: Submit a degree plan (not a degree audit), with completed requirements checked off, and next semester’s tentative schedule included.  Click on appropriate major to access degree plans.

Individual Program Applications: Applications to the host schools are available AFTER acceptance selections have been made; students must complete and send to their host school, along with all requested materials. Instructions will be given during the Pre-Departure workshop.

Additional Notes:

1) Notification: Notification of selections will be by email, about three weeks after complete application submission.  Secondary deadline applications are reviewed on a first-submitted, first-considered basis.

2) Passports, residency permits/visas: For all destinations, students will need a valid passport.  If you don’t have one, or if yours will expire before the end of the time you’re planning to be abroad, you should apply for one now.  They are valid for ten years, and the UT Study Abroad Office can process passport applications, as well as International Student Identification Cards. 

Study in most countries also requires a residency permit or a visa. You need to have a passport before you can apply for either a residency permit or visa. Allow time, because it may take up to 12 weeks in some instances. Students are responsible for contacting the appropriate consulate or embassy for guidelines and to secure the necessary paperwork.  Contact info and websites are provided in the pre-departure materials, but you can also easily find it online yourself. 

3) Pre-departure Preparation: All selected students will be required to attend the Pre-Departure Workshop and the Study Abroad Connection that take place in October. The Study Abroad Connection meeting will provide the chance to socialize with returned UT students and current exchange-in students - your vital information links! ALL students are required to attend these sessions. Consider your schedule now, in case you are selected.

Study Abroad Connection

Meet with returning UT study abroad students and current international exchange students from partner schools.

• will be in October 2013 from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. in the Atrium

Pre-Departure Workshop

Accepted study abroad students will need to attend the pre-departure workshop. We will go over vital administrative and cultural information needed to prepare you for your time abroad.

• Will be in October 2013 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. in CBA 3.304, CBA Events Room 

There are other forms required from students studying abroad, information is provided upon acceptance.  Immunizations required for travel are offered by UHS. 

4) Insurance & Emergency Coverage:  ALL students studying abroad will be charged $19 per week for required health insurance, emergency services, liability insurance, and repatriation and evacuation coverage. These policies are specially negotiated for UT students to provide superior coverage and protection, at a reduced cost.  Charges are assessed on UT Direct "What I Owe."

5) IEFS Scholarships:  ALL UT students applying to study abroad (on any program) are eligible for this scholarship offered through the UT Study Abroad office! The deadlines to apply are March 1 and October 1. The online application can be found at http://utdirect.utexas.edu/student/abroad/globalassist.WBX. You may be able to use the same recommenders; the scholarship application system will send an email directly to the recommender with the reference form.  You can only apply for the IEFS the semester immediately before you plan to be abroad!

6) Other Funding Opportunities: There are additional region-specific or purpose-specific scholarships and fellowships available, with varying deadlines. Some are due the same semester you apply, while others are due up to 1½ years in advance. There are scholarships that go un-awarded every year, so make sure you check out your options and apply! Here are some examples, more are available:

• Global A$$ist- Comprehensive database of study abroad scholarships
• Gilman Scholarship, for U.S. citizens receiving a Pell Grant, up to $5,000
• NSEP-Boren Scholarship, for U.S. citizens, up to $10,000
• JTS Scholarship, $1,000 for freshman studying abroad their first summer on a BBA exchange

7) Re-entry, returnee questionnaire and budget: The final stage of your exchange. Re-entry Sessions at the beginning of your first return semester to UT provides the opportunity to discuss your experiences and re-adjustment issues. Also, with reentry, your responsibility shifts from being an ambassador abroad to providing information for your fellow UT students. Your feedback is vital for future students and for continual improvement to the programs. Returned students complete an on-line questionnaire about their experience. This information is available for students researching study abroad to assist with their choices.