Study Abroad Policies & Guidelines

All students must meet the following guidelines to be eligible to study abroad.

Minimum 18 years of age

Liberty University degree-seeking student

Acquired 24 college credits (Sophomore by credit)

Standard minimum 2.5 GPA and in good academic standing

Successfully pass a background check

Good conduct/disciplinary standing at the University

A valid passport that meets the entry requirements of your host country

In addition to the foundational eligibility requirements, students must meet these additional requirements to receive approval to study abroad:

Students on academic suspension or probation at the time of application are not eligible to study abroad.

Students with a disciplinary record at the University will be considered for acceptance on a case-by-case basis. Students are required to adhere to The Liberty Way while abroad. If we are informed of any breaches to the code of conduct while abroad, there may be ramifications when you return to campus.

Students participating in a signature study abroad program, custom study abroad program, or international internship will pay their program fee, applicable tuition, and the LU Send study abroad or international internship fee through Financial Check-In the semester prior to travel.

Students may be required to pay their program directly for:

Application Fee

Confirmation Deposit

Additional Excursions

Students are responsible for booking and paying for their roundtrip airfare to all programs and communicating their itinerary to LU Send.

Independent Internship

If a student chooses to participate in an internship that is not through an approved LU Send program, it is considered an independent international internship. If a student chooses to participate in an independent internship, students are responsible for paying their organization directly. LU Send does not recommend students participate in independent internships as they are not vetted by LU Send. For questions about using outside scholarships, loans, and grants to fund an independent internship, please contact financialaid@liberty.edu.

If the student is pursuing an independent internship, they will be responsible for paying the internship organization directly for all program costs. Please coordinate with the organization regarding payment due dates and other financial obligations. The LU Send fee will still be placed on the student’s account to be paid through Financial Check-In, and students are still required to pay tuition for any corresponding classes (if the internship is being completed for Liberty credit). Students must complete Financial Check-In to begin making payments.

NOTE: When completing Financial Check-In, students may be prompted to make one full payment. If needed, please contact Student Accounts at studentaccounts@liberty.edu to set up a payment plan.

Study Abroad and Internship Fees

Students participating in an LU Send Study Abroad program will pay a fee to help cover expenses, including background checks, international health and travel insurance, Alert Traveler, travel package, Pre-Departure Training, and administrative & processing fees.

Signature & Custom Program Semester: $1200

Signature & Custom Program Summer: $600

Custom Program J-Term: $300

Internship Semester: $300

Internship Summer: $250

NOTE: The LU Send Study Abroad Fee is placed on the student’s account and paid by completing Financial Check-In.

Students participating in a signature study abroad program will receive a letter grade on their Degree Completion Plan at the end of each semester, which will be calculated into their overall GPA.

Students participating in a custom study abroad program will have an official transcript sent to Liberty University from their host program to be evaluated for transfer credit. Only courses in which students earn a grade equivalent of C or higher are eligible to be evaluated for transfer credit by Liberty University. These grades will reflect Pass or Fail on their degree plan and will not be calculated into their overall GPA.

Please note that credit systems vary throughout the world, and it is very important that you understand how the credit system at your host institution equates to the credit system at Liberty University. For Liberty University’s full transfer policy, please refer to the Registrar’s Office webpage on academic policies.

• Fall – Pre-Application: April 15, Pre-Decision: May 15, Post-Decision: July 15
• Spring – Pre-Application: October 15, Pre-Decision: November 1, Post-Decision: December 1
• Summer – Pre-Application: March 15, Pre-Decision: April 15, Post-Decision: May 15

LU Send does not charge withdrawal fees for program withdrawal with a partner organization. Additionally, the LU Send Study Abroad fee is fully refundable if you withdraw from your program before you leave the U.S.

All students are responsible for adhering to the withdrawal policy of their specific partner organization. Please refer to your specific organization’s withdrawal policy for more information on withdrawal deadlines and potential financial penalties.

All students are required to carry International Health & Travel insurance, which is purchased for them by LU Send prior to their departure. Please review the insurance documents in your LU Send application that explain the coverage and summary of benefits.

Passports

All students are required to have a valid passport that is valid for at least six months after their expected return date back to the United States.

Visas

Students may be required to obtain an international visa for their host country. Students are responsible for inquiring with their partner organization or host institution about applying for a visa. Please start this process early, as every country has different requirements regarding types of visas, length of stay, processing times, etc. Students are responsible for knowing the parameters of their visa, including the expiration date.

Students who will be abroad during any fall or spring semester will need to submit a request for off-campus approval with Residence Life. Instructions to request this approval are provided in their LU Send application. Students are responsible for confirming their housing selection with Residence Life by completing FCI for the semester immediately following their semester abroad. Please note that students are still responsible for adhering to the FCI deadline for each semester, including while they are abroad.

LU Send works with Risk Management, LUPD (Liberty University Police Department), and Student Health Services to assess the security and health conditions of all programs and host countries around the world.

LU Send receives real-time reports of global events and continuously monitors travel reports and advisories. LU Send takes into consideration recommendations issued by the U.S. Department of State, Center for Disease Control, and Alert Traveler. Please know that students may be advised against travel to certain countries or locations at any point in their planning due to current safety and risk factors in their host country.

For specific details on travel advisories and countries that are restricted for Liberty University travel, please contact LU Send at lusendstudyabroad@liberty.edu.