There are three different options available to Hampden-Sydney students wishing to study abroad in another country or away in the U.S. during the summer/May Term.
Please be aware, the College does not approve participation in a program whose location has a U.S. State Department Travel Advisory of Level 3 or higher and/or a Level 3 CDC Travel Health Notice. Students who would like to petition for an exemption to this policy are advised to reach out to the director of Global Education no later than March 1 (Fall Programs) or October 1 (Spring Programs). Likewise, students who are not vaccinated for Covid-19 will need to request an exemption to the vaccination requirement.
COMPASS/EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING Participating in a Global Education program does not automatically complete H-SC's COMPASS/EL Core Requirement. Students must enroll in a specific class that meets that requirement. Please discuss your options with the Global Ed director.
FUNDING APPLICATIONS Global Ed funding applications are due January 15 for summer/May Term programs. For more information, click the orange box below. Matriculated H-SC students only are eligible to apply; applicants will normally be notified of their awarding status by January 25 via campus email.
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H-SC Faculty-Led Programs (May Term Abroad/Away)
Applications, Deposits, and Deadlines
Program Applications are available on the H-SC Programs page December 1.
H-SC Global Ed funding applications are due January 15.
Program Applications and $500 deposits are due February 1.
Program applications will be reviewed after the deadline and students will be notified of their acceptance status in most cases by February 15.
Please note: Due to course caps, some programs may not accept all applicants who meet all the eligibility requirements.
The Virginia Program at Oxford is a Hampden-Sydney-sponsored, interdisciplinary summer school program based in St. Anne's College, Oxford University. The six-week program examines the literature, history and society of late-16th and early-17th century England. Instruction follows the English system of higher education, which combines daily lectures by renowned, British scholars with small, weekly tutorials. Students, drawn from a six-school consortium of small Virginia colleges and universities, earn three credits in history and three credits in English. Unlike many other study abroad programs, credits for these courses are entered directly onto your transcript and the grades are calculated into your GPA. Some financial aid is available, and federal grants and loans may be applied.
Program Dates: Late June - Early August (see VPO webpage for this year's specifics)
Estimated Cost: $8,250 (students may request funding within the application)
H-SC Eligibility Requirements:
Applicants must be in good academic standing (2.0 or higher GPA) by the end of the fall semester before departure.
The Dean of Students reviews the disciplinary records of all applicants. Students may apply while currently under probation, as long as their sanctions will be completed before their program begins. Students with problematic disciplinary histories might not be approved, whether they are currently on probation or not. Students placed on disciplinary probation after being approved or who have not completed all imposed sanctions prior to departure may have that approval revoked.
Courses: Students earn direct credits (not transfer credits) which are calculated into their GPA. Students register for the following classes in Tigerweb in March/April when registering for fall courses.
ENGL 301: Literature of the English Renaissance (3 credits) -- Required
HIST 307: Early Modern Britain (3 credits) -- Required
INDS 250: Cultural Engagement in Study Abroad (1 credit) -- Satisfies the Off-Campus COMPASS (EL) Core requirement -- Enrollment in this course is not guaranteed
Applications: Due February 15 Please note that the application will ask you to upload four items. The following downloadable forms and templates are available online:
Unofficial transcript (PDF of your TigerWeb version)
Signed Agreement of Responsible Travel Form (PDF )
Physician's Statement (PDF)
Headshot suitable for an official ID card (jpg, png or gif files only)
References: The application will ask you to submit the names and email addresses of 2 personal references. Once you have submitted your application, they will receive an email invitation with instructions. References are due by February 21.
Deposits: The $250 deposit is due upon submission of the application and can be paid using one of these methods:
Write a check out to Hampden-Sydney College and put "VPO" on the memo line; submit the deposit to the Hampden-Sydney business office.
Use a credit card to pay in person at H-SC's business office.
Pay via credit card through Cashnet in TigerWeb. If you use this method, you will also need to email the Global Ed director to make sure that the amount is correctly transferred to VPO.
Students from all years and majors are encouraged to apply. Announcements of acceptances will be made in early March.
For more information, please contact your campus sponsor: Shirley Kagan Department of Theatre | Hampden-Sydney College
H-SC does not keep an Endorsed List of abroad summer programs offered by external parties, but approves them on a case-by-case basis. Students are encouraged to meet with the Global Ed director to explore their options and for review of their preferred program.
The College does not approve participation in a program whose location has a U.S. State Department Travel Advisory of Level 3 or higher and/or a Level 3 CDC Travel Health Notice. Students who would like to petition for an exemption to this policy are advised to reach out to the director of Global Education before March 1.
Students who wish to study at a U.S. institution during the summer must follow the registrar's office policies and procedures to ensure transfer credit.
Abroad Program Eligibility
Applicants must be in good academic standing (2.5 or higher GPA) by the end of the fall semester before departure.
The Dean of Students reviews the disciplinary records of all applicants. Students may apply while currently under probation, as long as their sanctions will be completed before their program begins. Students with problematic disciplinary histories might not be approved, whether they are currently on probation or not. Students placed on disciplinary probation after being approved or who have not completed all imposed sanctions prior to departure may have that approval revoked.
Program providers will have their own eligibility requirements that students must also meet.
Abroad Program Application and Approval Process Students wishing to take courses offered by other providers must adhere to the following requirements:
Apply with H-SC by February 15
If approved by H-SC, apply to the selected program by the provider's deadline
Complete all required H-SC paperwork by their deadlines
Abroad Transfering of Credit Courses taken with other providers may be eligible for transfer credit:
Before departure, complete the Global Ed Course Approval Form and return it to Global Ed.
Earn a C or higher in the courses listed on the Course Approval Form.
Ensure that an official transcript is sent by the program provider directly to the Global Ed director: Box 605, Hampden-Sydney, VA 23943.
Completing courses managed by other providers does NOT satisfy H-SC's COMPASS/Experiential Learning requirement. It may be possible for students to enroll in an H-SC 1-credit COMPASS course in addition to their program class(es), though this option is not guaranteed. If you are interested in earning COMPASS/EL credit, please discuss your options with the Global Ed director.
Abroad Deposits and Billing Students pay all deposits and fees directly to the provider.
Students whose programs do not provide the level of insurance required by H-SC will be enrolled in H-SC's insurance, which will be charged to the student's H-SC account.