Global Fairfield

The normal course load for a study abroad student is four/five courses per semester, equivalent to 15 to 16 credit hours, depending on your program. 

Students participating on semester and year-long programs must abide by the requirements for full-time enrollment established by the host institution/partner program and visa requirements. 

Students must be academically engaged in courses at a minimum of 4 days per week. 

Students are expected to enroll in a minimum of 15 credits at an appropriate level of instruction and should typically enroll in 1-2 Core courses; 1-2 major or minor courses, and 1-2 Elective course for each term abroad.

Courses taught abroad are conducted in English, unless otherwise specified on the brochure page and Database of Approved Courses. All students who participate in a Center program for a semester or more in a non-English speaking country must enroll in a course related to language and culture. Some programs have a required language component which will be indicated on the program brochure page. 

Students may only select coursework that has received pre-approval and is listed in the Database of Approved Courses for their chosen program and term. The Database of Approved Courses can be found on the relevant program brochure page. Failure to comply with this policy may result in delayed graduation and/or have financial implications based on your Financial Aid Award package. Global Fairfield withholds the right to remove students from unapproved courses and register them for an approved course of the Global Fairfield's choosing. 

All academic coursework completed through a Center or an Academically Preferred Program receives Fairfield University resident credit, and the grades are calculated into the student's grade point average. These grades will be posted to the students’ Fairfield transcripts. Fairfield University may not edit, delete or change the grade notations on a foreign university transcript. 

Students participating in Approved Partner or exchange program, like Blackfriars, CYA Non Honors Summer or Semester, Domestic Jesuit Partner Programs, LSE, Maastricht, Sogang and WII earn Transfer credit, meaning that grades earned will not appear on your Fairfield transcript. Students must earn a "C" or better for credit to transfer. Fairfield University may not edit, delete or change the grade notations on a foreign university transcript 

Add/drop requirements vary by program and may be considered by Global Fairfield in consultation with the host University/program. Requests made for courses that are not approved, alternates that do not fit the prescribed schedule, or to reduce class days will not be approved. 

Fairfield University’s top priority is ensuring that students are enrolled in the courses they need to progress academically. As some courses have mandatory Field Learning and as all students are required to be academically engaged 4 days per week, some course schedules may include Friday classes or weekend excursions. 

As a reminder, to merit a Fairfield University degree, at least 60 credits must be taken at Fairfield. This includes the last 30 semester credits immediately preceding graduation that must be earned at Fairfield University.