Off-Campus Study

Once students have matriculated at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, they are expected to complete their coursework at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Such coursework may include credits earned through approved study-abroad programs. In some cases, in order to clear a deficiency or to remain on track for graduation, a student may seek permission for off-campus study to take a course at another accredited institution. Even when authorization for off-campus study is granted, all students are required to fulfill their University of Massachusetts Lowell residency requirements.

Students wishing to apply credits earned off-campus must obtain approval prior to off-campus enrollment, through an Authorization of Off-Campus Courses form available in the Office of the Registrar.

Off-campus courses may be taken in regionally accredited institutions only, and ordinarily should be taken at baccalaureate colleges or universities. Permission to pursue off-campus courses in regionally accredited associate degree institutions may be granted to students for courses that are to be presented for lower-division requirements of University of Massachusetts Lowell curricula provided that such courses do not lead to a violation of the University Residency Requirements. All off-campus courses must be taken under the regular grading system and may not be taken on a pass-no credit (pass/fail) basis.

To view the list of courses approved by departments for transfer into the University of Massachusetts Lowell, visit the Office of the Registrar's website (http://www.uml.edu/registrar/transfer/).

University Restrictions Concerning Off-Campus Study

Students are not permitted to pursue off-campus courses until an initial evaluation of their academic progress at the university has been made. Students must comply with current residency requirements. Students who combine university courses with off-campus courses during the regular academic year are subject to university restrictions on semester course loads.

Full-Time Off-Campus Study Abroad

Study Abroad Eligibility

To be eligible for study abroad, students must:

  • Have a cumulative grade point average of 2.500
  • Not have a disciplinary record active during the period of study abroad
  • Maintain full-time status for semester/academic year programs
  • Have completed at least 1 full-time semester at UMass Lowell

Study Abroad Credit Transfer

All students must have their study abroad program approved through The Office of Study Abroad & International Experiences.

All courses taken through an approved study abroad program must be pre-approved first through the Academic Department from which the student is seeking credit as well as their Major Department Chair or Academic Advisor and submitted for final review to the Office of Study Abroad & International Experiences. Study Abroad course preapprovals will then be sent to the Office of the Registrar to grant the student approval for full-time, off-campus study abroad status.

Upon receipt of the Official Transcript, all courses completed on an approved study abroad program will be posted to a student’s UMass Lowell academic record. The final grade earned for each course will be documented on the UMass Lowell academic record but will not be factored into the student’s GPA statistics. Courses with a grade of C- (1.7 on a 4.0 scale) or better may be applied to the University residency requirement, not to exceed one semester of full-time study, maximum of 18 credits.