1. Where do I start if I want to study abroad at a Champlain Abroad campus?
Contact the Director of Champlain Abroad Recruiting, Dr. Lynda Reid at reid@champlain.edu, or at 802-860-2742 to discuss your program needs and Champlain Abroad opportunities. Visit the Champlain Abroad website overviews on our campuses in Montréal, Canada and Dublin, Ireland. Champlain Abroad Application packages are available online for all Champlain College students.

2. Who can study abroad at a Champlain Abroad campus?
Students in all majors can go abroad in their junior year but courses within your major may be limited or not available at the location or in semester you chose to study abroad. Students applying for a Champlain Abroad program must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.67, not be on disciplinary probation or have a serious disciplinary record.

3. When can I study abroad at a Champlain Abroad campus?
The Champlain curriculum has been especially structured to support students going abroad in their junior year. The courses offered at our Champlain Abroad campuses are Champlain courses so they fit seamlessly into most programs’ course of study. It is best to begin your discussion of study abroad with your academic advisor as early as possible to ensure your courses are taken in a timely and effective sequence.

4. Where are the Champlain Abroad campuses
The first Champlain Abroad campus opened in Montréal, Canada Fall 2007 and our second campus will open in Dublin, Ireland Fall 2008. Both sites have been selected for the professional and personal opportunities they provide for our students.

5. How long can I study abroad at a Champlain Abroad campus?
Most students study abroad for one semester but since Champlain students have the benefit of taking all Champlain courses at the Champlain Abroad campuses, some students can study abroad for an entire year. Some students can even arrange their schedules to study one semester in Montréal and one semester in Dublin. Other students have even planned ahead and were able to create a study abroad experience at a Champlain Abroad campus and a semester at an Exchange or Third Party Program.

6. Is there a process to transfer Champlain Abroad credits transfer into my Champlain program?
All courses taken at a Champlain Abroad campus are Champlain courses and therefore you have no transfer credit issues.

7. How expensive is study abroad?
Studying at a Champlain Abroad campus will cost the same tuition and room fees as studying in Burlington. Your extra costs will involve transportation, food, program fees, books, travel document fees, travel expenses, etc., and will vary greatly person to person depending on how much you have saved and where and how you chose to spend your funds. Getting a paying job is not always an option and many students have found that the freedom of not working has allowed them the time to truly immerse and experience the culture.

8. Is there financial assistance for a Champlain Abroad semester?
All your current financial aid will follow you on you Champlain Abroad semester. Upon approval to the program you will be given forms to complete and take to the Financial Aid Office. Be sure to look into the outside study abroad scholarship opportunities as well.

9. How do I stay in contact with friends, family and Champlain College when I am studying at a Champlain Abroad campus?
Email will be the main way you will communicate with friends, family, Champlain College faculty, departments, and the Office of International Programs. Champlain College MyMail is the official email recognized for Champlain students on study abroad. The Office of International Programs and other departments send important information regarding course registration and housing via MyMail. During study abroad you can access your MyMail through a web browser at the following address: https://my.champlain.edu/portal/main.html

Skype is a free program that allows you to talk for free to other friends and family who have also downloaded the program. This can be voice only or “face-to-face” if both people have web cams. For more information go to www.skype.com.

Cell phones from home are not always an option and, if they are, may be exceedingly expensive. If you have a cell phone that allows you to replace the SIM card you could purpose a card with a local provider. You may also find that there are other cell phone options available that are not offered in the United States.

10. Are internships available at Champlain Abroad locations?
Internships are under development in Montréal. Please check with your Dean and Program Director on the status of internships in your major. Please note that many internships in Montréal, with the exception of video game companies and a few others, require competency in French. Currently there are no internships opportunities in Dublin.

11. How do I find the right Champlain Abroad site for me?
Consider the opportunities and experiences that each site offers. Speak to Champlain students who are, have been, or will be at a Champlain Abroad campus. Think about your academic needs, course of study, and personal interests as you consider the possibilities. Research the countries and cities, and talk to your advisor about how each Champlain Abroad campus fits into your program needs. Contact the Director of Champlain Abroad Recruiting, Dr. Lynda Reid, for more information on the Champlain Abroad campuses, the student experiences, and what will work best for you, your program and your personal needs.

12. Do you need to be fluent in a foreign language to study at a Champlain Abroad campus?
Classes at all Champlain Abroad campuses are taught in English. Students attending Montréal campus have the opportunity to learn French and/or expand on their French skills and abilities in the Conversational French class that is offered in both semesters. Students interested in internships may find that without competency in French (written and oral) an internship is not possible in Montréal. All students will find that the more you try to speak the language in everyday situations, the more you will be accepted and the more you will learn about yourself and others.

13. What housing options are offered at a Champlain Abroad campus?
Apartment-style student housing is provided at the Champlain Abroad campus in Montréal. Each unit of three, four or eight rooms has a fully-furnished kitchen. The apartment-style accommodation allows you to maximize your interactions with other students and locals. Accommodation in Dublin is in two- and three-bed units with a common dining facility. Although the housing in Dublin has a sharing dining room with two meals provided during the week, students will still have ample opportunities for grocery shopping and eating out—one of the first cultural immersion necessities. The more you reach out to others, ask questions and try new things, the richer your experience will be.

14. Are there any safety considerations at a Champlain Abroad site?
Personal safety is an issue wherever you are. The best defense is planning ahead and making thoughtful choices. Pre-departure orientation and your in-country orientation at your Champlain Abroad location will cover the specific issues related to your safety during your Champlain Abroad experience. Additionally you will want to go to the U.S. Department of State’s website on international travel and check out their tips for studying abroad and the country specific/consular sheets http://travel.state.gov/index.html.

15. Are there any health considerations at a Champlain Abroad site?
Study abroad is an enriching and exciting experience, but changes in culture, food, language, and academic expectations can also be challenging. Those challenges can create or exacerbate both mental stress and physical symptoms. It is crucial to plan ahead to safeguard your health while traveling, and to be prepared for the stresses of adapting to a new situation.

If you have special needs (on-going medical condition, counseling, a learning or physical disability), discussing them with your doctor, your counselor, and/or your advisors are essential steps in your study abroad planning process.

Due to the location of the Champlain Abroad Programs some situations may be prohibitively limiting to students with special physical and medical needs. If you are on any type of prescriptions you need realize that filling them in another country may not be an option. It is essential that you find out what airline and country requirements are for transporting your medications. For air travel in the United States you will need to follow TSA regulations but other countries may have different requirements. Regulations may vary from place to place but quite often prescriptions must be carried on with you in their original prescription containers and you must carry a doctor’s note with you explaining your need for the prescriptions. Please discuss your needs and/or concerns with the Director of Champlain Abroad Recruiting or Champlain College Study Abroad Coordinator to select a program that is best for you.

Champlain College requires all students participating in a Champlain Abroad Program to purchase the Champlain College Plan B health coverage.

16. What are the deadlines for applying for Champlain Abroad?
Deadlines for all Champlain Abroad programs are:
March 15 for fall semester or academic year.
October 15 for spring semester.
Application packages are available here as a PDF document.

17. What kind of insurance do I need?
All Champlain Abroad students will be required to purchase the Champlain College Plan B coverage.

For More Information
To find out more about Champlain Abroad Programs, please contact the Director of Champlain Abroad Recruiting, Dr. Lynda Reid, email: reid@champlain.edu or by phone: (802) 8600-2742.
View the Champlain Abroad Application checklist.
Read our Steps for Champlain Abroad.
For more information on Exchange and 3rd Party Programs, please click here.