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Application Instructions

You will submit your application for Macalester approval to study away through the study away portal, which requires you to choose and apply for approval for a single program. 

You will submit information on the courses you plan to take, your preferred semester, and other details. In addition, you will be asked to respond to questions about your personal goals, learning opportunities available through the program, and your own intentions for engaging with your study away environment. 

If you are submitting a request for a non-approved program, or applying to a program that has limited enrollment, you will be asked to explain your specific reasons for choosing that program.

What Am I Being Asked In the Application?

  • Basic Information

    Certain fields in this system will be locked because the Center for Study Away receives this data from Macalester’s student information system. To change or correct locked information, you can contact the Registrar.

    This section asks for the following information:

    • Name
    • Pronouns
    • Email
    • Student ID
    • Academic information: major(s), minor(s), concentration(s), GPA
  • Eligibility

    This section asks for the following information:

    • Have you attended First Steps and met with an advisor?
    • Do you meet the program’s specific eligibility requirements such as minimum GPA and language level?
    • What are the specific reasons that you are applying for the semester that you selected?

  • Short-Answer Questions

    In this section we ask you to answer 4 short-answer questions using 100 words or less:

    • Learning: what are 2-3 specific things you hope to learn and/or accomplish during your study away experience?
    • Program components: which features of this program (e.g. structure, curriculum, co-curricular activities, location) drew you to choose it for study away, and why are these features important to you?
    • Engagement: in what ways do you expect you will engage with the local community (location, people, institutions, historical context, etc.)? What impact do you imagine your engagement will have on those with whom you interact?
    • Connection to your education: in what specific ways do you anticipate your study away experience will connect to your overall experience as a student at Macalester?
  • Study Away Coursework

    In this section we ask you to think about the courses you might take during study away and how they fit into your overall graduation plan. You will be asked to complete the below PDF document and submit it as part of your application: Study Away Coursework Details
  • Experiential Learning

    If your program requires students to engage in an internship or an independent study research project, or if your program offers these as optional opportunities and you would like to participate, you will be asked to complete an additional essay:

    • If you plan to participate in an internship: with what type of organization do you hope to work? What do you hope to learn through an internship placement? How do you plan to ethically engage with the organization, people, and community with which you work?
    • If you plan to participate in research: what theme or topic do you hope to explore? What research methods do you think will be most effective in conducting your research? What training and experience do you have, or anticipate needing, in order to successfully complete your research? How will you ensure that you conduct your research in an environment that is safe for you and your research subjects and that your topic is culturally appropriate?
  • Limited Enrollment Essay

    If you are applying to a program that has limited enrollment, depending on the number of applicants, the approval process may be competitive. Therefore, you are asked to respond to the following prompts as clearly and specifically as you can in 350 words or less. Your responses will help the Study Away Review Committee (SARC) determine which applications will be approved.
    • How does this program uniquely support what you hope to accomplish through your study away experience (be specific)?
    • What other programs, including your alternate, did you consider from the approved programs list? In what ways is the program you are applying to a better fit than other programs you considered? 
    • Please elaborate on any other information you would like SARC to consider in reviewing your application.
  • Non-Approved Program Essay

    If you are applying to a program that is not on Macalester’s approved programs list, you are asked to respond to the following prompts as clearly and specifically as you can in 350 words or less. Your responses will help the Study Away Review Committee (SARC) determine which applications will be approved.
    • How does this program uniquely support what you hope to accomplish through your study away experience (be specific)?
    • What other programs, including your alternate, did you consider from the approved programs list? In what ways is the program you are applying to a better fit than other programs you considered? 
    • Please elaborate on any other information you would like SARC to consider in reviewing your application.

How do I start an application?

After you have completed the advising process, taken time to explore all of our approved programs, talked with peers, faculty, and family, and decided on a program, follow the below steps to start your application.

Click “Apply”

On the “Program Overview” tab of the brochure, you will see a button prompting you to apply.

Select Program Term

You will see all terms for which this program is available; choose either fall or spring and then click “Start Application.”