Graduation and Seniors

It’s not uncommon for students to study abroad in their final year at UNC; however, there are certain things to keep in mind. Review the information below and meet with both your Academic Advisor and Study Abroad Advisor.

Senior Underload

Due to the time required to receive final, official transcripts and all necessary approvals for credit transfer, students who study abroad in the term just prior to their final semester should be aware that their study abroad credits may not be processed by the senior underload deadline. Students should consider how this may impact their plans for underloading and discuss concerns with an academic advisor.

As a reminder, is a student has completed all graduation requirements, they are not permitted to delay their graduation to study abroad. This may have the potential to impact any financial aid being received.

University-wide degree requirements, relevant to those studying abroad:

A minimum of 45 academic credit hours must be earned from UNC-Chapel Hill courses. These may include credits from UNC faculty-led study abroad programs.
- Any other study abroad credits not taught by UNC faculty (receiving study abroad pass/fail grades), are not eligible for this requirement.
At least 24 of the last 30 academic credit hours applied to the degree requirements must be earned in UNC-Chapel Hill courses. UNC Study Abroad programs are excluded from this requirement.
All students, including students transferring from another institution, must take at least half of their major course requirements (courses and credit hours) at UNC-Chapel Hill.
- A student may complete and transfer more than 75 credits but only 75 of those credits will be applied to their degree. If a student is over 75 hours of transfer credit, credits not needed for degree completion will be excluded.
At least nine hours of the minor must be completed at UNC-Chapel Hill and not at other academic institutions. Certain academic units may require that more than nine hours must be completed at the University.
View full list of University-wide degree requirements