William & Mary Student Exchange Programs: An In-Depth Guide

William & Mary (W&M) offers a diverse range of student exchange programs, providing invaluable opportunities for students to broaden their academic horizons and immerse themselves in different cultures. These programs allow W&M students to study at partner universities around the world, while also welcoming international students to the W&M campus. This article provides a comprehensive overview of W&M's student exchange programs, covering various aspects such as partner institutions, application procedures, academic considerations, and logistical details.

Overview of Exchange Programs

W&M has established exchange agreements with a network of international universities. Currently, W&M has exchange agreements with 15 international universities. These agreements facilitate the reciprocal exchange of students, where W&M students can study abroad and students from partner institutions can study at W&M for a semester or an academic year.

Reciprocal Agreements and Availability

Due to the reciprocal nature of these agreements, maintaining a balance of incoming and outgoing students is crucial. As a result, exchange opportunities are not always guaranteed, especially when planning to study abroad more than a semester in advance. W&M encourages students to have alternative programs in mind as a backup plan.

Restrictions on Enrollment

W&M students are only permitted to study abroad at one of the university's exchange partner institutions via the exchange or assisted enrollment (St Andrews and Reunion Island) during the academic year (fall and/or spring terms). Students are not allowed to enroll directly or through a third-party program at any of W&M's current exchange partners.

Application Process

Participating in a W&M student exchange program involves a multi-step application process.

Nomination

Students must first meet the academic criteria set by W&M. They must then be nominated by their home university, which must be one of William & Mary’s partnership universities, to participate in the exchange program.

Online Application

Once the nominations are received, an account will be created in the Global Education Office’s online application system. Students will then need to complete the online application.

Important Information for Exchange Students at W&M

Incoming exchange students at W&M need to be aware of several important procedures and requirements.

Immigration

Exchange students will need to apply for a J-1 visa. In order to receive the necessary paperwork to apply for the J-1 visa, you will need to complete the iStart application. Once the program has ended, exchange students have a 30-day grace period from the date listed in section 3 of the DS-2019.

W&M Account Activation

Exchange students will need to activate their W&M accounts. In your admissions offer, you should receive information on activating your W&M Username account. It is very important that you activate this account as soon as you receive instructions, as you will not be able to log in and register for classes without it.

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Course Registration

In order to register for classes, you must activate your W&M Username. The Global Education Office will request registration permissions from professors so that exchange students can register for classes themselves.

On-Campus Housing

Exchange students are required to live on campus. Complete the online housing application as soon as possible. You will automatically be assigned on-campus housing typically in a shared room.

Meal Plan

William & Mary requires all students who live on campus-owned and managed properties to purchase a meal plan. Options vary depending on a student’s social class and living location. You must select a meal plan by the first day of classes or one will be automatically chosen for you.

Health Form

The Online Health Form provides the Student Health Center with a medical history and official immunization record for each student.

Tuition and Fees

As a visiting exchange student, you will not be billed for W&M’s standard tuition; rather, you will continue to pay your home university’s tuition.

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Student Accounts and Bills

Your exchange student fee, health insurance, housing, room deposit, and meal plan will appear on your student account. You can pay these before you arrive. The meal plan will be charged once you have selected the option that best fits your needs.

Payment Options

There are several ways you can pay your fees, including W&M Flywire, which typically allows you to pay in your home currency. During Orientation, you will be given information about opening a bank account with a local bank.

Orientations

As a new student joining our undergraduate student body, you will participate in both International Student Orientation as well as New Student Orientation.

Student ID Cards

Exchange students must pay for their student ID card and should obtain it upon arrival. Students will need a student ID card to access their dorm room, the dining hall, the gym, and most offices on campus. The Tribe Card Services office is located in the Campus Center.

Technology

All students at William & Mary, including visiting exchange students, are required to have a personal laptop computer. If you do not plan to bring your own, you may purchase one through William & Mary.

Financial Considerations

Tuition and Fees for W&M Students

W&M students participating in exchange programs pay their usual W&M tuition and fees, in addition to the study abroad fee and CISI insurance.

Study Abroad Options

W&M offers a variety of study abroad options, including semester-long programs, third-party programs, and sponsored semester programs. Each year approximately one-third of W&M students who study abroad do so on a semester length program. These programs allow students the opportunity to deepen their relationship to their host cultures and allow for a greater length of time to develop intercultural skills and independence.

Semester Length Programs

W&M supports these programs by offering a variety of options for students through both W&M and various Third Party programs. Students have every opportunity to explore their academic interests with support from the Global Education Office.

Third Party Programs

Many students opt to go on a Third Party program for their semester abroad. Typically W&M sends about 70% of students on these types of study abroad experiences for a semester. These programs are often popular with students looking for a thematic academic experience abroad, our out-of-state students, or for those looking to study in locations where W&M does not currently offer direct programming. These types of programs cover a vast array of experiences and types. Some offer direct enrollment at a foreign university, whereas others facilitate experiences specifically for students coming from US institutions to study language and culture and offer high levels of support. While these programs offer a wide variety of types, students can still expect support from the GEO insuring that their credits can transfer back to W&M, and pre-departure orientations to help them prepare for their overseas experience.

Specific Exchange Programs

W&M offers specific exchange programs in various regions, including Asia and the Middle East.

Asia

Beijing, China

During this 6-week program, students attend classes at Beijing Normal University in Beijing, China. They will earn 11 credit hours by taking courses in Chinese language, literature, and culture, with an option to study martial arts. The program also includes a study tour of rural and urban China. One year of college-level Mandarin is a prerequisite.

Goa, India

Goa is a former Portuguese colony, with a rich colonial history that is reflected in the architecture and culture of the region. Indian faculty and W&M faculty will teach courses in the program.

Japan: Akita International University

Akita is a four-year, liberal arts institution in Akita prefecture, Japan. Founded in 2004, it has earned a national and international reputation for its hands-on instruction, globally-minded curriculum, and the scenic beauty of the main campus, located in the middle of an exquisite cedar forest - an Akita speciality. W&M students may apply to study at AIU for a semester or a full year. The tuition exchange agreement between the William & Mary and Akita International University allows W&M students to pay their regular tuition and fees to W&M while taking classes at Akita.

Japan: Keio University

The tuition exchange agreement between the William & Mary and Keio University allows students to pay their regular tuition and fees to William & Mary while taking classes at Keio in Tokyo, Japan. Keio University is Japan’s oldest institution of higher education and is founded on the principle of academic excellence. Students can study for either the academic year or Spring semester, enrolling in either the Japanese Language Program (JLP), which focuses on an intensive study of Japanese language, or the Keio International Program (KIP), which is mostly taught in English and has a concentration in area studies. Keio does require completion of at least one year of Japanese language study at university level or the equivalent. Students stay in dormitories.

Singapore: National University

A diverse range of courses is offered at the University through its many faculties, including Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science, Arts, and Social Sciences.

China: Tsinghua University

W&M students attending Tsinghua may focus on Chinese language and culture studies and may choose from a limited list of content courses taught in English. The tuition exchange agreement between William & Mary and Tsinghua University allows W&M students to pay their regular tuition and fees to W&M while taking at Tsinghua. Students live in dormitories.

Law School Exchange Programs

For law students, W&M offers exchange opportunities at select host institutions. These opportunities are subject to seat availability at the host institution in any given semester.

Eligibility and Requirements

Up to two William & Mary students may be nominated each year for each institution. Courses are taught in English, though if you are fluent in the host school language, you may take courses taught in that language. Students must earn an equivalent grade of "C" or better, from the exchange program school, for credits to transfer to the William & Mary law degree. Credits earned in the semester abroad program will be entered to your W&M transcript as pass-fail credits and therefore are subject to the 25% limitation on ungraded academic credits allowed towards your degree.

Students must have earned at least 48 standard letter-graded credits by the end of the second year in order to be considered and approved to participate in a third year fall semester exchange program.

Application Process for Law Students

Applications (PDF) are accepted January 1 through February 1 in your 2L year and, if nominated and accepted, you would study abroad during the fall semester of your 3L year. Incomplete or late applications cannot be accepted. A course plan for the academic year during which you intend to spend a semester abroad must be approved in advance by the Vice Dean and the Assistant Dean for Academic Services & Law Registrar. Each host institution has its own timetable and deadlines for acceptance and registration. If a William & Mary student nominated for exchange has not yet received an official acceptance letter from the host institution, that student should register for William & Mary courses for the fall semester of 3L year.

Post-Study Abroad Evaluation for Law Students

After a Study Abroad experience, students are required to complete a program evaluation. Evaluation feedback assists the Law School with identification of program strengths and weaknesses, and offers the opportunity to enhance future programming. The student program evaluation will be administered through a printed evaluation questionnaire, and will capture information on pre-departure advising, host orientation, living accommodations, healthcare, curriculum, academic environment and quality. The evaluation will be completed within 30 days of a student's return from a study abroad experience and will be turned in to the International Programs Office.

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