Students wishing to study internationally over the summer via a study abroad or off-campus study program must first consult with the IPO director at Reed. While summer study abroad programs provide the opportunity to earn credit, they are not Reed College-approved programs and therefore require special approval.
Per college policy, courses taken while participating independently in a study abroad or off-campus study program over the summer are only eligible for transfer with pre-approval from Reed College.
The IPO director will assist students in securing pre-approval from Reed for summer study abroad or off-campus study. The director will also complete program-specific nomination forms for students who meet the program’s eligibility requirements and have support from their Reed academic adviser. Students studying Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Russian, or Spanish at Reed are advised to select a summer language acquisition from Reed’s list of existing OCS program partners, as this will expedite the program evaluation and approval process.
If approved by Reed to participate in a summer study abroad or off-campus study program, students will participate in the program independently of Reed College, but must submit the IPO application form. Such students will be assessed the administrative study abroad fee of $500 (2026—2027) by Reed but are responsible for submitting all program-specific application materials and fees to the provider or institution. The IPO maintains a list of scholarships for studying internationally over the summer via a study abroad or off-campus study program.
Students approved for a summer study abroad or off-campus study program must submit the Off-Campus Study Course Approval Form in advance of the program and for each course to be evaluated for transfer to Reed. The registrar’s office will evaluate courses for transferability, credit conversion, and application toward group and division requirements. If you wish the course to apply toward major or minor requirements, indicate that on the form and the Registrar’s Office will seek evaluation/approval from the appropriate department/committee on your behalf. The Registrar’s Office will notify you of how the course has been articulated to transfer to Reed. If you need to change your course selections once on-site, you must submit the OCS Course Approval Form for the new course(s). IMPORTANT: Failure to submit a form for each OCS course may prevent a course from transferring or counting toward requirements.
Students who enroll directly at an international institution (NOT a study abroad or off-campus study program) over the summer must submit the Request for Transfer Credit form in advance of registering for the courses. Failure to submit this form may prevent the coursework from transferring to Reed or counting toward requirements. If you are not sure whether you are enrolling directly at an international institution or studying internationally via a study abroad or off-campus study program, consult with the director of the international programs office.