Advising

Whether you are just starting to consider a global experience or already have a program in mind, the CGIS advising team is here to help! Explore the different ways we can provide advising assistance below:

Read Me First!

How do I get started?
Explore our "Getting Started" page to familiarize yourself with the study abroad and internship abroad process before scheduling an appointment. There you can also find our First Step video where we review how to search for a program, get approval from departments, financial aid, and more!

Who should I meet with?
If you have basic questions about the application process or don't know where to start, meet with a CGIS Peer Advisor! They can help you during walk-in hours or offer one-on-one First Step sessions (email [email protected] to request). If you know which program you're interested in and have program-specific questions, meet with the CGIS Advisor for that program.

Who is the CGIS Advisor for each program? Where do I find CGIS Advisor portfolios?
Advisor portfolios are available on the CGIS Staff Page. When scheduling an appointment, click on the program/country you're interested in and our system will select the appropriate advisor.

Should I set up an appointment or email my advisor?
If you are just getting started or have many questions, an appointment is better. Appointments are 20-30 minute time slots. However, if you only have a few questions, consider sending an email. Advisor's emails are available on the staff page linked above.

Should I schedule a "General Appointment" or choose a country/topic?
Schedule a "General Appointment" for an overview of the experience abroad process, including the timeline, financial aid, and application processes. If you have specific program questions, you will need to select the country/topic to meet with the appropriate advisor when scheduling.

How can I find out which requirements I can fulfill abroad?
Find recommended programs and even pre-approved courses for many different studies on our Major/Minor Advising Pages (MAPs). Consult your LSA major/minor advisors to learn which requirements you can fulfill abroad. For more information about major/minor credit, distribution credit, and earning credit as a non-LSA student, please view our flowchart.

If I am interested in a non-CGIS program, who should I talk to?
CGIS does not offer advising for students going abroad independently. You can find resources by clicking the "International Center" button at the bottom of the page. Students who go abroad independently transfer in their credit and may not have access to all their aid and scholarships.

Peer Advising & E-Advisors

Peer Advising Drop In Hours:
Available during the semester.
To speak to our PAs during the summer, please inquire at [email protected].

Visit the CGIS office during our drop in hours to chat with a Peer Advisor.

Peer Advisors can answer questions about:

Application process
How to find the right program for you
Their personal experience
Budgeting abroad
Purchasing flights
and more!

Peer Advisors can also provide one-on-one First Step sessions with students - email [email protected] to request a meeting.

E-Advisors
Want to chat with an alumni of the program you're interested in? Reach out to [email protected] with the subject line "E-Advisor Request" to see if your program has an e-advisor!

Getting Credit Abroad

LSA students receive Michigan in-residence credit—not transfer credit—for participating in CGIS programs. Credits appear on your academic record and count towards your U-M degree. Grades received abroad will be factored into your U-M GPA in accordance with LSA policies.

Students are highly encouraged to meet with their academic advisors to determine whether specific courses can count towards distribution and/or major/minor requirements prior to the program's start. CGIS Advisors cannot make these determinations.

For distribution requirements: Speak with your general advisor (Newnan, CSP, Honors, RC)
For major or minor requirements: Meet with your major or minor departmental advisor
Some departments maintain a list of pre-approved coursework on our Major/Minor Advising Pages (MAPs).

Students can elect to take non-major/minor courses as pass/fail. Instructions on how to do so are provided on M-Compass through learning content available at the start of one’s program. Courses used to fulfill LSA's Language Requirement (e.g. Spanish 230 or 232) must be taken for a grade, not pass/fail. More about pass/fail can be found on our Policies page.

Non-LSA students should contact their home school or college concerning the applicability of LSA courses, as well as policies relating to transfer vs. in-residence credits and grades.

Program-Specific FAQ Guides

Our Program-Specific FAQs are a great resource to find answers to common questions for specific abroad programs. Please continue to check back for more FAQs, and watch for updates to the content of these guides.

Note: Details shared in each FAQ only relate to the programs specified, and should not be assumed to apply for other programs not listed. If you have any questions about which program a FAQ applies to, please contact us at [email protected].

Different Factors to Consider:

We encourage you to consider what's most important to you when choosing a program. Identifying these key objectives not only helps you identify the program that is best for you, but also can help you create SMART (Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound) goals to make the most of your experience abroad!

Ready to Meet an Advisor?

Now that you've read through the "Read Me First!" section and you've determined that you're ready to meet with an Intercultural Programs Advisor, please use the link below. Please utilize the country and region catagories to the best of your ability. If you're still not sure, schedule a general appointment and explain what you hope to discuss.