* The Maymester 2009 site is under construction and will be up at the end of June. For now, here are some FAQ's. Thanks!
Click here for a pdf brochure with the 2009 Maymester sites and other info.
2009 Maymester Sites
ACCRA, GHANA
SW 460K Ghana - Community & Social Development
Taught by UT Professor Dr. Dorie J. Gilbert
AKUMAL, MEXICO
MNS 352D - Marine Botany - Mexico
Taught by UT Professor Dr. Kenneth Dunton
CAMBRIDGE, ENGLAND
BME 353 - Transport Phenomena in Living Systems
Taught by UT Professor Dr. Kenneth Diller
CHINA
J349T/J395 - Reporting China: A Foreign Correspondent's Workshop
Taught by UT Professor Tracy Dahlby
LIZARD ISLAND
BIO 337 - Natural History and Field Ecology in Australia
Taught by UT Professor Dr. Mary Poteet
LONDON, ENGLAND
SW460K London - Roots of Social & Economic Justice
Cross-listed as, SW495K, and WGS 440
Taught by UT Clinical Professor Ruth Rubio
MILAN, ITALY
ART 355 - Design in Context: Milan
Taught by UT Professor Kate Catterall
ROME, ITALY
GOV 312L - Popes and Presidents: Catholicism in an American and Global Context
Taught by UT Professor Dr. Sean Theriault
SINGAPORE
ADV 334 - International Advertising
Taught by UT Professor Dr Sejung Choi
SYRACUSE, SICILY
ART 355 - Advanced Italian Cultural Photographic Documentation
Taught by UT Professor Lawrence McFarland
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
AMS 315 - Vienna, Memory and The City
Taught by UT Professor Dr. Steve Hoelscher
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Maymester Abroad?
Who can participate in a Maymester Abroad?
How do I get started? Where can I get more information? How do I apply for a Maymester Abroad?
How do I register for a Maymester?
What is the cost of a Maymester Abroad?
Is there an application fee?
Can I use financial aid to cover costs of a Maymester Abroad?
Do Maymester Abroad courses count for my hours needed for financial aid?
Are scholarships available?
If I am a planning to graduate in May, can I participate in a Maymester Abroad?
If I am a graduating senior, what are my options?
If I participate in a Maymester Abroad course and plan to graduate at the end of the summer session, can I walk in the May graduation ceremony?
Can I arrive at the international location of my Maymester course after the start date of the course?
If I already have credit for a course being offered as a Maymester, can I retake the course?
Can I take a Maymester course on a Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit basis?
How are Maymester Abroad courses recorded on student transcripts?
If I am student teaching during spring semester, can I still register for a Maymester Abroad course?
I am a graduate student. Can I register for an undergraduate Maymester course?
Will I be allowed to apply for a Maymester course in the fall semester if I have not completed the course pre-requisites at the time of registration?
How do I drop a Maymester Abroad course and withdraw from a Maymester Abroad program?
Do I owe money if I withdraw from a Maymester Abroad?
Will dropping a Maymester course affect my spring financial aid package?
Do Maymesters include health insurance?
What is International SOS?
Answers
What is a Maymester Abroad?
Maymester Abroad courses are four and a half week study abroad programs that take place immediately following the spring semester at an international course location. Maymester Abroad courses are intensive three or four credit hour courses taught by UT faculty members for in-residence credit. Maymester Abroad courses are factored into the student’s GPA. Maymester courses are part of spring registration, although they begin after the spring exam period and conclude prior to the second summer session. Maymester Abroad courses and programs are a joint initiative of the Office of the Provost and the Study Abroad Office. Since inception in 2004, thirty-one different Maymester Abroad courses have been offered in Australia, Austria, China, Costa Rica, England, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Morocco, Spain, and other countries.
Who can participate in a Maymester Abroad?
Maymester Abroad courses are open to all UT students who meet course pre-requisites. Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and be in good academic standing to participate.
How do I get started? Where can I get more information? How do I apply for a Maymester Abroad?
Start by attending the Maymester information session for the course(s) or program location(s) that interest you. The schedule of Maymester information sessions can be found in the "Info Sessions" tab on this site. Students must attend a Maymester session to obtain authorization for online application access. If all Maymester information sessions have passed, students may contact the Program Coordinator for the specific Maymester in which they are interested to obtain authorization to apply.
How do I register for a Maymester?
Maymester courses are part of spring registration, although they begin after the spring exam period and conclude prior to the second summer session. Students register for SAB 400, the Maymester Abroad course placeholder, during regular spring 2008 registration. The unique number for SAB 400 is 00185. If accepted into a Maymester, SAO will alter a student’s SAB 400 registration to the specific course number (and UGS 119 seminar, if applicable) in January. Please see individual Maymester Abroad programs on this site for information on which Maymesters require UGS 119 courses.
It is individual students’ responsibility to clear all financial bars prior to registration. Tuition & fee bills must be paid or deferred to financial aid in order for registration to be complete and program participation to be guaranteed.
What is the cost of a Maymester Abroad?
Students pay spring tuition & fees (flat rate tuition applies for undergraduate students), airfare, and a Maymester Abroad program fee. The program fee includes accommodation, some meals, field trips, a Lonely Planet guidebook and international health insurance. Once registered, tuition & fees refunds will be applied according to University policy. Please see individual Maymester Abroad program brochures, or on this site in the "Programs" section for specific program costs.
Is there an application fee?
For undergraduate students, the application fee is included as part of flat rate tuition. Graduate students, however, will need to pay a $50 application fee. This fee will be appear on graduate student’s “What I Owe” page, along with other Maymester program costs.
Can I use financial aid to cover costs of a Maymester Abroad?
Yes. All federal, state and UT institutional aid can be used on SAO approved programs, including Maymester Abroad programs. Spring financial aid packages can be recalculated based on the additional costs of the Maymester Abroad program. Visit http://www.utexas.edu/student/abroad/funding/index.html.
Do Maymester Abroad courses count for my hours needed for financial aid?
Yes. Since Maymester courses are considered spring courses and are included in students’ spring registration, Maymester course hours are included in student flat rate tuition as part of financial aid.
Are scholarships available?
Various scholarships are specifically designated for international study, including the International Education Fee Scholarship and several others. Visit http://www.utexas.edu/student/abroad/funding/index.html to learn more and apply online.
If I am a planning to graduate in May, can I participate in a Maymester Abroad?
Although Maymester Abroad courses are considered spring semester courses, the dates of the courses occur in late-May to late-June, resulting in grades for Maymester Abroad courses not being available until late-June. In order for a student’s degree to be conferred at the end of the spring semester all grades must be posted and certified by the end of the spring semester. For this reason, a student who participates in a Maymester program cannot graduate that May.
If I am a graduating senior, what are my options?
Students should discuss their options with an academic advisor in the department in which they are applying to graduate. In many cases, it is recommended that students apply to graduate at the end of the summer session (August). This would allow a student’s Maymester grade to be posted in late-June and courses to be certified for the degree to be conferred.
If I participate in a Maymester Abroad course and plan to graduate at the end of the summer session, can I walk in the May graduation ceremony?
Students should discuss the possibility of participating in the May graduation ceremony with their academic advisor in their college/department. It is possible that students will be abroad on their Maymester course during the time of their college’s May graduation ceremony.
Can I arrive at the international location of my Maymester course after the start date of the course?
No. Students must attend each class of their four to four-and-a-half week Maymester course to receive credit. Students must attend each class from the beginning to the ending date and all meeting times of the class.
If I already have credit for a course being offered as a Maymester, can I retake the course?
Some UT courses can be retaken for credit when the topic varies. Other courses cannot be retaken if a student has already earned a grade for a specific course. Students should contact Mike Acuña, Academic Advisor in the Office of the Provost, or an academic advisor in their college/department for clarification on whether a specific Maymester course can be retaken for credit.
Can I take a Maymester course on a Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit basis?
No. Maymester courses are offered for a letter grade only.
How are Maymester Abroad courses recorded on student transcripts?
Maymester courses are considered part of the spring semester. Maymester courses are recorded on student transcripts along with all other courses students register for during the spring semester.
If I am student teaching during spring semester, can I still register for a Maymester Abroad course?
Students should discuss their schedule for the spring semester with Mike Acuña, Academic Advisor in the Office of the Provost, or their college advisor to be sure there are not any conflicts with a required UGS 119 course for a specific Maymester.
I am a graduate student. Can I register for an undergraduate Maymester course?
Graduate students should discuss any course selection with their graduate advisor to see if a Maymester course can be used as part of their graduate program.
Will I be allowed to apply for a Maymester course in the fall semester if I have not completed the course pre-requisites at the time of registration?
All Maymester course pre-requisites must be satisfied by the end of the spring semester. Since Maymester courses occur late-May to late-June, completing a pre-requisite course during the spring semester is possible.
How do I drop a Maymester Abroad course and withdraw from a Maymester Abroad program?
To drop a Maymester course and withdraw from an accompanying Maymester program, students, in writing, must notify two offices/departments. To drop a Maymester course, students must notify their college/department academic advisor. To withdraw from a Maymester program, students must notify the Program Coordinator for their specific Maymester program. Since Maymester courses are considered spring semester courses, drop deadlines are consistent with the spring semester UT academic calendar. Students should consult the course schedule for drop deadline dates.
Do I owe money if I withdraw from a Maymester Abroad?
When students apply for a Maymester Abroad Program, they sign the Study Abroad Office Maymester Abroad Financial Responsibility Policy. In signing this policy, students acknowledge that they have read and accept responsibility for the Financial Responsibility Policy and understand that they will be liable, barred and responsible for the amount owed on the Maymester Abroad withdrawal schedule.
Students must withdraw from the Maymester Program on or prior to January 30th (12th class day) to avoid financial penalty. Students who withdraw after January 30th will owe a portion or up to the entire program cost regardless of whether students have or have not paid. Students are liable, barred, and responsible for the payment of the bill posted on the “What I Owe” page.
Will dropping a Maymester course affect my spring financial aid package?
Yes. Students spring financial aid packages have been calculated to include costs associated with the Maymester course. Financial aid awards are recalculated to reflect the dropped Maymester course. Therefore, students are responsible for repaying financial aid funds received for a Maymester course if they drop a Maymester course. Dropping a Maymester course may also affect flat-rate tuition if hours enrolled by a student falls below 12 hours.
Do Maymesters include health insurance?
Yes, all Maymester Abroad courses includes full international health insurance within their program cost. All UT students and faculty participating in a Maymester Abroad program are covered for the duration of the program. Students and faculty should purchase additional international health insurance coverage if traveling beyond the program dates.
What is International SOS?
The UT System has contracted with International SOS to provide all Maymester Abroad students and faculty with medical assistance, medical evacuation and repatriation coverage, security services and outsourced customer care. More information on International SOS, along with a wallet-size card, will be issued to all students and faculty during orientation. Additionally, students and faculty are highly encouraged to enter their flight and passport information on the International SOS website for health and safety reasons. Information on how to do this will be communicated as part of orientation.