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Study Abroad Student Guide – Academics

Academics

It is important that you discuss your plans to study or intern abroad or virtually with your academic advisor to be sure you remain on track with your academic plan. Check with your major and college advisors for academic policies related to your intended program (pass/no pass classes, unit cap, major/minor requirements, graduation requirements, etc.).

All UC Davis Quarter Abroad, Summer Abroad, Summer Abroad Internships, and Virtual Summer Internships programs offer UC Davis courses and units. The courses offered on these programs are listed in the “Courses” section of the program’s webpage. In this same section is a draft course syllabus, which includes the grading criteria for each class. A final course syllabus will be emailed and/or uploaded to the course Canvas site for students enrolled in the program. Please keep in mind that some courses offer Pass/No Pass (P/NP) grading only and are noted as such on the program’s webpage.

Course Prerequisites

You are responsible for checking course prerequisites. Enforced course prerequisites are listed on the program’s webpage under “Courses.” The program instructor may waive the prerequisites for you if you can demonstrate that your preparation is equivalent to that specified by the prerequisites. If you have questions about your preparation for the course, please email the program instructor.

Course Registration

UC Davis Summer Abroad, Summer Abroad Internships, Virtual Summer Internships

The Course Registration Numbers (CRNs) for the courses you will take on your program will be in your UC Davis Study Abroad account prior to registration for Summer Special Session. You will register for your program’s courses through Schedule Builder.

UC Davis Quarter Abroad

You must register only for the courses that are offered on the Quarter Abroad program. The CRNs for these courses will be sent to your program listserv prior to UC Davis Pass 1 registration times. You will register for your program’s courses through Schedule Builder during your regularly scheduled pass time in the quarter prior to departure.

Quarter Abroad students registering for the following academic quarter while abroad will register as normal via Schedule Builder. Check in with your major advisor before your Quarter Abroad program to plan a schedule for the quarter after you return home. Make sure that your responsibilities are clear to avoid any confusion once abroad.

Grades

Grades from your program become part of your academic record at UC Davis and appear on your official transcript. All grades reported to the UC Davis Office of the University Registrar are considered permanent and final.

For UC Davis Quarter Abroad programs, the program instructor is the official UC faculty of record at the host institution. The program instructor is responsible for translating grades given in the program and awarding appropriate UC Davis grades. Therefore, the grade given by host institution faculty may not be the final UC Davis grade.

A grade may not be changed except to correct a clerical or procedural error. No grade may be revised by re-examination or by completing additional work.

A student who believes that non-academic criteria have been used in determining a grade may have grounds for appeal. Non-academic criteria mean criteria not directly reflective of academic performance and includes discrimination on political grounds, or for reasons of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, or nationality. For further assistance speak with your program instructor.

Grading Explanations
  • UC Davis Quarter Abroad - Pass/No Pass (P/NP): UC Davis policies for taking courses P/NP apply to UC Davis Quarter Abroad and differ from major to major and between colleges. It is your responsibility to check with your major advisor and college regarding P/NP policies.
  • All UC Davis Summer Programs - Pass/No Pass (P/NP): You may change the grading option for the core course from a letter grade to P/NP in Schedule Builder by the halfway date of your program (e.g., by the end of the 15th day of a 30-day program). UC Davis Study Abroad will NOT accept late requests to change the graded course to P/NP beyond the deadline above, as the change must be made in Schedule Builder by that date. Keep in mind that choosing P/NP for the core course may prevent you from receiving major, minor or GE credit for your work. If you change the graded course to P/NP, please let your program instructor know. Email summerabroad@ucdavis.edu if you have any questions about the deadline for changing a graded course to P/NP.
  • Incomplete (I): Incomplete grades are possible only in extreme circumstances and only with the approval of the program instructor.
  • No Grade (NG): A No Grade at the time of final grades will be changed to an “F” grade [or NP (No Pass) or U (Unsatisfactory) as appropriate] one year after the end of the academic term in which the course was taken.
  • Plus/Minus Grades: Plus/Minus grades may be reported for coursework completed on your program.
Viewing Your Grades

You can view your grades through MyUCDavis. For summer programs, your grades may not be available until mid-September or October. If you need to know your grade before then, please contact your program instructor. UC Davis Study Abroad cannot tell you your grades.

Non-UC Davis students: You will need your UC Davis student ID number (available via your Study Abroad account) to log into MyUCDavis and view your grades.

Transcripts and Transferring Grades/Units

UC Davis Students

You do not need to request transcripts. Courses taken in UC Davis Quarter Abroad, Summer Abroad, Summer Abroad Internships, and Virtual Summer Internships are UC Davis courses; grades and units are applied directly to your transcript.

UC Students 

You do not need to request transcripts. Summer Abroad, Summer Abroad Internships and Virtual Summer Internships courses are UC-transferable and will automatically transfer to your home campus’ transcript. Additional transcripts can be ordered through the UC Davis Office of the University Registrar's Official Academic Transcript webpage.

  • UC Davis Summer Abroad, Summer Abroad Internships, Virtual Summer Internships: Courses, grades, and units are added to your home campus transcript typically in the fall.
Non-UC Students 

You must request a transcript from the UC Davis Office of the University Registrar’s Official Academic Transcript webpage after completing a program and once your grades are posted. Courses, grades, and units are NOT transferred to your home institution automatically.