Frequently Asked Questions

Approvals of late applications to study off-campus are rare and considered on a case-by-case basis. All late applications are reviewed by the Office of Off-Campus Study and must be approved by the Recording Committee.

The final deadline for late applicants to apply to study off-campus in the spring semester is September 15th, regardless of the program or university’s own deadlines. Students may request access to the late OCS online application by email OCS between September 1-15, after which time the period of consideration of late application closes. Students are responsible for being in contact with the OCS Office and requesting this form.

(Please note that all students planning to study off-campus in the fall or year periods must adhere to the regular application deadline as there will be no late applications considered for these periods).

For Bowdoin, a small, residential liberal arts college with a large participation rate in off-campus study, it is very important to manage a balanced enrollment between the fall and spring semester.

 The on-campus academic program, housing and student activities here on-campus could be undermined if there is a striking imbalance between off-campus semester enrollments. Considering this possibility, the top priority at Bowdoin is the quality of our on-campus academic program.

 Choosing to study in a particular semester is based on several factors including fulfilling academic requirements on-campus, taking advantage of academic offerings off-campus; and the desire to continue significant extra-curricular leadership roles on-campus. The registration of intent due in the fall semester, will require students to select a particular semester (or year) to study off-campus. Following the submission of this form, students will be assigned a semester during which to study off-campus; the Office reserves the right to shift students from one semester to another if there is an imbalance between semesters.