FAQ - CET Academic Programs

Application & Admission FAQs

Who should my recommendations be from?

The type and quantity of required recommendations vary. Check your application in CET Compass to see which you are required to submit.

Academic Recommendation: If your GPA is under CET’s recommended 3.0, you’ll see an Academic
Recommendation in your application. Follow the instructions in your application to send a recommendation request to one of your previous instructors.

Language Recommendation: Some CET program applications require a recommendation from a target-language instructor. This information helps us place you in the right language course abroad, and helps us to verify your eligibility (if you’re applying to a program with a language pre-requisite). Send this recommendation request to the instructor or professor who has most recently taught you in the target language.

Study Abroad Office Approval: This is an online form that your study abroad office completes to let us know you meet the requirements to study abroad. To send the electronic form request, select your study abroad advisor from the drop-down menu.

If any of the required recommendations are difficult to obtain, please  contact us. We’re happy to work with you according to your circumstances.

Are unofficial transcripts acceptable?

CET does not accept progress audits or grade reports uploaded by students. Instead, you may upload a scanned PDF of your official transcript or request an e-transcript from your university or school. A hard copy version of the official transcript in a sealed, signed envelope may also be mailed to CET (see the instructions in your application).

Can I apply even if I don’t have a passport yet?

Yes… but if you don’t have a valid passport, you should apply for one now! We encourage you to begin the passport application process as soon as possible to avoid delays that could impact your participation on the program. For many CET programs, a passport is required by the application deadline due to visa application timelines.

Can I attend more than one term…or more than one program?

Of course! The more time you spend overseas, the more you get out of it. So we encourage students to consider studying abroad for more than one term. This option is available for all of our programs and locations, and we provide  a discount on the tuition for any additional term(s).

If you know that you are interested in attending multiple terms or multiple programs, please indicate that on your application. But you don’t have to make the decision now! Once you’re overseas, if you decide that you’d like to continue for an additional term, talk to your Student Services Coordinator. You simply need to adhere to all regular deadlines for new students.

Am I eligible as a foreign, graduate, or non-traditional student?

CET study abroad programs are generally designed for undergraduates, but we have had all kinds of students attend our programs in the past. Your eligibility depends on the program you have selected and your specific circumstances. Please contact CET, and we’d happy to help you determine if a CET program is right for you.

Do I need a visa to study abroad? Will CET help me get one?

Details about how to apply for your visa are in your application. No student is guaranteed a visa. CET does not grant visas. Only the government of the country where you are studying has the authority to grant a visa. Students who follow the guidelines provided by CET usually have success with the visa process.

If your destination requires a visa, you can count on our assistance. We provide you all the documentation and information you’ll need to get the visa on your own and will help answer questions as they arise. No matter your particular requirements, we will be there to help every step of the way, but it is your responsibility to ensure you follow directions and timelines carefully in order to avoid obstacles to your participation in your CET program.

I have a medical condition/disability. How can I plan to study abroad with CET?

Each year, CET students reflect a wide range of backgrounds, including students with disabilities. We encourage people with disabilities to apply to CET programs and we do not discriminate based on disability.

Information on accessibility  is available for most of our programs. Included are descriptions of what the student experience at each program or site is like—the number of class sitting hours/day, how much walking is required on a daily basis, whether stair climbing is required, etc. You may wish to review this information as you make decisions about study abroad programs. You are also welcome to  contact CET to discuss program options and specific accommodations.

I’ve applied. When do I hear back?

When each item in your application has been checked off, congratulations, your application is complete! You’re welcome to complete your application in advance, and we continue accepting applications until each program’s application deadline. For most programs, you will be emailed an admissions decision within 2 weeks of receipt of your completed application.

Applying for Fall? We’ll review your application after February 1
Applying for Janterm or Spring? We’ll review your application after August 15
Applying for Summer? We’ll review your application after January 1

A few of our programs work a bit differently:

CET Film Production at FAMU. The application process for these programs involves additional review by the CET Prague at FAMU Faculty Advisory Committee.  All applications and portfolios will be reviewed immediately after the application deadlines. You will be emailed an admissions decision approximately 2 to 3 weeks after the application deadline. 

CET Japan: Summer. The summer program at CET Japan typically has more applicants than spots available. All applications for CET Japan: Summer will be reviewed after the application deadline. You will be emailed an admissions decision approximately 2 weeks after the deadline.

As a transfer student, how many transcripts do I need to submit?

Start by submitting a transcript from your current college or university. At your previous school, did you take any courses that are relevant to the study abroad program you’ve selected? If yes, please submit any transcripts from your previous school(s) that reflect that coursework.

Scholarships

Does CET offer scholarships?

Yes! Each year, CET awards over $400,000 in scholarship funding to students studying on CET programs. A variety of need- and merit-based awards are available. Learn more about our scholarship offerings.

Even with a scholarship, I might not have enough funding to study abroad. Where else can I look?

Talk with someone in your institution’s study abroad office. The study abroad office may have advice about how to transfer financial aid to a study abroad program. Your advisor might also be able to point you to other sources of study abroad funding.

Determine when you can best afford to study abroad. As a college student, you have many options for when to study abroad. Even though summer programs tend to have a lower overall price than semester programs, studying abroad for a semester may be more economically viable if you are carrying over financial aid from your school. On the other hand, a rigorous summer program may allow you to graduate early, saving the costs of an additional semester.

Understand what is and what is not included in the program’s cost. Housing, airfare, supplemental excursions, textbooks, and visa expenses can all add quite a bit to a program’s bottom line. When you’re evaluating options, make sure you are comparing apples to apples. A program that includes a lot of extras may look expensive but might actually be the most affordable option once out-of-pocket costs have been factored in to the fees of other programs.

Be creative with filling in the funding gaps. Try to squeeze in an extra job during breaks. Ask for luggage for your birthday or an upcoming holiday. Take a close look at your current budget to see if there are extraneous expenses you can cut down on. For every latte you forgo now, imagine yourself trekking along the Great Wall of China, seeing the works of Italian Renaissance masters, or listening to live samba music in Brazil.

Payments and Finances

What part of CET tuition is reportable for taxes?

As a third party program provider, CET does not have a Department of Education (DOE) code. This means that we cannot issue 1098-T forms since we are not considered an eligible educational institution for tax purposes. If your home institution’s practice is that you pay the tuition fee to your college or university (while the institution is invoiced by CET), you should receive a 1098-T from your college or university, and that tuition may be reportable.

How do I get my school’s financial aid to pay for the program?

If you pay CET directly for your program fees and will be using your school’s financial aid form to pay tuition, please ask your financial aid office to complete the Financial Aid Disbursement Form that you’ll find in your online account after you’ve been accepted.

Can I use a 529 or other state payment plan to pay CET?

As a third party program provider, CET does not have a Department of Education (DOE) code. This means that in most cases, you will not be able to use your 529 plan directly towards CET tuition.

However, we encourage you to speak to your 529 provider about specific requirements and any flexibility there may be. For example, if your home institution’s practice is that you pay the tuition fee to your college or university (while the institution is invoiced by CET), it may be that your 529 can apply.

If your school’s practice is that you to pay the tuition fee to CET directly, it’s important for you to know that your invoice will come from CET Academic Programs and not CET’s overseas host institution. Which means that even if the overseas host institution has a DOE code, you will need to confirm that 529 funds can be used to pay your CET invoice.

Does CET offer a payment plan? Can I pay in installments?

We do not offer an official payment or installment plan. However, you may complete the Financial Aid Disbursement Form in your online account if your Financial Aid is disbursed after the tuition deadline. And if you are still having difficulties paying the tuition in full by deadline, please contact us. We may be able to help.