For this reason, most of our programs, especially in Western Europe, require that participants have an adequate command of the language of the host country. A number of programs in Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe, however, are designed to facilitate language acquisition and area studies. The overseas experience is a natural continuation of the undergraduate degree program since many upper-division requirements as well as electives may be taken at the overseas universities. Grades earned, including those for which no credit is awarded, are posted on the student's transcript as reported by the program faculty, but are not included in the student's Quality Point Index. Courses taken overseas are not counted towards the residency requirement.
Some departments limit the number of overseas courses that can be applied to the major.
In most cases, program fees are lower than regular GU tuition, thereby allowing students to travel and study overseas for approximately the same cost as a year on campus. All forms of financial aid except work-study awards may be applied to Georgetown, and designated ISEP, and CIEE programs. Georgetown faculty members and deans, in conjunction with the Division of Overseas Studies, work to identify and approve excellent programs abroad. Georgetown University continues to evaluate and add overseas studies programs so that the academic needs of the Georgetown student body are met in a variety of overseas environments. Where possible, Georgetown is firmly committed to direct matriculation.