Application and Admission
All undergraduate and graduate students in good standing at their home campus are eligible to participate in a CCSA program. Acceptance to the program for eligible applicants will be based upon date of submission, including receipt of the non-refundable application fee. For some courses, specific prerequisites may also have a bearing on acceptance. It is the student’s responsibility to consult with their academic advisor prior to submission of their application to ensure that the CCSA course is academically appropriate for the student’s needs, i.e., major or graduation requirements.
To apply, Click Here , where applicants are guided through the process with stepby-step instructions. Applications are not considered for acceptance until the non-refundable application fee is received. A list of payment options is available on the CCSA website ccsa.cc/payments. Students from non-CCSA member institutions must also provide the following to the CCSA office:
Students are expected to select a primary and alternate course in their CCSA application. If the primary course is canceled, students will be automatically moved to their alternate course.
Eligibility and Registration
CCSA requires that each student earning credit attend an accredited US institution. Students from non-member schools will be registered for credit with CCSA's home institution of Western Kentucky University with the option to transfer the credit at the end of the program. Anyone under 26-years-of-age is required to participate for credit.
Each student is required to:
Credit and Transcript
Western Kentucky University (WKU) serves as the academic sponsor for CCSA, and CCSA works with academic departments at WKU to create transfer credit courses for students who need a WKU transcript. Students from non-CCSA member schools AND students from CCSA member schools that select the WKU transcript option will follow a process to be admitted to WKU and registered for their selected course at WKU. Students registered for credit at WKU will be charged a one-time $100 fee and receive a WKU transcript after course grades are submitted by the CCSA instructor. Not all disciplines listed may be available for transfer credit from WKU, in which case CCSA will endeavor to provide credit from an alternate CCSA member school. If this cannot be accomplished, CCSA will seek to arrange credit at the student’s home school.
Course Information
By combining this intensive study abroad experience with directed study activities preceding and / or following the travel portion of the program, students may earn three semester hours of college credit for each class completed. Most courses have major assignments due prior to departure date and after the study abroad portion of the course.
CCSA offers courses at various levels: undergraduate, undergraduate honors, and graduate, as designated in the course details section under each program. Visit our website for more updated information regarding the academic content of individual courses.
Before applying for any course, please make note of course prerequisites, which must be completed or waived by the course instructor prior to the program’s departure date. Graduate and Honors sections may have additional costs for activities or assignments stated in the syllabus. Review the course description and syllabus carefully
Tuition
Students should meet with their home campus staff concerning tuition and fees assessed in accordance with the policies of that institution. Students from CCSA member schools should contact their institution’s CCSA Campus Representative (contact info available on CCSA’s website).
Financial Aid
CCSA program courses are part of the regular course offerings of member universities; therefore, students may apply for financial aid for which they would normally have eligibility. Students applying for financial aid are strongly encouraged to do so well before program application deadlines in order to facilitate the financial aid process and to make an informed and timely decision about participation. Contact the Financial Coordinator at finance@ccsa.cc or (270) 745-4487 for assistance. CCSA provides a cost calculator for your convenience at this link: ccsa.cc/cost/
Students having difficulty obtaining adequate funding due to financial aid, scholarship, or other concerns are encouraged to contact CCSA’s Financial Coordinator for potential alternative arrangements. CCSA is committed to providing adequate time and resources to accommodate student participation in its programs through reasonable financial arrangements. A complete list of payment options is available online at ccsa.cc/payments
Non-Credit Participants
CCSA programs are first and foremost college classes and like courses taught on CCSA member campuses are intended to facilitate the learning outcomes of the student participants. Under special circumstances and with permission of the Executive Director, CCSA permits non-credit participants to be present during the CCSA program. However, we require that their presence does not detract from the academic content or schedule of the overall program in any way. The following guidelines establish the CCSA process:
For the current CCSA policy, contact CCSA’s Executive Director.
Participant Travel Responsibilities
Non-U.S. passport holders must ensure they have any necessary visa(s) to enter the program country / countries, if applicable. Upon request, CCSA will furnish the participant with a letter supporting their visa application (to the program country).
If a participant does not obtain a visa prior to departure or is denied a visa at the foreign Embassy or Consulate or at the point of entry into the country, CCSA will not be held responsible and will not provide the participant with a refund of any kind. If a participant does not obtain the required proof of vaccinations or any other requirements to enter a country, CCSA will not be held responsible and will not provide the participant with a refund of any kind.
If the airline or the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) refuses to allow a participant to board a flight to the CCSA program site, and as a result the participant is unable to participate in a CCSA program, CCSA will not provide the participant with a refund of any kind.
A participant who opts for the group flight option and then leaves the program prior to the scheduled return flight forfeits the airport transfer services provided to group travelers.
Physical Expectations
Participants should be prepared to walk at least 3-5 miles daily, which at times may involve traversing rough or uneven pavement and stairs. In Australia, everyone should be able to maneuver over rough terrain. Individuals will be responsible for carrying their own luggage through airports and to and from coaches and hotel rooms. Students will be required to use public transport, with basic instruction provided by program faculty and administrators. London and Dublin will be cold, so participants should be prepared for wintry and wet weather. Conversely, it will be summertime in Australia; therefore, hot and humid conditions may be prevalent.
Rooming Assignments
CCSA rooming assignments are normally twin-share. CCSA adheres to home school requirements regarding rooming assignments. Single rooms may be available at additional cost. No unrelated mixed gender rooms are permitted without specific approval of home campus representative. Exemptions may be approved by the CCSA Executive Director.