Exchange Students

Charleston, SC - Fall Break, October 2008 

Winthrop University welcomed 148 students to campus this fall either to begin or continue their education at Winthrop.  Many of these students came to Winthrop to "study abroad" in the U.S. through partnership agreements between Winthrop and their home universities. 

If you are a student at one of our partner-schools and are interested in coming to study at Winthrop University please contact the International Office at your home school. 

Winthrop University Partner Schools -

In order to apply to be a student at Winthrop you must complete the -

Exchange Student Application for 2009-2010

Once you are admitted to Winthrop and you have questions about applying for your visa and coming to the United States please visit the websites below for good information.

• Why Winthrop? is a brief description of why students should come and study at Winthrop and the different programs we offer.
  
• Student Visa and Immigration is designed to guide you through the visa process from applying for your visa to entering the U.S.
  
• Arrival and Orientation gives information on how to get to Winthrop and the requirements for health insurance, orientation, tuition and fees, etc.
  
• Housing and Meals describes the residence options available if you plan to live on-campus and the meal plan options as well.
  
• Area Information lists places to visit and is a good resource for the Rock Hill/Charlotte area.
  
• Information for Parents and Families outlines why parents and family members should feel confident in sending their loved ones to Winthrop.
  
• Student Perspectives are brief descriptions by current students of what Winthrop is to them.

Requesting Courses for the Semester

The International Center will do our best to register you for courses prior to your arrival at Winthrop.  In order to do this we need you to follow the instructions on the application or below.

To review course listings for the semester you plan to attend Winthrop visit Wingspan, Winthrop University's student portal, and follow the steps below -

1.  In the menu on the left side of the page click Course Offerings.  
2.  Select the term that you plan to attend Winthrop and click Submit. 
3.  Select Subject and click Submit.  
4.  Select Course and click Submit.

You can find brief descriptions of the courses listed in Wingspan in the 2009-2010 Undergraduate Catalog. 

Following these instructions, you are able to see courses offered, including each course’s number and title, during your exchange semester. If your semester is not yet listed, the previous Spring or Fall will give you a sense of what will be offered, but exact course offerings may change.

Courses are classified by number:

• 101 - 299 = beginning courses, primarily for freshmen and sophomores;
  
• 300 - 399 = intermediate courses, primarily for sophomores and juniors; require some background in the subject; often have prerequisite courses
  
• 400 - 499 = specialized courses, primarily for juniors and seniors; require significant background in the subject; usually have prerequisite courses
  
• 500 - 599 = advanced courses, primarily for juniors, seniors and graduate students;
  
• 600 - 699 = advanced courses for graduate students only (listed in the Graduate Catalog)

Most courses above the 100 and 200 levels have prerequisites which must be satisfied before you can be enrolled in the course. A "pre-requisite" is a program or course that a student is required to complete before being permitted to enroll in a more advanced program or course. If you wish to enroll in a course that has prerequisites, the academic department will review your official transcript/academic record from your home institution to determine whether you have passed courses comparable in content to the Winthrop courses which are specified as a prerequisite. We suggest you choose courses in consultation with your home institution for ease of credit transfer.

It is very important to send an English translation of your transcript with your application.  Your English transcript should allow Winthrop to review and to see if you have taken the required prerequisite courses at your current school. 

Please make sure that you clearly print or type the courses that you are interested in taking at Winthrop in your application.  List the courses in order of preference with several alternate courses listed as well.  As part of J-1 visa requirements, you must take a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester, usually four (3 credit hour) courses.  Winthrop University will try to enroll you in your course preferences prior to your arrival.  If necessary, you can change your schedule of courses after you arrive on campus.

Health Insurance Requirement 

Health insurance is a mandatory requirement of all international students enrolled at Winthrop University.  For J-1 visa holders health insurance is required to maintain your visa status.  The University will enroll you in the Winthrop University health insurance policy each semester.  Our policy meets the coverage requirements listed below.  The cost of coverage will be charged to your student account.  If you have your own insurance coverage that meets the University standards you can provide this policy information at our Orientation and decline the Winthrop University insurance policy.  Listed below are the minimum required benefits that must be covered by alternate insurance plans.

Minimum Required Health Insurance Benefits:

• Maximum Lifetime Benefits (Amount of Coverage) - $250,000
• Maximum Benefit per illness or injury - $50,000
• Effective and Termination Dates – Must cover the semester academic dates with no lapse in coverage.
• Repatriation of Remains - $10,000
• Medical Evacuation - $10,000
• Pre-Existing condition limitation – No more than 12 months
• Geographical Limitation – No restrictions to accessing health care services in South Carolina, domestic or international locations.
• Willful failure on your part to maintain the required insurance will result in the termination of your exchange program

 For more information on the attending Winthrop University as a student from our partner schools contact the International Center.