American College of Greece Exchange

Program Type

SU-Exchange

Program Provider

American College of Greece

Location

Athens, Greece

None

About this Program

With a 90% Greek student body, you'll enjoy a full cultural immersion experience with plenty of opportunities to make friends and learn about Greek culture. The American College of Greece (ACG) is located in one of the world's most renowned and safe cities. Its idyllic campus is the springboard for exploring Athens and the nearby Greek islands with a full range of co-curricular and extra-curricular programs. The American College of Greece is a private college with 3,000 graduate and undergraduate students. The student-faculty ratio is 17/1 with over 350 international students from 56 countries. For over 139 years, ACG has been offering transformative education and cultivating cultural collaboration between Greece and the United States.


Program Specific Information

Level of Immersion

Language(s) of Instruction:
  • English

Features

  • Courses with Locals
  • Local University Program
  • Internship Opportunities
  • No Language Pre-Requisites

Housing Abroad

  • Apartment

Housing at Seattle University

Moving can be both costly and stressful, but careful planning can help minimize both. Start by creating a housing plan for before and after your study abroad experience to avoid the pressure of continuing to pay for rent at home. Program fees typically cover housing abroad, so if you expect to incur additional domestic rent expenses, be sure to include these in your budget. If possible, consider staying with family or friends temporarily before you depart or when you return to save on costs.

Housing Residence Life

Education Abroad typically recommends considering Seattle University on-campus housing for when students return from their programs, as Housing Residence Life staff are able to support students in securing housing, while adhering to student preference as best as they can.

Housing Application (check the Housing Portal for more specific dates)

  • Winter Quarter Housing applications open in November
  • Spring Quarter Housing applications open in February
  • Fall Quarter Housing applications open in May

Courseload

Students who participate in an SU-Sponsored, SU-Exchange, or Non-SU program must be fully enrolled at their host university/program provider. Full-time enrollment on a semester-length program is typically 15 US semester credits (not quarter credits) or 30 ECTS credits.

Note: Not all programs/host universities provide syllabi prior to the start of classes. Some may have samples of past syllabi but cannot guarantee that a specific course will be offered during the student's time abroad.

  • Credit Range: 12-15
  • Credit System: U.S. Semester Credits
  • Typical Course load: 4-5
  • Credit Per Course: 3

Credit Conversion

  • Credit Conversion Rate: 1 U.S. Semester Credit = 1.5 SU Quarter Credits
  • Quarter Range: 18-22.5

Academic Policy & Minimum Grade Requirement:

  • Student will receive transfer credit for their study abroad program and academic grades will not be reflected on their Seattle University transcript and will not be reflected in the Seattle University GPA nor honors calculations.
  • For all undergraduate programs, courses accepted in transfer are graded at least a C- when letter grades are issued and at least a 1.5 on the decimal grading system. Courses graded D+ or lower (1.5) will not be allowed either for transfer credit or to fulfill degree requirements.
  • Students in the College of Nursing, the College of Science and Engineering, and communication and psychology majors in the College of Arts and Sciences will be required to repeat courses graded lower than C (2.0) if the course is a major requirement or if it is a prerequisite to a major requirement.
  • Students in the Albers School of Business and Economics must complete required business courses (including mathematics, economics & accounting) with a grade of C (2.0) or better.

Transfer Credits

Letter grades received on this program will not transfer to SU nor factor into Seattle University GPA. If students receive the minimum grade required, credits will transfer toward their Seattle University degree as approved through the required pre-departure Course Approval process. Minimum grade details will be specified during Course Approval for each course taken abroad.

Placeholder Course

The Education Abroad Office will enroll students in a 12-credit placeholder course per term that you are abroad so that students maintain full-time student status and are billed properly. This placeholder course will be replaced by the courses taken abroad upon successful completion and receipt of official transcript.

Program Fees

Program fees are subject to change and based on previous year's tuition, if future tuition rates are not available yet. The purpose of the budget worksheets is to provide an estimate of how much studying abroad is going to cost. Actual spending may vary.

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Requesting a Financial Aid Estimate

Student Financial Aid allows students to request a financial aid estimate when planning an education abroad experience. Students can bring the completed worksheet of your preferred program to a meeting with a Student Financial Aid Counselor.

Participation Costs

For SU-Exchange programs, students are billed SU (1) Tuition, (2) Technology Fee, and (3) Global Medical
Insurance. Housing costs are separate and American College of Greece may require additional fees; these
and estimated additional expenses are outlined in the program’s detailed Budget Worksheet. Students are
encouraged to complete the Budget Worksheet and discuss applicable financial aid with Student Financial
Services.

Payment

For SU-Exchange programs, pay your SU bill through your Student Account for the term(s) you are abroad. The
Program Fee is labeled as "MSA Fee" on your bill. Payment deadlines align with SU’s quarterly deadlines and
you can sign-up for a payment plan as usual.
Additional expenses not included in your SU bill, like housing, special course fees, and optional excursions,
may be billed to you directly by American College of Greece and/or their affiliate housing company. Consult
the Budget Worksheet for a breakdown of estimate additional expenses.

Scholarships

There are many study abroad scholarships for all program types. The application process may be easier than you think, but planning ahead is key. Deadlines are often 6-8 months in advance of departure. Check out the Scholarship section of Seattle University Education Abroad website for more information on scholarships and how to apply.

Student Journey

Approximate TimelinePhaseMore details
Sept-JanExplorationStudents will work with Education Abroad and various supporters (family, academic advisor, etc.) to find a program that best fits student's academic, personal, and professional goals.
Feb 1ApplyStudents will have the opportunity to apply to SU-Sponsored and SU-Exchange programs during next academic year in the Fall around November. The hard deadline is February 1st.
Late Feb/Early MarNominationsEducation Abroad Office will nominate selected students for SU-Sponsored and SU-Exchange programs.
Mar-May (Fall)
Sept-Dec (Winter)
Jan-March (Spring)
PreparationStudents will complete secondary applications for program providers/host university in preparation of going abroad. Additional preparatory steps include pre-departure orientation, courses approvals, Health Check, Visa application, planning housing arrangements (abroad & Seattle), immunizations, etc.

Application Steps

  1. Complete Module I of Global Engagement with Education Abroad Canvas course, including Education Abroad 101 and attending a Planning Meeting with your Education Advisor.
  2. Complete the SU-Sponsored/SU-Exchange Program Application in Module II of the Canvas course by February 1 for selected program.

If you haven’t joined the Education Abroad Canvas Course yet, Join Now!

Visa Requirements

What is a Visa?

A visa is a permission granted by a country that allows foreign nationals to enter and reside there temporarily. Applicants typically need to provide documentation such as an acceptance letter from the educational institution, proof of financial means, and health insurance. Student visas come with specific regulations regarding work rights, travel restrictions, and duration of stay, varying by country.

Below is a brief overview of the current visa requirements for your program. Note that countries may amend
visa requirements at any time, so it will be important to follow all instructions given by American College of
Greece.
U.S. passport holders are required to apply for a visa before studying in Greece. (Non-U.S. citizens should
consult their respective consulates). Students participating in the ACG study abroad program will undergo a
comprehensive visa pre-departure webinar conducted by the ACG study abroad team. This webinar will cover
all aspects of the student visa application process, ensuring that students are well-prepared. One crucial step
involves completing a background check, which can be done at any time.
Upon finalizing their acceptance to ACG, students will receive an email requesting information necessary for
the creation of their visa letter. Once they obtain the visa letter from ACG, they can proceed to schedule their
visa appointment. It's important to note that many appointments may not be available or scheduled until
November or December, a common occurrence for Greek consulates. Students are advised not to panic about
this timeline.
For those dealing with the Greek Consulate in San Francisco, it is acknowledged that the process can be
challenging. Students are advised to communicate with the consulate via email rather than phone calls,
creating a documented trail of communication efforts. Due to the difficulty in reaching the consulate,
persistence is encouraged, and students may need to make multiple attempts to establish contact. American
College of Greece will offer additional information and guidance before departure and on-site; however, the
decision to grant admission into the country is not in American College of Greece’s nor SU's control. Keep in
mind that entry requirements are specific to the length of your stay, citizenship, and the type of activities you
will be engaged in. It is your responsibility to determine specific entry requirements and stipulations prior to
the start of your program.


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