International Education

The Office of International Education (OIE) supports international students, provides opportunities for short and long-term education away and abroad, and hosts intercultural programs and activities on RMC's campus. 

Randolph-Macon is proud to be the academic home of international students who study here for a semester, a year, or four years. The Office of International Education issues I-20s so that potential students can apply for a visa, offers an international student orientation at the beginning of each semester, and provides guidance with respect to studying, working, and adapting to life in the United States. 

January and Summer Term Study-Travel Courses 

During January Term and, infrequently, summer terms, the college provides students with opportunities to participate in a variety of study-travel courses. Study-travel courses are taught by one or more Randolph-Macon faculty members. Students and faculty participating in short-term courses spend one to four weeks abroad and any remaining part of the term on the Ashland campus. Domestic study-travel courses may also be offered. Recent destinations for study-travel courses have included: Puerto Rico, The Netherlands, Japan, Spain, Britain, and Taiwan. Information about scheduled courses and all policies related to study-travel are found on the OIE website. Only degree seeking and international exchange students are eligible to participate in study-travel. Students completing short-term study travel courses offered by Randolph-Macon College receive RMC course credit and the grade(s) and quality points earned are factored into the student’s GPA.

Long-Term Study Abroad Programs

Long term study abroad programs are offered for either a semester or a full year and opportunities are available to study in countries throughout the world. All students interested in long-term study abroad must begin the Office of International Education's advising and nomination process two semesters (defined as fall or spring) before they plan to study abroad. This process allows students to meet Randolph-Macon and any site-specific admissions criteria. Details on the nomination process are available on OIE’s semester abroad webpage. All students nominated by RMC to participate in a long-term study abroad must complete mandatory pre-departure requirements as established and communicated by OIE during the semester immediately prior to going abroad. Failure to complete these requirements by the deadline specified by OIE may result in the termination of a student's nomination to participate in a long-term study abroad program. 

In most cases, students completing coursework at an international study site will receive transfer credit for courses that have been pre-approved by Randolph-Macon prior to enrollment. To be eligible for transfer, students must earn a grade equivalent to a C- or higher and may not complete the course on a pass/fail basis. Transfer hours meet graduation requirements but are not reflected in a student’s GPA. See the section on Transfer Credit for the details of these requirements.