Getting Started
Program Participation
- KIIS strongly recommends all participants (students and faculty) be up-to-date on both their seasonal flu and Covid-19 vaccinations (i.e. the latest Covid-19 booster shot) before their travel abroad.
- Must be age 18 or older. Applicants under age 18, must be 18 by February 1 (for Summer programs) and 18 by September 1 (for Winter programs).
- Open to undergraduate, graduate, honors and non-degree seeking students from all academic disciplines.
- Preference is given to students from KIIS Member Institutions, but we welcome applicants from other U.S. colleges and universities, working professional or retirees.
GPA
To be eligible to participate on a KIIS program, you must have a minimum cumulative GPA as listed below:
- 2.0 GPA for Summer and Winter programs
- 2.75 GPA for Semester programs
- 3.2 GPA for Honors courses
As part of the KIIS application process, you are required to submit your most recent undergraduate or graduate transcript.
- First Semester Freshmen college students may submit a copy of your high school transcript if you do not yet have a college GPA. As soon as your first college semester is complete, you will upload a copy of your college transcript.
- Working Professionals or Retirees may be exempt from submitting a college transcript for undergraduate course credit. An official transcript is required for Graduate course credit. Contact Haley McTaggart for questions.
Academic Policies
You must take at least one 3 credit hour course during a Summer or Winter program for academic credit (Summer participants may take up to 6 credit hours.). You are required to take at least 12 credit hours if applying for a Semester program.
Students on academic or disciplinary probation at their home institution are not permitted to participate on KIIS study abroad programs.
Optional Language Courses
The majority of KIIS courses are taught in English.
Only four KIIS programs require students to take foreign language courses. Those programs include:
- Paris II Summer
- Spain I Summer
- Spain II Summer
- Spain Spring Semester
All other KIIS programs have no language requirement although several programs offer optional language courses (i.e. Costa Rica, Japan, Caribbean, Taiwan).
Most KIIS courses do not have prerequisites, with the exception of upper level language courses.
Honors & Graduate Credit
Honors Credit: To receive Honors course credit, you must have at least a 3.2 GPA or higher.
Graduate Credit: To enroll in Graduate courses, you must complete your Bachelor’s degree by March 1, preceding your KIIS summer program. For KIIS Zanzibar Winter, you must complete your Bachelor’s degree by October 1, preceding the KIIS winter program.
For more information on Honors and Graduate options, contact Haley McTaggart or visit our Choosing a Program page.
“The true value of the experience isn’t only what you see. The hidden worth of your experience returns with you in unexpected ways. It can be a new appreciation for corner coffee shops, new confidence in riding the subway or learning to communicate using charades. The adventure doesn’t end when you get on the plane to come home, instead it opens the door to a new and less far away world.”
-Shaleena Ross, Argentina
