US Transferable Credits

This page is for applicants enrolled in and/or intending to transfer credits to a home institution that follows the US credit model. If you are NOT interested in earning US Transferable Credits, please check the All Other Applicants page.

Do not hesitate to contact the LdM Academic Relations + Student Services Office (LdM, Inc.) in Austin, Texas with any questions as you plan your study abroad program including: arranging the transfer of credit, choosing your LdM Program, requesting housing information and/or making financial arrangements.

Please read and familiarize yourself with the following steps prior to submitting your application to LdM.

Click on the following headings to expand:

Transfer of Credit

There are two ways you can apply to study abroad at LdM for US transferable credit: through one of LdM affiliate institutions or program providers, or by applying directly to LdM Academic Relations + Student Services Office in Austin, Texas. We advise students to visit their home institution’s study abroad office to determine the preferred path of enrollment.

The type of transcript a student receives for the transfer of US credit depends on the program and/or home institution’s preference. Please read below for more information.

Students not currently enrolled in a US college/university or students from countries outside the US who intend to transfer US credits to their home institution may still receive US transferable credit, by one of the following methods.

Information for all other applicants not seeking US transferable credit

Apply through an Affiliate Institution/Program Provider

Students currently enrolled in one of LdM’s affiliate institutions can apply through their home institution’s study abroad office. Similarly, if a college or university has a special relationship with one of our affiliates or providers, it may direct students to enroll accordingly. Students should visit their study abroad office to determine how to apply and transfer credits back to their home institution. Check the list of LdM affiliate institutions and program providers through which your study abroad office may direct you to enroll.

In addition, LdM strongly advises all students to discuss their study abroad plan (including course selections) with their academic advisor prior to enrolling. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that credits will transfer back to their home institution.

Apply through the LdM Academic Relations + Student Services Office

If it is determined that a student should enroll directly through the LdM Academic Relations + Student Services Office, LdM strongly advises the student to discuss a study abroad plan (including course selections) with their academic advisor at their home institution prior to enrolling. Please note that an advisor’s signature is required on the application.

Students enrolling directly through the LdM Academic Relations + Student Services Office have the option of receiving either a Lorenzo de’ Medici transcript or an accredited US transcript from Marist College (US accredited institution and LdM’s partner) for their courses and transfer of credit. Students must confirm the transcript requirement with their home institution according to the guidelines stated in the LdM Transcript Request Form, which students will receive upon acceptance to the program.

*Students may not change the transcript type once classes have begun. Furthermore, Marist College cannot issue a transcript retroactively for a student who originally requested the LdM transcript.

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that credits will transfer in one of the following ways:

Home institution requires the Lorenzo de’ Medici transcript
The LdM transcript documents the LdM course codes and titles, the number of credits per course, and grades earned. Students must confirm the transcript preference of their home institution during the approval process and prior to submitting the LdM application. Upon completion of coursework, an official LdM transcript will be mailed to the student’s designated recipient.

OR

Home institution requires the US transcript.
Marist College will issue the transcript for LdM coursework with Marist course equivalents (codes and titles), number of credits, and grades earned. Students must confirm the transcript preference of their home institution during the approval process and prior to submitting the LdM application. In the case that the Marist transcript is required, students must provide their home institution advisor with the Marist course codes and titles for their LdM course selections. See the LdM Course Schedules for Marist equivalencies corresponding to the LdM codes and titles. Upon completion of courses, an official Marist College transcript will be mailed to the student’s designated recipient.

Transcripts
LdM transcripts are released by the Registrar’s Office approximately one month after the end of each academic term and issued to the student’s designated recipient, affiliate institution or program provider. All classes in which the student was registered, and the corresponding grades, will appear on each student’s LdM transcript. LdM reserves the right to withhold the transcript and/or housing deposit of students who violate contract agreements related to housing, academics, and/or conduct, including any balance or debt incurred and/or whose behavior is considered detrimental towards the Institute and/or towards other students.

For students requesting the Marist College transcript for their courses, Marist will issue the Marist transcript to the student’s designated recipient upon evaluation of the official LdM transcript, usually within 6-8 weeks post-program.

Additional copies of transcripts can be requested and issued for a fee. Please contact [email protected] for this service.

Study Abroad Program Admissions Requirements

Students attending LdM through an affiliated institution or program provider should contact their respective program for information on the admissions process for that program.
Students approved to apply directly to LdM through the LdM Academic Relations + Student Services Office should meet the following Study Abroad Program admissions requirements (equally applicable to the Two Italies Program, Summer Workshops and Archaeology Field Schools):

Direct Enrollment through the LdM Academic Relations + Student Services Office

  • Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher. 
  • Students must be entering at least their sophomore year.
  • Students must have upheld a good academic and judicial standing with their home institutions.
  • Students must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Students must be in good medical/psychological condition.

Applicants must submit the following by the appropriate deadline:

  • Study Abroad Program Application (signed/completed)
    • One academic letter of recommendation from a Professor or Academic Advisor with knowledge of applicant’s abilities, experience and education (or completed recommendation form from LdM Study Abroad Program Application)
    • Official transcript from current (or most recently attended) college/university
    • Students whose first language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency. (See details on LdM Study Abroad Program Application)

Transcripts and letters of recommendation may accompany application or be submitted under separate cover.

See Application Dates for application deadlines.

Please contact the LdM Academic Relations + Student Services Office if you do not meet one of these criteria for additional information and instructions: [email protected]

For information on tuition fees, consult the Study Abroad Program Costs

Certificate Programs Admissions Requirements

The following Certificate Program admissions information applies to the LdM one-year and two-year Certificate Programs, as well as to the semester-long Certificate Programs.

Direct Enrollment through the LdM Academic Relations + Student Services Office

  • Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.8 or higher.
  • Students must be entering at least their sophomore year.
  • Students must have upheld a good academic and judicial standing with their home institutions.
  • Students must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Students must be in good medical/psychological condition to succeed in the program.

Applicants must submit the following by the appropriate deadline:

  • Certificate Program Application (signed/completed).
  • One academic letter of recommendation from a Professor or Academic Advisor with knowledge of applicant’s abilities, experience and education (or completed recommendation form from LdM Study Abroad Program Application)
  • Official transcript from current (or most recently attended) college/university
  • Personal Essay (reason for choosing this program, experience abroad, future goals, professional experience in the selected field of study)
  • Students whose first language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency. (See details on LdM Certificate Program Application.)

Transcripts and letters of recommendation may accompany application or be submitted under separate cover.

See Academic Dates for application deadlines.

Portfolio Evaluation:
Students with prior knowledge of the selected field of study may join the second semester of a one-year certificate or the second year of a two-year certificate after submitting a portfolio of their work to be assessed and approved.

Please note:

  • The two-year Certificate is a combination of the one-year Certificate + one-year Professional/Advanced Certificate.
  • The second semester of each year-long Certificate takes place in the spring semester only.

To apply for the second-year LdM Professional/Advanced Certificate Programs, students must have a solid background in their requested field of study. The following are required in addition to the above-listed materials:

  • Completed LdM Previous Studies form. Please contact [email protected] for the appropriate form.
  • Digital Portfolio of 10 examples of your projects/work submitted to [email protected]. – Please note an example of work for all techniques included in selected certificates must be submitted.

Non-beginning Certificate and Professional/Advanced Certificate applications will be considered pending until all required materials have been submitted and reviewed by the LdM Admissions Committee.

Students who are approved to begin the Certificate Program with the second semester are still eligible to obtain the Certificate if they successfully complete the Program.

For information on tuition fees, consult the Certificate Program costs.

US Bachelor's Degree Admissions Requirements

Applicants to the Marist-LdM Bachelor’s Degree Program should submit the following:

  • Complete application
  • Submit official secondary school transcript (official English translation into the US system)
  • Personal essay
  • Two letters of recommendation for freshmen applicants, one letter for transfer applicants
  • Forward official results of the SAT or ACT exam if you want the Admission Committee to consider your scores. Marist is SAT/ACT optional.
  • English proficiency exam results if you are a non-native English-speaking student. Marist accepts the TOEFL or the IELTS.

Note: The English proficiency exam result requirement can be waived for students who have met any of the following criteria:

    • Completed or are pursuing an International Baccalaureate Diploma
    • Attained a minimum score of 500 on the SAT Critical Reading or Writing section
    • Attended a U.S. or international school taught in English for a minimum of four years without any English as a Second Language courses
  • TOEFL – Students must submit a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based TOEFL exam or a 213 on the computer-based TOEFL or an 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL exam.
  • IELTS – Students must submit a minimum score of 6.5

All test scores must come directly from the Testing Service to Marist College. Note: the Marist report code is 2400. Copies of test scores will delay the admission process since an I20 will not be issued without official documents.

Please note: TOEFL or IELTS scores must be less than two years old from the first day of class at the proposed term of entry in order to be valid.

    • Telephone interview with a Marist staff member. Estimated length of the interview is 10-15 minutes.
    • If you are applying for Interior Design, please complete and submit the corresponding portfolio requirements.

Applications are processed and reviewed on a rolling basis. The preferred deadlines are:

  • Fall: May 1st
  • Spring:  November 1st

For more information on the Marist-LdM Bachelor’s Degree Program, please visit the Marist Italy website or contact [email protected]

Admissions Process

Direct Enrollment through the LdM Academic Relations + Student Services Office

  • Students attending LdM through an affiliated institution or program provider should contact their respective program for information on the application process for that program.
  • Students applying to the Marist/LdM Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree Program should consult Marist Italy’s Undergraduate Admission Requirements and Marist Italy’s Graduate Admission Requirements for more information on the admissions process.
  • Students approved to apply directly to LdM through the LdM Academic Relations + Student Services Office should follow the numbered steps below.

1) CHOOSE & CONFIRM YOUR LdM STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM

 a. Select your LdM program and campus:
                   • Study Abroad or Certificate Program
                   • Florence, Tuscania, or Two Italies

b. Visit with your Academic and/or Study Abroad Advisor at your home institution regarding transfer of credits, transcript type, course selection/approval, and to fulfill any necessary requirements for the study abroad process at your home institution. 

2) COMPLETE & RETURN THE APPLICATION FORM FOR YOUR PROGRAM

a. Complete your application. Be sure to have your Academic/Study Abroad Advisor to sign your LdM Application.

b. Send in your application components listed in selected program to the LdM Academic Relations + Student Services Office by mail, fax, or email within the application deadline for your session(s).

Students applying to LdM directly will be considered for admission only upon the receipt and review of a complete application (including an official transcript and letter of recommendation from a professor or academic advisor) by the application deadline.

Applicants are typically notified of the admissions decision within one to two weeks of receipt of a complete application.

Post-Acceptance Process

After receiving an acceptance email, students applying directly to LdM through the LdM Academic Relations + Student Services Office, should follow the post-acceptance procedure below.

1. PASSPORT & STUDENT VISA

a. Make sure your passport is current and does not expire within three months of the last day of your LdM program. If you do not have a current passport, apply for one as soon as possible.

b. Determine whether a student visa is required for your program on the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs page Select “Study” as the reason for visit.

c. If a student visa is required, begin the visa application process through your region’s Italian Consulate. LdM will provide the official letters of enrollment required for the visa application. However, students are responsible for obtaining the student visa.

2. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

Share payment deadlines, procedures, and invoices with your responsible billing party. If your home institution will be making payment on your behalf, be sure to provide LdM with the proper contact for billing coordination in advance of any payment deadline. Meet with the financial aid office at your home institution as soon as possible to discuss financial aid or scholarship opportunities. In addition, please inform the LdM Academic Relations + Student Services Office of your intent to use financial aid and make sure that you complete all required forms.

To learn more about funding your LdM program, including LdM Grants and LdM scholarships for Tuscania, please consult Financial Resources.

3. HOUSING
Students should indicate on their LdM application if they are interested in securing housing through LdM. Housing information and forms will be provided upon acceptance to Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici. Students must return all housing forms and materials immediately upon acceptance to the program. More information on the LdM Housing Service page.

4.LdM FORMS AND PAYMENT
Complete and return the Enrollment Confirmation, Housing and Acceptance Packet forms, and program payments to LdM by the given deadlines.

5. PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION
Following receipt of all required forms and payment, LdM will provide pre-departure materials, important reminders, information on your host city, and more.

For assistance with any questions regarding your application, please do not hesitate to contact the LdM Academic Relations + Student Services Office at [email protected].


We are happy to help and look forward to hearing from you.

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