Thinking of Studying Abroad?
Is your student thinking of studying abroad? Most colleges offer opportunities that provide access to the classes students need to stay on track for graduation and price points that are consistent with the expenses of on-campus attendance. Students who are interested in study abroad opportunities can explore their college’s website and visit the Study Abroad office at their school for more information. Most colleges offer regular informational sessions for students and parents.
If your student is considering a study abroad opportunity, it makes sense to plan ahead. A few things you can do ahead of time follow:
Take full advantage of the workshops and information sessions offered live and online by your student’s college.
Take note of the application deadlines - many programs require applications to be submitted months in advance of the start of the overseas semester or session.
Remind your student to talk to their academic advisor as soon as they start thinking about studying abroad. Their academic advisor can help them adjust their class schedule so that they are ready to go overseas without getting off track of major / graduation requirements. Some study abroad programs are designed for specific majors and your student’s academic advisor can help them assess these options.
Look into financial aid for study abroad programs. Some options include:
Gilman Scholarship funding: available to students receiving federal Pell Grants. There are certain requirements to be met and not all programs qualify - so learn the facts.
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program: this is run by the US Department of State and funds immersive summer programs for 500 students to learn languages of strategic importance to the United States’ national security, economic prosperity, and engagement with the world.
CET Scholarships for Study Abroad: awards $400,000 in scholarship awards each year for study abroad opportunities.
Your student’s school Study Abroad office can provide more resources for scholarships and financial aid.
If your student doesn’t have a passport, work with them to apply and obtain one. Adult passports are valid for ten years, so even if your student delays their study abroad program or decides not to go, it’s worth it to get one. Passports can take up to two months to process and issue, and students planning to study abroad need a valid passport in order to obtain necessary student visas for some countries. Having a passport in hand will save your student time and reduce stress if they decide to study abroad. You can find all you need to know about US passports on the State Department website.
If your student already has a passport, check the expiration date. Many countries have validity requirements. For example, a country might require that a passport have at least 6 months left before expiration in order to qualify someone for admission to the country. This is true for student visa issuance as well. To be safe, make sure your student’s passport will be valid for at least six months after the END of their study abroad period, and apply for renewal now if necessary. Your student may need to apply for renewal in person if their passport was issued before they turned 16, so make sure to allow enough time for processing.
PRO TIP: Apply for a passport card as well. A passport card is not valid for customs and immigration purposes at airports, but it is wise to carry a passport card around town for identification purposes while abroad and leave the passport book in a safe place. Most foreign businesses and organizations will not accept a state-issued driver’s license as official identification, but they will typically accept a passport card for this purpose. Your student can apply for a passport card even if they already have a passport (but it is easiest to do both at the same time). For more information, visit the State Department website or call 1-877-487-2778.
If the country your student is planning to travel to requires a student visa, allow some time for this and start early. The program your student is studying through (their university or another organization) will help facilitate this process.
ANOTHER PRO TIP: Being away for a semester can make it tricky to figure out housing for the semester the student is on their home campus. There are different ways to approach this. If on-campus housing is available, it can make the most sense to arrange for one semester of on campus housing. If a student lives off campus, they should investigate whether subletting is allowable under their lease (and better yet, consider this before signing a lease!). Students can often find someone who is studying abroad the opposite semester and arrange a sublet swap. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution to this, thinking about it ahead of time can help avoid unwanted financial surprises.
For so many students, studying abroad is a transformative experience. Good luck to the students looking into these opportunities!