How You can Help
Pre-Departure
- Help your student plan as early as possible for studying abroad. Talk to them about what areas and programs interest them and continue to be a source of encouragement.
- Talk about the cost of study abroad and review the program budget sheet with your student. Every program in our portfolio has a budget sheet, which provides a cost breakdown of cashier billed and out-of-pocket expenses. For more information on cost and budgeting, check out our Cost and Funding section of our website.
- Learn about passports and visas.
- Passports: While your student certainly needs a passport to study abroad, you should consider getting one too! It’ll come in handy if you intend to visit your student overseas for vacation, or in the unlikely case of an emergency. Visit the U.S. State Department website for information about the application or renewal process.
- Visas: If a visa is required for the program, review the required documentation with your student. The visa process is ever-changing and varies significantly from country to country, and we recommend helping your student contact the appropriate embassy to ensure everything’s in order.
- Ensure your student has the appropriate healthcare coverage while abroad. The University provides international accident and sickness coverage through GeoBlue, a comprehensive and affordable international healthcare option. For more information concerning healthcare, check out our Health and Safety section of our website.
- Assist your student with making flight arrangements. For many students, studying abroad will be their first time out of the country, for some, their first time on a plane, and understanding flight bookings, connections, and price fluctuations can be daunting for a first-time traveler.
- Keep copies of important documents for your student. This includes a copy of the student’s passport and visa cover pages, medical prescriptions, credit card numbers, and social security number. Have your student provide you with all relevant contact information, in case you need to reach your student in the event of an emergency.
- Prepare for family emergencies while abroad. While we do our best to ensure the success and safety of each student studying abroad through our office, accidents can happen. Make sure you know who to contact at our office and at your student’s host institution in case of an emergency at home or abroad. You can find a list of emergency contacts on our site.
While Your Student is Abroad
Be supportive of and confident in your student.
Make sure your student has an easy way to contact you while abroad. Your student should know every possible way to contact you including home phone, work phone, cell phone, and email address. As well, you should have a way to contact your student while abroad and should be sure to have the Study Abroad Office’s contact information for your student while abroad.
Keep track of dates and times you have contact with your student. This makes it easier to locate your student in case of emergency.
Try to remain calm if your student does not call at the designated time. Travelers change their plans often…and usually at the last minute! Have a back-up plan to reach your student.
When Your Student Comes Home
Your student may return home a changed individual. Your student may be more independent and mature and could possibly have difficulties readjusting to life back home. Help your student connect with resources that can help with the process of adjusting to life back in the United States. Ask them questions. How can you help them?
