Study abroad

Student at computer Preparing to study abroad? Spending a semester abroad can be a rewarding, life-defining adventure.

 

Meeting new people and exploring new cultures could have an enduring impact on your life. You’ll also gain valuable learning and career benefits. In our global economy, more employers are looking for staff with international experience and a world perspective.

But foreign travel means foreign currency and, depending on your destination, today’s exchange rates against the dollar aren’t as favorable as they once were. Many students manage the cost of enrolling in an overseas program but are often surprised as day-to-day living and leisure expenses whittle away at their cash.

Keeping to a budget while in a new place can be a challenge. But that isn’t all you need to figure out while studying abroad. Check out these tips to keep you on top of your overseas experience.

Tips for studying abroad

Know your program

  • Talk to your International Studies or Study Abroad department: See what programs, assistance, and advice they can offer in navigating the process. Most colleges have active exchange programs. In fact, Maryland’s Goucher College requires foreign study to graduate. If your school does not offer its own program, there are national exchange programs offering full credit from different colleges.
  • Academics: Be sure the credits you earn while studying abroad are transferable and are comparable to your home school credits. You don't want to find yourself scrambling to graduate on time—and facing the added cost of extra credit hours.
  • Paying for your time abroad: Once you know where you wish to go, chat with your financial aid office about how to fund the experience. Some schools combine overseas studies with a paid or unpaid internship in a host country. Visit the Princeton Review's page on Financial Aid for Study Abroad for more information and steps.

Paperwork and officialdom

  • Apply for your U.S. passport several months before your trip: If visas from foreign embassies are needed, allow even more time. While the passport application backlog has lessened somewhat, due to Homeland Security considerations, processing simply takes longer these days. Learn more from travel.state.gov.
  • Absentee voting: If you will be absent during the next U.S. election and wish to vote, you should request an absentee ballot at least two months before the election. Access the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) and instructions. You can also check with your county registrar or the Secretary of State.
  • Plan to be out of the country on April 15? Make arrangements to get your taxes filed early, e-file from overseas, or apply for an extension until August of the same year.
  • Home away from home: Before leaving home, locate the closest American consulates or embassies to your destinations. Also, visit the Country Specific Information page of the Department of State's website to check which countries have travel warnings.
  • You can register your travel plans with the State Department: They offer a free online service at travelregistration.state.gov and can contact you if there is a family emergency in the U.S. or if there is a crisis where you are traveling. That could be helpful in all sorts of unexpected situations. FYI: Under the Privacy Act, information on your welfare and whereabouts will not be released to others without your express authorization.
  • Photocopy your passport, airline tickets, rail passes, and other important papers: Leave a set with family or a friend at home. Make a list of your traveler's checks and credit card numbers. Keep these documents secure in a separate pocket, pouch, or bag. The U.S. State Department advises leaving a detailed itinerary and copies of your passport’s biographical data page with a friend or relative in the United States.

Security

  • Take precautions to avoid being a target of crime: Develop situational awareness; be alert, observant, and focused. Try to blend in. Trust your instincts. Do not wear conspicuous clothing or flash or carry excessive amounts of money. Leave jewelry, other than a basic watch, at home. Never leave unattended luggage in public areas and do not accept packages from strangers.

Medical matters and insurance

  • Get inoculated: See what’s recommended for your destination. Vaccinations are often required to visit countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a database of precautions at wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. If needed, talk to your doctor about the best schedule to get your shots—and do so months before your departure.
  • What will you need? Take all the health care supplies you will need, along with copies of all prescriptions and the generic names of drugs. Keep medicines in the original labeled drugstore containers. Take extra eyeglasses or contacts and the prescription in your hand luggage in case your checked luggage is lost. To be extra secure, pack a backup supply of medicines and an additional pair of eyeglasses in your checked luggage. Some destinations call for portable water purification tablets or filters. 
  • Insurance is reassurance: Check your medical insurance and call your provider. See if you need special forms to get treated in another country and if you’re covered for medical evacuation. If not, seriously consider supplemental insurance (your exchange program may offer reasonable options). 
  • Consider a “medical alert” bracelet or necklace: It can be a lifesaver if you have allergies; reactions to certain medications, foods, or insect bites; or other unique medical problems. You may wish to carry a letter from your physician explaining required treatment should you become ill or unconscious.

Money and finances

  • Compare exchange rates: With the dollar struggling these days, the exchange rate is a genuine budget consideration. Students who might have selected a western European country with a high cost of living are now taking a look at Latin America, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa. But those choices should primarily reflect your learning priorities. If you’re a Shakespeare scholar, studying in Stratford-upon-Avon simply makes more sense than Buenos Aires or Shanghai.
  • Apply for an International Student Identity Card (ISIC) and get all sorts of discounts: Your regular student ID may not be honored in some countries. An ISIC gives students a single, uniform photo ID recognized worldwide as proof of student status up to age 25. It also entitles you to discounts (from 5% to 25%) on travel, airfare, museum admissions, entertainment, food, car rentals, and accommodations, plus many other benefits including a 24/7, toll-free emergency Help Line and an optional supplemental medical insurance program!
  • Arrive with local money: Consider purchasing at least $100 in the local currency in the U.S. before you leave, in case you can’t exchange money on arrival. Exchanging money at the airport or hotels can be costly. Carry your cash securely in a money belt around your waist or in a pouch around your neck. When you arrive, have a local map with you and know how you’re going to get from the airport to your new home base.
  • Always have multiple forms of money: Carry a mix of cash, traveler’s checks, and ATM and credit cards. Never carry large amounts of cash. Make three lists of traveler's checks: Leave one at home, carry one with the checks, and keep one in a different place with the receipts. It may make sense to open a local bank account; check with your program.
  • Set a weekly budget: If you are studying abroad on limited funds, make a weekly or monthly budget and stick to it! It’s your best strategy for pacing your spending, stretching your resources, and avoiding running low on cash. Get a small notebook or journal (with pockets for receipts) and record all outgoing money so you are fully aware of what you’re spending.
  • Using ATM, credit, or debit cards? Did you know that some banks block international transactions? Before leaving the U.S., alert your financial institutions that you’ll be traveling overseas. Get advice on which getting-cash option carries the lowest fees and costs. These fees can fluctuate regularly. At one time, debit cards were the way to go until banks started slapping on fees. Consult the international VISA/Plus ATM locator to find the machines near you.

Getting there and being there

  • Research the countries you’ll be visiting and their cultures: If your study-abroad program offers a pre-travel orientation, take full advantage of it. Do some background reading, and check out student-oriented travel guides and websites.
  • Check your luggage: Travel as light as possible and mark all luggage inside and out with your name and address. An internal frame backpack is the easiest to carry. Any suitcases should have sturdy wheels. Smart move: Pack several days early, try carrying and wheeling all your baggage at a local mall, then go home and start lightening the load.
  • Carry a written itinerary: When trying to find your way, having written addresses of your destinations to show people can be a big help. Another useful tool is a travel picture dictionary.
  • Browse before buying souvenirs and gifts: Returning students advise waiting until you know where to get the best values at the right price. Don’t burn through your gift budget the first week. Ask your program advisers, other students, and locals for recommendations.
  • Traveling to other cities and countries? Planning saves you money. When you want to travel, make advance reservations (airfare, long train or bus journeys, lodging, the best hostels)—it can be a lot cheaper and secures you a spot.
  • Try to live like a local: Watch how people in your host country or city live, where they eat, where they shop, how they relate to the world, etc. Living like a local, rather than as a tourist, typically saves money. When traveling, pick a hostel or hotel that serves breakfast and get lunch at a local grocery instead of a restaurant. 

Communications

  • Will your cell phone work overseas? Standard U.S. cell phones seldom work outside the country, so figure out your best options well before you leave. Ask if your overseas study program includes a cell phone—some do. If not, what do they advise? Learn about international cell phones from "Saving Money on Mobile Charges when Traveling Abroad," then see if your existing provider can offer the service you need at a reasonable price. Get detailed rates and fees for roaming charges, incoming/outgoing call costs, text message fees, peak time penalties, overuse charges, etc. Compare different plans. Or you can buy an inexpensive, disposable phone upon arrival. These typically operate on a pay-as-you-go system.
  • Don’t expect U.S. toll-free numbers to work abroad: Have alternate contact numbers for your health insurance company, your bank, credit card companies, etc.
  • Don’t know the language? Once you establish where you’ll be studying, brush up your foreign language skills. Learn common phrases and cultural habits before arrival. Ask the school or organization sponsoring your exchange for advice. Don’t be nervous about poor pronunciation; locals will appreciate your efforts!
  • Should you bring a computer or electrical equipment? Avoid bringing unnecessary electrical devices; consider buying small appliances locally. If you bring such items, buy current converters in the U.S. as they can be difficult to find abroad.
  • Travel wisely with your laptop: Record serial numbers, bring copies of receipts (to avoid duty taxes), and make sure insurance and warranties are up-to-date (many home or renter's insurance policies covers computers). Be aware of differences between American and foreign electrical current to avoid damage. Visit RoadNews for hardware and software tips for Internet connectivity and power for your laptop while traveling.
  • Keep in touch with email: A quick and easy way to communicate with family and friends back home is from Internet cafes: www.world66.com has a worldwide cybercafe locator. Get a free, web-based email account (Hotmail, Yahoo!, etc.) if you don't have one already.

Have a wonderful time!

For more information, please visit the websites below. The best study abroad program is one you are prepared for!

General resource from www.studentsabroad.com
Financial resources from www.studyabroad.com

Official resources
U.S. State Department—International Travel

Linked from this general site are these highly useful pages:
Travel Warnings (current worldwide travel warnings)
Consular Information Sheets (country-by-country safety profiles)
Tips for Traveling Abroad (advice for the traveling American) 
Students Abroad (student-oriented travel advice)
Tips for Women Traveling Abroad (general recommendations)
Traveler's Health (CDC's international health profiles and travel recommendations)

Additional information
Visit Nellie Mae’s money management center designed exclusively for undergraduate students.
The FinMan Program is provided by Nellie Mae.