Students must complete an application
and submit all materials to the Learning Abroad Center and/or
the organization that is organizing the student's program.
These materials typically include an application, essay, letters
of recomendation, and transcript. Application requirements
can be found on the Apply
Now page.
Once a student is accepted
to a specific program, the student needs to submit essential
forms to be considered a confirmed participant. These materials
typically include the confirmation deposit, the release and
waiver, housing form, and other materials. A list of confirmation
materials for each program can be found on the Accepted
Students web page.
A mandatory pre-departure orientation is scheduled for all
students participating in a program through the Learning Abroad
Center. These orientations are mandatory for all students within
100 miles of the Twin Cities. At orientation, students receive
information about the program, cultural adjustment, and have
the opportunity to speak to past participants. Parents, friends,
and family members are welcome to attend the orientation as
well. Orientation
dates are available on the Pre-departure
Orientation page.
Pre-departure Documents
Passport
A passport is an official government document that proves
one's citizenship. A valid passport is required to enter another
country except Canada or Mexico, where a birth certificate
with a valid driver's license will suffice for US citizens.
Participants should apply for a passport as soon as possible.
Since passports can take as long as four weeks to process,
it is wise to begin early. Passports must be valid for the
entire period of time abroad. If a participant's passport
is set to expire while they are abroad, then they should renew
it prior to departure. Many foreign countries will not issue
a visa if the passport is due to expire within six months
of the application. Further information is available online.
Visa
Many governments require a visa for entry into their country.
A visa is official/legal permission to enter a country for
a stated purpose and specified period of time and is granted
by the government of that country. Depending on the length
of a participant's stay and the program location, it may be
necessary for the participant to apply for a visa. Participants
on Learning Abroad Center sponsored programs will receive
visa information in program specific materials or at the pre-departure
orientation. Participants enrolled in other programs should
check with their sponsor regarding visa information. In all
cases, since visas can take several weeks to process, it is
important that the participant follow the directions provided
by their sponsor. Further information on host country visa
requirements is available online.
Power of Attorney/Attorney-in Fact
The Learning Abroad Center urges students who are studying abroad to select a
trusted parent or other person to receive Power of Attorney to take care of unanticipated
financial and personal affairs while they are out of the country. A student with
financial aid through the University of Minnesota may require the assistance of
their Attorney-in-Fact to deal with issues such as completing financial aid paperwork
or deposit of financial aid checks. Any student may require assistance with banking,
insurance transactions, or another legal matter. See the Power
of Attorney policy for more details.
Prepare a Study Abroad Folder
Copy of every important document
passport
visa
acceptance letter from the Learning Abroad Center
credit & debit cards (front & back)
CISI insurance info, copies of claim forms, copy of card
all flight information and tickets
lodging information, if leaving early or coming back after the program
International Student Identity Card Info (if your student purchased the card)
Banking Information
Document all of your student's banking information (including directions of how to transfer $ between savings and checking. We recommend that students have a parent or other trusted person as a co-signer on their accounts.)
Financial Aid Information
Tax Preparation Information
If your student will be abroad during spring semester and needs to file tax information, be sure to gather it ahead of time, contacting employers if necessary.
Basic Vocabulary
Ask your student to prepare a list of phrases (including phonetic pronunciations) in the appropriate language that you could use when calling your student, such as "Is Sara there?" "This is her mother" "This is not an emergency", etc.
Your student's phone number and address in the host country
Ask your student to collect the following phone numbers and/or email addresses
his/her travel agent
the contact person at his/her site abroad*
his/her academic adviser
Learning Abroad Center study abroad staff*
Other critical University, such as Financial Aid or Business Office*
the international numbers of the people with whom s/he will be traveling and the domestic telephone numbers of their parents
*=included in the Program Guide or program materials
Financial Plan
Money
Matters
Preparing for financial needs during a study abroad experience
requires planning and foresight. Tips for navigating this
process as well as financial aid and scholarship information
is avaliable on the Financial
Planning page.
It is important that participants have easy access to money
while overseas and that they bring enough money with them
to last the entire overseas period. We encourage participants to have a variety
of methods to access cash while abroad. We recommend that
families be as generous as possible if helping with the budget
to allow participants to take full advantage of travel and
sightseeing opportunities during this unique experience. Budget
estimates are provided to students upon acceptance into the
program. Review this information
with the participant in order to plan accordingly. Spending
allowances will vary greatly, depending upon a participant's
personal spending habits, exchange rate, individual arrangements
(e.g., urban vs. rural living), travel plans, and length of
stay.
Additional restrictions and recommendations
for program locations are addressed at the country-specific pre-departure orientation. The Learning Abroad Center encourages
both you and your student to carefully review all pre-departure
materials, including program handbooks, for country-specific
details related to money matters.
Currency Before Departure
It is helpful, to have some of
the host country's currency on hand upon arrival. Some foreign
currency may be difficult to find in the Twin Cities or in
your local area, and participants will usually find exchange
banks at their point of entry or at a major international
airport in the US. Participants should keep in mind the hour
of arrival to determine if banks at the airport will open
upon arrival. Having enough in hand at least for cab fare
would eliminate the need to stand in line at the airport (where
exchange rates typically are less favorable than at banks).
Debit Cards
In many major cities, debit cards can be used. This is a
convenient way to access money and offers the best exchange
rate. Before leaving the country, participants should check with their local banks to see
if any debit cards offered (like Cirrus or Plus) are widely
used in the country of destination.
Most major credit cards can also be used for instant cash
at machines if a PIN number is assigned to the account. The
back of the credit card will state whether it is a Cirrus
or a Plus card. Cash can also be withdrawn on a credit card
account in the participant's name at most major banks with
a passport for identification. Transaction fees may be assessed
each time a withdrawal is made and, consequently, it may be
best to request large amounts to minimize the number of fees.
These fees, however, could be less than what a bank charges
to cash a traveler's check.
Credit Cards
We recommend that all participants carry a major credit card
in their name. VISA and Mastercard are accepted in most program
locations and in major cities. Depending on the program location,
some credit cards are more accepted than others, and in a
few cases credit card use may be very limited. Students are strongly encouraged to onfirm
this before s/he has arrived in another country. Students
also should notify their credit card company that they will
be out of the country and provide the dates of the international
experience. Some credit card companies will flag "suspicious
activity" and freeze accounts if they note numerous charges
from overseas.
Even if payment by credit card is not preferred for daily
expenditures, a credit card might be important in case of emergency. In addition, major credit cards are well protected
and easy to replace if lost. Merchandise and air tickets purchased
with a major credit card may also be protected if lost or
stolen (check individual card policies and the Fair Credit
and Billing Act). A process for payment of credit card bills
should be established before the participant's departure from
the US.
Traveler's Checks
Finally, we recommend that participants obtain at least a
couple hundred dollars in the form of traveler's checks in case of emergency.
Participants should always remember to keep the check stubs
separate from the checks, so that reimbursement is easy in
the case of theft or loss. It is also a good idea to leave
a record of the traveler's check numbers with someone at home
for reference if assistance in obtaining replacement checks
is necessary.
Money Belts
To keep money, passport, and other important materials safe abroad, money belts and
other similar devices kept close to the body are best. These
can be purchased at the Learning Abroad Center in 230 Heller
Hall (map). Information about additional travel products is available online.
Black Market
Although it may be tempting to exchange currency for a better
price via the black market, it is important for participants
to understand the legal repercussions. Black market transfers
are illegal and often dangerous. Some travelers have been
assaulted, set up for arrest, or robbed while dealing with
black marketeers. Participants caught engaging in black market
activities will be dismissed from the program.
