Office of International Education

Congratulations, you have completed your applications to study abroad and are now ready to make final preparations! 

Applying for a passport

Visit http://www.travel.state.gov/passport/get/get_840.html to learn about how to apply for a U.S. passport.  The Department of State advises individuals to allow six weeks for passport processing.  Note, some countries require that your passport be valid for at least six months beyond the dates of your trip.  Consult Consular Information Sheets published by the Department of State and the embassy or consulate of the countries that you plan to visit to find out about entry requirements. 

Applying for a visa

Some countries require that you obtain a visa (an endorsement stamp in your passport) in order to enter the country or to remain in the country for an extended period of time.  Review the State Department's Consular Information Sheets to learn about "Entry Requirements" for each of the countries you plan to visit.

Immunizations

The Center for Disease Control provides individuals with health and safety travel information, including required and recommended vaccinations for every area of the world.  It is important that you make a private appointment with Health Services or your personal physician to review your individual medical needs at least two months in advance of your departure.  Review the International Education Handbook for more health and safety considerations and recommendations.

Insurance

Review the different types of insurance needed while you are studying abroad.  It will be important to become familiar with your options for medical insurance, evacuation and repatriation insurance, and personal property insurance.  First, verify the medical coverage your insurance provides while you are overseas.    In particular, check to see if your plan covers you in the countries you plan to visit and pays the medical provider in your host country directly or if you must pay the provider yourself and seek reimbursement later.   Also, ask about policies regarding evacuation and repatriation.  Medical evacuation and repatriation are typically not covered in standard health insurance.  In most cases, it is strongly recommended that you purchase additional emergency medical insurance for the length of time you are abroad.  

The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) provides its holders with a toll-free Help Line staffed by multilingual representatives who are prepared to advise travelers on issues ranging from required immunizations to medical, financial, or legal emergencies while abroad.  The ISIC also provides students with emergency medical insurance options.  ISIC is only one example of insurance offered to students studying abroad.

Register for study abroad during pre-registration

If you are participating in an SMCM exchange program, register for the following appropriate course listed below.  You do not need to register for individual courses. 
 

CMRS exchange Fudan exchange Gambia exchange Heidelberg exchange Lingnan exchange Payap exchange Sciences Po exchange UMAP exchange

IDIS 352 IDIS 354 IDIS 359 IDIS 353 IDIS 357 IDIS 358 IDIS 355 to be determined

 

 

If you are participating in a non-SMCM exchange program, register for the study-abroad course IDIS STA.  You do not need to register for individual courses.

If you are participating in an SMCM summer program or study tour, register for the course number that corresponds directly with that course or program.

Mandatory pre-departure meeting

All students (study tour participants, exchange program students, summer program students, and students choosing to study with a outside program provider) are required to attend one pre-departure health and safety briefing.  Briefings are held in April for those students studying abroad during the summer or fall, and in November for those studying abroad during the spring.

Review, complete, sign, and return remaining forms

The International Education Office needs the following forms completed by the end of the semester prior to studying abroad:

• Assumption of Risk and Release Form
• Participation Form
• Check-Off Sheet
• Student Information for SMCM Study Tour (if participating in SMCM study tour)

Consult the International Education Handbook for more details about these forms.    

Update contact information

Confirm with the registrar that your active mailing address during the time that you are abroad is your permanent address.   This will ensure that financial aid checks and important mail gets directed to your family instead of your campus mail box. 

Also, confirm that the International Education Office has your e-mail address for the account you will be checking while abroad.  Some students continue to use their SMCM accounts, while others prefer to use an outside provider's account. 

Get to know your destination!

Research the country where you will be studying abroad.  A travel guidebook may be a good place to start to learn more about where you can go, what you can see, and much, much more!

Travel tips

Click here to learn about travel tips from returning study abroad students.

Pre-departure check list

NOTE:   If the student does not follow the procedures above, the College may refuse to grant credit for study-abroad courses that the student may take, regardless of the program in which they were taken.   Credits earned in study-abroad courses and programs offered by another institution and approved by SMCM will be transferred to the student’s transcript when an official transcript is received from the other institution.  These credits will be applied toward the 128 semester-hours needed for graduation.  A maximum of 32 semester-hours, 16 per semester, may be earned in study-abroad programs.