- International Students & Scholars
Education Abroad Pre-Departure Checklist
There are many steps to take in preparing yourself to participate in an education abroad program. Follow this checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything!
- Apply for a passport, if you do not already have one. Renew your passport if it will expire within six months of the end date of your program.
- Talk to your academic adviser about the courses you plan to take while abroad. In particular, you should discuss how the courses you take abroad could substitute for the requirements in your degree audit. Education abroad advisers cannot provide guidance regarding academic requirements for your degree.
- Complete all prerequisite courses (if applicable) for your program. Any prerequisite courses must be completed before you will be permitted to participate in your program abroad.
- Ask your academic adviser if your department has any specific requirements students in your major must complete before studying abroad.
- Complete all required paperwork for your program/host institution (if applicable). It is very important to pay attention to any forms that need to be submitted and the date by which they must be submitted — otherwise, you risk being withdrawn from your program.
- Obtain a visa, if one is required for your host country. Consult country-specific resources to see whether or not you need a visa for the country where you plan to study, and if so, what the requirements are for doing so.
- Once your program's dates are confirmed, make flight arrangements to your host city (or the nearest airport). Airline reservations and travel arrangements are the student’s responsibility and will not be made on the student’s behalf.
- Apply for housing at your host institution if you are participating in a program that does not organize housing for you.
- Complete all Penn State pre-departure orientation requirements.
- Learn about your host country, city, and program/institution. Read newspapers from your host city, read guidebooks, and spend some time on your program/host institution’s website. In particular, consider researching the following topics:
- Social and cultural norms and practices
- Academic styles and expectations, including the grading system
- Currency and accepted payment methods
- Health and safety resources
- Climate and weather
- Language expectations
- Connect with other students on your program. You can also reach out to your education abroad adviser to get connected with program alumni to hear about their experiences.
- Consult with your doctor about any health or medical conditions you may have and how you will manage them abroad. Compile a list of the medications (with their generic names and dosages) you will require while abroad.
- Refer to University Health Services Travel Clinic for vaccination information, if any are required for extended stay in your host country.
- Leave copies of your flight itinerary and the photo page of your passport with family members.
- Forward your campus mail to your permanent address.
- Arrange housing at Penn State for the semester you will return (if applicable).
- Call your bank and credit card companies at least a week before you leave the U.S. and let them know you’ll be using your cards abroad so they don't see your activity as fraudulent.
- Make a budget of how much money you will need for different upcoming expenses and stick to it!
- Need help making a budget? Visit the Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center to get help with creating a budget, discussing monetary challenges and identity theft protection.
- Organize the following important items to take with you in your carry-on luggage:
- Your passport (and visa, if required for your program)
- Letter of acceptance or similar document from your program
- Orientation materials
- Letter from your doctor indicating the generic names and amounts of any medicines you require while you are away (if applicable)
- Photocopy of the picture/signature pages of your passport (kept in a separate place from your actual passport)
- Phone numbers and account numbers for any debit/credit cards you are taking with you
- Copy of your Penn State international insurance policy (for reference purposes) and your 24-hour emergency contact insurance card
- Apply for a passport, if you do not already have one. Renew your passport if it will expire within six months of the end date of your program.
- Talk to your academic adviser about the courses you plan to take while abroad. In particular, you should discuss how the courses you take abroad could substitute for the requirements in your degree audit. Education abroad advisers cannot provide guidance regarding academic requirements for your degree.
- Complete all prerequisite courses (if applicable) for your program. Any prerequisite courses must be completed before you will be permitted to participate in your program abroad.
- Ask your academic adviser if your department has any specific requirements students in your major must complete before studying abroad.
- Complete all required paperwork for your program/host institution (if applicable). It is very important to pay attention to any forms that need to be submitted and the date by which they must be submitted — otherwise, you risk being withdrawn from your program.
- Obtain a visa, if one is required for your host country. Consult country-specific resources to see whether or not you need a visa for the country where you plan to study, and if so, what the requirements are for doing so.
- Once your program's dates are confirmed, make flight arrangements to your host city (or the nearest airport). Airline reservations and travel arrangements are the student’s responsibility and will not be made on the student’s behalf.
- Apply for housing at your host institution if you are participating in a program that does not organize housing for you.
- Complete all Penn State pre-departure orientation requirements.
- Learn about your host country, city, and program/institution. Read newspapers from your host city, read guidebooks, and spend some time on your program/host institution’s website. In particular, consider researching the following topics:
- Social and cultural norms and practices
- Academic styles and expectations, including the grading system
- Currency and accepted payment methods
- Health and safety resources
- Climate and weather
- Language expectations
- Connect with other students on your program. You can also reach out to your education abroad adviser to get connected with program alumni to hear about their experiences.
- Consult with your doctor about any health or medical conditions you may have and how you will manage them abroad. Compile a list of the medications (with their generic names and dosages) you will require while abroad.
- Refer to University Health Services Travel Clinic for vaccination information, if any are required for extended stay in your host country.
- Leave copies of your flight itinerary and the photo page of your passport with family members.
- Forward your campus mail to your permanent address.
- Arrange housing at Penn State for the semester you will return (if applicable).
- Call your bank and credit card companies at least a week before you leave the U.S. and let them know you’ll be using your cards abroad so they don't see your activity as fraudulent.
- Make a budget of how much money you will need for different upcoming expenses and stick to it!
- Need help making a budget? Visit the Sokolov-Miller Family Financial and Life Skills Center to get help with creating a budget, discussing monetary challenges and identity theft protection.
- Organize the following important items to take with you in your carry-on luggage:
- Your passport (and visa, if required for your program)
- Letter of acceptance or similar document from your program
- Orientation materials
- Letter from your doctor indicating the generic names and amounts of any medicines you require while you are away (if applicable)
- Photocopy of the picture/signature pages of your passport (kept in a separate place from your actual passport)
- Phone numbers and account numbers for any debit/credit cards you are taking with you
- Copy of your Penn State international insurance policy (for reference purposes) and your 24-hour emergency contact insurance card
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