Congratulations! If you are here then you must have recently been accepted into your study abroad program. You are about to embark upon the experience of a lifetime! Before you start packing your bags, however, there are a few important things you need to do...
Accepted students will receive a pre-departure e-mail, which provides detailed information on the followings topics. Please share this information with your parents:
Pre-Departure Meeting
The semester prior to studying abroad, you will be required to attend TWO mandatory pre-departure meetings. The dates, times and locations of these meetings will be provided to you with plenty of notice so that you can mark your calendar.
Pre-Departure Handbook
At the pre-departure meeting all students will receive the SJU Study Abroad Pre-Departure Handbook. This handbook contains important information on health and safety abroad, academic and administrative information, practical travel information, advice on how to make the most of your time abroad, and cultural adjustment and re-entry information. All students should read the handbook and take it with them abroad. Please note that some information in the handbook could change. You should obtain an updated copy from the Center for International Programs prior to your departure.
Required Forms and Documents
ALL study abroad students, regardless of program, will need to submit the following to the Center for International Programs before leaving campus (some programs will need to submit additional materials):
- $100 non-refundable confirmation deposit - this is due to CIP soon after you are notified of your acceptance (you will receive an email or letter stating the exact due date)
- SJU General Release Form signed
- Signed Community Standards Travel Abroad Form
- Completed Study Abroad Course Equivalency Approval Form (For information on the course approval process please read below)
- Copy of photo page of Passport - please make sure your passport is valid at least 6 months after the end date of your program
- Insurance Verification Form - students have four options to fulfill the insurance requirement: i) health insurance coverage through the semester abraod program into which the student has been accepted; ii) family insurance plan; iii)through the Saint Joseph's University Student Injury and Sickness Insurance Plan iv) short-term insurance purchased through a provider that specializes in coverage for students of U.S. institutions while abroad.
Course Approval Process
All courses that you plan to take overseas need to be approved prior to departure. For the SJU affiliated and approved programs, some of the courses, which you will be taking abroad, have already been approved. Please consult the pre-approved course spreadsheet for your particular program to determine how the courses you intend to take will count at SJU. The most up-to-date copies of these spreadsheets can be found in the Center for International Programs office. Each student will need to complete and hand in to CIP the Study Abroad Course Equivalency Approval Form before you leave campus.
In order to fill out the form completely you must seek approval from:
1) CIP for known equivalencies (those courses listed on the pre-approved spreadsheets)
2) Where equivalencies do not currently exist, you MUST take the form and any relevant course information (descriptions or syllabi) to the appropriate faculty or staff member before departure to obtain their signatures on the Approval Form.
- o College of Arts and Sciences: Academic Associate Dean must approve courses.
- o Haub School of Business: Appropriate Department Chair must approve courses.
3) Your Academic Advisor (he/she will need to sign off on your study abroad courses). You should also meet with your Academic Advisor to determine how your approved courses will fulfill your graduation and/or major requirements.
Please note that it is YOUR responsibility to get approvals for all of your study abroad courses. Make copies of approvals for your records and hand in the original documents to CIP. At this time, the lists of pre-approved courses may be obtained by e-mailing the CIP or stopping by the CIP office.
As always, if you have any questions regarding your upcoming semester abroad please stop by or call the Center for International Programs (610-660-1835). We are here to help you!
