Applying & Going
Parents and Families
SAFETY AND SECURITY ABROAD
The safety of all participants on a USF Education Abroad program is of the utmost
importance. Therefore, we have a team whose focus is to assess the possible risks
before a program is offered, discuss the safety and security with faculty and in-country
coordinators accompanying the students, and monitor the program while the students
are abroad until they return. The International Risk and Security Office is on-call
24/7 to offer assistance in health and safety incidents occurring abroad. To best
prepare our student travelers, each student is required to complete a General Pre-departure
Orientation course and attend country-specific orientations. Furthermore, all students
are enrolled in our International Health and Emergency Evacuation Insurance plan designed
to meet the specific needs of students abroad.
To learn more about our insurance, 24/7 support and online resources, please visit our International Travel website.
Typically, family members are welcome to attend USF’s pre-departure orientations;
however, in instances where this cannot be accommodated, students are strongly encouraged
to share all information discussed during their orientations with family members.
Additionally, while we understand family and friends may wish to travel abroad with
their student, it can often prove disruptive to have them accompany students to the
program site, accommodations, or classrooms, as access to these location is frequently
restricted to members of the program only.
FUNDING
The program cost of an Education Abroad program will include housing and other expenses
for the student which will depend on the cost of living of the particular city or
cities where the program occurs. Our office understands that studying abroad requires
careful financial planning, and financial resources need not be a deterrent. In order
to assist students in finding funding, our office provides funding workshops, and
online resources of this site.
We advise that students look into obtaining the funds needed to pay for their program
costs and additional expenses as early as possible, and apply to multiple scholarships
to increase their chances of receiving funds. Students must keep in mind that most
scholarships cover only part of the total program costs and deadlines can fall 3 –
6 months before their program’s travel dates.
ACADEMICS
Our office supports and creates high-impact, innovative, and accessible academic programs
abroad through which students earn college credits. The process of those credits applying
to students’ transcripts depends on the program. The type of credit could be transfer
or direct which also determines the funding for which the student will be eligible.
Our website provides a to electronic brochures with details about each program and the type of credits obtainable.
STUDENT PRIVACY CONSIDERATIONS
The ßÙßÇÂþ» must abide by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy
Act (FERPA). We understand that parents may want to inquire about their students’
academic, financial or registration information, yet all aspects of study abroad participation
are the responsibility of the students. Consider it an opportunity for growth! We
would like to encourage you to read more about .
PARENT GUIDE TO STUDY ABROAD
For an in-depth resource on providing support to your child as they navigate the study
abroad process, you can the Institute for International Education’s Parent Guide to Study Abroad.