Steps to Study Abroad

Is it for academic experience, personal development, cultural experiences, or career advancement?

There is no right or wrong answer! These are all great reasons to study abroad! Keep this in mind during your planning and program selection process. 

Language improvement, academic experience related to your major, gain cultural and travel experience? 

There are several reasons why students choose to study abroad. No matter what your goals are, you will learn a lot about yourself abroad, in addition to your academics. Study abroad is also a fantastic addition to your resume! 

All majors can study abroad! However, the type of study abroad and the timeframe of your experience may be impacted by your major. Speak with your academic advisor to determine if a full semester or a shorter term program would be best based on your academic plan. You want to think about whether there are certain courses that need to be taken at Emmanuel or during a specific semester, based on course offerings or pre-requisites, sequencing, etc. 

• Nursing students are not able to study abroad for a full semester. However, there are Nursing travel courses available specifically for Nursing students! Additionally, Nursing students can enroll in travel courses that fulfill general requirements. Nursing students can also study abroad during the summer with a study abroad program provider. 
• Education students looking to study abroad for a full semester should speak with the School of Education as soon as possible. It is likely that sophomore year will be the ideal time for a semester abroad based on practicums and student teaching. Course planning adjustments may be needed, so please connect with the School of Education as early as possible. 
• Double majors, or students in highly sequenced majors, such as Biology, should have a conversation with their advisor early in their time at Emmanuel to build out their four year plan. 

We offer short term programs (spring break, winter break, summer), semester-long programs, or academic year abroad programs.

The cost of study abroad may seem overwhelming, but financing options are available! Review the program fee structures above for each type of program. Students should connect with Student Financial Services to inquire about their specific aid package and how aid may transfer. Student Financial Services can also assist students with applying for student loans. 

Scholarships are available for study abroad! 

• Provider programs: Visit the provider website for provider-specific scholarships, as well as general scholarship and funding details and information on external funding sources.
• Emmanuel has additional funding for students on certain providers. 
  • API: Students should apply early to their API program and indicate through the application that they are an Emmanuel student in order to considered for API funding. 
  • ISA/TEAN - WorldStrides: There is limited additional funding for students on ISA/TEAN programs. Please email studyabroad [at] emmanuel.edu (studyabroad[at]emmanuel[dot]edu) for more information, but this application will be part of the general Travel Award that is offered through the Office of International Programs each semester.
• Travel Courses: The Emmanuel Travel Award is offered to a limited number of students with financial need. Email studyabroad [at] emmanuel.edu (studyabroad[at]emmanuel[dot]edu) for current deadlines of this award. Please note there are two application cycles per year (fall/summer - application due in March and spring – application due in October) 

We know that your family may have questions about study abroad! If you plan to use a provider program, our providers all have parent and family information on their websites. For travel course students, please reach out to studyabroad [at] emmanuel.edu (studyabroad[at]emmanuel[dot]edu) for specific questions and we can provide more information. The Office of International Programs also is represented at Admissions Events and Orientation, so please come visit us! 

This is the top priority for Emmanuel College. All programs selected with our providers will have support from the provider onsite. Additionally, all Emmanuel students are covered under ISOS (International SOS) Travel Insurance. More information will be shared at pre-departure information. 

All study abroad experiences will require a passport. We encourage all students to apply for a passport, even if you do not end up studying abroad. If you apply over the age of 16, U.S. passports are valid for 10 years. 

• More information on applying for a passport can be found here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html
• If you applied for a passport when you were under 16 years old, please check the expiration date (as child passports are only valid for 5 years!). 

Please note that due to host country requirements, passports must be valid for at least six months AFTER the end date of your travel. Countries have different requirements, but we recommend six months of validity to be safe.

The Emmanuel study abroad eligibility requirements are: 2.5 GPA, not on disciplinary probation, and no financial holds. 

For travel courses, if students meet these eligibility criteria, the application will be reviewed. After the application deadline for travel courses, admissions decisions will be made by the faculty member and the Office of International Programs. 

For provider programs, if these eligibility requirements met, Emmanuel can approve students to the provider. Please note that the providers may have their own eligibility requirements, including a higher GPA requirement for some programs. 

We recommend planning at least a year in advance, especially for a semester or year abroad. 

The Emmanuel College deadlines are typically: 

• March 15 for Fall and Summer programs
• October 15 for Spring programs
• Please note that providers may have earlier deadlines than the Emmanuel deadline. Students should apply as early as possible, especially for popular destinations (Florence, Barcelona) 

Now that you’ve decided to study abroad, we recommend revisiting your four year plan and have a conversation with your advisor about your academic planning. 

Provider Programs: 

• Determine which courses you should be looking for abroad (Will you need a major course, minor course, general requirements, etc.)? If you have an idea of the types of courses you are looking for, that will be very helpful in reviewing program choices. 
• As you look at program websites, review the courses available and see what types of courses are offered. During the application process, you will need to have your courses approved through the Registrar’s Office. More information can be found in the section below. 

Travel Courses: 

• Be sure to determine how the course will fit into your four year plan. Will it count towards your major? Does it fulfill a general requirement or essential value requirement? Many students have room in their schedule for some free electives, but it’s a good idea to confirm beforehand with your advisor that the travel course will work with your four year plan. 

Program fees will vary. Determine your budget for study abroad and have a conversation with your academic advisor about the types of aid that you can use for your particular study abroad. 

Are the courses you need offered? (Please note they will still need to be approved)

Is there a language requirement? Most programs have several classes taught in English, but some language focused programs may have pre-requisites.

Options include: 

• Homestay (great for cultural and language immersion – and there may potentially be meals included, that may not be included with other housing types)
• Apartment (students will need to buy groceries and apartments typically will have shared kitchen space)
• Residence Hall (available in some programs and will typically include shared kitchen and common space) 

For provider programs - the four main items to consider are: Tuition, Housing, Meals, Airfare

• Tuition and housing are included in most programs. 
  • Note: Australia programs may have housing and tuition separate due to a large range of pricing in Australian housing types, however, this will always be listed on the provider website. 
• Meals may or may not be included in the program fee. If you choose to live in a homestay, there may be some meals included that would not be included in an apartment. There may also be the option to purchase a meal plan through your host school or provider. 
• Airfare will be an additional expense. Your provider will instruct you when to arrive onsite as airport pickup is typically included in the program fee.

For Travel courses -  Most travel courses include accommodations, flights, all academic activities, insurance, transportation within country, and some meals. Please note that there will be several meals that you will be responsible for on many programs. 

• The Summer Institute in Crete does NOT include airfare. 
  • This program fee will be approximately $3,900 plus summer tuition ($4,000 for 2025) for a total of $3,900 for Summer 2025. This is subject to increase in future years. Airfare is not included in this fee. 
  • Please contact Student Financial Services regarding summer financial aid. Additionally, there are scholarships available through both the Office of International Programs (these will be competitive and will be based on financial need) and the Institute of Eastern Mediterranean Studies.  

Emmanuel/COF Documents

The Emmanuel documents after acceptance include:

• Passport and Visa copies
• Confirmation of course approval form
• Liability and Authorization Documents
• Learning Content (these modules have great information for you to read through prior to travel)
• Itinerary/Travel Information 

All of these documents can be found within your account at https://cof.studioabroad.com. Please log on to your account to see what your requirements are. If you do not have access to these documents, please email studyabroad [at] emmanuel.edu (studyabroad[at]emmanuel[dot]edu) 

Provider Documents

• Your provider should be in frequent contact with you prior to departure. Please be responsive to all emails, calls, and communication from your provider. 
• You will likely have a portal with a checklist with your provider. Please submit all documents in a timely manner!
• If there are documents that need to be signed by Emmanuel (courses, disciplinary forms, etc.), please send these to studyabroad [at] emmanuel.edu (studyabroad[at]emmanuel[dot]edu). 

If you plan to use financial aid or loans to pay for study abroad. Please contact Student Financial Services as soon as you are accepted. You will need to complete two forms if you plan to use financial aid (keep in mind that federal and state financial aid generally transfer to study abroad. 

• Provider financial aid form: Your provider will likely have a form to be signed by your financial advisor at Emmanuel College. You will be responsible for sending this over to your counselor at Emmanuel once received by your program. 
• Consortium Agreement: You will be responsible for sending your provider the Consortium Agreement. This is an Emmanuel form (that can be obtained from Student Financial Services) that is used to disburse federal aid and confirm program cost and enrollment information directly from your program. 

If you would like to explore loan options, please contact Student Financial Services. 

Scholarships: Apply to scholarships! If you receive the Federal Pell Grant, you can apply for the Gilman scholarship: https://www.gilmanscholarship.org. Your provider likely has scholarships that you can apply to. Please reach out to your program directly with questions. These deadlines may be earlier than the application deadline. 

• Plan for spending money abroad! We recommend having a few options for accessing funds while abroad. 
• Contact your bank to inform them that you will be traveling. 
• Research the international transaction and ATM fees for your account. 
• Review the inclusions for your program to determine how much spending money you should have with you. Keep in mind: meals, public transportation, books, traveling, and daily expenses for personal items, etc.

If you have not received your passport yet, please apply as soon as possible. For travel courses, this will need to be submitted several months in advance of travel so the College can book travel arrangements. Please refer to all deadlines from your provider as to when your passport will be due. 

You may need a visa to study abroad. Your program will advise you on whether you will need a visa depending on the length of your program and the destination (generally programs over 90 days in Europe will need a visa). You will receive detailed information from your provider on the application process. Please contact your provider with any questions. However, it is your responsibility to make an appointment, complete all documents, and obtain the visa. 

Please start this process as soon as possible as it can be difficult to obtain an appointment for some consulates during the busiest months (October, November, December). Please plan ahead! 

When booking your flight, your provider will advise you when to arrive to take advantage of airport pick up. Be sure to arrive between the stated arrival times. Most European flights are overnight, so you will need to leave the U.S. the day before you are supposed to arrive. 

Emmanuel College will book flights for most travel courses and this will be communicated during the pre-departure and application process. Students participating on the Emmanuel Summer Institute in Crete will be responsible for booking their own flights.

All students on a provider program for the semester or summer will be required to attend the Colleges of the Fenway Pre-Departure Orientation. Information on this orientation will be sent in advance of travel. It is required that all Emmanuel students attend. This orientation will cover health and safety, general cultural adjustment and general travel tips. 

All resources that you utilize on your home campus will be available to you as you prepare to study abroad. If you utilize the Counseling Center or Academic Resource Center, have a conversation prior to travel on how to navigate life and academics abroad. 

• If you take medications, speak with your doctor to obtain enough medication for your time abroad. 
• Visit https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel to learn about any health considerations or required vaccinations for your time abroad. 
• Educate yourself on travel insurance. All Emmanuel students are covered under ISOS insurance: https://www.colleges-fenway.org/insurance-while-abroad/. Your provider will also have insurance that you are covered under. 
• Know the contact information and location of the U.S. Embassy. The Embassy can assist if you lose your passport. 
• All students are encouraged to sign up for the U.S. State Department’s Smart Travel Enrollment Program (STEP). This program allows the embassy to contact U.S. citizens in the event of an emergency. https://mytravel.state.gov/s/step

Pack light!

We know that packing can be overwhelming – here are some tips to help you: 

• Bring good walking shoes (you likely do not need to bring over four pairs of shoes)
• Ensure you can carry all of your luggage yourself. 
• When deciding which clothes to bring, choose items that can be mixed and matched, so you have multiple outfit options without overpacking.
• Think about electronics and ensure you have the appropriate converters and adapters (if applicable). 
• When packing, put out everything you think you need. Then put back half and you may still have too much! 

You may want to plan some travel ahead of time. While it is easy to travel through Europe, you do NOT need to travel every weekend! Everyone is on a different budget and there will be many activities in your host city each weekend!

Take some time to explore your host city on the weekends. We want you to feel like you live there! 

A few weeks after you arrive, the Office of International Programs will send you an Enrollment Verification Form. As soon as this form is received and your course registration for the semester is final, please work with your host program to have this completed. Your host program will need to send this to Emmanuel. We cannot accept forms directly from students. 

For risk management purposes, we ask that you upload any travel outside of your host city to your account at https://cof.studioabroad.com 

Be sure you are aware of your academic requirements for your courses. The academic structure, attendance requirements, and grading systems may be different than you are accustomed to. Please reach out to your provider with any questions you may have about your courses abroad. If needed, take advantage of tutoring and academic support services abroad. 

Your host program is available to support you while abroad. In a true emergency, ensure that you are aware of the local emergency number abroad. 

Study Abroad can be an overwhelming experience. If you need any support, reach out to your host program. Additionally, students have access to emotional support programs through International SOS. More information can be found here: https://www.colleges-fenway.org/insurance-while-abroad/

You will receive course registration information from the Office of the Registrar while abroad. You will register online at your assigned time. If you have any questions, you can contact the Registrar’s Office at regmail [at] emmanuel.edu (regmail[at]emmanuel[dot]edu). 

Residence Life will reach out to all students abroad to confirm their plans on returning to campus and to discuss the housing selection process. For any questions, please contact the Office of Residence Life directly.

Your provider will send your transcript to Emmanuel upon completion of the program. Please note that this can take 2-3 months to arrive and that you must receive the equivalent of a ‘C’ or better in each course to earn credit. The credits will be added to your transcript if you received the necessary grades and if the courses have been pre-approved. The grades from study abroad will not impact the Emmanuel GPA. However, you may need to submit your study abroad transcript, which will show the grades, in the future for graduate school or future employment. 

Be sure to add your study abroad experience to your resume! Visit the Career Center to learn how you can speak about your experience in interviews and use this experience in your career and internship search. 

We’d love to hear about your experience! Please email 2-3 photos of your time abroad to studyabroad [at] emmanuel.edu (studyabroad[at]emmanuel[dot]edu) and they may be posted on our Instagram page or used for future marketing. 

If you would like to volunteer at events promoting study abroad, please email studyabroad [at] emmanuel.edu (studyabroad[at]emmanuel[dot]edu)