Getting Started With Your Study Abroad Experience
- Create your Traveler Account and Search All Programs through the Study Abroad Portal.
- Attend at Getting Started Session:
- In-person, Wednesdays, 11a.m.–noon, University Crossing room 201 – no appointment needed
- Zoom, Tuesdays 1–2 p.m. and Wednesdays 10 – 11 a.m. – no appointment needed - using the Getting Started Session Zoom Meeting Link
- Consider the following:
- Where do you want to study abroad? Students choose the location based on several factors. Of course, always wanting to go to a certain place may be one reason, however, it is also recommended to consider how a location may complement your major of study, future career and personal goals, costs and additional travel plans. When studying for a full semester, location may be driven by courses needing to be completed for your degree pathway during the time you plan to go abroad.
- What length of time would you like to study abroad? Semester, Summer Sessions, Winter Intersession. Program options can be as short as one week abroad over spring break, to 1-5 weeks in the summer or winter sessions or a full semester.
- What courses do you want or need to take during the time you’ll be abroad, and can they be taken off-campus? Meet with your faculty advisor or academic advisor (name found in your SiS), review your Degree Pathway and your Advising Report (found in your SiS). View the list of Degree Pathways by Major in the UMass Lowell online Academic Catalog.
- Consider your study abroad budget and learn what funding opportunities are available to you. Once you consider the above, you can search and identify (see, create your Traveler account, above) your program of choice. You can then create a budget for this experience. The budget will typically include the program cost (often called “program fee” which in most instances will include housing, student services/support and cultural immersion activities on-site), travel costs (such as round-trip airfare and any on-site transportation needs that may not be included in the program fee) and personal spending money. There may be other items to include in your budget such as passport or visa costs as well. Use the helpful budget worksheet as a guide to assemble your budget. Financial aid may be applied towards your program costs and there are many scholarship opportunities as well.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Do you have a passport?
Start the passport process as soon as possible if you do not have one or need to renew. Learn the how, how much, and where on the U.S. State Department website.
If you already have a passport, check to make sure it is valid for at least 6 months after the last date of your study abroad program. This is the standard timeframe most countries will require your passport to be valid for upon entering.
Visas
You may not apply for a visa until you are accepted to your program. You may need a “travel visa” in addition to your passport to enter the country of your study abroad experience. Review the entry/exit requirements for a given location on the U.S. Department of State’s website and the U.S. Embassies' websites. The Office of Study Abroad and International Experiences can walk you through the visa needs/process.