Parents and Guardians of Study Abroad Students

• Open-mindedness
• Initiative and leadership capability
• Willingness to step outside their comfort zone
• Maturity
• Independence
• Flexibility
• Curiousity
• Self-reliance

For a student who is interested in seeing the world and experiencing a new culture and adventure, going abroad as an undergraduate is one of the best times to do so.  Why?  Because they have the financial aid and scholarships to make it affordable, peers alongside them to lean on, the time available to be away from home, and the support of the Study Abroad Office and partners in country to ensure their safety. 

Studying abroad does not have to put your son or daughter, or yourself, in debt.  One of the biggest myths out there about studying abroad is the idea that it is too expensive. This is not the case! First and foremost, SVSU students are able to use all of their scholarship and financial aid previously awarded to them for the semester in which they plan to go abroad.  This means any scholarship, grant, and loan they are scheduled to receive will automatically transfer over to the study abroad program of their choice.  SVSU also offers very affordable programs - some that are equal to SVSU tuition and housing rates, others even less!  Finally, students can take advantage of the close to $100,000 in study abroad scholarships available at SVSU alone, not to mention the funds that are available off-campus.

Many students are able to go abroad for little to no extra financial hardship.  Read more about study abroad scholarships & financial aid, and meet with a Financial Aid or Study Abroad advisor to discuss the financial aspect of studying abroad in more detail.

Safety and health are a key concern of the Study Abroad Office and its partners. 

SVSU policy prohibits students from traveling to unsafe destinations, as determined by US Department of State travel warnings and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In addition, students are required to complete an online pre-departure orientation session where health and safety concerns are addressed in detail. Students are encouraged to share the information from the online orientation with their parents. Topics of discussion as they relate to health and safety include: health and travel insurance, emergency protocol, traveling with prescription medication, eating and sanitary customs and recommendations, international flights and customs, student code of conduct, safety precautions, and more.  In most cases, students will also participate in a second orientation session after arrival to the destination that addresses health and safety issues particular to the location they are studying.

Students studying abroad will never be alone. They will always have direct access to an in-country support contact and to an SVSU study abroad staff member via phone, e-mail, Skype, etc.  The majority of programs are group-oriented, meaning students will be traveling with other SVSU students or American students.  

On faculty-led programs, students travel with a minimum of two SVSU faculty or staff members and a group of SVSU students.  The Study Abroad Office also provides GeoBlue health insurance coverage and registers faculty-led participants into the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) through the Department of State.

Another major myth surrounding study abroad is the idea that going abroad will delay a student's graduation date. As a parent, you are likely concerned about your son's or daughter's priorities and the progress they make toward completing their studies and earning a degree. Studying abroad is not an expensive vacation. 

The Study Abroad Office promotes only programs that are academic in nature and program options are available for every major offered at SVSU.  Students will be in the classroom and will be required to complete assignments as they would for a class on campus at SVSU. Both credits and letter grades are transferred from the study abroad program back to SVSU.

Students have the option of taking general education classes abroad or taking classes relevant to their major.  Study Abroad Advisors work one-on-one with students to help them find courses that will count toward their degree. Students are encouraged to get any required courses approved ahead of time, so that they are guaranteed that credit transfers in as they need it.

Internship opportunities are available for every major as well, allowing students to gain real-world work experience to help build their résumé. 

Studying abroad helps students to gain a global perspective in their field of study. The SVSU Office of Career Services has staff available to advise students on the best way to incorporate a study abroad experience onto a résumé and how to talk about that experience in an interview. Rather than delaying graduation, studying abroad actually helps students to advance and to gain a competitive edge in the job market today.

Staff in the Study Abroad Office are more than happy to speak with you about study abroad programs and the application process. Advisors are available to communicate by phone, e-mail, or for an in-person meeting.

Study Abroad Staff: