Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences

1. Finding a Program
If you are interested in a Travel Study Program sponsored by the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, you should contact the faculty member responsible for the program or the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences' Office of the Dean, located in the Mailman-Hollywood Building. If you are interested in a program offered by another institution, or want to design your own program, you should contact the Office of the Dean to initiate the process. Staff are available to meet with students to personally counsel them so that their travel study experience will help meet their needs. The Office of the Dean also helps students search and evaluate travel study programs to find the ones that best fit their needs. Travel study students seeking course credit will be required to participate in organized schoolwork. This work may include field trips, written essays, examinations, and class lectures.

2. Researching your country of interest
Once you have selected a country for travel study, do your homework. A good place to start is the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs , which provides updated fact sheets for all countries. These fact sheets provide general information about each country's culture and history. They also provide updated information about health and safety. While travel study is generally a safe experience, certain areas of the world may be politically unstable, unsafe, and, therefore, not recommended for travel study. The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs country fact sheets include information about safety issues, as well as any current travel advisories.   

3. Paying for the Program
Travel study costs vary depending on the program. While it can be costly to travel study, students should not let this hinder pursuing this opportunity. There are numerous resources available to help students defray the cost of travel study. Students who already receive financial assistance may still be eligible for that assistance. Scholarship opportunities are widely available to students wishing to travel study. Interested students should contact the Office of the Dean to discuss available financial assistance opportunities.

4. Getting a Passport
A current United States passport is required to enter a foreign country. Passports are issued by the U.S. Department of State through designated passport issuing offices. Most post offices serve as passport issuing offices. You may also contact the Office of the Dean for help with the passport application process.

5. Applying for a Visa
A visa is an authorization by a country for an individual to enter. Not every country requires visitors to secure visas. Some countries may also require a special student visa, depending on the duration of the travel study program. There are several ways to find out if your country of interest requires a visa. You may contact the country's embassy or consular offices in the United States. Also, the U.S. Department of State maintains comprehensive resources about other nations' entrance requirements. You may also contact the Office of the Dean for help with the visa application process.

6. Getting Health Insurance
Although many health insurance companies provide coverage for travel outside of the United States , students planning travel study should contact their provider to ensure that they will be covered. Some travel agencies or specialized travel insurance companies also sell temporary travel health insurance or additional insurance in case of emergency.

7. Making a Travel Checklist
It takes time to plan and organize a trip. Make a checklist of the necessary steps and provide yourself enough time to make the proper transportation arrangements and get any immunizations necessary for your country of interest.

8. Packing
There are the basic essentials that need to be taken along, but you should avoid taking too much. Having a lot of luggage will become cumbersome and saving some room for any souvenirs that you may want to bring back is advised. Do not forget to bring any medications that you may need during your time abroad.

9. Food Concerns
In some countries, it is possible that the food and drinking water may not be up to the same standards as other countries. Warnings about these areas can be found at the country fact sheet of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs . This should not keep you from going to a country with specific warnings, but if you do decide to travel to a country with a food warning make sure to take the advice of the fact sheet and proceed accordingly.