Preparing for Off-Campus Study
Congratulations on your acceptance to an off-campus study program! Now that you've been accepted to a program, you'll continue to receive correspondence from F&M as well as from your new host program.It's important that you continue to work with your Off-Campus Study Adviser as well as advisers from your host program. We've compiled some next steps and resources to be sure you're prepared, happy and healthy for your upcoming off-campus study.
Next Steps
1. Confirm Your Participation and Stay Up-To-Date
You will need to complete any required confirmation forms for your host program as well as additional forms for F&M.
2. Enter Courses for Pre-Approval
Using your off-campus study record on myDiplomat, enter your course choices and indicate the type of credit you are seeking. This step is very important!
3. Obtain your passports and documents
All students studying abroad will need to have a passport. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your return date in order to obtain permission to enter your host study abroad country. If your passport will expire early, you should renew your passport. If you do not have a passport, apply for one now! For US citizens, you can find more information on how to apply for or a renew a passport online at www.travel.state.gov/passport. If you are not a US citizen, please confirm passport requirements with your home country. .
5. Attend the pre-departure orientation program
You are required to attend a mandatory pre-departure orientation program. Here You'll receive last-minute tips, meet the rest of the students who will be away at the same time, and be able to ask any remaining questions. Look for e-mails about date and time of the meeting.
6. Plan to stay healthy and safe abroad
Before you go abroad, it's important to research required immunizations, explore in-country health care facilities, and contact family/campus health services to be sure you stay healthy abroad. You should also review important in-country safety information and share this information with your family.
7. Learn more about your destination
Learn as much as you can about your host country (language, history and culture, current social and political state of affairs). You can take a class; read books, magazines, and newspapers; surf the Internet; talk to people from your host country or who have traveled/studied there before; etc.
