Student Resources

Coined by Jodi Malmgren and Jim Galvin in 2006, the Five Fs of Study Abroad (finances, academic fit, faculty/advisor support, friends/family, and fear) are the five big obstacles that students must overcome when looking to study abroad:

• FUNDS: Did you know that all financial aid can be applied to study abroad? And that there are programs that are less than a semester at Oswego? Our office also offers many scholarships to our students. 
• FIT: Finding the right program may seem hard; We help you find the best academic and personal fit! All classes are approved prior to departure, so you know what they will count for before you go!
• FACULTY SUPPORT: Oswego faculty love to teach overseas! There are more than 20 faculty-led study abroad programs each year. 
• FEAR: Fear of missing out, making new friends, and possibly learning a new language can be scary. Our pre-departure support prepares students to take on the world! 
• FAMILY: Family is a huge factor in deciding to study abroad. We welcome family to call, email, and come on in with any questions before, during, and after the study abroad experience. 

You can read more on Malmgren and Galvin's Big Fs here.

What is a passport?

A passport is a document issued to citizens by a country's government to verify the identity and nationality of an individual for the purpose of international travel. You will need a passport to participate in an international education travel abroad program. Visit the U.S. Department of State Passport Services for more information on how to apply for or renew a passport. 

Information to know

• Apply early: It can take anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks, or more, to receive your passport when applying for the first or renewing. You can pay to expedite the process, but even that service can take 4 to 6 weeks depending on various factors impacting processing times. This process is out of both your hands and ours, so save any chance of frustration and apply or renew as soon as you can! 
• Passport photos: You must provide a photo with your application or renewal and there are specific regulations that apply to passport photos. You can get passport photos taken professionally at many drugstores, post offices, and at SUNY Oswego in the ID and Meal Plan Services office in 503 Culkin Hall. 
• Passport book vs. passport card: A passport book will be required when traveling internationally by air. There are some countries, including Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, that allow U.S. citizens to use a passport card when entering by land or sea. For study abroad, you should apply for a passport book but you may want to consider also getting a passport card. A passport card can be convenient to carry with you while abroad, serving as your official identification while keeping your passport book safe at your hotel or residence hall. 
• Non-U.S. citizens: If you are not a U.S. citizen, passport information for your nationality may vary. Your program coordinator can help with your specific situation.

Passport Services

NOTE: The Department of State has indicated that passport processing time:

• Routine: 6–8 weeks
• Expedited: 2–3 weeks, plus an extra $60 fee
• Urgent: Requires an appointment and international travel within 14 days

Apply or renew ASAP to avoid any delays or disruptions to your international travel plans.

What's a Visa?

The below information gives a brief summery per country of what's required 

• Argentina: US citizens don't require a visa to enter Argentina.  Upon arrival to Argentina you will be provided with a tourist visa for up to 90 days.  Once in-country and in your program, you will be provided with instructions on obtaining your Transitory Resident Permit. 

• Australia: All participants in this program are required to apply for and obtain a long stay student visa. More details and instructions on obtaining the French visa are provided upon acceptance. Note: Non-US passport holders (or dual European Union citizens) may require different procedures. Please contact the program coordinator for more details.

• Chile: US citizens can enter Chile with a Transitory Permit that allows them to remain in the country for 90 days and that can be extended for another 90 days. Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso will provide further instructions once the student has completed PUC-Valparaiso documentation.

• China: All participants in this program are required to apply for and obtain a student visa. More details and instructions on obtaining the Chinese visa are provided upon acceptance. Note: Non-US passport holders may require different procedures. Please contact the program specialist for more details. You may visit the following site to start reading about the student visa process: Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America

• England: Those students with American citizenship and in possession of a valid US Passport do not need a visa to study abroad in England. Non-US citizens and all students intending to do an internship while in London or planning to stay in the UK for more than 6 months are required to have a Tier 4 Student Visa. Please contact the program coordinator for more details.

• France: All participants in this program are required to apply for and obtain a long stay student visa. More details and instructions on obtaining the French visa are provided upon acceptance. Note: Non-US passport holders (or dual European Union citizens) may require different procedures. Please contact the program coordinator for more details. For summer programs, students do not need student visas (as long as the program is less than 90 days).

• Germany: Except for people from EU countries, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Lichtenstein, all other foreign nationals need a residence permit to stay in Germany for more than 90 days. A German residence permit allows you to stay in Germany for a more extended period than only 90 days. During that time, you can study, work, or engage in other activities in the country. For US students, you will enter Germany without a visa during those first 90 days and apply for a residence permit from inside the country.

• Ireland: As an American citizen, you are not required to obtain a traditional study visa for your study abroad program in Ireland. Non-U.S. citizens should check the following website for their immigration requirements, as it will depend on their home country and immigration status in the U.S.: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/

• Japan: All participants in the Japan semester programs are required to apply for and obtain a student visa at the Consulate General of Japan in New York City prior to departure for Japan, as semester programs are over 90 days.  This can be done in person or via mail.  Instructions on obtaining the student visa will be provided upon acceptance to the program.  Note: Non-US passport holders may require different procedures. A student will not be able to apply for the student visa until he/she receives the official letter of acceptance from AIU, the Certificate of Eligibility is a letter issued by the immigration office in Japan. For further details on the student visa process you may begin reading at: Consulate General of Japan long term student visa

• Mexico: US citizens can enter Mexico with a passport book and remain in Mexico for a total of 180 days. US Permanent Residents have to have both a valid and unexpired Resident Card and Passport of their nationality. 

• New Zealand: All participants in this program are required to apply for and obtain a long stay student visa. More details and instructions on obtaining the New Zealand visa are provided upon acceptance. Note: Non-US passport holders (or dual European Union citizens) may require different procedures. Please contact the program coordinator for more details.

• Puerto Rico: US citizens and Permanent Residents don't need a passport or visa to enter Puerto Rico.  Puerto Rico has been a territory of the United States since 1917. Students can travel to Puerto Rico with a US identification or license.  

• Spain: Students will be required to obtain a student visa to study for a semester or longer in most countries. SUNY Oswego will send you instructions on how to obtain your student visa and make this information available in your student portal. It will be your responsibility to follow these instructions and gather all documentation required by the country's Consulate assigned to your home jurisdiction. For summer programs, students do not need student visas (as long as the program is less than 90 days).

• South Korea: All  participants in the South Korea semester programs are required to apply for and obtain a student visa at the Korean Consulate in New York City prior to departure for Japan, as semester programs are over 90 days. This can be done in person or via mail.  Students will not be able to apply for the student visa until they have received an official letter of acceptance from the school. More details and instructions on obtaining the Korean student visa are provided upon acceptance.  Note: Non-US passport holder may require different procedures.  Please contact the program specialist for more details. You may visit the following site to start reading about the student visa process: Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in New York

• Taiwan: Resident visa will have to be maintained after acceptance to the program per The Bureau of Concular Affairs for the Republic of China (Taiwan)

Deciding on the right program for you can have a lot to do with finances. We understand that, but we also want you to know that there is a program for every budget and we are here to help break down the fears and myths about financing your experience!

• Program Costs: Every program has a budget sheet that will list and detail all costs associated with the program. The budget sheets are linked within the online program brochure webpage. As you will see on the budget sheet, costs noted as "billable" will be billed to you directly by your home campus or the study abroad office. Other costs (non-billable) are estimated and will be paid by you directly. Often times these costs vary based on your spending habits and personal choices, but they are comprehensive and should give you a fair estimate of the total cost-of-attendance for the duration of your program. Review the program budget sheet early on and share it with your support system at home. If you have questions about how to read or understand the budget sheet, ask your program coordinator and they will be happy to help.
• Financial Aid: It is important to discuss study abroad with a financial aid advisor as soon as possible. Most financial aid, scholarships, and grants will apply while studying abroad. Even if you do not currently receive financial aid it is possible that study abroad may make you eligible for financial aid. SUNY Oswego students can make an appointment in Starfish with one of the following Financial Aid Advisors: Jennie Hoffman, Mali Dorsey, Tony Vasquez, Lauren Porter and Yadi Aranda Burgos.
• Scholarships: There are many scholarships available to students. Visit our Study Abroad Scholarship page for specific information. Apply for as many as you can! Contact the Office of Learning Services to ask about receiving writing assistance for your applications. Of course, you can always check with your program coordinator for help with the application process. 
• Payments: Once you have been accepted to a program and have paid the program deposit, you will find a copy of the most recent invoice in your online study abroad account in the "Documents" section. Information on the remaining program balance, accepted payment methods, and where to send payments are listed on every invoice.

Whether you have fully committed to a travel abroad program or you are still considering the options, it is important to know what kind of coursework and experiential learning opportunities will be available. First and foremost, education abroad is an academic experience. Below is some information to consider.

• Will my program coursework count toward my degree? Yes, successfully completed coursework taken on a SUNY-sponsored program will count as credits toward degree completion for SUNY students. For SUNY Oswego students on SUNY Oswego programs, the credits will appear on your transcript as credits taken at SUNY Oswego. For SUNY Oswego students on another SUNY's program, the credits will appear on your transcript as transfer credit from the SUNY school hosting your program.
• Will my program coursework count toward my major/minor/electives/etc.? For SUNY Oswego students, coursework taken abroad on a SUNY-sponsored program can count toward the requirements for your major or minor if your academic advisor or the department chair approves the course as an approved equivalency. Because there are so many programs and courses available to you throughout the SUNY study abroad network, it is impossible to have all courses pre-approved with their SUNY Oswego equivalencies in every case. In some cases, coursework can fulfill a few different course equivalencies at your home campus, much like on-campus coursework is often cross-listed across disciplines. For non-Oswego students, please check with your home campus regarding how your program coursework will apply to your degree.
• How do I know what the course equivalencies for my coursework will be? Every SUNY Oswego student will complete an Off-Campus Study Approval Form with their advisor, department chair, or general education advisor, depending on the program coursework. Without this completed form your overseas grades cannot be processed at the end of your program. When you discuss this with your advisor, be prepared with as much information as possible about the coursework you plan to take. This includes being able to provide course descriptions, syllabi, and the number of credits received for the course. More information about credit equivalencies can be found your online study abroad application in the "Learning Content" section titled "General Program Information." In most cases, course offerings, course descriptions, and course syllabi are linked in the online program brochure webpage for each program when it is available. In some instances, limited information is available before arrival to your program location. If you need more information, ask your program coordinator and they can work with the overseas institution to inquire about the possibility of accessing more detailed information on the course(s) you are interested in.
• What if my courses change after the Off-Campus Study Approval Form has been submitted? That's okay! You are always able to submit an updated version of the form if there are changes to the coursework you enroll in for your program. Communicate with your academic advisors to discuss any changes. Be sure to complete and submit an updated Off-Campus Study Approval Form, signed by the correct advisors/department chairs, for all coursework you take in order to process your grades at the end of your program.

It is the responsibility of the student to work with their academic advisor or department chairs to determine the SUNY Oswego course equivalencies of their program coursework. Ideally, students will be able to provide the course descriptions or syllabi to their academic advisors before the start of their program and begin the course approval process.

In most cases, course offerings, course descriptions, and course syllabi are linked in the online program brochure webpage for each program when it is available. In some instances, limited information is available before the program begins. Students can start by asking their program coordinator if they can work with the overseas institution to inquire about accessing more detailed information on the course(s) the student is interested in.

For some programs, the course information is not available in advance. If this is the case, it is best practice to review possible coursework options with academic advisors before the program and make a plan. Final course approvals can be made when the student is able to register for courses or provide the course information to their academic advisors. Additionally, revised Off-Campus Study Approval forms can be submitted to OIEP at any time during/after the program.

Keep in mind that sometimes courses are cancelled or there are scheduling conflicts upon final registration at the host intitution or university. It is a good idea for students to get more courses approved than they intend to take on the program to account for these possible situations

Role of Academic Advisor and Department Chair

Course equivalencies within the student's major or minor can be approved by the student's academic advisor. For coursework outside of their major/minor, students should seek approval from the department chair of that subject or the general education advisor.

For program coursework that does not have a SUNY Oswego equivalency (ex. 100 level - Hungarian Language Course), the student can work with the Associate Provost of International Education, Dr. Joshua McKeown, and their study abroad program coordinator to find the appropriate course equivalency.

Course Equivalency Database

Read through guidelines, policies, and procedure information below to prepare for traveling abroad.

• Student Handbook: General policies and guidelines for students who study abroad.
• What to Expect: Guidelines to help you prepare for your experience.
• What to Expect on a Faculty-led: Guidelines to help you prepare for your experience while traveling on a faculty-led course.

U.S. Department of State Information for Travelers 

Follow the links below for more information from the U.S. Department of State for U.S. citizens who are planning to study abroad.

• Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
• Travel Advisories

Health insurance coverage while overseas is mandatory. All participants will automatically be enrolled in the SUNY study abroad insurance through United Health Care (UHC). This coverage includes health insurance and emergency assistance, as well as evacuation and repatriation benefits. Insurance costs are included within the program differential and billed by the Office of International Education and Programs.

Optional Travel Insurance

We recommend that you also consider purchasing travel insurance. SUNY has partnered with Haylor, Freyer and Coon Insurance Agency to provide students with additional coverage options. Students are also welcome to find their own agency. All students, faculty, and staff who are traveling as part of a SUNY Education Abroad program are eligible to enroll for this optional insurance.

(Note: this insurance is not required. You may find other products that best meet your requirements and needs.)

How to Access your Insurance Card

You will be enrolled by the Office of International Education and Programs prior to departure. Once you are enrolled, you will receive an email to the address you provided on your study abroad application. This email will come from [email protected]. Please add this email to your contacts to prevent important notifications from going to your spam or junk folders. Once you receive this email, please follow the steps below:

1. Visit UHC secure login. A link will be included in your email.
2. Select the Register Now button.
3. Enter your information. Your student ID number is the ID number you provided on your study abroad application.

Within this account, you can access your card and print it. You will not be receiving a hard copy card so it is your responsibility to log in and retrieve a copy for your records. This insurance begins the date of your departure from the US, so it is recommended you take care of this before you leave so that this information is accessible during your travels.

This insurance will end on the last day of your program. If you wish to extend coverage, please contact UHC directly.

Accessing Medical Care Overseas

For pre-trip planning or if you are outside of the USA and need to locate a doctor abroad or have an emergency, please call UHC Global 24/7 at 844-249-0748. UHC Global can also arrange for direct pay for a provider that you see oversees if you call this phone number. 

Note that you cannot access the UHC site until you have been enrolled in the insurance and activated an account. If you have questions about enrolling, please contact our office. Once you have established your account, before traveling, familiarize yourself with all the services and resources UHC provides.

Please Note

Think carefully before canceling other health insurance you may have. SUNY study abroad health insurance coverage is not valid in the US. We recommend that you keep some sort of domestic health insurance in effect in case you need to return home unexpectedly from abroad for any reason. 

Non-Oswego students: Your home campus may have its own mandatory domestic health coverage rules; please contact the Study Abroad Office or insurance coordinator at your home campus for specific information and/or instructions and we will work with your campus to satisfy their requirements.