We believe that study away experiences can have a profound impact on a student's life and the experience can inform their future academic, professional, and personal endeavors. We are committed to making study away accessible to all students. Our office is a resource and support for students interested in exploring study away. We're continuously updating information and resources to help students prepare for all aspects of their study away experience, including how aspects of their identity may be received in their study away host country.
Below are resources to help make study away accessible, safe and rewarding for first generation students.
Talk to Your Advisors and Fellow Students: When preparing to study away, seek advice from people at your current university or college. First, make appointments to speak with your advisors, specifically in study away, academic advising and financial aid. Make an appointment to talk with the study away office to fully learn about the programs that are available to you, understand the costs associated with study away and get any questions answered. You should also connect with your academic advisors to figure out which courses enable you to earn credits towards your major/minor/emphasis. And of course, make an appointment to talk with the financial aid office. Doing this will help you realize how much of your financial aid package can be used to go abroad, which will determine how much you may be expected to pay out of pocket.
In addition, talk to students who have already studied abroad. They can give you firsthand advice about the process of living abroad, and will give you the most truthful answers you could want. If you don't know anyone who has studied abroad, you can contact one of our First Generation Study Away Ambassadors .
Do Your Research: Do as much research as possible. Speaking with advisors and other study away alumni is a great start, but take the time to look into your options to ensure you make the best decision.
Find Support: Making the decision to study away, especially if no one you know before you has done it, can be daunting. Your family and friends may not understand your motivations, or may even think it's a "vacation"! It's important to find people in your life who support your decision to study away, whether that support comes from friends, family, mentors, or even other students in your study away cohort. Having people in your life who understand and respect your decision to study away can help you feel more comfortable, and can help you ease into your study away program more smoothly.
Making the Decision to Study Abroad as a First-Generation Student
GoAbroad's First-Generation Student Guide to Study Abroad
How to Talk to Your Family/Support Network about Studying Away
The CAS Study Away Office is also here as a resource for you, please come to us with any questions or concerns.
Below are resources to help make study away accesible, safe and rewarding for LGBTQIA+ identifying students.
Meaningful Travel Tips and Tales - LGBTQ Traveler's Perspective
Trans Guide for Staying Safe While Traveling
LGBTQIA+ Rights by Country/Territory
International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association
The CAS Study Away Office is also here as a resource for you, please come to us with any questions or concerns.
Below are resources to help make study away accessible, safe and rewarding for students of color.
PLATO - resources for supporting diversity in study abroad
The CAS Study Away Office is also here as a resource for you, please come to us with any questions or concerns.
Below are resources for DACA students interested in studying away:
Domestic Program Options:
DACAmented students can participate in our domestic study away programs. Semester domestic program options can be found here and domestic May Term options here. By May 3, 2023, a REAL ID will be required to travel by plane domestically within the United States. DACA recipients are eligible to receive a REAL ID, if their legal presence documents are current. Students should meet with the CAS Study Away Director to discuss domestic study away options.
International Program Options:
Students who are DACA recipients may be able to study internationally with advance parole. This process entails extra steps and added time; DACA recipients should meet with the CAS Study Away Director as early as possible to talk about timelines, processes and more. Students should also discuss their plans with both an immigration attorney and their family.
What is advance parole?
Advance Parole is a process in U.S. immigration law that lets immigrants leave the U.S. and then re-enter lawfully.
Who is eligible for advance parole?
Students who are DACA recipients may apply for advance parole through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (“USCIS”), under one of three categories: humanitarian, educational, or work purposes. Study abroad programs fall within the educational category. Approval of advance parole applications is not guaranteed.
How does advance parole work?
Students must apply for and receive advance parole before leaving the country. It is needed, in addition to other documents (passport issued by your country of birth and student visa, if needed) to travel outside the U.S.
When returning from study abroad, a student with DACA presents the advance parole document to the airline at check-in as authorization for entry into the U.S., in place of a visa. Upon arrival in the U.S., the student presents the advance parole document (along with the passport and DACA card) to the border agent at customs and immigration. It is important to note that even with advance parole,it is still possible for students to be denied reentry to the U.S. by a Customs and Border Protection Officer. Students should talk to an immigration attorney about their unique situation before traveling abroad and throughout this entire process.
Applying for advance parole
Students should work with an immigration lawyer to:
Suggested Timeline for DACA Students Interested in Study Abroad
As mentioned before, this process requires a few extra steps, and we encourage students with DACA to meet with the CAS Study Away Director as early as possible. Students are encouraged to follow this general timeline:
1 year in advance:
9-12 months in advance:
6 months in advance:
3-6 months in advance:
1-3 months in advance:
Below are resources to help make study away accessible, safe and rewarding for students with disabilities.
The CAS Study Away Office is also here as a resource for you, please come to us with any questions or concerns.
Check out additional diversity and identity resources from some of our study away partner organizations.