Pre-Departure

Acceptance Status

Please allow 4-6 weeks to hear back from your prospective program. If six weeks have passed, feel free to email the coordinator of your program to follow up with your application. For Sophia applicants, the acceptance process takes a lot longer than other programs because the start of their semester isn’t until April for Spring and November for Fall.

If you are not accepted into the program of your choice, you may have another shot with another program if their deadline is much later. Consult a study abroad adviser if you find yourself in this situation.

Upon Acceptance

  1. Submit an online Petition to Enroll in Another Institution (PEAI) form.
    • If you are studying abroad in the Spring semester, please wait to submit this until early Fall semester. This should include the course syllabus for each course you submit or course descriptions if not available. 
    • Fall PEAIs are approved the summer before your study abroad term.
    • Spring PEAIs are approved the fall before your study abroad term.
  2. Submit a Leave of Absence form **only applicable to students participating in an External Program**
  3. Complete the following "post-decision" questionnaires through your online portal:
    • Waiver of Liability form
    • Ambassador Contact Info Questionnaire
    • Electronically sign the a) Trip Cancellation & Interruption Protection Plan b) Study Abroad Policies c) Sponsored Programs Information.
  4. Apply for a student visa if necessary. This can take up to 60 days and there are strict protocols to follow. Prepare and plan ahead!  It is a student's responsibility to obtain a student visa.
  5. Attend the mandatory Pre-Departure Meeting. Our office will contact you with pertinent meeting details.
  6. Make airline reservations. Obtain necessary immunizations and meet with your physician to discuss travel plans and handling of prescription medication abroad. 
  7. Plan USF courses for your return semester with your faculty advisor or school Academic Dean in CASA. 
  8. Pre-arrange USF Housing with Student Housing and Residential Education (SHaRE), or complete a Housing Release Form if you will not live on campus upon your return.
  9. Spring semester study abroad students should complete their FAFSA application online before departing for their study abroad program.
  10. Check out the Pre-Departure Resources.

 

Study Abroad Resources

Moving to another country to study, intern, work, and/or volunteer can be a challenging and stressful process. There are resources to assist you and your parents with the program: Academic Advisor & Dean, Student Enrollment Services, Study Abroad alumni, ISSS, and Student Housing and Residential Education.

Other resources include websites and organizations that provide information on student airfare, transportation, museum and accommodation discounts; reviews on nightlife, cuisine, and festivals; insider tips on jet lag, cultural adjustment, and cultural sensitivity. Feel free to ask us for specific referrals.

Reminders:

All admitted students are required to attend the Pre-Departure Meeting.

  • April for Summer, Fall, & Academic Year Students
  • November for Spring students.

Please check your email regularly for detailed information.

The pre-departure meeting will discuss important topics such as registration at USF before and after studying abroad, transferring courses and credits, transcripts, housing upon return, academics abroad, travel preparation and documents, safety & health abroad, cultural competence, and more. Visa workshops will also be announced during this meeting.


You will also meet your study abroad program cohort, study abroad alumni, and international exchange students.

Pre-departure Handbook

An outline of the Pre-Departure Handbook will be provided via email. You are encouraged to download and read the online Handbook before the pre-departure meeting and share it with your family. This will be shared at the meeting.