While Studying Abroad

Important Resources

• If you need to make an emergency call when you're abroad, don't call 911 as you would in the United States; that number might not work overseas. Each country has its own equivalent. Prepare yourself in advance by checking the 911 equivalents abroad and saving the number in your phone.
   
• You should also make note of U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad so you know where to go if you need a replacement passport, travel visa, or other support.
   
• International Health Insurance:
  • It is mandatory for all students studying abroad to have international health insurance for the time they are abroad. The Office of Global Education enrolls students studying abroad in the GeoBlue Student Member plan for the dates they are abroad. Students will be billed for the cost of the international health insurance plan to their KSU Student Account.
  • Students will receive a GeoBlue ID card they can use to access healthcare services abroad. An app is also available from the Apple or Google Play stores for students to access their plan via their smartphone. Services offered online and via the app include finding a doctor or facility, scheduling appointments, translating medications, telehealth appointments, and more.
  • To call GeoBlue’s 24/7 emergency line from outside of the USA, call +1-610-254-8771.
  • Students participating in Education Abroad programs through the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) will be enrolled in a health insurance plan through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI), not GeoBlue.
     
• The U.S. Department of State Emergency Resources are another useful reference to turn to in the event of a crisis while abroad. 
   
• All students who participate in a Kent State-sponsored education abroad program will have access to AlertTraveler, a system that provides important and timely alerts via email, SMS, and/or app regarding your program location and GPS location. In the event of an emergency, students can directly contact in-country emergency services through the app and on-call staff at Kent State. The app also provides functionality for completing check-ins during emergency situations, such as a natural disaster, where students can quickly indicate that they are safe or are in need of assistance. Access to AlertTraveler is given within 60 days of departure through your application portal. 

True Emergencies vs. Perceived Emergencies

Take a deep breath and think for a moment: how serious is your situation?

True emergencies are rare and involve things such as a serious illness or natural disaster. A true emergency means that there is an immediate threat to someone’s health and/or safety. True emergencies will require coordination between you, the Office of Global Education, GeoBlue or CISI Insurance, and possibly governmental agencies.

Perceived emergencies are occurrences such as a lost passport or a missed flight. While these can still be serious issues, they typically do not need to involve the Office of Global Education, and can usually be solved by the student or the faculty leader.

Pre-Departure Orientation

Prior to your study abroad experience, you will participate in a mandatory pre-departure orientation hosted by the Office of Global Education. During this orientation, you will be provided with information including but not limited to:

• international travel procedures;
• in-country resources;
• health and safety resources and information;
• culture shock and resources to help prepare for living abroad.

You can also review a wide variety of resources we’ve pulled together for you on our “Before You Go” page.

Country Profile

You can learn more about your destination(s), including travel advisories, through the U.S. Department of State website.

In addition, we encourage you to visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) travel page for information about any vaccinations you may need or health and safety tips for traveling to your destination(s).

If vaccinations or medications are needed according to the CDC, you should make arrangements for appointments with your healthcare provider or the DeWeese Health Center as soon as possible. Appointment openings at the DeWeese Health Center are limited and vaccines may need to be ordered, which takes time. Please note that not all immunizations are available at the DeWeese Health Center. 

Earning Credits Abroad

If you are participating in a program at a host university abroad, you will need to transfer your course credits back to Kent State. 

To do so, you will need to complete a Transfer Course Planning (TCP) Form with your Academic Advisor. 

It is critical that your form accurately reflects the classes you are taking abroad. Only courses listed on your TCP Form are approved to transfer back as Kent State course equivalents. If you decide to take a course that is not listed on that form, you must request approval for the course while abroad; do not wait until after you return! Please contact your Academic and Education Abroad Advisors if you need to update your TCP Form.

It’s also important that you keep all your syllabi, papers, and tests. Your academic department at Kent State might ask to see these documents when you return.

Full-Time Enrollment Abroad

If you are receiving and using federal financial aid, it is important that you stay enrolled as a full-time student. To be considered a full-time student, you must be enrolled in at least the equivalent number of credit hours for the following:

Undergraduate: 

• Semester: 12 credit hours
• Summer: 6 credit hours

Graduate:

• Semester: 8 credit hours
• Summer: 4 credit hours

As an example, if you are studying in Germany for a semester, you may need to enroll in 24 ECTS credits in order to be considered full-time by US standards.

For summer programs, it is possible to meet the minimum credit hour requirements by taking the equivalent of 3 credit hours abroad and enrolling in 3 credit hours at Kent State.

Academic Culture Abroad

Keep in mind that you are going to be living and studying in a new culture, which also means you will be in a new academic culture.

The grading system may be vastly different from what you are used to. For example, a 65 is considered as a good grade in the United Kingdom. Moreover, some courses might not give you a grade and instead mark you as either “Pass” or “Fail”.

Coursework may also be different. Many other educational systems focus more on lectures and less on group discussion and group participation. You may find that your entire grade is based on one final exam.

If you are worried about how your academics are going, please reach out to your host university and your Education Abroad Advisor for assistance. 

Culture Shock or “Bumps”

Living and studying in a new place is exciting, but it can also be frustrating. You may feel a rollercoaster of emotions - from the exhilaration of first arriving, to struggling to communicate effectively, to the joy of making new friends, to the sadness of having to leave.

Culture shock is referred to as the difficulties you may have while living and navigating in an unfamiliar environment. It is referred to as a shock because these difficulties may be surprising or unexpected. They are also referred to as “bumps” because the differences or challenges you may face might be small, and as you build up your grit and resilience, you will overcome these hurdles along the way.

TIPS FOR ADAPTING OVERSEAS

• Keep an open mind.
• Be willing to try new things.
• Learn about where you are. What are the cultural values? What is the country's history? What historical or cultural sites should you visit?
• Observe and listen to your surroundings. We understand that you’ll want to take pictures and videos, but remember to put your phone down and enjoy where you are!
• Spend time reflecting on your experiences. Speak with others in your program and reflect together. Consider keeping a journal to note what you learned and experienced so you can reflect and share after you return home.
• Maintain a healthy balance between keeping in contact with home and interacting with your new local community.
• Educate yourself on the five steps of culture shock to help you cope.
• There are many people available to support you, so reach out for help if you are feeling overwhelmed. If you would like to talk or want to be connected with additional resources, please contact an Education Abroad Advisor at edabroad@kent.edu. 

While you are abroad, you may notice that some of the identities you hold become more or less noticeable to you than they were at home. These changes could potentially have positive or negative impacts while you are abroad. To help prepare you for this, we have a wealth of resources for you to explore your identity abroad.