Pre-Departure Checklist

• If you do not have a passport, please apply for one as soon as possible.
• If you do have a passport, please check the expiration date. It must be valid 6 month after your return to the US, if it expires sooner, you will have to renew your passport. 
  • US Passports
  • Other Passport holders - Please check with your country's passport application and renewal process

For many host countries, students are required to obtain permission to study in the country for an extended period of time. Permission is granted through a visa which students generally apply for 1-3 months prior to going abroad. Every country has their own application requirements so make sure to consult the embassy or consulate website of your host country as you may need to travel to the nearest consulate. The Study ABroad Provider will provide you with more instruction, documentation, and support should your host country require that you get a student visa.

• You may need to obtain a visa or other travel documents in order to study in your host country. It is your responsibility to verify the requirements and to obtain a visa if necessary. It may take 4-6 weeks to obtain a visa, please plan accordingly.
• Some consulates or embassies may not be in the greater Seattle area and may require you to travel to another city to obtain a visa. Verify with your program provider the visa services they are able to offer.
• You may require a consulate letter from Seattle University to bring to the visa interview. Please contact your Education Abroad Advisor to request this document or email educationabroad@seattleu.edu 

• SU Sponsored & Exchange Program

  • Students will intention to accept or decline this nomination by completing the Post- Acceptance portion of the Horizons application no later than 2 weeks* (subject to change annually) after receiving nomination from EAO(Required).
    This section of the application lays out SU expectations and responsibilities associated with participating in this education abroad program. Read through everything carefully before submission, especially the SU Waivers and Agreement to Participate with an interested party - a parent or guardian. You can access the Post-Acceptance part of your application by logging into Horizons and selecting “My Applications.”
  • Students who do not complete the Post-Acceptance agreement by the set deadline will be rescinded, if you know that you no longer plan to participate in this SU-Sponsored program, please decline the offer through Horizons as soon as possible so that we are able to notify students on the waitlist.

• Non-SU Program

  • Seattle University has to sign off on Home Institution Approval in order for you to participate in this program, but you will still need fill out a Non-SU application on Horizons. Logging into Horizons and search for “Non-SU program (general application)”, this is just to collect information about your Non-SU program. Portions of the application lays out SU expectations and responsibilities associated with participating in an education abroad program. Read through everything carefully before submission, especially the SU Waivers and Agreement to Participate with an interested party - a parent or guardian.

Education Abroad Course Approval Form

• To determine how the courses you take abroad will count towards your SU degree, you are required to complete a Course Approval Form prior to departure. All students have to do, is to complete the online Course Approval Form and the Education Abroad Office will assist with the equivalences.
• Additional course approvals submitted after the deadline are not subjected to the late fee. EAO must have an initial submission of the Course Approval request prior to the deadline.

SU International Program Medical Report

• If you are required to complete this form, EAO staff will email you a special link for this form.
• In order to complete one of your required Pre-Departure forms, the International Program Medical Report, you must meet with a medical professional. Changes in environment, culture, and climate can affect you in unpredictable ways. Even conditions that are currently under control might be impacted by your participation on an education abroad program. It is extremely important that you disclose any health concerns (mental or physical) with a medical professional. Appointments at the SU Student Health Center often fill quickly closer to the deadline so schedule an appointment by calling 206-296-6300 as soon as possible to avoid delays and late fees.

Which Pre-Departure paperwork do I need?

Pre-Departure Paperwork Deadline

*There is a late fee of $125 for required forms submitted after the deadline. Failure to submit a required form before the program start-date will result in a $250 fee and will seriously jeopardize your eligibility to participate.*

It is encouraged that you meet with a Counselor in Student Financial services to discuss how your aid will apply to your international program. Schedule an appointment by calling (206) 220-8020. Make sure to bring your program’s Estimate Budget and Cost Comparison Worksheets to the meeting!

• NOTE: Financial Aid is disbursed at the beginning of the quarter for which it is awarded, so you may need to plan to cover the costs for pre-departure expenses on your own. Please plan accordingly.

SU Sponsored and Exchange Budgets - individual budget can be find in the details section of each program and are subject to change

Non-SU Cost Comparison Budget Worksheets

Cost Comparison Calculator- compare costs between SU and other programs

Check your MySeattleU Invoice and refer to the post-acceptance agreement for more details. 

SU-Sponsored*

• Your tuition, program fee, and SU fees will be paid MySeattleU. On your invoice, "MSA Study Abroad" will be the line item for your study abroad program fee.

SU-Exchange*

• Your tuition, SU fees, and International Health Insurance will be paid on MySeattleU. 

Non-SU*

• You will be paying your tuition directly to the program provider. Your SU Fee and  the $1,000 transfer credit fee will be applied to your MySeattleU billing on the quarter of your departure. 

*If you are going to be abroad for more than one quarter, you will see a SU fee in your second quarter abroad. Be sure to check your MySeattleU billing page to ensure that you don't incur a late fee. 

This event will address strategies to stay healthy and safe while abroad, cultural immersion, academic expectations, etc. This will also be a time for you to connect with other students studying abroad and ask questions to better prepare yourself for departure.

How to RSVP for Pre-Departure Orientation

The Pre-Departure Orientation is currently online. Students will be enrolled into a Canvas course and to complete the online modules.  This Orientation is MANDATORY.

SU-Sponsored, SU-Exchange, and Non-SU students will be automatically placed in Study Abroad placeholder courses at Seattle University, ensuring that they are still full-time students at Seattle U. THE PLACEHOLDER COURSE IS JUST A PLACEHOLDER AND NOT REFELCTIVE OF HOW MANY COURSES YOU WILL TRANSFER BACK. The placeholder will be worth 12 quarter credits on your Program Evaluation, upon your successful completion of your study abroad program, the Registrar's Office will grant the transfer credits.

• Please make sure you do not have any registration holds or registered for courses at Seattle U. 

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is how the US Department of State monitors US citizens and nations traveling and living abroad. Those registered will receive important information from the US Embassy about their safety conditions in your host country. The US Embassy will also contact you in an emergency and help your family and friends get in touch with you in an emergency.

Personal Crisis Management Plan + SEIC

• The Personal Crisis Management Plan + SEIC is simple guide for you as you prepare to go abroad, ensuring that you know what important documents and information you should be carrying with you. A copy of the Personal Crisis Management and all the documents listed should be given to an Emergency contact.

Staying Healthy Abroad

• Please review to the Pre-Departure handbook as a reference of the information you received at the Pre-Departure Orientation, which you attended prior to your departure.

Communication Plan with Parents and Family

• Remember to set up a plan with your parents and family on lines of communication: periodic and emergencies.
  • One way to reduce the feeling of homesickness is to have a balanced amount of communication. By checking in with family periodically, this can allow you to have more time to immersion yourself in the new culture and environment.
  • As for emergencies, make sure to notify your parents and/or family if an emergency (natural disasters or others) occurs. The program provider will also be checking in you, but it is better to be proactive and stay safe.

• Join Facebook - after accepting your nomination, if you are on Facebook, you will be invited to a Facebook Group with other fellow SU students studying abroad. This would be the space to share resources and coordinate/subletting housing during the term(s) you're abroad.
• Write a Blog! Document your experience abroad and share with the Seattle University community through our Hawks Around the World Blog.