Global Engagement > Student Resources > Study Abroad > For Parents & Family

For Parents & Family

Dear Parents and Family Members,

Congratulations to your student for deciding to study abroad, an experience that we hope will be fulfilling and transforming. And thank you for supporting your student through the planning, participation and return from their study abroad program.

DePaul University strives to provide the knowledge, skills and tools for students to gain independence, and study abroad plays an integral part of the personal and academic growth process. With this in mind, our office staff provides students support in the form of advice from study abroad advisors and peer advisors; pre-departure orientations; and referral to outside units such as DePaul’s Center for Students with Disabilities, the Office of Financial Aid and many more.

Also created especially for you is this page with frequently asked questions and information about important topics such as: academics, financing study abroad, forms and documents, health and safety, and more.

If you have questions about our programs, please feel free to con​tact us​. We hope that this upcoming adventure proves to be meaningful and enriching for all of you.

Sincerely,
DePaul Study Abroad staff

General Questions

Proven benefits of study abroad include improved career possibilities, language skills, ability to work with people from various cultural backgrounds, and personal growth and maturity.  These skills are crucial in today’s global society.
DePaul has term-long and short-term programs. 

The duration of term-long programs can be anywhere from one quarter to an entire academic year. This could include a program where the student enrolls directly at a foreign university or a program where the student travels with other DePaul students and a DePaul professor, taking actual DePaul classes while in the country. Term-long programs can be either language intensive or not. 

Short-term programs normally take place during DePaul’s winter intersession, spring break or summer.  Normally with short-term programs, the student takes a class at DePaul and then travels with the professor and the rest of the students in the class, incorporating elements of the class into the experience abroad.
That depends entirely on what your student hopes to gain from the experience.  Students looking for culture and language immersion tend to prefer longer programs, as they give the student time to adjust to their new surroundings.  Students often choose a shorter program if they are interested in studying one specific topic with a group of fellow students and a faculty member from DePaul or if they are not able to make a full quarter abroad fit with their academic or personal plans.
No. DePaul offers a number of good quality language programs, but we also offer programs in English speaking countries or short-term programs with courses offered in English  If your student is traveling to a non-English speaking country and taking courses in English, they should still learn basic conversational skills for communication purposes. 
Culture shock does exist, and can be beneficial for students as it is part of the growth process. It is a cycle that begins with excitement coming from all of the new surroundings, leading to frustration, eventually ending with acceptance and adaptation to life in the new context. The cycle can definitely repeat itself. Each person’s experience with culture shock is different and the time a student spends in any certain level of the cycle depends entirely on the individual.
Feelings vary from student to student, but common feelings experienced by students include excitement, anxiety, frustration, homesickness and stress. These are all completely normal and frequently lead to positive experiences after adjustment.


Academics

Your student will need to schedule an appointment with their academic advisor to go over their graduation requirements and classes that your student is thinking about taking while abroad. They will be able to map out a timeline to ensure that your student’s academic plan runs smoothly. Many DePaul study abroad programs offer classes that work with DePaul’s requirements for the Liberal Studies Program. 
This depends on your student’s specific study abroad program. Refer to the program page to see the number of classes that students take while participating in that program.


Forms and Documents

A visa is an endorsement from a certain country that allows entrance, exit and travel within the country. This can come in the form of a passport stamp or another document that describes the conditions of the visa. For some programs, students need either student visas, which allow enrollment in a university in that country, or tourist visas, which allow travel (including as part of a study abroad program). Many programs do not require visas at all. 

See the program page of your student’s study abroad program for information on whether they need a visa. If a visa is required, your student should work directly with the local consulate on the necessary materials unless otherwise notified by Study Abroad.
Your student should not leave the country without their passport, visa (if applicable), proof of international health insurance and vaccination certificate (if applicable). Copies of these are advisable as well. An International Student Identity Card can also be helpful.  Information about how to receive one of these cards can be found at www.isic.org
In case of emergency, you should keep copies of all important documents such as visas, passports and medical information. Keep copies of their flight and travel itineraries as well.
The earlier you purchase the plane ticket, the better deal you will receive. Some visa requirements also include a copy of a flight itinerary. Do not, however, purchase anything until your student’s participation has been confirmed. Please note that some programs arrange flights for the students and those flights are required as part of the program. 


Packing and Arriving

Traveling light is important. One rule of thumb is to only pack what you can carry (not to mention the outrageous fees for overweight baggage). Some things that are worth purchasing on site are school supplies and toiletries unless there is something very specific your student requires. Things that should be purchased before traveling include prescription medication, a converter for international outlets, a backpack, a money belt and possibly a gift for your student’s host family, depending on their living situation.
Some programs organize airport pick-ups, however many do not. Your student will receive details before departure. It is advisable that your student carry extra cash to pay for a taxi from the airport just in case. About $50-$75 will usually cover any taxi ride.

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Living Situations

Your student’s expectations for the program will wholly determine what type of living situation they choose.

The advantage of a dorm is that the student will most likely be near campus with laundry facilities and/or a cafeteria.  It also allows for more socialization as they will usually be housed with other international students.  

In an apartment, students have the most independence out of any living situation and they usually cook for themselves.  

Living with a host family is the best for a language and cultural immersion experience.  Students see the daily life of a family from their host country and sometimes continue this relationship beyond the program. It is also the best option if your student hopes to become fluent in the language of the host country. Meals are often included in host family situations.  
Most study abroad programs include some type of meal outline, so you will need to look into the specific meal description of your student’s program. Outside of the meals provided by the program, students choose where to eat depending on their budget. With a little searching, one can find student discounts and student cafeterias. Another way to save money is to shop at the grocery store rather than constantly eating out. 
Every host family is different, just like every American family is different. Because of this, your student could walk out of the program with either a positive or negative experience. Remember though, study abroad programs carefully select families to ensure participating students leave with the best possible experience. Therefore, it is safe to say that theoretically your student will be placed with the best family possible.

Your student must also be open-minded, because most problems related to host families occur out of misunderstandings between both parties. If for some reason the problem is irresolvable, most study abroad programs will accommodate a switch to a family that is a better fit for your student.
Be creative! Just as your student’s host family is ready to share their culture, they want to learn about your student’s culture as well. Some good ideas could be food/candy that the host country may not have (watch out while packing things that can melt like chocolate). T-shirts are also a nice idea since they are easy to pack. Any gift with a story about your student is best.


Health and Safety

Studying in a foreign city is just as safe/unsafe as studying in Chicago. The only difference is that your student may not yet understand the cultural rules of behavior that come along with being a native in a country. The best thing is to do as much research as possible into his/her/their host country, to discover which places to go and not go, how to behave in public, how to talk to people, etc. A good place to start is a country-specific guidebook and the internet has many resources available as well.
This depends on your student’s host country. Some countries don’t require any vaccinations at all. For country-specific information, refer to the U.S. State Department's travel website. Your student can also check out embassy websites, which sometimes list immunization information.
This is something you will need to discuss with your health insurance provider. DePaul also requires and purchases international travel health insurance for all DePaul students traveling abroad. Visit the Travel, Health, and Safety section for details.
It is advisable that your student bring with them enough of their medication to last them throughout the study abroad program. Always make sure all medication is properly labeled and sealed to prevent unwanted hassles at customs. If for some reason it is not possible to bring multiple doses, talk with your doctor and insurance provider as well as Study Abroad to come up with a solution.
Upon arrival, your student should locate several places where they can receive medical care.  Students should be familiar with the country’s emergency telephone numbers for ambulance/fire assistance if necessary.
 


Financing and Study Abroad

This is determined on a case-by-case basis and the length of the program does not always indicate whether it will be more or less expensive. The best thing to do is “shop” for a program that fits your student’s academic plan and budget. Price information can be seen on DePaul’s individual program pages. You can also use our Budgeting for Study Abroad worksheet to compare program costs.
Financial aid applies to DePaul study abroad programs. Your student should apply for study abroad-specific scholarships. DePaul students are eligible for all the financial aid they would normally receive if they were taking courses on campus. Early application for financial aid increases students' chances to receive awards for study abroad. It is best to discuss any financial information directly with the Office of Financial Aid. Please note that students on non-DePaul program cannot use their DePaul scholarships. 

Visit our Financial Aid and Scholarships section for more information.
This varies by host country as the American dollar is worth more or less depending on the local currency exchange rate. The best way to figure out this kind of information is a country-specific guidebook. Your student can also contact Study Abroad for contact information of a program alum who can share their experience.
If your student is using their home bank account while abroad, you should be able to deposit money into that account from the United States.  If your student plans to open a foreign account, you will need to look into how to wire-transfer money.  Contact your bank and ask them about ways to send money overseas. 
Your student should contact their bank before leaving to let them know in which countries they will be traveling.  Sometimes American banks have agreements with foreign banks, so have your student discuss this as well. 
Make sure your student tells their bank exactly in which countries they will be traveling.  This is very important to confirm usage and to block potential security holds. 
Any on-campus fees will be removed during the period your student is abroad. Sometimes the fees are not removed automatically, so make sure your student calls the university and does not assume that the fees will be removed. 


Staying in Touch

All parents are worried when their students travel abroad. It is important to stay in contact for safety purposes, but remember that every second your student spends talking to friends and family from home is time they're losing forming new relationships in the destination country. Your student’s study abroad experience is valuable and they should take advantage of every second. It is advised to keep contact at a minimum, but still be open any time to talk to your student if they're experiencing problems during the program.
Technology provides great ways of staying in contact at low prices. Computer downloads such as Skype allow people to talk face-to-face for free, no matter the locations. If you don’t have computer access, you can purchase calling cards or talk to your phone company about a possible international plan. You can also email, or more traditionally, snail mail!

To stay connected in between conversations, you should read up on current events in your student’s host country and about the culture. That way, when you talk to your student, you can ask them about the information you discovered, giving your student a chance to describe their experiences.
Try not to visit your student while they are in classes, unless you will be able to keep yourself busy during the day. Also remember that students have homework, so you should not expect too much out of your student if you visit during this period. The best option is to just talk to your student and see what is best for them. Try not to get offended by their preferences; just be open to whatever time period they believe is best.


Traveling While Abroad

One of the advantages of studying abroad is that traveling to nearby countries or cities is a lot easier. Your student should take advantage of everything their host country has to offer. This includes different cities, festivals and attractions. If your student prefers to stay in the same place the entire time, that is okay too. However, it is completely normal for students to move around during their study abroad experience.
Some students take many weekend trips while studying abroad, while others wait until they have longer stretches so as not to rush any trip that they take. How often your student will travel depends on many things including budget, class schedule and desire. There are many ways to travel on a budget—make sure your student looks into discount airlines, train tickets and student discounts. If they do their research well, they'll be able to do significantly more traveling.
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