Before You Leave

Passports

You will be required to show proof of a valid passport or a receipt of purchase as a required part of your GoGlobal study abroad application. Once you receive your new or renewed passport, make sure to upload a copy into your GoGlobal portal before departing for your program.

Reference https://travel.state.gov/ for resources on utilizing your passport abroad.

• Passports should be valid for at least 6 months after your return date from study abroad.
• Passports must be signed.
• International students will need to apply for their passport following the specific guidelines outlined by their home government.
• Your passport should have sufficient pages to allow for any entry/exit stamps

Visas

Determine what identification you need to enter your host country as a student. The Study Abroad Office is here to serve as a resource for applying for a visa; however, it is the responsibility of the student to review government entry/exit requirements and apply independently for any visa or immigration requirement to study abroad. Students should contact their specific program to obtain any necessary documentation and opt into optional visa processing services if available.

• Reference your program brochure in the GoGlobal portal.
• Consult with your study abroad advisor and program partner to determine if a visa is required for U.S. students.
• The U.S. Department of State provides general information about visa requirements by country.
• International students should work with Loyola’s International Student and Scholar Services to determine if there are any U.S. guidelines related to studying abroad. Visa and entry/exit requirements can differ by nationality for study abroad destinations.

CISI Insurance Card

About one month before you depart for your study abroad program, your CISI insurance card will be sent to your Loyola email address from enrollments@culturalinsurance.com. Make sure to print a copy of this card and bring it with you abroad! For more information about your CISI insurance plan, filing claims, preparing for healthy travel, and other resources visit our medical insurance overview page and health and safety page.

Before departing for your study abroad program, Loyola’s Study Abroad Office (SAO) hosts a general pre-departure orientation for all students going abroad. The general pre-departure orientation is a great opportunity to meet other Loyola students who are also studying abroad. In addition, The Study Abroad Office reviews important academic, health, and safety information to ensure your overall well-being while abroad. If you are unable to attend, a recorded session will be sent out along with a quiz. Most programs will also offer an orientation once you arrive in the host country.

For faculty-led students, your faculty leaders will host an additional program-specific pre-departure orientation. You will also be required to attend this program-specific orientation and/or demonstrate that you have reviewed the information.

Review Health & Safety Resources: Loyola and your program affiliate have prepared general resources for healthy and safe travel. You can find those resources on Health and Safety.

Accommodation Requests: Make sure to work with Loyola’s Student Accessibility Center (SAC) if you would like to request an accommodation while abroad. Read more about requesting accommodations while abroad here and apply with SAC here.

Wellness Center: Loyola’s Wellness Center is a great resource to assist students in mentally and physically preparing themselves to spend time outside of the U.S. 

Consult a Physican: We recommend consulting with your physician or a travel clinic to ensure you have a plan for maintaining your mental and physical health while abroad. Many universities and programs will require students to submit a health questionnaire or medical examination as part of the post-acceptance/pre-departure materials. This is to ensure that there is someone on-site who can support you in the event of an emergency or facilitate any requested medical accommodations on-site.

Review Center for Disease Control’s requirements of your host country. This includes recommendations for pre-travel vaccinations, information related to traveling with prescriptions and non-prescription medications, and more.  

In addition to consulting with Loyola’s Financial Aid Office, visit our Money Matters page to learn more about budgeting for your program.

Make housing arrangements prior to your departure from Loyola. Students who are assigned to/living in on-campus housing or who are under the Residency Requirement must fill out The Request for Release or Exemption Form, which can be found here. For any questions, please contact the Department of Residence Life. Their email is Res-Life@luc.edu. Their phone number is 773-508-3300. If living off-campus, make sure to contact your landlord and communicate appropriately with your roommates, when necessary.

Storage

You may need to store items that you choose not to pack. Some storage options include:

• Storage in Your Off-Campus Apartment If you are keeping or subletting your apartment, storage in your apartment building may be available. Check with your landlord or property manager. Storage is not available in on-campus apartments. 
• Summer Storage including free pick-up and delivery is available through Loyola’s partnership with USS (University and Student Services).
  • Self-Storage Units
  • College Boxes
  • Neighbor
  • PODS 

Preparing yourself for the host culture and identity considerations while abroad is a key part of your study abroad program. We encourage you to take the time to learn about the host country/city of your program, including how your intersecting identities might be perceived in another cultural context. Utilize resources such as Loyola’s Center for Diversity & Inclusion, Identities Abroad page, and While Abroad page to learn more about culture and identity preparations.

Preparing to experience the host culture also includes brushing up on your language skills and cultural knowledge of your host city! We recommend free apps such as Duolingo. In addition, investigate local newspapers, Instagram pages, Facebook groups, and more.

Staying connected while abroad is essential—especially in case of emergencies. Before you depart, make sure you have a working phone plan that allows you to make and receive calls in your host country. Most students choose one of the following options: 

• Unlock your phone and purchase a local SIM card once you arrive. This is often the most affordable option. Be sure to contact your phone provider before departure to ensure your phone is unlocked and compatible with international SIM cards. 

• Add international coverage to your existing U.S. phone plan. This is a convenient but often more expensive option. Contact your provider for details on available international plans. 

• Purchase an international eSIM that includes required call capabilities. eSIMs are a digital alternative to physical SIM cards and can be set up before or after arrival. Popular eSIM providers include Nomad, Holafly, Airalo, GigSky, and Saily. If you do this option, it may be necessary to get a data calling application called WhatsApp to enable phone calls and texting.