Loyola University Chicago

Academic Year, Semester and Non-Loyola Summer Programs

Once you have applied to a study abroad program, this list can be used as a guide to preparing for your study abroad. If you have any questions, please contact the Office for International Programs (OIP) to set up an appointment, or come in during walk-in advising hours.

• Dean/Advisor Meeting: Meet with your dean/academic advisor to talk about your program of interest and how courses abroad might fit into core and major requirements at Loyola. You may want to discuss how many credit hours you need to graduate, which Core courses you still need to fulfill and whether you need to take any upper-level courses.
  
• Financial Aid Advising: Meet with the Financial Aid Officer in the Office of Student Financial Assistance to determine what type of financial aid will transfer to your study abroad program. To set up an appointment, e-mail: lufinaid@luc.edu or call: 773-508-7704.

• Passport: If you have a passport, check that it will be valid for the duration of your stay. If you do not have a passport, apply for one  early; the process could take six weeks. Review our passport instructions. 

• Visa: Determine with help from the OIP or the consular Website whether or not you need to apply for a student visa. USAC and IES students will be informed by those organizations if a visa is needed. Students going to Chile will need visas and should refer to the Student Visa: Santiago, Chile page. Apply for your visa early. You will need a passport to apply for a visa.
  
• Course Approval: Get course approvals for any study abroad course you'd like to count toward your major, minor or core requirements.
  
• Orientation: Attend the mandatory study abroad orientation where you will gain valuable and practical information about your upcoming experience. OIP will send you details.  To see if the date has been set yet, check our events page.

• Health and Safety: Check with your family physician regarding health care, immunizations and precautions. Review the health and safety guidelines on this site.
  
• Insurance: Make sure that your health insurance will meet Loyola's requirements for adequate study abroad coverage. Students studying in a USAC or IES program: International health insurance is included with your program. For more information about this requirement, see International Health Insurance.
  
• Travel: Make necessary travel arrangements if they are not provided by your program. 

• Residence: Inform Loyola Residence Life staff if you will be leaving and/or returning to the residence halls. Do this after you have been accepted to a study abroad program and have decided for certain that you will participate. OIP also can send out an e-mail to current study abroad students regarding an apartment vacancy or a roommate search.

• OIP Forms: Make sure that the forms required to be on file at Loyola's OIP have been turned in:
  • Original Course Pre-Approval Forms
  • Loyola Study Abroad Medical Form
  • Copy of visa, if required for your program
  • Original Illegal Drug Affidavit Form
  • Copy of identification (photo) page of your passport
  • Original Risk and Release Form
  • Health Insurance Card (required for Chile, Beijing, Casa and Exchange Programs) 

• Final Step: Tell OIP your date of departure, the e-mail address you will use while abroad and your address abroad if you know it.

While you are Overseas

• Communicate with OIP: You are encouraged to get in touch with the Office for International Programs if you experience problems or difficulties at any time during your program. If you let us know about your situation, we may be able to assist you.