Congratulations on your acceptance into a study abroad program! By applying, you’ve taken the first step toward an amazing learning opportunity.

Be sure to follow these NEXT STEPS, read all the additional information provided in this handbook, and enjoy your time studying abroad!

Next Steps:

A. Registering

B. Passports & Visas

C. Finances

D. Insurance

E. Pre-Departure Orientation

F. Student Responsibility and Liability Form

 Next Step A: Registering for your Study Abroad Program Courses

KSU Students: 

Non-KSU Students:  If you are a non-KSU student, you will need to apply to KSU as a transient (guest) student.  To do this, you must complete the following:

1. Undergraduate application for admission and application fee.
2. Request a transient letter from your home institution’s Registrar, which should state that you are a student in good academic standing.  This letter should be mailed directly to:  Office of International Services and Programs, Kennesaw State University, #2301, Kennesaw, GA 30144.

Once you complete these steps, you will be accepted to KSU as a transient student, which will allow you to register using the OWL Express registration system.

Next Step B: Passports and Visas

If you do not already have a passport, you will need to apply for one immediately.  Please visit http://travel.state.gov and follow the instructions for obtaining a passport.  Because processing times take anywhere from 8-10 weeks, it is urgent that you apply early so as to avoid having to pay for expedited service.  Some countries will require you to have a visa, while others will not.  Please visit the visa section (Americans Traveling Abroad) on http://travel.state.gov to determine your study abroad country’s requirements.  Please contact the study abroad advisors if you need further assistance. 

Once you obtain your passport, you must include a copy in the paperwork requested by your program director during the mandatory Pre-departure Orientation meetings before you leave for your study abroad program.  Please ensure that you include your name and program on all submitted documents. Make note of your passport number and keep it in a safe place.  Leave a copy of the page with your photo on it with your parents, a family member or friend.  

Note:  please ensure that your passport will not expire at any point during your program’s duration!  If this is the case, you will need to renew your passport immediately.  Please check the active dates of your passport against the dates of duration for your program.

When traveling, please make sure that you DO NOT pack your passport in your checked luggage.

**Note about visas:  Unless all study abroad program participants are required to obtain a visa (i.e., China, Ghana, India), any non-U.S. students attending a study abroad program need to apply for the visa separately and on their own. 

Students can visit http://www.travisa.com/ to find details on obtaining their visa.

Next Step C: Finances

Important Financial Aid Forms to Remember:

1. FAFSA
2. Education Abroad Cost Form
3. Global Learning Education Abroad Scholarship application

Financial Aid Advisement
Students wishing to use federal financial aid to fund their study abroad experience who have questions about financial aid should schedule a meeting with a financial aid counselor. https://financialservices.kennesaw.edu/   Also, you must complete the FAFSA Form if you have not already done so in order to determine your eligibility for federal financial assistance.

Once you apply for the program you will need to complete the Education Abroad Cost Form for the program and submit this form to the Financial Aid Office at KSU.

Tuition and Program Fee Payments
Study abroad participants pay two sets of fees: (1) tuition payments; and (2) program fee payments.  For HOPE recipients, only your tuition costs will be covered by HOPE.  You are still responsible for making the program fee payments.  Please note:  there is a mandatory HOPE scholarship checkpoint at the end of the Spring 2009 semester.  Student Financial Aid will confirm HOPE eligibility following the review and posting of Spring 2009 grades.  If you are currently HOPE eligible, you will need to pay Summer 2009 tuition out-of-pocket by the priority registration deadline of (March 9 – 17, 2009).  If HOPE scholarship eligibility is later confirmed for Summer 2009, HOPE will pay to your student account in June 2009.  Please consult a financial aid counselor for more information. 

Program fee payments for KSU administered programs are structured as follows:

1. $300-$350 deposit is paid on KSU Mall at the time of application.
2. The balance of the program fee will be billed to students’ Owl Express Account on the date shown on the KSU Mall application form.
3.  If payments are not received by the installment deadlines, you will be withdrawn from the study abroad program.  If you anticipate any financial difficulties, please contact the study abroad office immediately.

KSU Global Learning Scholarship: For information and application visit our website: http://www.kennesaw.edu/studyabroad/financial.html

Next Step D: Insurance

A. Health and Accident Insurance
It is a requirement that all students participating on study abroad have insurance, which will only cover the dates of duration for your program.  T.W. Lord and Associates is the insurance provider for KSU study abroad programs.  As part of student program fees, the health insurance is purchased and an insurance card is issued to all study abroad students prior to their departure.  Health insurance questions can be directed to Ms Shelia McGrath at 770-423-6336, or to the T.W. Lord office at 770-427-2461.

Next Step E: Pre-departure Orientation

There will be mandatory pre-departure orientations held before you leave for your study abroad program.  European Council programs will have their own required orientations at Macon State College.  Some program directors may hold additional pre-departure meetings with their students at their discretion.

Your program director will contact you with the dates and times of the mandatory pre-departure orientations for your study abroad program.

You must attend these sessions and submit the required paperwork your program director requests in order to leave on the study abroad program.

Next Step F: Student Responsibility and Liability Form

Click Here to download the Student Responsibility and Liability Form

All students must read and sign this document. Please return this to your program director.