Information for Parents

General Information

• How can I be involved in my student's study abroad experience?

  Studying abroad is an opportunity for students to become independent, global citizens and this process starts from the moment students inquire about studying abroad. Parental support is essential throughout the entire process. Students might need a parent's advice, assistance, and encouragement in order to find success in their study abroad experience. In order for students to get the most out of this experience, students must learn to take responsibility and act independently throughout the process. Parents and study abroad advisors will serve as guides, but it is in the hands of the students to assume this responsibility.

   

  Parents can learn more about each program (including cost, application process, program requirements, deadlines, housing information, program dates, etc.) by visiting the program-specific website or by asking their student.

   

  Advise your student to contact their Coggin Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding the study abroad process.

• What are the benefits of studying abroad?

  Students are able to:

  • Make their resumes stand out from the crowd
  • Earn valuable UNF credit in another country
  • Enhance their foreign language skills
  • Become more independent and open-minded
  • Learn how to communicate across cultures
  • Add adventure to their academics
  • Explore and travel new places
  • Live an experience of a lifetime

  Check out the statistical information about studying abroad.

• Who will my student be studying/traveling with?

  Students who participate in Coggin's short-term programs (faculty-led and Coggin In summer programs) will be studying with a group of UNF students (some summer programs allow other U.S. schools to participate). Furthermore, students are led by UNF faculty members throughout the entire 8-10 days abroad for faculty-led programs and faculty liaisons travel over with students participating in Coggin In summer programs and stay for an entire week in order to make sure students are settled in and adjusted.

   

  Students who participate in semester/year programs will more than likely be studying abroad and traveling on their own. However, students will have the opportunity to meet other American and international students studying at the same exchange university at orientation before classes start. Some of the more popular locations (mostly located in Western Europe) may have more than one UNF student participating per semester.

   

  Advise your student to contact their Coggin Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

• How can I stay in contact with my student while he/she is abroad?

  Students are encouraged to contact parents as soon as they have access to contact home to let them know they have arrived abroad safely. However, don't be surprised if you don't hear from your student within a couple of days. It can often be difficult to access email and phones immediately, plus students will be busy moving into housing, taking part in orientation, meeting new people, etc.

   

  As far as communicating on a regular basis, be sure to talk with your student before they leave to come up with a plan and method of communication. Students can purchase international phone plans through their provider, they can purchase an inexpensive cell phone upon arrival, use email, or schedule Skype calls. You can also download free apps such as WhatsApp, which allows you to exchange messages using the internet. Make sure you take differences in time zones in consideration!

   

  Be aware that communicating with your student every day while they are abroad may take away from their overall experience abroad and they may experience more extreme feelings of homesickness.

   

  Advise your student to contact their Coggin Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

• Can I visit my student abroad?

  We do not recommend parents to visit students participating in short term programs (faculty-led and Coggin in summer programs). Students have busy schedules packed into a small window of time, therefore they do not have a lot of free time.

   

  Parents are able to visit students participating in semester/year long programs. However, if you are interested in visiting your student, you should arrange to visit during a time that does not interrupt or conflict with the student's coursework and program activities. During breaks or after the program ends are the best times to visit.

   

  Advise your student to contact their Coggin Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

• What if my student is participating in a Coggin Double Degree Program?

  For students participating in a Coggin Double Degree program, the information provided for semester/year programs would apply to them as well.

   

  Advise your student to contact their Coggin Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

Academics

• Can my student still graduate on time if he/she studies abroad?

  Statistics have shown that UNF students who study abroad tend to be more engaged and are more likely to graduate within 4 years than the general UNF student population.

   

  The Coggin Study Abroad team encourages students to meet with study abroad advisors and Coggin academic advisors very early to determine what is the best time to study abroad and what pre-requisites need to be met before going abroad. Study abroad advisors will assist students in determining their coursework abroad and if those courses are applicable to their degree.

   

  Advise your student to contact their Coggin Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

• Can my student still participate in a Coggin Study Abroad program if he/she is not a business major?

  Non-business majors are able to participate in Coggin Study Abroad programs, depending on their major and the program of interest. Students should meet with a Coggin Study Abroad advisor to discuss their options and determine whether they would need to take any prerequistes in order to participate in the program. Students are also encouraged to contact the International Center, which offers programs for all UNF majors, in order to explore the many options available to them.

   

  Advise your student to contact their Coggin Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

• How will my student's grades transfer back to UNF?

  Students studying at a university abroad will receive credit for the coursework taken abroad and will receive an official transcript from the host institution. This approved coursework that students take abroad will count towards their UNF degree. Each course comes back as transfer credit, which means that those courses will be calculated into their overall GPA, but not their UNF GPA.

   

  Students participating in a faculty-led study abroad program will receive UNF credit, not transfer credit, since the course is taught by a UNF faculty member.

   

  Advise your student to contact their Coggin Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

Finances

• How much will it cost for my student to study abroad?

  The cost to study abroad varies from program to program, depending on the length of the program and the location. Short-term programs (faculty-led and Coggin In summer programs) each have a specific program fee (includes flight, housing, insurance, etc.), plus the cost of tuition. The breakdown of costs for each program can be found on the specific program's website.

   

  Students participating in a semester or year abroad program are exchanges. This means that students pay their regular tuition to UNF for the semester(s) they are abroad. Beyond that, students arrange flights, housing, visas, insurance, etc. on their own, so the cost can vary from student to student. To see an estimated cost of attendance for a semester program, please find the appropriate document in the "Additional Information" section of the program's website.

   

  Advise your student to contact their Coggin Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

• What kind of financial support/scholarships are available for my student?

  Because students will be paying UNF tuition for their study abroad program, students will be able to use all or some of their financial aid package (including loans, grants, and scholarships) for their term abroad. Since each student's financial aid is unique, they will need to meet with a financial aid advisor to determine how their financial aid can be used abroad.

   

  UNF Study Abroad Scholarships:

  • SAILS Scholarship
  • Coggin Study Abroad Scholarships (for semester programs only)
  • Hicks Honors Study Abroad Scholarships available to Honors students - students should see their Honors advisor to inquire about this scholarship

  Students should contact their study abroad advisor to find out about additional scholarships available to help fund their study abroad program.

• What if my student experiences issues with financial aid while he/she is abroad?

  It is very common for students to receive emails about their financial aid while they are abroad that causes them to panic. The normal reaction is to contact OneStop - this is not most efficient. Students should contact their study abroad advisor or Financial Aid, to assist them with the issue.

   

  Common issues:

  • SAP Warning/Suspension: students may receive email notifications stating they are in SAP warning or suspension because they have not met the requirements to receive federal financial aid (refer to Financial Aid's website for more information on this). Once the Coggin Study Abroad Office receives the transcripts from the host institution and submits the SAP Appeal form, Financial Aid will evaluate the student's aid to verify that the SAP requirements have been met.
  • Disbursement: Financial Aid needs verification that students are enrolled in a university abroad in order to disburse their aid. The Coggin Study Abroad Advisor will send each student a Learning Agreement to be signed within the first two weeks of classes at the university abroad. Once the study abroad advisor receives the learning agreement, she will submit it to Financial Aid in order for aid to be disbursed. Note: many host universities' semesters start later than UNF's semester. Financial will place a temporary deferment on the student's account (only on the amount that the student's aid covers), until enrollment verification is received.

  Advise your student to contact their Coggin Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

Safety

• Will my student be safe while abroad?

  We recognize that safety is a high concern for both parents and students when it comes to studying abroad. We have carefully selected countries and universities that are considered safe at this time. Study abroad programs are evaluated and approved by UNF's Activity Abroad Risk Review Committee (AARRC). We also make sure that students have a support system while they are abroad, whether that is a faculty leader or staff at the host university that directly work with incoming study abroad students.

   

  We strive to prepare students for their experiences abroad by providing them with the information and tools they need to be safe abroad. Students will be provided with information about health and safety during their pre-departure orientations. In addition, most students will receive on-site orientation where safety will be addressed once again.

   

  UNF's International Center provides many different resources and information regarding health and safety.

• Will my student be covered by health insurance while studying abroad?

  University of North Florida requires all students participating in a Coggin Study Abroad program to obtain sufficient international health insurance. Students participating in a Coggin short-term program will automatically be enrolled in UNF's preapproved HTH Worldwide Insurance plan. Students participating in a semester/year long program can choose to use HTH Worldwide or their own insurance provider (as long as it has the required level of coverage). Some countries require students to purchase separate or additional health insurance. The student's study abroad advisor will inform them if this is the case.

   

  Advise your student to contact their Coggin Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

Before and After Study Abroad

• What kind of assistance will my student receive when preparing to study abroad?

  Coggin Study Abroad Advisors are available to assist and support students during the entire study abroad process, however it is the responsibility of the student to meet deadlines, attend mandatory meetings, and turn in the necessary paperwork needed for their program.

   

  Students participating in both short-term and semester programs will be required to attend mandatory pre-departure meetings, which will cover topics such as health and safety, culture shock/adaption, academics abroad, travel preparations, etc. This will be an opportunity to meet other students who will be participating in the same program or studying abroad during the same semester. In addition, we like to invite UNF students who have previously participated in a Coggin Study Abroad program to share their experiences and answer any questions students might have.

   

  Advise your student to contact their Coggin Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

• What can I expect when my student returns from studying abroad?

  It is very common for students to experience a negative side-effect known as "reverse culture shock" after returning from a study abroad program. During their time abroad, the student becomes accustomed to a different way of life. When they come home it may be hard to adjust back to "the way things used to be". It can be hard for the student to accept that life at home didn't stop while he/she was away, and just as he/she changed, things at home changed, too. Parents should exhibit genuine interest in their student's experience abroad and help them through any difficulty they are experiencing. They should also encourage their student to get involved in events put on by the Coggin Study Abroad team, in order for them to share their experiences and encourage other students to study abroad.

   

  The Coggin Study Abroad team hosts a Study Abroad Re-entry Workshop each semester for returning students (mandatory for students participating in a semester/year program) where students are able to talk about the experiences they had abroad and their experiences with reverse culture shock. A representative from the Coggin College of Business Career Management Center will also present about how students can incorporate/leverage their study abroad experiences in their resume, job interviews, internships, and their careers.

   

  Advise your student to contact their Coggin Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.