Information for Family and Friends

General Information

• How to be involved in a student's study abroad experince

  Studying abroad is an opportunity for students to become independent, global citizens and this process starts from the moment students inquire about studying abroad. Family and friend 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. Family, friends and study abroad advisors will serve as guides, but it is in the hands of the students to assume this responsibility.

  Family and friends 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 International Business Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding the study abroad process.

• Benefits of Study Abroad

  While abroad, students are able to

  • 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

  Upon return, motivated students can

  • Make their resumes stand out from the crowd
  • Earn on average $7,000 more in starting salaries than their peers upon graduation, which translates into significant lifetime earnings
  • Use their study abroad experiences to craft strong cover letters and answer a variety of questions during job or graduate school interviews
• With whom students study and travel

  Students who participate in short-term programs (faculty-led and 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 1-4 weeks abroad for faculty-led programs.  Some colleges also send faculty liaisons to travel over with students participating 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 International Business Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

• Staying in contact with students while they are abroad

  Students are encouraged to contact parents and/or significant others 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 calls via Zoom or Skype. 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 International Business Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

• Visiting students abroad

  It can be enticing for family and friends to use a student's study abroad experience as an opportunity to travel.  You will have difficulty visiting students participating in short-term programs, as they have very little free time; their schedules are packed with academic, cultural, and practical activities that family and friends are not able to participate in.

  It is typically easier for family and friends to be able to visit students participating in semester or 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  International Business Study Abroad Advisor  if they have further questions regarding this.

• Students participating in a Coggin College of Business 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  International Business Study Abroad Advisor  if they have further questions regarding this.

Academics

• On-time graduation

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

  The International Business team encourages students to meet with study abroad advisors and academic advisors very early to determine the best time to study abroad and which prerequisites need to be met before doing so. Study abroad advisors will assist students in determining their coursework abroad and how those courses are applicable to their degree.

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

• Determining in which study abroad program to participate

  When students meet with their International Business Study Abroad Advisor, they will discuss several topics to determine which study abroad program is the best fit.  These include academic and career goals, financial and time constraints, location preferences, and more.  Some students need more guidance than others.  Our study abroad advisors are trained to help students at any level through this process to make sure they are comfortable with whichever program they choose.

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

• Transfer of grades and credits abroad back to UNF

  Students studying at a university abroad earn 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 grades earned abroad will be calculated into their transfer and overall GPAs, 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 International Business Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

Finances

• Study abroad Costs

  The cost to study abroad varies from program to program, depending on the length of the program and the location. Short-term programs should each have a specific program fee (includes flight, housing, insurance, etc.), plus the cost of tuition. The breakdown of costs for most programs can be found on their web pages.

  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 markedly 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 International Business Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

• Financial support/scholarships available for students

  Because students will be paying UNF tuition for their study abroad program, they 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. View our Study Abroad Funding page for scholarship opportunities.

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

• Financial aid issues while 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 International Business 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 International Business 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, they 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 International Business Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

Safety

• Student safety abroad

  We recognize that safety is a serious concern for family, friends, 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 who work directly 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 receive 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.

• International health insurance

  University of North Florida requires all students participating in a University-related study abroad program to obtain sufficient international health insurance. Students participating in a UNF short-term program will automatically be enrolled in UNF's preapproved GeoBlue insurance plan. Students participating in an independent program can choose to use GeoBlue 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 International Business Study Abroad Advisor if they have further questions regarding this.

Before and After Study Abroad

• Assistance students receive when preparing to study abroad

  International Business 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 any type of Coggin College of Business-sponsored program will be required to attend mandatory pre-departure meetings, covering topics such as health and safety, cultural adaptation, academics abroad, travel preparations, finances, etc. This is also 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 students who have previously participated in a Coggin College of Business Study Abroad program to share their experiences.

  All students participating in a Coggin program will have a re-entry session upon return from studying abroad.  This may take the form of a class meeting for a faculty-led program, or a full orientation provided by the International Business team.  This allows students to reflect further on their experiences, learn to articulate the skills and competencies they gained abroad, and explore how to leverage their study abroad when applying for jobs or graduate school.

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

• Assistance students receive upon return

  All study abroad students on Coggin College of Business programs will have a re-entry session upon return from studying abroad.  This may take the form of a class meeting for a faculty-led program, or a full orientation provided by the International Business team.  This allows students to reflect further on their experiences, learn to articulate the skills and competencies they gained abroad, and explore how to leverage their study abroad when applying for jobs or graduate school. 

  Students will have several chances to talk with future study abroad students about their experiences as well.  This sharing not only helps to advertise study abroad opportunities throughout campus, but also assists in minimizing reverse culture shock described in the following section.

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

• What family and friends can expect when students return

  It is very common for students to experience a 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. Family and friends 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 International Business team in order for them to share their experiences and encourage other students to study abroad.

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