Congratulations on taking the first steps towards studying abroad! By now you have completed the Prior Approval Form (for all year/semester and non-VU summer programs only) and submitted it to the OIS. Hopefully you have also submitted your application to your overseas university or program provider. If it is nearing the end of the semester before you are planning to go abroad and you have not yet applied to your study abroad program, please do so immediately.

If you have already applied, but have not been accepted to your university or program yet, you are encouraged to contact them directly, to ensure that you submitted all the necessary application materials. As a guideline, most universities and programs will accept students by May for fall study abroad and by mid-November for spring study abroad.

If you have already been accepted to your study abroad program, you have probably been receiving a lot of paperwork and pre-departure materials. Please be sure to read through all of this paperwork very carefully and make sure you are completing all the necessary steps. Many of you will need to book flights, obtain overseas health insurance and apply for student visas, just to list a few important pre-departure activities.

In addition to many of the pre-departure requirements set up by your host university or study abroad program, Villanova University and the OIS also require that you complete a pre-departure program designed for all Villanova students studying abroad. All steps in the pre-departure must be completed before you leave the country.

One of the most important steps in your preparation for departure also includes learning about your future home. Use the resource link as a guide to follow international news and events in your host country and to prepare yourself for cultural differences.