Resources for Students

The information below will help you prepare for your study abroad experience before, during, and after your adventure! Before you begin reading through our site-specific information, we recommend that you read through some helpful tips, as well as suggestions on travel from the Department of State. Here is the link: http://studentsabroad.state.gov

What You Should Know….

Before You Go

Study Abroad Program Handbooks (PDFs) (For accepted students)

Austria	China	England	Netherlands	Switzerland	Thailand
Kansai University Exchange
Japan

Forms

Webster students need to submit a variety of forms to the Office of Study Abroad during their scheduled pre-acceptance meeting with their study abroad advisor. Non-Webster students will receive specific instructions from their study abroad advisor regarding paperwork after their application has been submitted to the Office of Study Abroad.

Forms Required for All Programs:

• Letter of Intent Form
• Health Information Form
• Study Abroad Authorization Form
• Sample Passport Photo Pages
• Arrival Form
  

Campus-Specific Forms

After acceptance into the program, you will receive more information from the study abroad advisor about the forms listed below:

Vienna, Austria

• Registration Form
• Applied Music Program
• Fall 2012 Housing Form
  

 London, England

• Fall & Spring Registration Form
• Summer Registration Form
  

Leiden, the Netherlands

• Registration Form
• Spring Housing Form
• Residency Permit Information
• Fall 2012, Spring 2013 Housing Form
  

Geneva, Switzerland

• Registration Form
  

Cha-Am/Bangkok, Thailand

• Registration Form
• Fall 2012, Spring 2013 Undergraduate Housing Form

Webster’s International Exchange Partners:

Beijing, China

• BLCU Application

Osaka, Japan

• Kansai Application
  

Tokyo, Japan

• Obirin Application

Guadalajara, Mexico

• Guadalajara Application
• Homestay Application
  

Financial Aid & Scholarship Info

Below are some helpful tips and links and a few steps to take in order to insure that you are ready to for your travel experience.

• Invest in constructing a reasonable budget for your time abroad. The budget should be one that reflects your goals while abroad (travel, activities, etc.) and your personal “comfort zone” (staying in hotels vs. hostels).
  
• Meet with your Financial Aid Counselor to discuss how your financial aid may be used abroad and be sure to talk about options for additional funding to cover increased expenses due to cost of living or travel.
  
• Make sure you understand options such as parent loans and alternative loans. Different types of loans will have different interest rates and conditions. Webster students, keep in mind that loan disbursements will not post on your student account until the second week of class and refunds are not processed until after the add/drop period.
  
• If you study abroad during the spring semester, it is your responsibility to file for the next academic year financial aid either while you are studying abroad or prior to leaving town. As a reminder, priory deadline for COMPLETING your financial aid file is March 30th.

FAFSA on the Web
www.fafsa.ed.gov

Webster University Financial Aid Information
http://admissions.webster.edu/admissions/finaid/scholarships_studyabroad.asp

Alternative Loan Information
www.finaid.org/loans/privateloan.phtml

Comprehensive Financial Aid Information
www.finaid.org

Webster Students

Financial assistance from Webster University is limited to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are degree-seeking students at Webster. Webster students will need to contact their financial aid advisor  to see how their financial aid can be used while studying abroad.

There are also scholarships available to qualified students. The Office of Study Abroad offers the Webster World Traveler Program  as a special scholarship available to Webster students that do not receive tuition remission. This award is for a free round-trip ticket from St. Louis to the international campus. Please contact the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) for additional information.

In addition, Webster University offers the Leif Sverdrup Study Abroad Scholarship to Webster undergraduate and graduate students. For more information on deadlines and eligibility requirements, please visit: http://admissions.webster.edu/admissions/finaid/scholarships_studyabroad.asp

Non-Webster Students

For Non-Webster students, most federal and state financial aids awarded by the home campus can be used while studying abroad. Contact your financial aid advisor to see how your financial aid may be used to study abroad at Webster University.

Scholarship Opportunities

For information on scholarships opportunities offered through various universities and programs, please visit our Scholarship page.

Handling Your Finances

• Managing Money While Abroad

Pre-Departure Orientation

Orientation is mandatory for all Webster St. Louis students and will last approximately two hours. This program introduces students to useful information on adjusting to a new environment, as well as practical information on health and safety matters abroad. You will attend a general session for the first hour and then move to campus-specific sessions for the second hour where you will have the chance to meet with study abroad alumni who have studied at the campus you will be attending. During the campus-specific sessions with study abroad alumni, parents will have the opportunity to attend an open question session with OSA staff. You will receive a notice from the OSA regarding the date and time of the orientation.  Students can bring up to two guests.

All visiting and affiliate students are mailed the same pre-departure materials, which include country-specific information as well as materials on health and safety matters abroad. Visiting and Affiliate students are also invited to attend the pre-departure programs if they are in the metro St. Louis area. Listed below are some helpful links:

• What vaccinations or immunizations do you need?
• U.S. Department of State Travel Tips
• Cell Phones Abroad
• 5 Steps to Thinking Local
• Packing Advice
• Drug Laws: Austria
• Drug Laws: China
• Drug Laws: Japan
• Drug Laws: Switzerland
• Drug Laws: Thailand
• Drug Laws: The Netherlands
• Drug Laws: The UK

While You Are Abroad

Culture Shock

After you’ve completed your paperwork, and attended your pre-departure orientation, you are ready for your journey!! The Office of Study Abroad is a resource for helping you understand what to do and what types of things you can expect at our international campuses. One of the things to expect, once you arrive, is that you will be… shocked!

Culture shock is a real phenomenon. It is “the state of being overwhelmed by the differences in customs and behavior in a foreign place.” As you experience many unique opportunities and challenges, you will most likely pass through the four stages of culture shock. Listed below are some helpful links:

• Culture Shock
• What's Up with Culture?
  

On-site Orientation

Once overseas, all students take part in an on-site orientation program. Among other things, students are introduced to their local surroundings and given thorough information on how to contact a Webster staff member in the event of an emergency. Health and safety issues are discussed throughout the program.

HTH Health Insurance Info

In addition, students enjoy a 24-hour medical assistance service and coverage throughout the world. To download information on how to file a claim, and for more resources and global health information, please visit http://www.hthstudents.com.

For specifics on the policy you will receive when you study abroad, please download the following information:

• HTH Fact Sheet
• HTH Pamphlet
• Webster University's Certificate of Coverage with HTH Insurance

When You Return

Reverse Culture Shock

Upon returning from your Study Abroad experience, it is important to keep in touch with friends you have made overseas, as well as your friends and family back home. But, you will have changed! While many of these people won’t understand exactly what you are going through, they can help provide encouragement and support as you transition. For many of you, however, the culture shock you experienced when arriving to your host country abroad will not be nearly as difficult as the shock of returning home after your study abroad experience, known as “reverse culture shock.”

Here are a few resources to help you understand and adjust to this experience:

• What’s up with Culture re-entry, at http://www2.pacific.edu/sis/culture
• Reverse culture flyer from the University of California, Davis at http://caps.ucdavis.edu/resources/brochures/Reverse_Culture_Shock-reversed.pdf
• Glimpse Magazine (student traveler branch of National Geographic), poster on “what not to do after studying abroad,” at http://glimpse.org/stories/view/top-5-things-not-to-do-after-returning-from-abroad/. Some other fun stories available.
• Students Abroad Handbook at http://www.studentsabroad.com/reentrycultureshock.html

Continue & Share your Experience!

There are many ways to use the interests and skills you gained while abroad. Be creative in applying what you learned so your growth can continue:

• Participate in a Study Abroad Fair! Ask your Study Abroad Office how you can help out!
• Talk about your experience to clubs and groups, including adults and children.
• Join international organizations and clubs.
• Continue your foreign language or take courses with an international focus.
• Continue studying your host country by taking related courses, reading international papers, viewing films and videos, writing research papers, etc.
• Volunteer to work in the community or on campus.  Help organizations that support community service and development.  Look for groups working with immigrants, refugees, or the aged so you can use your skills of listening, patience and empathy.
• Start thinking about when and how you’ll return. You can apply for Fulbright Scholarships to study and conduct research; find employment possibilities while you were abroad; join the Peace Corps; or just return to visit host family & friends.