Education Abroad & Exchange - Information for Parents

The International Programs Office (IPO) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is pleased to be able to send your son or daughter abroad in the coming semester or year. We believe that you can be proud of his/her desire to experience another culture and embark on this exciting journey.

Studying abroad in college is perhaps the most important adventure your son/ daughter will experience. As parents, your support is important throughout the entire process. Ultimately, the responsibility of studying abroad rests on the student, and at IPO, we expect students to manage the entire process on their own to get the most out of the experience.

This website is filled with information about applying and going abroad, and we invite you to read all the pages, including the Guidelines for Education Abroad 2007-2008 [PDF].

The following is some information we believe is important for parents:

Bills and Financial Aid

There is a $600 deposit due once your student has been accepted by UMass to study abroad. Your student will receive a bill for the deposit as well as the entire program, and a copy will also be mailed home. The deposit amount is credited to your son or daughter's account and will lower the total due on the date indicated for final payment. Please note the items this bill covers. For many programs only an academic fee to cover tuition and fees is paid to IPO. Estimates for other costs are provided separately as soon as our exchange partners confirm figures for the coming year, and we will mail you a copy as soon as it is made available.

There is a $750 fee for the Non-UMass Education Program which covers: keeping your status as a student, working with the Financial Aid Office, orientation

If your student receives any financial aid (loans, wavers, scholarships), they must attend ONE financial aid meeting to learn how their aid can be used to study abroad. Once all the paperwork is handed into the Financial Aid Office and a student's aid package is determined, financial aid can be used to pay for studying abroad. Most financial aid received by your son or daughter may be applied to this bill, but we must receive documentation on all financial aid awards and loans.

Full payment of the bill is due as stated on your bill unless the student has arranged a payment plan or sent International Programs a copy of his/her Financial Aid Award Letter (FAAL) and/or confirmation of a Stafford loan application or other scholarship award. If financial aid awards do not cover the full amount of the bill, the difference must be paid by the deadline stated on your bill.

All checks can be made payable to "University of Massachusetts Amherst" and mailed to or dropped off at:
William S. Clark International Center
467 Hills South
111 Infirmary Way
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Amherst, MA 01003 USA

Questions regarding bills and financial aid can be directed to Kate Smith at 413.545.2710.

Safety

IPO is very proactive in making sure your student will be safe while studying abroad. For more detailed information on health and safety, click here.
In the unlikely event of an emergency, please contact UMass International Programs Office 413.545.2710 or after hours contact Campus Security at 413-545-2121. Explain the need to contact someone in IPO.

Insurance

Most programs include insurance, but it is also recommended to call your insurance company to see what coverage they allow for overseas travel/study. Some companies previous students used:

World Class Coverage Plan
Administered by Cultural Insurance Services International
Health Insurance for U.S. Students Studying Abroad
Underwritten by ACE American Insurance Company
HealthCare Global
Administered by Wallach & Company, Inc.
Basic Travel Insurance with an ISIC Card

Orientation

Your son or daughter will participate in an orientation session at UMass before leaving conducted by IPO staff, as well as international students who are here on exchange and those returned from abroad. We will discuss many aspects of practical planning and adjustment and go over the procedures and information they have been receiving in the Guidelines for Study Abroad, the Fact Sheet (Expense estimate and contact information), and program Handbook. In light of current world conditions, we will emphasize the need for careful consideration when making travel plans, the importance of clear and regular communication with family and sensible tips on safety - all of which have long been a regular part of our orientations. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Length of Stay and Examination Policy

Students must take all examinations as scheduled by their host university/college. Special assessment arrangements for visiting students are not acceptable on a routine basis. Semester students are expected to stay through the maximum period possible (i.e. to the end of exam period in May, June or July) and take all exams offered to less than full year students.

Culture Shock

Nearly every participant in a study abroad program undergoes some form of culture shock, with vastly different manifestations. Whether your son or daughter is a letter-writer or uses email or the phone, you will undoubtedly notice traces of it in his/her communications. Everything is rosy and wonderful, or everything is just awful —with no middle ground—for the first several months. It is only after real adjustments have been made that the student becomes able to assess things in perspective, seeing both the good and the bad aspects of life in a foreign country. Some students use their parents as sounding boards for new ideas during the year, and actually feel that the semester away brings them closer. In any case, contact with you is apt to be very important to your child while s/he is away. If at any time you feel that s/he is in a genuinely bad situation, please notify us as soon as possible so that we can take steps that may be available to us to alleviate the situation.