Essential Tips for Parents of US Students Studying Abroad

From the time she began college, my daughter knew she wanted to study abroad. Her university offers many opportunities for study and work abroad programs. She decided on the first semester of her senior year and chose a program with University College Dublin in Ireland.

Although the logistics were easier to maneuver with an English-speaking country, we were not at all familiar with being overseas for an extended period of time and all that entails. My daughter and I researched many things before she left, but even then some things came up that completely surprised us. Here are some of the issues we encountered and what we did to address them.

Note: All study abroad programs and countries are different. These are tips based on our own experiences and situation. Your child’s experience may be different, so make sure to do your own research based on their situation and needs. Don’t assume your child’s university will give you all of the information you need!

Read More:

• Is Babbel Worth it? Babbling Your Way to Speaking a New Language
• Babbel vs Duolingo: Which Language App is the Best?
• Want more travel destination ideas? Get inspired with our newsletter!

Passport and Visa Tips

• If your student’s passport was issued when they were a child, they’ll need to re-apply as if it were their first passport.
• Check the expiration date: many countries require the passport to be valid at least 6 months past the arrival date and certainly through the expected departure date.
• Use the Travel.State.Gov website to learn about your student’s destination. You can also check the host country’s state department website to identify visa requirements. Most schools that offer semesters abroad will have additional information to help with planning.
• Both you and your student should have digital and paper copies of their passport, birth certificate, health history (including your child’s status for required or recommended vaccines for the host country), visa documentation and other important papers in the event their passport is lost or stolen.
• Make sure that you are able to travel to the host country in the event of an emergency (meaning you have a valid passport and understand any other entry requirements).
• Your student should register with the US State Department Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This free service allows US citizens and nationals to enroll their trip abroad so the Department of State can accurately and quickly contact them in case of emergency.

It is the most obvious thing about traveling abroad, but make sure your student has a valid passport and valid student or residency visa if required. You should begin this process at least 6 months in advance of the semester abroad. Visas can be tricky depending on the country, including having limits on the number and type of visas issued. More, many countries will require a valid passport in order for your child to apply for the visa. So plan ahead.

For studying in Ireland from the US, a visa is not required. But make sure your student knows whether or not they need one, and if they do, how to get it. My daughter does need an Irish Residence Permit since she will be there for longer than 90 days. She had to apply in person for the permit once she was in Ireland – there was no way to do so beforehand.

Mobile Phone Tips

• Check with your wireless carrier to see what they offer in terms of an international plan and compare with other options.
• If possible, unlock your student’s phone and have them purchase a new SIM card in the country they’ll be studying in. Some Android and iPhones 12.1 or higher allow for a second sim card and cellular plan that can be purchased and added in the host country.
• Learn the correct country code and how to make outbound calls both within the country and home to the US.
• Sign up for What’s App which allows for both voice and texting over the internet. Data charges may apply but are typically less expensive than cellular plans for texting and calling.

One of our biggest concerns was our daughter’s ability to use her cell phone without incurring a huge cost. We stopped into our carrier’s retail store (AT&T in our case) and spoke to someone there in person so we could understand the options and ask questions.

Wireless phones and plans vary, but for our situation, we discovered that she could pay a daily fee (up to a monthly maximum) which would give her an international plan offering the exact level of service she has here at home in the US. This would keep her phone number the same (as a US-based number). Or, we could unlock her phone and swap out her SIM card for a new one in Ireland, which would give her an Irish phone number. However, in order to unlock her phone, it would have to be paid off (not still on an installment plan).

In our case, we thought the international plan made the most sense, but realized after she was already in Ireland that there were some things we hadn’t realized about having a US phone number in a different country. For example, she has had trouble signing up for online accounts for restaurants and stores because their systems are not set up to accept US phone numbers. And when having to give a phone number to someone, they’re often confused by the US phone number, requiring additional explanation. I think in retrospect, it would have been easier to go the SIM card route.

Also, because my daughter’s phone number is US-based, she’s essentially making international calls while in Ireland, even to the pub down the road. It’s important to know the country code (+353 for Ireland) and how to make phone calls both in-country and to the US. To call home, she needs to begin the number with 001, so she can’t simply use her contact list to call anyone like she’s used to here.

Budget, Money and Credit Card Tips

• Your student should have a set budget with all of their expenses listed.
• Notify their bank that they will be traveling abroad so they’re not risking a fraud lock on their funds.
• Order cash in whatever currency your student will need ahead of time from your bank so they have it on-hand when they arrive. Try to get a mix of bills and coins if possible.
• Don’t do cash advances from credit cards – the interest rate is usually very high.
• Make sure your student has access to a credit card with no foreign transaction fees.

For my daughter’s study abroad program, they had to complete and turn in a budget when applying. She is fortunate that her regular scholarships transfer over to the new school, but she did apply for additional scholarships to help cover the extra costs, such as travel expenses.

We knew some things going into the experience, namely to pay attention to exchange rates and foreign transaction fees. We were told to get cash from ATMs at banks rather than the airport or convenience stores because the exchange rate is much better. She also notified her bank and credit card that she’d be in Ireland for four months. If possible, order cash ahead of time (from your or your student’s bank) so they’ll have it on-hand when they arrive. And try to get coins as well as bills – we never would have guessed that coins would be important but my daughter needed them for bus fare for her first week.

Check with your student’s bank to see if their current debit and credit cards charge foreign transaction fees. If they don’t have a credit card of their own that will work, you can add them as an authorized user to your card and order them their own card for the account. Just make sure they can access the account to see statements and make payments.

In Ireland, almost every place my daughter goes takes electronic payment. There were only a couple of times when she needed euros in cash. We hadn’t ordered euros ahead of time, so she did one ATM transaction with her debit card at a bank after getting to Ireland, knowing that she’d get charged extra fees for it. She then had to take the extra step of finding somewhere to have some bills changed into coins for bus fares.

Electric Outlet Converter and Voltage Tips

• If necessary, make sure your student has enough converters for the items they’re going to plug in.
• Double-check the voltage requirements for appliances like hair dryers and heating pads to verify that they’re dual voltage.

This is a fairly standard thing to think about when traveling overseas. The electric outlets in Ireland are the same as in the UK, so my daughter was able to use some converters that we already had. We also ordered a few extra from Amazon before the trip to make sure that she had enough for everything she’d need to plug in. If your student doesn’t have a power bank (portable charger), then make sure they carry a wall charger block with the correct plug so they can charge their phone when out and about.

The outlet itself isn’t always the only problem though. My daughter brought a heating pad from home that didn’t work in Ireland even with the outlet converter. She ended up buying a new pad from Amazon UK. Make sure the voltage of whatever device your student is using matches the voltage where they’re staying. If you see voltage with 110-220 printed on the label, that means that it’s dual voltage and will work both in the US and Europe.

Medical and Medication Tips

• Prior to departure, reach out to the embassy of the host country and any country where your student will have a travel layover to clear all medications (both prescription and over-the-counter). Just because the medication is legal in the US doesn’t mean it will be legal in other countries.
• Your student should be seen by a doctor before leaving the US to make sure they are healthy and to get any required immunizations or recommended preventive drugs (for example, malaria prevention pills in zones where the disease is prevalent).
• Try to get enough of all medications to last the full time your student will be away. Medications should always be left in the original prescription bottles. If they are going for an extended period of time, find out what the requirements are to get refills in the country they’ll be in.
• Find out if the program they’re attending provides any health coverage and what (if anything) their US health insurance covers while they’re out of the country.
• Make sure your student knows where the closest hospital is to where they’ll be staying (and studying), just in case.

Here are tips and resources from the CDC about traveling with medications. To verify that your student’s medications are legal to take to the country they’ll be studying in, first check the CDC page for that country (Ireland’s is here). For Ireland, the CDC says, “Call Ireland’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.” If you run into issues with any medications, the school or your student’s primary care physician may be able to recommend alternative medications that are legal and available in the host country. Violating a country’s laws, including illegal drug use, could land your student in jail and may even subject them to penalties that are illegal in the US (like lashes with a whip). Be smart and make sure your student understands these potential consequences.

My daughter was able to do a virtual appointment with her doctor since she is regularly seen there. There are no required immunizations for Ireland, but we are planning for her to get a flu shot and Covid booster while she’s there if possible. The US CDC also provides resources for getting healthcare during travel, as do the local US embassies. The US embassy info is a bit harder to find (OK, a lot harder), but type in “medical specialist list US embassy COUNTRY” and look for a link to recommended in-country physicians, specialists and dentists.

Medication was a large concern for us since my daughter takes a couple of daily ones. She spoke to her doctor and got a prescription for a 4-month supply of one of the meds. For the other, she was able to get a 90-day supply – but forgot to follow up with the doctor about getting more. Since European pharmacies can’t fill US prescriptions, she’ll have to contact a local doctor to get a prescription there and most likely have to pay full cost for it.

SheBuysTravel Tip: If your student requires medication that they absolutely must take every day (such as insulin) or needs to keep epinephrine or something similar on-hand, be absolutely certain that they know how and where to get more while out of the country in case of an emergency.

My daughter’s program for studying abroad includes health coverage while she’s overseas. If it didn’t, we would have looked to buy a travel insurance plan that included health coverage.

In-Country Transportation Tips

• Research what types of public transportation will be available and how much they cost.
• Look for a transportation card that offers discounted fares for students and find out how to get it. If possible, order it before they leave.
• Research what types of rideshare apps will be available (if any) and how they work.

Whether your student lives on campus or off, they’ll need to get around. In our case, my daughter did not end up with on-campus housing; she’s staying in an apartment about 40 minutes away by bus. Public transportation is essential for her to get to and from classes.

Ireland has the “TFI Leap Card”. It allows easy electronic payment and discounts for certain populations. Any adult over 26 can walk into participating post offices and stores to purchase a card, but there are more stringent requirements for students and young adults. My daughter had to apply for a card online and provide a photo because for her age group, the Leap Card is a photo ID. Because she didn’t order the card before she left, she needed to pay her first week or so of bus fares in cash (hence the need for coinage since the buses there don’t take bills or any electronic payment other than a Leap Card).

For transportation from the airport to her apartment, we looked into options for both public transportation and ridesharing. What we didn’t know is that ridesharing is banned in Ireland, so even though they have Uber (and their own app called FreeNow), all those apps do is connect you with local taxis. She used FreeNow to get to her apartment, which cost more than we’d expected and couldn’t be scheduled in advance. We’re so used to using ridesharing here in the US that it never occurred to us that it might not be available.

For her return to the airport in December, we’ve already planned that she’ll use AirCoach, which is a public bus system that only provides rides to and from the airport. The cost is about half what the taxi costs and she’ll be able to pay the fare with her Leap Card. There are specific AirCoach bus stops (separate from the regular local bus stops) so she’ll need to determine where and when to catch it.

Language, Law, Etiquette and Time Zone Tips

• If studying in a country where the most common language is one your child doesn’t already speak, they should consider, at a minimum, learning common phrases before leaving. Check into options like Duolingo or Babbel.
• Research any local laws that might apply to your student, such as legal drinking age or traffic laws, especially if they’ll be driving.
• It’s a good idea to research the culture and etiquette of the country to make sure they’re respectful and don’t inadvertently offend anyone.
• Remember the time difference between your home and where your student is living and be polite about sending texts or calling during their waking hours.

For my daughter, there was no need to learn another language since English is one of the official languages in Ireland. However, Irish is also an official language and all signage and public announcements are in both languages. Since Irish pronunciation differs greatly from English, my daughter spent some time learning Irish with Duolingo, especially to learn how to pronounce Irish words, phrases, city and street names, etc.

Although Ireland may seem similar to the US in many ways, it has different laws and customs. For example, while my daughter is 21 and legally able to drink at home, the drinking age in Ireland is only 18 so many students who aren’t old enough to legally drink in the US can drink there.

Also, it’s not as common in Ireland to tip servers in a restaurant as it is in the US. When paying with a card, there’s no specific way to add a tip into the bill as there is here so you need to either alert the server before you pay to add in a tip, or tip in cash. Tipping there is generally 10%.

Because driving internationally has different rules of the road (priority of the right), different signage and often, far more aggressive penalties for accidents regardless of cause, arm your student with an international drivers license or a mandate not to drive. Regardless of the law, some cultures still engage in “an eye-for-an-eye” retribution. Meaning, if your child is involved in an accident that causes harm to a local person, they may be subject to the same injury from the crowd who gathers.

Wherever your student is studying, be cognizant of the local time there and make sure they understand the difference as well. For us, Ireland is five hours ahead of where we live in the US (Eastern time zone). There are times when I think of something I want to share with my daughter only to realize that for her it’s the middle of the night. And I’ve received texts from her during what is the middle of the night for me. I set up Dublin on my phone’s world clock as an easy way to tell the time there at a glance so I will hopefully remember to check before texting or calling.

Overall, remind your student to have fun, be safe and make the most of this opportunity to experience a different country and culture!