FAQ's
Students that study abroad have the ability to learn about agriculture and life sciences on a new platform and each experience provides students with the unique opportunity to develop skills that will benefit them personally, professionally and academically. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Study Abroad staff is here to make your travel experience seamless. We can help with everything from advising students on programs based on their interest and areas of study, assist students through the application process and ensure that all students feel comfortable and prepared to enjoy their adventure abroad!
Personal:
- Become a global citizen while developing your global awareness
- Gain cross-cultural skills through experiencing new cultures
- Experience an increased understanding of your own cultural values and biases
- Make new friends
- Learn how to become more independent and resourceful
- Expand your comfort zone
- Build confidence (whether flying for the first time or meeting new people)
Professional:
- Spark an interest in a new career direction OR dive deeper into your current goals
- Learn and apply technical skills related to your field
- Network with professionals in your field
- Build your resume
- Appeal to employers seeking out culturally aware and internationally experienced employees
- Become exposed to the unlimited career opportunities
- Build on your soft skills like communication skills, adaptability, being a team player, problem solving and more
Academic:
- Enhance your academic learning outside of the classroom
- Learn another language OR gain proficiency in a language
- Expose yourself to new understandings & discoveries in research
- Research topics unique to the location
- Earn credits that count towards your degree/major
Check out our quick CALS Study Abroad process checklist!
- Talk with your Academic Advisor
- Discuss your academic goals, graduation requirements and study abroad aspirations with your advisor to ensure and see how you can successfully fit study abroad into your academic plan.
- Research Program Opportunities
- Visit the CALS Study Abroad Website (www.agstudyabroad.iastate.edu) to review all of the travel opportunities through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Set up a meeting with a study abroad advisor or email calsstudyabroad@iastate.edu with any questions you may have.
- Visit Our Study Abroad Office (0018 Curtiss)
- Talk with our Student Travel Consultants or a study abroad advisor to discuss more and get answers for any questions you may have. Many students and staff have personally traveled abroad and would love to share their experiences. Our office can also get you in touch with students that have previously traveled on any of the trips that you are inquiring about for more information.
- Research Funding Opportunities
- Every study abroad program will have its own expense, but you should be diligent to determine how much your program will cost you. Scholarships and financial aid can help offset the cost. Learn more about our scholarship programs and other financial assistance online or stop by our CALS Study Abroad Office (0018 Curtiss).
- Budget Sheet Example (ISU Study Abroad)
- Every study abroad program will have its own expense, but you should be diligent to determine how much your program will cost you. Scholarships and financial aid can help offset the cost. Learn more about our scholarship programs and other financial assistance online or stop by our CALS Study Abroad Office (0018 Curtiss).
- Choose and Apply for a Program
- There are many things to consider when choosing a study abroad program, but once you have selected the program that best suites you, all you have to do is apply! The program application can be found by searching on ISUAbroad or click “Apply Now” on the program page on our website.
- Apply for Your Passport
- If you are a student in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences and you have applied for a study abroad program, you are eligible for a scholarship that will reimburse you for the cost of your first passport. Bring your new passport to 0018 Curtiss to claim your scholarship.
- Prepare for Your Adventure
Get ready for a life changing experience with study abroad and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences!
Travel Course:
- Typically 8 to 14 days of travel
- ISU course with international field trip
- Earn academic credits towards your degree
- Travel takes place during school breaks
- Travel with faculty and friends, class sizes vary from 8-30 students
- Enrich your academic learning through field visits, tours and sightseeing
Learn more about travel courses
Semester Long:
- One semester, one summer or one year options available
- Enroll in courses at a university abroad and transfer those credits back to ISU
- Stay on track for your degree at Iowa State by earning credits abroad
- Step out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself in another culture and place
- Two different types of programs
- Exchange Cost: Pay ISU tuition and fees
- Semester Long Cost: Pay a program fee
Learn more about semester programs
Individual Internships, Research, or Service-Learning Opportunities
- Typically over the summer or during a semester abroad
- Some internships/service-learning opportunities offer academic credits towards your degree
- Option to participate in ISU and partner university programs or coordinate an experience independently
Learn more about international internships, research, and service-learning
Study USA (Domestic Travel)
- Learn about diverse cultures, food and agriculture systems, natural resources, and life sciences within the U.S.
- ISU course with domestic field trip
- Earn academic credit towards your degree
- Travel with your faculty and friends, class sizes vary from 8-30 students
- Students of any college and major are encouraged to apply for a program
Learn more about Study USA programs
Learn more about any of these opportunities by meeting with a study abroad advisor!
What are your goals for your study abroad experience? Make a list of 3 – 5 goals and rank them in order of importance. Bring your list of goals when you visit our office at 0018 Curtiss and we will help you match your goals to the program that is right for you.
Geographic interest: Do you have a specific city, country, region or continent you are interested in going to? Do you prefer a rural or urban setting? Keep in mind that if you go to the southern hemisphere, the seasons are the opposite of the United States (and the academic calendar will be different as well)
Language interest: Have you studied or do you speak another language? Do you have an interest in learning or perfecting another language? There are many programs in countries where English is not the main language but you could take classes in English or work in an English-speaking setting. Would you be comfortable in a country where English is not the primary language?
Tolerance for risk and the unknown: Are you a risk taker or do you have an aversion to risky situations? How comfortable are you with “the unknown”? Are you able to be flexible or do you need a strict and unchanging schedule?
Program cost or financial consideration: Program costs vary for every program based on the location, length of the visit, financial assistance set aside, number of program leaders, etc. These costs can be a huge factor when considering a program, but there are several ways to off-set this cost through scholarships, financial aid, personal savings and much more.
Academic plan: It is important to talk with your academic advisor when choosing a program abroad. Academic advisors can help ensure that course credits and education requirements align correctly with your major and academic goals.
A travel course may be right for you if...
- You've never traveled before
- You want an introduction to international travel
- You want to travel with other students
- You want a snapshot of the different lifestyles or career paths in another part of the world
A semester or year-long program may be right for you if...
- You are tired of being a tourist and want to truly experience another culture (you want to experience an immense cultural immersion)
- You want to check several countries off of your bucket list
- You are ready to gain new skills and a sense of independence
- You are interested in learning another language
An international internship, research, or service-learning program may be right for you if...
- You have an interest in working in a different country
- You want to be exposed to new skills and technology
- You want an independent internship experience
- You want an outstanding reference on your resume
A Study USA domestic travel course may be right for you if...
- You've never traveled before
- You want to experience a different region of the U.S.
- You don't have a passport
- You want to travel with peers and program directors
Travel Course Steps:
- Visit: www.agstudyabroad.iastate.edu
- Click “Programs” and then click on the desired travel course
- Follow the link “Apply Now!” to the ISUAbroad application website
- Click “Apply Now”
- Sign in with your Net ID and password
- Select the appropriate term and “Apply”
You have officially started your pre-decision application. Now click each of the links on the right-hand side and complete the tasks described to get all of the boxes checked off.
Wait to hear about your acceptance to your desired program and if you are accepted, log back in, click COMMIT, and complete your post decision application. (New checkboxes will appear for you to complete.)
Exchanges and Internships Steps:
- Stop by our office (0018 Curtiss) or contact the appropriate program director (listed on each program page) to determine what program is right for you!
- Follow and complete the same application listed above under ‘Travel Course Steps’.
Yes! Most travel courses are open to freshman but be sure to review eligibility requirements. Although some programs can be competitive, there are several opportunities for first-year students to study abroad.
For semester programs, students must have an established ISU GPA. Students in their first semester at ISU will not have earned ISU credits yet, so it is more common for students to go abroad their second year.
All US citizens must have a passport to travel internationally. The US Department of State is the US government agency that issues passports for US citizens. Visit https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports.html/ and follow the instructions to apply for your passport.
Processing times vary but are usually around 6 – 10 weeks. You will need to prove your US citizenship, submit an application, prove your identity with a government-issued ID and pay a fee for your passport. Your passport will be valid for 10 years.
If you are a student in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, have applied for a study abroad program and are getting a passport for the first time, you are eligible for a passport reimbursement scholarship. Students who have had a minor passport (under the age of 18) are not eligible for a passport reimbursement. Bring your new passport to 0018 Curtiss to claim your scholarship.
For short term travel programs, visa requirements vary but if needed, the study abroad office will help you apply. For semester programs, students will receive information on how to apply for visas or any required permits but will be responsible for applying independently.
Every student studying abroad is automatically enrolled in On Call International travel insurance during their time abroad.
Every study abroad program will have its own expense but you should be diligent to determine how much your program will cost you. Start budgeting for expenses in the following three categories:
- Program fees. These will vary depending on a wide-variety of factors. Check the advertised fee for your program and make sure you are clear what is and is not covered in the program fee for the program you pick.
- Tuition and fees. Most programs are academic programs abroad and those therefore have a cost for the credits you are earning.
- Out-of-pocket expenses. Includes costs incurred before travel (like immunizations, passport, visas and supplies), during travel (like meals or activities not covered in the program fee, souvenirs and spending money) and after travel (like printing pictures and follow up medical care).
Your ISU financial aid may be used to fund your study abroad experience as long as you are earning academic credits for your study abroad program. Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid to make an appointment with a financial aid advisor to see how your aid package can support your study abroad opportunity by emailing studyabroadaid@iastate.edu.
In an emergency situation, always contact the local authorities first.
1. For security, medical or emergency claims, On Call International is able to provide support and direct you to regional health centers. They have translation services available if there is a language barrier. On Call International - travel insurance resources
- Security, medical or emergency claims assistance:
Phone: +1 603-952-2056 (collect world wide)
1-888-226-9576 (toll free US or Canada)
24/7 live chat
mail@oncallinternational.com - Non-emergency claims
tpaclaims@oncallinternational.com - Customer service/benefit questions (M-F 9am-5pm)
Phone: 1-888-226-9576 (US or Canada)
contact@oncallinternational.com
2. ISU also has a 24/7 global emergency number: +1515-294-7700
3. Contact the Director of CALS Study Abroad Mr. Jodi Cornell: +1515-520-0037
IMPORTANT: Before you study abroad, confirm with your academic advisor how the classes abroad will transfer back for you to Iowa State.
- Transcripts from international institutions are sent to the CALS Study Abroad office if the student was on a CALS program; or to the Study Abroad Center in 281 Parks Library if they were on a non-CALS program.
- The CALS Study Abroad office sends a certified copy of the original transcript to the Registrar’s office and your academic advisor (or in some cases, the leadership in your college/the college where you will earn your credit through) will determine how the credits transfer back. In some cases, the course will come in as a specific ISU course (e.g., HIST 201); in other cases, the course will come in as a more generic course (e.g., HIST 2T**).
- This course information is sent to the student in Workday. The student must alert their academic advisor that they have received their transcript otherwise their academic advisor will not know.
- The advisor will then review these courses to see how they might be used in the student’s degree program.
- Students are highly encouraged to save all their coursework and syllabi while they are abroad in case these materials are needed to secure the required approvals.
- The student picks up their original transcript from their host university in 0018 Curtiss Hall if they were on a CALS program; if they were on a Study Abroad Center program, they need to go to 281 Parks Library to pick up their original transcript.
Due to international quarantine restrictions service animals cannot be accommodated on our study abroad programs. For more information, please contact the Iowa State University Student Accessibility Services Office.
- Student Advising
- Advise students individually and in groups
- Assist with study abroad program selection
- Guide students through ISUAbroad application process
- Coordinate pre-departure orientation sessions
- Register students for travel courses and exchange programs
- Financial Support
- Coordinate CALS study abroad scholarship applications and disbursement program
- Connect students and program leaders with funding resources
- Manage program accounts
- Process program payments
- Bill and credit student participation