Study Abroad

Here are the basics for getting started on your journey:

• Think about your goals and reasons you want to study/intern abroad. Do you want your overseas experience to be didactic, cultural, community service focused, or a combination? Evaluate what part of the world you’re interested in, which cultures you find intriguing and what country would best serve you and likewise.
• Once you have narrowed down your purpose and passion for studying/interning abroad, review the programs available to you through SUNY Oneonta (programs listed above) and 1000's more through the SUNY-wide Study Abroad. Pay careful attention to the eligibility criteria, cost and details associated with each program.
• Make an appointment with a Study Abroad Advisor (First-year students: consult with a SUNY Oneonta Office of Global Education Study Abroad Student Assistant/Peer Advisor). Students are strongly encouraged to attend a study abroad info session, held throughout the semester at SUNY Oneonta, or the annual Study Abroad Fair held each September.
• Complete an application for the study abroad program (see the study abroad webpages of the SUNY school that administers the program you are interested in for detailed, program-specific application instructions and cost sheets). You are welcome to apply for a back-up program if your first choice program has a limited number of spots (it is typically not necessary to apply to two Oneonta programs). Speak to the administering SUNY campus if you have questions about this.
• Meet with your home campus Financial Aid Office with the program cost sheet. Early financial planning is essential when considering studying abroad, which is eligible for financial aid. Whether you are self-funded, in part or in whole, obtain a preliminary overview of what you will need to afford your overseas experience. You’ll notice each SUNY program has a detailed cost estimate sheet to help you make this determination.
• Meet with Academic Advisement with a list of courses and descriptions from the program of your choosing to make sure the courses will fit within your graduation/degree requirements.
• Notify your home campus Study Abroad Office that you are applying to study abroad if it's through a different SUNY campus AND when you have been accepted to a study abroad program!

Understanding how to navigate study abroad as a trans or non-binary individual is important to protect your identity. Please use the following resources to help guide you on your journey!

• Travel Tips and Preparing for Study Abroad - 14 tips on studying abroad as a trans person - Air Travel Tips for Transgender Students Studying Abroad | IES Abroad
• LGBT*Q+ Study Abroad Resource Guide - Best countries to visit, current LGBT*Q Study Abroad Scholarships - LGBTQ+ Study Abroad Resource Guide | BestColleges
• My Identity Abroad - LGBT*Q testimonials and questions about studying abroad - 5 Questions to Ask Before Study Abroad as an LGBTQIA+ Student - USAC
• Advice for Studying Abroad - student testimonial about studying abroad in Japan as a trans student - Our Alumni’s Advice for Studying Abroad as a Transgender Student in Japan | Greenheart Travel
• Know Before You Go - a list of recommendations and resources for trans students preparing to study abroad - sa 590 final project travel guide.docx (purdue.edu)

For more information on protecting your identity while abroad, please email us at globaled@oneonta.edu

The cost of studying abroad varies considerably with respect to duration, location, institution, and the timing of your travel. With careful research and planning, you can turn your study abroad dreams into reality.

Though the cost of studying abroad can be significant, the benefits far outweigh the expenditures. SUNY Oneonta has cost-effective exchange programs, as well as faculty-led programs, that are quite reasonable on a student’s budget. Within the SUNY system, amidst 1,000-plus locations to choose from, you’re bound to find a site that matches your financial means. The Office of Global Education encourages you to start saving and planning early in your academic career for the study abroad experience since there are a variety of factors that affect the cost of going overseas.

There are a variety of ways students fund their overseas experience: personal savings, FAFSA, alternative loans, scholarships, grants. The earlier you plan, the more fiscally responsible you are, the more valuable overseas experience will be.

Several factors weigh in on the final costs of going on an exchange program or study abroad program: the exchange rate, global economics, cost of living in a particular country, room & board, differential costs of the overseas university, internship vs. classroom, touring, and of course, your overall financial picture in going abroad and sustaining your time overseas.

Scholarships

SUNY Oneonta Education Abroad Scholarships

Several study abroad scholarships are available to SUNY Oneonta students through the SUNY Oneonta Foundation. The scholarships are made possible through gifts and grants from alumni, faculty, staff and community members who share a commitment to SUNY Oneonta and its students.

External Study Abroad Scholarships

• Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship (External Scholarship) for Pell Grant Recipients - This scholarship provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study abroad programs worldwide.
• List of External Scholarships (Not Affiliated with SUNY Oneonta)

Financial Aid

Prior to your application and final selection of an exchange program or study abroad experience, consult your financial aid counselor first to see if you will qualify for sufficient funding to support your overseas journey. This will help you narrow down your choices of programs and you will need to demonstrate sufficient funding to the overseas site and for immigration and acquisition of student visa purposes. Unless you’re exclusively using personal savings, the financial aid counselor can give you the best advice on your financial aid eligibility. Bring a cost sheet with you of the program, which is typically downloadable on any of the SUNY sites, including SUNY Oneonta’s.

The Financial Aid Office is highly skilled in advising and preparing students for their study abroad experience, once they are accepted into the direct study abroad or exchange program.

Students attending any SUNY school may apply to a SUNY Oneonta program by completing the following steps:

1. Click on the "Start Your Adventure Now" button below to create your OGE Global Portal account and go to "Programs" to choose and apply to an Oneonta Program.
2. Apply for, renew, or confirm possession of a valid passport (good for 6 months past the date of departure from your study abroad program!)
3. After acceptance, log into the OGE Global Portal & click "Commit" to complete the required forms (including required Course Approval Form).

Start Your Adventure NoW (Program SEARCH & Apply)

AFTER you have been accepted to a SUNY Oneonta study abroad or exchange program, there are several important steps that you must complete before you depart for your program.

1. Make sure your home-campus Study Abroad Office knows that you are studying abroad.
2. If you have been accepted to a SUNY Oneonta program, go back into your OGE Global Portal account to complete the required next steps forms.
3. Apply for a passport, if you don’t already have one. If you have a passport, check its expiration date to make sure that it will be valid for six months after your return date. If not, renew your passport right away. View information about how to renew your passport. WHAT WILL YOU NEED TO APPLY FOR A PASSPORT?
   1. Passport Application Form DS-11 (available online, at Global Education Office, or U.S. Post Office)
   2. Evidence of U.S. Citizenship – Provide one of the following and copy:
      • Previous valid U.S. Passport
      • Certified U.S. Birth Certificate
      • Consular Report of Birth Abroad or Certification of Birth
      • Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship
   3. Proof of Identity – Provide one of the following and copy:
      • Recently issued Certificate of Naturalization or Citizenship with easily recognizable photo, Current, valid driver’s license, Government employee ID, Military ID
   4. Two Identical Passport Photos:
      • 2x2 inches in size , Clear likeness, taken within the past 6 months, Color required, full-face, front view on a white or off-white background, Normal street attire; no hats or headgear.
4. Find out if you will need any travel documents (e.g. visas or residence permits) in addition to a passport before you depart. Travel document requirements vary depending on the study abroad program length and citizenship of students. To review travel information specific to your study abroad destination, including visa requirements, check the U.S. Department of State website, as well as the website of the host country’s embassy or consulate nearest you (many consulates are in New York City). The study abroad office of the campus that administers your program should be consulted about the required travel documents for your program.
5. Participate in the mandatory pre-departure orientation required by the administering campus. You may review the information covered during the pre-departure orientation for SUNY Oneonta programs.
6. Review travel health and safety information specific to your study abroad destination on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website and the U.S. Department of State website.
7. Before departure, enroll in the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive travel updates and make it easier for the U.S. Department of State to contact you and your family in the event of an emergency.

Have a great experience studying abroad! We hope that you will share your experience with us when you return!

All Study Abroad participants are required to have the SUNY International Health Insurance at all times while on a study abroad program. The SUNY International Health insurance plan through United Healthcare (UHC) is comprehensive and provides outstanding health, medical evacuation, and repatriation coverage.