Preparing to Depart

Choosing a program and applying to study abroad take a great deal of thought and effort.  Don't think, however, that once you are accepted into the program of your choice that you can sit back and relax until you depart!  The acceptance letter marks your entry into the next stage, and to have a truly successful study abroad experience, you need to pay serious attention to the details of preparing to go abroad.

Part of your pre-departure efforts will be directed toward taking care of business: completing post-acceptance paperwork for your program, securing necessary visas or permits, and attending the mandatory IWU Pre-Departure Orientation.  But don't let attending to those requirements keep you from preparing yourself, intellectually, emotionally, and in practical terms, for your time abroad. A good resource for you as you navigate through your preparations are IWU students who have studied abroad--so contact them for their advice.

Photo: R. Scherer, Russia 2007

IWU Study Abroad Handbook

As part of the Pre-departure Orientation, you will be given a hard copy of the IWU Study Abroad Handbook, but you can also download a PDF version from this site while abroad.