Preparing for Your International Experience

Steps to help you prepare for your research, study, or internship abroad experience:

Step 1.  Identify and define your goals. 

Why do you want to study/research/intern abroad?

What are the specific goals of your program? Study? Work? Research?

What are your foreign language skills?

How will an abroad program fit into your academic program?  What requirements would you like to fulfill abroad?  Will going abroad alter your graduation plans?

How will your study abroad experience impact your future personal and professional goals?

Step 2.  Research programs and resources and consult with a faculty adviser. 

Graduate Credit:  It is essential that you work very closely with your graduate school, your faculty adviser, and the director of graduate studies in your department as you plan credit for your experience abroad.

Step 3.  If doing research – does the project involve the use of human subjects or animals? 

Projects dealing with the use of human subjects in any way.  Contact the U of M Institutional Review Board, Human Subjects Committee. 

Projects dealing with the use of animals.  Contact the U of MN Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Step 4.  Will you have health insurance while you are abroad?

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have adequate insurance coverage for your particular circumstances while you are abroad. Please contact the Learning Abroad Center for more information.