General Logistics FAQs

You will need a valid passport to travel abroad. You can find instructions on how to apply for your passport at travel.state.gov. The recommendation is for your passport to be valid at least six months after your planned return to the U.S.

Be sure to plan ahead! The processing time for passports can be anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Check travel.state.gov for current processing times.

A visa is an official document on a passport that allows the holder to legally enter, leave, or stay for a specified period of time in a foreign country. Not all countries require visas.

Most students studying abroad for a full semester will need a visa. For students studying in Florence for a full semester, OGE offers group visa processing.

OGE sponsors the Project Passport Fund, the purpose of which is to help students who are in need of financial assistance obtain a U.S. passport by reimbursing students for the cost.

The scholarship can be viewed by Kent State students on Scholarship Universe. In order to apply for this scholarship, students must meet the eligibility requirements described below:

• Must have a FAFSA on file;

• Must be enrolled in a KSU-sponsored education abroad program;

• Must be a current Kent State degree-seeking student.

Students who want to add an additional semester or term to their education abroad program should be mindful of the following items: visa/stay permit requirements, international health insurance coverage, lodging and budgets.

• Visa/Residency Requirements – Visas and/or residence permits are typically valid for a limited period of time that coincides with the original education abroad program dates. Some countries will allow you to extend your visa and/or residence permit from within the host country, but this is not always the case.

• International Health Insurance – The Office of Global Education purchases international health insurance on your behalf before departure for the duration of your program abroad. Your coverage will need to be changed for your program extension, without any time gaps, to ensure you are covered for every day you are abroad. Talk to your Education Abroad Advisor as soon as you think you might want to extend your time abroad in order to avoid a loss of coverage.

• Lodging – Not every Education Abroad program will have lodging options in between program terms. If not, it is your individual responsibility to coordinate your own lodging between program terms.

• Budget – If you have a defined budget for your time abroad and you want to extend it, be sure you have allowed for additional costs such as those related to changing tickets or extra spending for housing, activities, local travel, food, and so on.

Before going abroad, we encourage students to develop a reasonable communication schedule with family to avoid unnecessary worry. Be sure to discuss what times will work best if your host country is in a different time zone.

All students are required to have a working phone number while abroad. Some options as to how you can get that are:

• Checking with your current provider about an international plan;
• Finding a host country phone service, or international provider;
• Acquiring a SIM card abroad or an inexpensive phone for calling. (Tip: Verify that your phone is unlocked if buying an international SIM card).

For communicating with friends and family back home, we recommend students download free communication tools and smartphone apps such as WhatsApp, iMessaging, Facetime, GroupMe, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, Teams, Zoom, GoogleMeet, and Skype.

We recommend that students obtain between $100-200 worth of their host country’s currency prior to departure to have on hand upon arrival. Most banks and credit unions have the ability to order currency on your behalf. If you are a member of AAA, you can also order foreign currency online or at most local branches. Please be advised that it can take time for foreign currency to come in, so it is important to start this process early.

You can also use online financial institutions such as Revolut or Wise, which typically let you open a personal bank account abroad free of charge, and easily change currencies at competitive market rates. You can also order a debit card and use that when abroad in order to avoid foreign transaction fees with each purchase.

While abroad there are several ways that students can obtain their host country’s currency as well. Students can use their debit cards to withdraw cash in the local currency from an ATM. Students should call their bank to let them know that they are traveling abroad and inquire if there are any additional fees for using their debit card internationally.

Another option is to exchange US dollars for the local currency at an exchange booth, though they do tend to have high commission rates.

We do not have a set packing list. Instead, here are some simple tips on what to bring and what not to bring.

What to bring: comfortable walking shoes, clothing appropriate for the temperature and program activities, sunscreen and bug spray (if needed), prescriptions and medications, a towel (often these are not included in the dorm or hostel housing accommodations), outlet adapters (and a voltage converter if needed), USB data blocker, original and scanned copies of important documents.

What not to bring: high voltage appliances and tools, anything expensive or irreplaceable, uncomfortable shoes, anything that will make you stick out as a tourist (think selfie sticks, American or political attire), money belts (these can be controversial! If you plan to bring a money belt, just make sure you have done research on how to use it wisely!).

If you would like a set packing list, we recommend consulting blogs or vlogs from past travelers to your destination. There are also many standard packing lists for travel, and these can be a good starting point as you decide what to bring.

Make sure you consult your airline ticket to see how many bags you are allowed to bring. Typically, main cabin economy tickets will allow you to bring one checked bag (a large roller bag or duffel), one carry-on bag (a small roller bag or duffel), and one personal item (a small backpack, fanny pack, purse, etc.). Consult your airline for their specific size and weight limits.

If you need additional baggage, most airlines will allow up to two checked bags. The second checked bag may come at an additional cost though, so be sure to research your airline's policies.

Individual airlines will have different size and weight requirements for baggage. Be sure to check your airline’s website to find their specific requirements. Many airlines are very strict about size and weight requirements. You may be charged extra if your baggage exceeds the maximum weight or size, so be sure to do your research!

We recommend you keep important items with you in your carry-on or personal items, such as your wallet and passport, prescription medications in their original packaging, toiletries in TSA-approved liquid bags and appropriate containers, a laptop, and other items that might have a higher value to you.

Make sure your passport is tucked away in a safe place throughout your travel day. If you were issued a visa for your time abroad and received any additional documentation, you should also have that easily accessible in your carry-on luggage or hand baggage.

Make sure to NEVER put your passport or visa documents in your checked luggage. You will not see your checked bag(s) again until you reach your final destination, and you will need your passport and visa documents before then.

There are some important restrictions on the size and amount of liquids you can have in your carry-on luggage or personal item. Each liquid has to be 3.4 oz. or less and all liquids must be in a 1 quart-sized bag (maximum of approximately 9 bottles of 3.4 oz.). Students should reference the TSA website for more information.

Students should reference the TSA website for information on what they can and cannot bring on an airplane. Please note there are restrictions on which types of items can be brought in carry-on luggage versus checked luggage.

Every program offers a different housing arrangement depending on availability and configurations such as dorms, hostels, hotels, or apartments. You can look for housing info on each individual program page.

Some programs give you the option of a private bedroom or studio, though this does usually come at a higher cost.

Every program will have a different procedure for requesting a roommate.

• For a faculty-led program, you may be able to request a roommate by contacting your faculty leader.
• For programs at a host university abroad, they may have an option on their housing form to request a roommate.
• For the Kent State Florence program, you can list your roommate preferences in your application.

If you are studying abroad for the fall semester and need to apply for on-campus housing only for the spring semester, the spring-only housing application will be available starting at 8 a.m. on October 15th. Spring-only housing assignments will be made in early January and emailed to students once assigned. Please contact housing@kent.edu if you have additional questions.

If you are staying in university housing for the fall semester and studying abroad for the spring semester, you will need to secure a contract release. You can refer to the Petition for Contract Release webpage for instructions. You will need to file under “University Sponsored Activity.” You will need to turn your Petition for Contract Release Packet into the housing office in Korb Hall along with verification of your study abroad program.

For any additional questions, contact housing@kent.edu.

Yes, a new student may be assigned to your old room. Your roommate should keep your old side of the room clear of belongings in case a new student is assigned to the space. Your roommate will receive notification from University Housing if and when a new student has been assigned to the room.

We encourage you to speak with your leasing office about your specific situation. One option may be to sublease your space for the semester if this is allowed by your lease agreement. While Kent State cannot assist you with subletting your space to another student, you may be able to post flyers around campus to advertise the available space.

There are a few different options for storing belongings that you can’t take with you on your education abroad program. One option would be to store these items with a trusted friend or family member. Another option could be to rent a local storage unit for the duration of your time abroad.

It can be legal to work abroad as a study abroad student, but many countries have restrictions that disallow students from doing so.

There are several things to consider about working while studying abroad.

• Do your research - It is important to carefully investigate whether and under what circumstances work is allowed by a specific country for foreign students who are studying abroad. Students may need a work permit to work in a foreign country, in addition to a student visa. Students will need to consult with the country’s embassy as it may forbid work by foreign students. Consult the embassy website for the specific foreign country to locate information about working as a student or if you can obtain a temporary work permit.
• Plan your budget - Students should not expect to finance their Education Abroad program with part-time work abroad. Students should coordinate with the Financial Aid Counselor for Education Abroad before going abroad to discuss a financing plan by emailing finaideducationabroad@kent.edu.
• Consider your lifestyle abroad - It may be difficult for a student to work while studying at an international university. Living and working in a new cultural environment may prove to be difficult when balancing schoolwork and social activities. Plus, during your free time you will most likely want to explore and fully immerse yourself in your new environment. After all, your time away will fly by!
• Be open to unpaid work experiences - The simplest way for students to get work experience abroad is to choose an Education Abroad program that includes an unpaid internship or service-learning component. Many Kent State Education Abroad programs offer opportunities for volunteering or service-learning components while abroad.

This will depend on the nature of your position and how long you will be away (one week would likely be a different situation than one semester).

If you know you will be studying abroad, talk with your supervisor to see what the procedure would be to take off for the duration of your program. From there, you can make an informed decision on if studying abroad for the time you are considering is feasible for your situation.

If you are only able to study abroad for 1-2 weeks, don’t get discouraged! We have plenty of options in this timeframe, too. Use our program search tool to get started.

You should coordinate with the Financial Aid Counselor for Education Abroad before going abroad to discuss a financing plan by emailing finaideducationabroad@kent.edu.

One way to off-set a loss in income is through scholarship funding. You can find a full list of Kent State scholarships on Scholarship Universe.