Before leaving on a USC-approved program, make the following tasks a priority:

1. You must attend both your general orientation & program specific sessions run by the Office of Overseas Studies. Country specific orientation sessions are held throughout April (for Fall Semester) and November (for Spring Semester). All orientations are mandatory. Email overseas@usc.edu well in advance if you cannot attend.

2. Accept your offer from both Overseas Studies in your USC Student Travel Abroad portal and your host institution to confirm your space.

3. Read the Overseas Studies handbook; don’t go abroad without reading this!

Download a printable version of this checklist here!

Pre-Departure Tasks

In addition to the priorities listed above, make sure to take care of the following items before starting your program.

    • Passport: Must be valid for six months AFTER the end of your program. Visit the U.S. Department of State for more information on obtaining a new passport or renewing an old one.
    • Student Visa: Find out if you need one, what the application timeline is, and what documents are required. Keep in mind that international students may have to follow procedures than U.S. citizens.
    • Make copies of your personal documents (both sides of credit & ATM/debit cards, passport main ID page, student visa (if applicable), etc.); leave one set at home, bring one with you, and save to cloud storage.
    • Complete all required forms and tasks in the USC Student Travel Abroad portal.
    • Complete any required program provider/host institution forms by their deadline.
    • Find out if your program provider/host institution arranges housing for you or if you have to apply for/arrange housing yourself. If you have to apply for/arrange it yourself, pay close attention to all deadlines and apply as early as possible if housing is provided on a rolling or first come, first served basis.
    • If you have a USC parking permit, turn it in to Transportation Services and inquire about obtaining a permit when you return to campus.
    • If you are in USC Housing, complete the online Semester Away Release Form in your USC housing portal. After submitting the online portion, you will receive an email to come in-person to finish it.
    • Provide Overseas Studies with your travel itinerary no less than 6 weeks before your departure in the USC Student Travel Abroad portal.
    • Make sure that your USC email gets forwarded to any non-USC email account you may be using. You will be expected to read all email coming from our office and take action when necessary. We will not send emails to a non-USC account.
    • Look into your options for mobile phones abroad & consult with program alums for advice. Contact your provider to ask about using your phone abroad or unlocking your SIM card so you can purchase a new one in your host country.
    • Connect to USC’s VPN to access USC resources & to get around firewalls in some countries.
    • Make sure you have your student visa (if required) well in advance of your departure.
    • International students: consult with an OIS advisor about obtaining necessary signatures before leaving USC.
    • Make sure your laptop is insured, files are backed up, and you have the right plug adaptors for your host country.
    • Before packing your bags, find out about local standards of dress, weather, etc. Pack lightly and appropriately. If you cannot carry your luggage by yourself for a city block, you have overpacked. Check with your airline on baggage limits and fees.
    • Research rail passes, hostel cards, and purchase before leaving the U.S. if appropriate.
    • Stay informed about developments in the country/countries where you will travel. Visit the U.S. Department of State’s country information page for the most current information and travel advisories before you depart and while abroad, as well as their study abroad guide. Register in STEP.
    • Read up on diversity in your host country, (including racial & ethnic groups, women, heritage students, LGBTQ students, religious diversity, etc.). Diversity Abroad is a great place to start.
    • Get a good student-oriented travel guide such as Lonely Planet (paperback, e-book, pdf, etc.) for your host country.
    • Research the educational system in which you will be studying.
    • Read online newspapers & listen to radio stations online from your host country to familiarize yourself with issues and current events there.
    • Brush up on your foreign language skills & familiarize yourself with different varieties of English via newspapers, radio, films, Netflix, etc.
    • Get to know international students from your host country here at USC. Consider a Language Exchange Partner through the Dornsife Center for Languages and Cultures.
    • Download the International SOS app for safety alerts.
    • Familiarize yourself & your parents with your program Cost Sheet, located in your program’s “Finances” tab. If your parents are financing your studies, please share this information with them!
    • Attend the financial aid meeting if you receive financial aid and read our cost, aid and scholarships page.
    • Meet with a financial aid counselor if you have questions about your financial aid & study abroad, and meet all financial aid deadlines for next year.
    • Apply for study abroad scholarships. Sign up for USC eRefund to get refunds deposited directly to your account.
    • Verify that you have correct 4-digit PIN numbers for your credit/debit cards.
    • Notify your credit card and bank companies about your upcoming travel to avoid having your account frozen abroad!
    • Consider exchanging a small amount of foreign currency ahead of time, in case you have issues with your cards abroad.
    • Know how to access your Overseas Studies Course Pre-Approval form (it’s it your USC Student travel Abroad portal under Pre-Decision documents) & check with your major and minor advisers to ensure courses satisfy requirements.
    • If you want to take classes not approved on the CPA form, contact your academic advisor through AdviseUSC to see if you can earn major/minor credit.
    • Remember that you must be registered at USC while you are abroad! Refer to the Block Registration Tutorial for details.
    • Follow your host institution’s instructions regarding course registration and pre-departure arrangements.
    • Read our Health & Safety Abroad Guide.
    • Review information about mental health and overseas travel, and the Overseas Studies Mental Health Abroad Checklist.
    • Attend workshops and sessions with USC Student Counseling Services for advice on how to deal with stress, anxiety & other common issues. Also check out some of the many stress & anxiety apps available.
    • Consult with health-care providers about any pre-existing conditions which may affect your participation.
    • Bring your USC ID Card and your INTERNATIONAL SOS card with you overseas.
    • Visit the CDC website or the USC Travel Clinic to learn about risks, immunizations & other precautions for the countries you plan to visit.
    • Obtain enough of your prescription medications to last you for the duration of your stay abroad and contact International SOS to inquire about whether your medications are legal in your study abroad country.  Medications such as Ritalin and Adderall are not legal in every country, for example.
    • Keep prescriptions in their original packaging/ containers from the pharmacy.
    • Bring copies of your prescriptions including the generic drug names of all medications.