Parent/Supporter FAQs
How can my student apply for a passport?
If your student already has a passport, they should check that the passport will remain valid for at least six months after their program is scheduled to end. So, if the program is scheduled to end on December 14, the passport should be valid at least until the June 14 of the following year.
If your student does not have a passport or needs to renew their current passport, then detailed instructions, the fee schedule, and the application paperwork can be found on the State Department website (travel.state.gov/passport/). While the application form can be completed electronically, it will need to be submitted in person to a US Post Office or county clerk’s office.
We encourage students to begin the application or renewal process as quickly as possible. Routine processing time is 6-8 weeks, but depending on demand can take as long 12 weeks. An expedited service which can shorten the processing time to 2-3 weeks is available for a fee.
Does my student need a visa?
Depending on the country or countries to which your student is traveling and the length of the program, they may also need to apply for an entry visa. A visa is official permission to enter a country for a certain amount of time and is granted by the government of that country. For most study abroad programs of more than 90 days, students with a US passport will need to apply for and receive a visa before leaving the United States. Some countries require that US travelers apply for a visa even for short visits.
For students on a Cal Poly Global Programs or International Exchange, Cal Poly provides guidance and assistance in the visa process. Our study abroad partners generally provide detailed visa guidance for students on affiliated programs; while the International Center is available to answer questions, we are not visa experts and students are best served by contacting the relevant Consulate for guidance.
Applying for a visa can seem complicated, take time, and require that your student gather a lot of documents. It may be tempting to step in and do much of the visa application work for your student, but we strongly encourage you not to do so. While the process may be inconvenient, completing the visa application is an excellent learning opportunity and a necessary step toward the kind of responsibility your student will need to show while abroad. In the end, it is the student’s personal responsibility to complete and submit visa applications in a timely fashion.
How much does studying abroad cost?
The short answer is that the cost of studying abroad generally includes tuition/program fees + housing and meals + anticipated expenses.
The longer answer is that the cost depends on the type of program, where the program is located, how long the program lasts, and what your student plans to do outside of the classroom.
So, for example, Cal Poly International Exchanges, the CSU International Programs, and some National Student Exchange options can be more economical because students pay regular Cal Poly or CSU tuition. Program fees for many Cal Poly Partner Programs, on the other hand, may entail higher expenses because their fees include additional services, excursions, and activities. For non-resident students, though, the cost of a Partner Program may compare favorably with the out-of-state costs of attending Cal Poly
Location can also have a big impact on cost. A program in London, for example, will be more expensive than a program in Ghana because the cost of living is higher and because you will need to factor in such things as public transportation costs. Timing, too, can affect costs: a summer program may be more expensive than a program of equal length during the academic year, in part because a student may not have summer financial aid and in part because costs can increase during high tourist season.
Furthermore, you and your student will need to plan for a number of other expenses, such as the cost of a passport and student visa, international airfare and ground transportation, books and supplies, and personal spending money.
Please see the Financial Planning section of our website.
Is financial aid available?
Students who participate in any Cal Poly-approved study abroad/study away program and who will be enrolled at least half-time for the term(s) they are abroad should be able to use at least some portion of their financial aid package. Please refer to the Financial Aid & Scholarships information for specific details on which grants and loans can be applied to each program type. We recommend students attend a Financial Aid & Scholarships for Study Abroad workshop, which is offered every quarter.
Even if your student has never received financial aid, they may want to investigate the possibility of receiving financial aid when they study abroad. To discuss the specifics of their aid package and how it might be applied to study abroad, your student should contact their financial aid advisor or connect with the Cal Poly Financial Aid Office via email at financialaid@calpoly.edu.
Are scholarships available?
Yes! There are several scholarships available to students who study abroad. We recommend researching scholarships early, starting with the resources at Financial Aid & Scholarships on the study abroad website. Partner programs administer their own scholarships, so check the program’s website for additional scholarship information. If you already receive financial aid, then you might qualify for additional assistance; please contact a Financial Aid Advisor for specific financial aid questions. You are encouraged to attend a Financial Aid & Scholarships for Study Abroad to learn more. These workshops are offered every quarter.
Is my student covered by insurance while abroad?
Yes, but the particulars for of the insurance will depend on the program your student is studying with. Students on most Cal Poly Global Programs, Cal Poly International Exchanges, and CSUIP will be covered by the CSU-mandated Foreign Travel Insurance Program (called full FTIP), while students on Partner Programs and some Cal Poly Global Programs will be covered by insurance provided by the program and a CSU-mandated FTIP overlay insurance. You can read more about FTIP on our Health & Safety page.
Students covered by full FTIP will receive a Foreign Travel Insurance card with instructions on how to access coverage before they depart. Students covered mainly by insurance through their program will receive information from the provider, also before departure. We recommend you ask your student to share all of the information with you, so that you can understand the coverage details and how to help the student access care, if needed.
I’m nervous. Are there other parents I can talk to about this
You are not alone in feeling concerned or nervous about having your student live so far away. While the reality is that countries where Cal Poly has partners are considered very safe, often safer than many U.S. college campuses, the unknown can be scary. Rest assured that Cal Poly carefully researches each program and each country where we place students and we do not send students to countries that the State Department and CDC have deemed unsafe. (The CSU Executive Order 1081 restricts travel to countries where the US State Department Travel Advisory is level 3 or 4 or in countries that appear on the CSU Risk Management Authority high-hazard list, unless an exception is granted by the home University President.) We review programs frequently to ensure safety as well as student satisfaction. But we understand that you are still concerned. If you’d like to talk to other parents, consider joining the Facebook page Cal Poly SLO-Study Abroad, a discussion group for parents and supporters of Cal Poly students going abroad.