For your family

Students:

It's important that your support system is on the same page as you. At CGIS we make every effort to foster independence in our students, and we encourage you to take responsibility for your global study experience. We expect you to act as your own agent and advocate as you prepare to study abroad and to work with us directly in solving problems you may encounter along the way. This is an important step in developing the critically engaged global citizens we want you to become.

Parents, families, friends, etc. provide valuable support and other resources, and we encourage you to communicate openly with your family about your plans and experiences. In the end, however, we ask that parents do not make decisions or attempt to fix problems for you. Instead, we ask that they help you think through the issues and arrive at resolutions on your own.

Remember - This is your experience! Make the most of it and every opportunity for self-growth it offers you.

Family:

Thank you for supporting an academic endeavor that many students in the College of LSA rank among the most significant and rewarding experiences of their time at the University of Michigan.

Study abroad is an opportunity to experience other cultures, languages, lifestyles, and ways of looking at the world. It is a chance for students to earn academic credit and make progress toward their major, distinguish their resumes, build meaningful connections with people around the world, and learn about themselves in different and potentially challenging contexts.

CGIS staff here at the University and our on-site partners around the globe are professionals in the field of international education who care deeply about your student and work tirelessly to address their individual needs and concerns before, during, and after their learning abroad experience. Whatever program your student has chosen, we hope the information on this site helps you understand their experience and helps you provide the support they need to succeed in this experience.

If you or your student have questions about our programs, please feel free to contact us at cgis@umich.edu.

Value of Study Abroad

Studying abroad offers students many invaluable opportunities: they can further develop the skills they will need to compete in a global economy, cultivate their language competencies, build meaningful connections with people from around the world, and much more.

By participating in a CGIS program:

LSA students receive in-residence credit, just as if they had taken courses on-campus in Ann Arbor.
Most financial aid will transfer, and financial aid packages can be adjusted to account for additional expenses such as airfare, passport and visa fees, and immunizations.
LSA students who receive need-based aid are eligible for additional funding through the LSA Scholarships Office, which recently offered $1.7 million to students on CGIS programs.
CGIS students will receive expert advice and support before, during, and after their experience.

Benefits of Study Abroad: Below is a non-exhaustive of the benefits of study abroad.

Academic:

A study abroad experience can help students select a major/minor, spark their interest in a certain career field, and/or help them develop their language skills.

Professional:

Studying abroad nurtures the development of hard and soft skills that will be valuable in a professional setting regardless of job industry.
Intercultural skills and experiences gained abroad are invaluable to all types of organizations.
Promotes skills needed for successful leadership, such as the ability to work with diverse teams.

Personal:

Study abroad is a great opportunity for students to explore their identity, grow as an individual, and become more independent, confident, adaptable, and resilient.
Students who study abroad are more civically engaged.

Further reading: Remarkable Study Abroad Statistics, The GLOSSARI Project

Health and Safety

CGIS is dedicated to ensuring the wellbeing of all of our students abroad. Detailed information on our Health and Safetly pages serve as a resource for students preparing to go abroad and while they are overseas.

Students who tend to their safety and wellness before departing and while abroad are better equipped to reach their academic and personal goals. It is important for students to acknowledge health and safety challenges so that they can make informed decisions and prepare to mitigate these risks. CGIS very strongly encourages students to self-disclose any physical or mental health concerns that they have, so that we can help them establish a self-care plan for the time they are abroad.

Program Safety: All CGIS programs undergo an approval process that examines potential health and safety concerns. Though it is impossible to make a location 100% safe or to guarantee traveler safety (even here in the US), this process strives to mitigate potential risk and increase overall student safety. If certain events in a study location are a cause for concern, such as a political uprising/demonstrations or a natural disaster, CGIS will monitor the ongoing situation, coordinate with local partners and/or contact students / determine next steps if the program has already begun.

Affordability, Financial Aid, and Scholarships

For many students, a study abroad experience is possible only with financial assistance.

A variety of funding sources are available to help CGIS students cover program-related expenses. Eligibility depends on your program and your unique financial situation. Students should consult their CGIS advisor and visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships section of our site to learn more about scholarship opportunities.

Affordability: All programs are priced as inexpensively as possible without sacrificing academic quality or student safety. Costs vary considerably between programs. Different financial models exist, and program expenses depend on many factors (local cost of living, fluctuating exchange rates, whether a student is in-state or out-of-state, class standing, and so on). Students should talk with their CGIS advisor about which programs will be most affordable for them.

LSA Study Abroad Scholarship: The LSA Scholarship Office has worked with CGIS to ensure that students who are in good academic standings can apply for the LSA Study Abroad Scholarship. 95% of LSA Students receive anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 depending on program costs and financial need.

Scholarships for Pell-Eligible Students: All LSA Pell Grant recipients who participate in a GCC/GIEU can receive the GCC/GIEU Grant. The grant pays the entire program fee for GCC/GIEU but they must apply for the LSA Study Abroad Scholarship. Applicants will also be considered for other scholarships that cover travel expenses.

Program Selection

When selecting an intercultural experience, it is important for students to consider their personal, academic, and professional goals. Whether they hope to improve language skills, meet academic requirements, develop professional skills, or just step outside your comfort zone, each CGIS program offers unique benefits. Identifying objectives and expectations before beginning the search for a program will help students select an appropriate intercultural experience.

CGIS advisors are available year round to meet with students to help them select the program that will best meet their needs.

CGIS Advising Philosophy

At CGIS we make every effort to foster independence in our students and encourage them to take responsibility for their global education experience. To this end we expect our students to be their own agents and advocates when it comes to preparing to study abroad and to work with us directly to solve any problems that might arise. This is an important step in developing the critically engaged global citizens we want our students to become.

Parents and families are of course a valuable resource, and we encourage students to communicate openly with their families about their experiences. In the end, however, we ask that parents do not make decisions or attempt to fix problems for students. We ask you to help them think through issues and arrive at solutions on their own.

Privacy of Educational Records

The Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of student records. According to the University of Michigan’s Office of the Registrar, “once a student reaches the age of 18 or attends an institution of postsecondary education, the parents have no rights under FERPA. Only the student can give permission for the parents to have access to their records.”

CGIS will disclose protected information without the student’s express written permission only in the event of an emergency, such as when the student is hospitalized or poses a threat to themselves or others. This pertains to all information in the student’s file, whether academic, medical, or personal in nature.

The only information CGIS may disclose without permission is “directory information,” defined as “name, permanent and local address and telephone number, school or college, class level, major field, dates of attendance, degree received and date awarded, honors and awards received, participation in recognized activities, previous schools attended, and height and weight of members of intercollegiate athletic teams.” Source: Registrar's Office, University of Michigan

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