Many countries do not have the same accessibility laws as the U.S., and some programs/universities do not provide the same learning accommodations that are standard in the U.S.  If you currently have accommodations and/or believe that you would require adjustments in order to fully participate in an education abroad program, it is your responsibility to contact the Student Disability Access Center (SDAC) and the International Studies Office (ISO) immediately to begin this dialogue. Accommodations may take a considerable amount of time to arrange, so it is recommended that you work with SDAC and ISO to start planning your experience at least six months in advance.  

As you plan and prepare to choose a program, remember to:  

• Remain flexible when researching the best program for you.  
• Be mindful that other countries may accommodate disabilities in different ways. Research the various types of accommodations for your disability in the host country, and what their perspectives are regarding disabilities. Look up important vocabulary words relating to your disability in the host language.  
• Be open to various ways your disability may be accommodated.  
• If applicable, meet with your treating provider (e.g. doctor, counselor, etc.) to discuss your intention or plans to participate in education abroad. Do so as early as possible.  
• If you plan to attend an outside program or exchange, we encourage you to begin the conversation about accommodations as early as possible with your provider or host institution.  
• If you plan to participate in a UVA faculty-led program: As with on-Grounds classes, it is your responsibility to follow SDAC’s process and timeline for requesting accommodations. Accommodations must be communicated to faculty before the program begins, through the SDAC Portal. Contact SDAC directly if you have questions about how to request accommodations for your class(es).
• If you have not done so already, you can apply for SDAC services online through their website to begin the process.

Additional resources:  

• DA Global: Students with Disabilities Abroad
• Mobility International USA (MIUSA)  

Questions to consider:  

• How does my host country view disability? What rights exist and what resources might be available to me in my host country?  
• What accommodations are available for my program or at my host university? If I am studying abroad at a host university, what kind of academic support is available to me?  
• Do I need to bring medication or equipment with me, and if so, is it legal in my host country and/or any country through which I’ll be traveling en route to my host country?   

As a first-generation college student, you have already forged a new path on your journey here to UVA. You can use many of those same skills to be the first in your family to live and study abroad in college. You may face unique challenges when explaining to your family your reasons for participating in education abroad and the value of the experience. 

Additional resource: 

• DA Global: First Generation Students Traveling Abroad 

Questions to consider:  

• How can I include my family and friends in the decision-making process and help them understand the benefits of studying in another country or language? 
• What resources are available to me if no one in my family is familiar with international travel?  
• What kind of experience would I like to have? What kind of location would I like to be in, what type of housing arrangement would I prefer, and how do I want to spend my free time? 

Gender-based treatment may be different in your host country. All students are encouraged to inform themselves of laws and gender-based expectations they may encounter while abroad. For example, relationships between men and women,  gender expression (dress, language, topics of conversation, etc.), spaces people occupy, assumptions about physical touch, and body language may all be different in your host country. If you plan to attend a local university in your host country, learn about any dress codes – some of which may be gender-specific. 

Additional resource: 

• Go! Girl Guides 

Questions to consider:  

• What are some of the gender norms in my host country? How are these similar or dissimilar to those in the U.S.? 
• Who are the teachers, doctors, journalists, spiritual, business, and political leaders in my host country? How do these positions of socioeconomic leadership and power differ from the contexts that I am familiar with?  
• What gender-based rights exist in my host country? Have any gender-based laws changed or been politicized in recent years?  

Participating in education abroad can give students a wonderful opportunity to explore their own cultural heritage. Whether you are going to a region that was home to your distant relatives, or revisiting the place of your own birth, you may experience a range of emotions. You may expect to feel at home but find yourself identifying with your American culture, or you may find that you identify deeply with your ancestral culture. You may find that people in your host country identify you as an American and don’t recognize your heritage identity within that culture. You may find that you have ideas about your destination that are outdated or specific to your family’s history. As in all aspects of preparing to participate in education abroad, having an open mind will be a great asset. 

Additional resources: 

• DA Global: Tips for Heritage Seekers Travelling Abroad 
• Northwestern

Questions to consider:  

• How do I learn more about my country of origin? What assumptions am I bringing with me about the culture in my host country?  
• Do I speak the language of my home/host country? How will that impact my experience there?  
• How should I react if other students or faculty on the program look to me to be an ‘expert’ even if I’m not?  
• How will I react if someone generalizes or incorrectly identifies my ethnicity?  

For many LGBTQ students, studying abroad can be a time to celebrate their identities and experience what it is like to live in a country that is accepting and welcoming of LGBTQ people. Many LGBTQ students have profoundly positive and affirming experiences while studying abroad. 

LGBTQ students may have additional concerns to think about when planning to study abroad. Some countries have strict laws that affect the LGBTQ community, so students should inform themselves of relevant laws in their host country (e.g., legality, discrimination, etc.) when exploring program options. In addition, learn about social norms in your host country such as friendship, displays of affection, and dating ahead of time. If you plan to study abroad in a country in which there are no or limited protections for LGBTQ people and their allies or where same-sex relationships or activity are illegal, consider your online presence, including social media and dating apps. 

Think about what housing situation will best meet your needs and allow you to fully engage in your experience abroad. If you plan to secure your own housing, research housing discrimination laws. If you will have a homestay, consider speaking with program staff about your needs ahead of time so they can find a good match for you. 

Current US passport holders with X as the gender marker should consult the Education Abroad Handbook and the US Department of State Sex Marker in Passports page. 

Additional resources: 

• DA Global Guide 
• Equaldex and ILGA World
• NAFSA’s Rainbow Special Interest Group
• Travel and Airport Security

Questions to consider: 

• What are my safety needs and how well can I expect them to be met during my time abroad? 
• How are individuals in the LGBTQ community perceived in my host country?  
• What are my housing needs and with whom should I speak regarding them? (Be sure to identify housing needs in advance!) 
• What laws, social norms, and current events do I need to be aware of as I prepare to study abroad in my host country?  

As you begin to prepare for your education abroad experience, consider how your race or ethnicity may be viewed abroad. Some students who are in the minority in the US may study in a location where their race is the majority, and others may find that they are in the minority for the first time. You may find yourself excited to be outside of the US and experiencing a new culture outside of the context of current events in the US.  

However, you may also find yourself a subject of unwanted attention, be asked uncomfortable questions, and face new assumptions from people in your host location, especially from children. Read blogs and research to learn how race and ethnicity are addressed in your host country as you prepare to travel abroad.  As part of your preparation, think about the culture you will be entering and how people’s perception of you may be different from your self-perception. 

Additional resources: 

• Northwestern
• BeGlobalii  

Questions to consider:  

• Are there histories of racial or ethnic tensions between groups in my host country?  
• What assumptions about race and ethnicity am I bringing with me?
• How are individuals who look like me perceived in my host country?
• How will I react if I encounter racism or discrimination in my host country (or while traveling) abroad?  
• Will I be comfortable studying somewhere where I am the only person that looks like me? What support systems can I use while abroad?  

Whether you consider yourself religious, spiritual or neither, you may be exposed to new religious and spiritual practices and norms while participating in education abroad. You may learn about a religious or spiritual belief that is different from your own or a unique take on the religion you practice.  Before you embark on your education abroad program,  research the role religion and spirituality plays in your host culture and how members of the local community may perceive your religion. If you would like to connect with a local religious or spiritual community while abroad, do some research ahead of time to learn what communities will be available.  

Additional resource: 

• Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures Project

Questions to consider:  

• What is the dominant religion in my host country, and will I be a part of a religious majority or minority?  
• Are there any laws regarding religion? How might these impact how I typically practice my religion at home? 
• Is it safe for me to publicly display my religious affiliation? (i.e. public spiritual practices, symbols, jewelry, clothing)