COVID-19 Updates

As the COVID-19 pandemic has evolved, we are adapting our policies accordingly. IES Abroad is no longer requiring COVID-19 vaccinations for all IES Abroad programs (Standard, Customized & Faculty Led, and IES Internships), however we still strongly encourage students to be vaccinated. 

If circumstances should change again, then we will not hesitate to adapt our policies as appropriate. There may be specific programs, including health studies programs, that could require students be vaccinated. Those exceptions will be communicated to impacted students. We will continue to monitor COVID-19, as we have throughout the pandemic, and we will continue to consult the recommendations of the public health sources in the United States and abroad. The health and safety of our students is our highest priority. 

As required for all IES Abroad programs, we will continue to request information about students’ medical and vaccination history. If they are vaccinated, they will be able to share your COVID-19 vaccination information with IES Abroad through this process. Should they test positive for COVID-19 while abroad, they will be asked to follow the local and/or CDC guidelines. 

If any further policy modifications are necessary, we will communicate them by email.

This message was sent to IES Abroad school partners. 

Dear Colleague, 

You are receiving this email because you approve one of the IES Abroad Shanghai programs. 

We are writing to you with an important update about the IES Abroad Fall 2023 Shanghai programs.  

Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, we have made the difficult decision to suspend the IES Abroad programs in Shanghai for Fall 2023. We are monitoring the situation and hope that we will be able to resume programming in Shanghai in Spring 2024. 

Please let us know if you have any questions. 

Best, 

Hope McClelland-Young 

Associate Vice President for College Relations 

The message below was sent to Spring 2023 students, their parents, and school partners.

It's more than halfway through the semester, and before you know it, you'll be on your way to your IES Abroad location.

We're excited to continue working with you in your preparations to study abroad. This email contains important information about our Spring 2023 policies - please read it to the end!

Spring 2023 Refund Policy

We are prepared to offer you an awesome study abroad experience, but we know unforeseen circumstances come up. For the Spring 2023 term, any student who withdraws from their IES Abroad program on or before the program's official published arrival date will receive a full refund of the program fees then paid to IES Abroad to date, including the Confirmation Deposit.

Review the full refund policy here.

Vaccine Policy

IES Abroad requires that students participating in our programs be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as defined by the CDC at least two weeks before the start of the program. According to the CDC, "Everyone, except those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, is still considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after the single-dose J&J/Janssen vaccine. Fully vaccinated, however, is not the same as having the best protection. People are best protected when they stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations, which includes getting boosters when eligible."

We will consider medical exemption requests by reviewing written documentation provided by a physician. Religious exemptions will only be recognized by IES Abroad if your current college or university approves a religious exemption from vaccination for you. This exemption must be documented in writing on university letterhead and signed by a university official, then submitted to IES Abroad.

You can review the full vaccine policy here, and upload your vaccination record in the COVID-19 Vaccination History and Agreement form in your MyIESabroad account.

Mask Policy

IES Abroad will no longer be requiring masks across all of our Centers but will instead follow local regulations within the host country for masking requirements. You should be prepared to wear a mask if local regulations require masking or upon a Center or instructor's request.

If you are not vaccinated and have been approved for an exemption by IES Abroad through our Vaccine Committee, then you will be required to wear a mask in classrooms and the Center. Please be aware that this policy will be updated if conditions or local regulations change.

New After-Hours Emergency Phone Numbers

We have updated our after-hours emergency phone numbers to improve the quality of our service to our students and parents experiencing an emergency. For all questions during business hours, please continue to call 800.995.2300 or your Program Advisor's direct line.

• Prior to Departure: Call 312.681.7911 to reach an IES Abroad representative after hours for emergency situations only. Please note that questions about deadlines should wait until the next business day.
• Emergencies While Abroad: Once you are abroad, you or your parents should call 978.291.4231 to reach an IES Abroad staff member for a health and safety emergency that needs immediate attention while our offices are closed.

We would be happy to answer any questions you or your parents have about these policies or about your program. Feel free to contact us at 800.995.2300 or study@iesabroad.org.  

The message below went to Shanghai applicants and their parents, and school partners who approve our Shanghai programs.

Dear Shanghai Applicant,

We are writing to you with an important update about the IES Abroad Summer 2023 programs in Shanghai. 

We have made the difficult decision to suspend the following Summer 2023 Shanghai programs due to the lingering on-the-ground challenges China continues to face that impact students’ ability to enter the country:

• Shanghai Summer – Engineering (Study Program)
• Shanghai Summer - Intensive Language
• Shanghai Summer – Engineering Internship
• Shanghai Summer – Internship Program

We remain hopeful that we will be able to run programs in Shanghai in future terms. 

If you’re interested in another program with IES Abroad, either for Summer 2023 or a future term, please complete this form or email us at study@IESabroad.org or internships@IESabroad.org and we will update your application. If you decide that right now you don’t plan to pursue another program with us, no further action from you is required. We will cancel your application. Please consult your home school study abroad office or advisor before making any decisions about program applications.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to us at 800.995.2300 or study@IESabroad.org or internships@IESabroad.org and we’ll be here to help with any questions. 

Kind regards,

IES Abroad

The message below went to Shanghai applicants and their parents, and school partners who approve our Shanghai programs.

Dear Shanghai Applicants,  

IES Abroad is sending you this very important message regarding the IES Abroad Fall 2022 Shanghai program.   

Due to the ongoing challenges with entry to China, we have made the difficult decision to suspend the  IES Abroad Spring 2023 Shanghai program.  We know you have put a great deal of thought into your program choice, and we are sorry that we will be unable to offer the program. We know this is a challenging time, but we remain ready to continue working with you to make study abroad a reality for you in the near future. 

While we are unable to run our Shanghai program, we do expect to run most of our other programs abroad in Spring 2023. We encourage you to look at our other program offerings on our website. Please be in contact with us to discuss alternative program options.

We hope to run our Fall 2023 Shanghai program as planned, so if you’re interested in deferring to that term, please let us know by completing this form. We also have summer programs including: Shanghai Summer - Engineering, Shanghai Summer - Intensive Language, Shanghai Summer - Internship, and Shanghai Summer - Engineering Internship that we hope to run in Summer 2023.

You will receive confirmation soon that your application has been cancelled for Spring 2023. If you decide that right now you don’t plan to pursue another program with us, no further action from you is required. If you have already paid a confirmation deposit to IES Abroad, that will be refunded. You can find more information about our Spring 2023 refund policy on our website. If you’re interested in another program with IES Abroad, either for Spring 2023 or a future term, please complete this form or email us at study@IESabroad.org and we will update your application. Please consult your home school study abroad office before making any decisions about program applications.  

Please don't hesitate to reach out to us at 800.995.2300 or study@IESabroad.org and we’ll be here to help with any questions.   

Kind regards,  

Lauren Kreibich 

Director of Global Enrollment Management 

IES Abroad 

The message below sent was to Fall 2022 Emerging Economies Program applicants, their parents, and their schools.

Dear Santiago Applicants,  

IES Abroad is sending you this very important message regarding the IES Abroad Fall 2022 Emerging Economies program.   

Due to low enrollment, we have made the difficult decision to suspend the IES Abroad Fall 2022 Emerging Economies program. We share in your disappointment that it will not be possible to study in Santiago for the upcoming semester with IES Abroad. We know you have put a great deal of thought into your program choice, and we are sorry that we will be unable to offer the program. We know this is a challenging time, but we remain ready to continue working with you to make study abroad a reality for you in the near future. 

What's Next?  

We hope you will still have the opportunity to study abroad with us in Fall 2022 or in the future. As you consider your options, we'd like to highlight the following possibilities: 

Switch Your Application to Another Fall 2022 Program  

We are excited to share that we are still offering the following programs abroad this fall. We have been monitoring student mobility and on-site restrictions at all of our program locations, and we are optimistic that we will be able to welcome students to these locations. We hope that one of these programs will be of interest to you: 

• Barcelona – Liberal Arts & Business 
• Paris – Business & International Affairs
• Nice – Business, Sustainability & Immigration
• Milan – Business Studies
• For students with advanced Spanish: Santiago – Politics, Social Justice & Language

**If you are interested in one of these programs, please note that you must currently hold a valid passport and will likely need to apply independently for your visa. Travel plans over the summer may complicate visa processes as well. If you are interested in one of these programs, please let us know ASAP. 

If you are interested in switching your application to one of these programs, please submit this form with your new program information by Wednesday, May 25, and we'll switch your application.  

Defer Your Application to a Future Term  

Right now, we are accepting applications for the Fall 2022, and Spring 2023 terms. To defer your application to a future term, complete this form to let us know which term and program you would like to switch to. We would also be happy to answer any questions you have - you can respond to this message or call or email us at 800.995.2300 or study@IESabroad.org. 

For any future study abroad applications, it is important that you consult your home school study abroad office before making any decisions. 

Be sure to consult your home school study abroad office before making any decisions about fall study abroad program applications. We are happy to speak with you about these options and how they may work for you, but it's important to ensure that your new program falls within your school's requirements and policies 

You will receive confirmation soon that your application has been cancelled for Fall 2022. If you decide that right now you don’t plan to pursue another program with us, no further action from you is required. If you have already paid a confirmation deposit to IES Abroad, that will also be refunded. You can find more information about our  Fall 22 refund policy on our website. 

If you’re interested in another program with IES Abroad, either for Fall 2022 or a future term, please complete this form^* or email us at study@IESabroad.org and we will update your application. Please consult your home school study abroad office before making any decisions about program applications or enrollment.  

Please don't hesitate to reach out to us at 800.995.2300 or study@IESabroad.org and we’ll be here to help with any questions.   

The message below was sent to Fall 2022 Nagoya and Tokyo applicants and students, their parents, and their school study abroad staff.

Dear Japan Students,  

IES Abroad is sending you this important message regarding the IES Abroad Fall 2022 Japan program.  We are happy to let you know that we have made the decision to run the IES Abroad Fall 2022 Nagoya and Tokyo programs.  

We hope you’re as excited as we are. Please read this email thoroughly for important information about how we will proceed and your next steps. 

NEXT STEPS Completing Your Application and Confirming Your Place in the Program 

If you have not yet been accepted to your IES Abroad program, now is the time to complete your application. Log in to your MyIESabroad account to submit any remaining application documents as soon as possible. 

Once you’re accepted, you’ll need to submit the Confirmation Form in your MyIESabroad account to confirm your intent to participate this summer. Our refund policy for the fall, which allows you to withdraw on or before the program arrival date without financial penalty, can help you feel confident to confirm knowing you can change your mind for any reason. 

WHILE YOU'RE ABROAD

There are important considerations we want to make sure you’re aware of as you continue to make plans for this Fall.  

• Changes can happen at any time, for any reason. You know the drill – this pandemic has shown us that anything can happen! If you’re committed to studying abroad this Fall, we’ll need you to be flexible in adapting to any required changes that come up (think classes going online, needing to quarantine, etc.). Rest assured we will stay in close communication with you, both leading up to your program and after you arrive, if things change. 
• You’ll need to comply with all in-country, airline, and IES Abroad protocols. While regulations continue to change, you should anticipate that you’ll be asked to comply with various protocols to facilitate your study abroad experience. These could include regular testing while in Japan, providing proof of a negative COVID-19 test when traveling, abiding by local curfews or other movement restrictions on-site, and agreeing to any other requests from IES Abroad or local or national governments. These are all designed to ensure your health and safety, and it’s important that you respect these both for yourself and for other students, faculty, and staff. 

Please let us know if you have questions as you make plans for how to proceed. If you’ve changed your mind and no longer wish to move forward with your application, please let us know and we’ll discuss your options for switching to another program, deferring your application to another term, or cancelling your application. You can call or email us at 800.995.2300 or study@IESabroad.org and your advisor will be here to help! 

The message below was sent to Buenos Aires - Summer 2022 applicants, their parents, and schools that approve these programs.

Due to low program enrollments, we have made the difficult decision to suspend the IES Abroad Summer 2022 Buenos Aires Summer - Language & Argentine Studies Program. We understand you were hopeful about the possibility to study in Buenos Aires this summer, and we, too, are disappointed that we will not be able to offer this program.  

What's Next?   

We hope you will still have the opportunity to study abroad with us in Summer 2022 or in the future. As you consider your options, we'd like to highlight the following possibilities: 

Switch Your Application to Another Summer 2022 Program 

 We are excited to share that we are still offering the following programs abroad this summer. We have been monitoring student mobility and on-site restrictions at all of our program locations, and we are optimistic that we will be able to welcome students to these locations. We hope that one of these programs will be of interest to you:  

• Barcelona Summer - Language & Area Studies 
• Santiago Summer – Health Studies  
• Salamanca Summer - Language & Culture (Session II) 

If you are interested in switching your application to one of these programs, please submit this form with your new program information by Thursday, April 28, and we'll switch your application.  

Be sure to consult your home school study abroad office before making any decisions about summer study abroad program applications. We are happy to speak with you about these options and how they may work for you, but it's important to ensure that your new program falls within your school's requirements and policies. 

Defer Your Application to a Future Term  

Right now, we are accepting applications for the Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 terms. To defer your application to a future term, complete this form to let us know which term and program you would like to switch to. We would also be happy to answer any questions you have - you can respond to this message, or call or email us at 800.995.2300 or study@IESabroad.org. 

For any future study abroad applications, it is important that you consult your home school study abroad office before making any decisions. 

You will soon receive a notification that we have cancelled your application or enrollment for the Summer 2022 term. If you decide that right now you do not plan to pursue another study abroad program with us, no further action from you is required. You can always request a new application by completing this form or contacting us at study@IESabroad.org. If you have already paid a confirmation deposit to IES Abroad, that will also be refunded. You can find more information about our Summer 2022 refund policy on our website. 

We know this is a challenging time, and we hope we can continue to work together to make studying abroad a reality for you. Please don't hesitate to reach out to us at 800.995.2300 or study@IESabroad.org and your Program Advisor will be here to help with any questions. 

The message below was sent to Shanghai Fall 2022 applicants, their parents, and schools that approve these programs. Confirmed students and their schools were contacted directly by their Program Advisor.

Dear Shanghai Applicants,  

IES Abroad is sending you this very important message regarding the IES Abroad Fall 2022 Shanghai program.   

Due to the ongoing challenges with entry to China, we have made the difficult decision to suspend the IES Abroad  Fall 2022 Shanghai program.  We know you have put a great deal of thought into your program choice, and we are sorry that we will be unable to offer the program. We know this is a challenging time, but we remain ready to continue working with you to make study abroad a reality for you in the near future. 

While we are unable to run our Shanghai program, we do expect to run many of our other programs abroad in Fall 2022. We encourage you to look at our other program offerings on our website. Please be in contact with us to discuss alternative program options. If you are interested in another program for fall and the application deadline has passed, do reach out to us and we can work to try to get you added late to the program.

We hope to run our Spring 2023 Shanghai program as planned, so if you’re interested in deferring to that term, please let us know by completing this form. We also have summer programs including: Shanghai Summer - Engineering, Shanghai Summer - Intensive Language, Shanghai Summer - Internship, and Shanghai Summer - Engineering Internship that we hope to run in Summer 2023.

You will receive confirmation soon that your application has been cancelled for Fall 2022. If you decide that right now you don’t plan to pursue another program with us, no further action from you is required. If you have already paid a confirmation deposit to IES Abroad, that will be refunded. You can find more information about our Fall 2022 refund policy on our website. If you’re interested in another program with IES Abroad, either for Fall 2022 or a future term,  please email us at study@IESabroad.org and we will update your application.  Please consult your home school study abroad office before making any decisions about program applications.  

Please don't hesitate to reach out to us at 800.995.2300 or study@IESabroad.org and we’ll be here to help with any questions.   

Kind regards,  

Lauren Kreibich  Director of Global Enrollment Management  IES Abroad 

The message below was sent to Summer and Fall 2022 students, parents, and school staff who approve our programs. 

We hope your spring is off to a great start! As you plan for studying abroad this Summer or Fall, we are writing to you with important updates to our Vaccine Policy in regard to boosters.

Vaccination Requirement

For the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and the communities in which our programs are located, we will require all IES Abroad students to be vaccinated for COVID-19. By requiring vaccination, it is not only much safer for everyone but also it greatly improves the quality of your experience while abroad. Please see our website for the full policy.

Booster Requirement for Programs Starting on or Before July 1, 2022

For programs starting on or before July 1, 2022, IES Abroad strongly encourages all eligible students be boosted and further requires all students to be boosted when host country laws, regulations, or mandates require. Students and interns will be required to demonstrate documented proof of being fully vaccinated and boosted (when required) pursuant to this policy. Additionally, it is likely that some airlines or countries may require a negative COVID-19 test for travel.

Eligible students who are not up to date with a booster may find travel restrictions and limited access to essential and nonessential services in many locations in their host country and on independent travel. Moreover, students who are eligible to receive the booster but have not should carefully research their flight arrangements, as they may be unable to connect through countries where boosters are required for travel.

Booster Requirement for Programs Starting After July 1, 2022

For all programs starting after July 1, 2022,  IES Abroad will require all students and interns who are eligible to be boosted two weeks before the start of their program.

We are excited to be on this journey with you and are here to support you in the coming months as you prepare. Please let us know if you have questions as you make plans for how to proceed. You can call or email us during regular business hours at 800.995.2300 or study@iesabroad.org.