Our long-standing commitment to student safety means we work very hard to establish and maintain avenues of communication and information tracking between students and staff. Cell Phones & TripTracker™ We require you to have a cell phone during your time abroad to encourage and simplify communications with both the IES Abroad Center and your parents in the event of an emergency. You will be required to provide your Center with your cell phone number and to keep your phone turned on and charged at all times for the duration of your program. You are also required to submit an electronic...

With over 75 years of experience, we are proud to set the standard for health and safety in study abroad. Our Chicago-based and on-site staff are all highly trained and experienced in the matters of health, safety, and crisis management. We are here for you from predeparture to your return, and are ready to support you—no matter what time zone you’re in. How We Support Your Health & Safety International Health Insurance : Your program fee includes international health insurance for the duration of your program. The policy is specially designed for students traveling internationally, and it...

Important Initial Steps You’ll Need to Take to Be Prepared Confirm your Place in the Program Submit the Confirmation Form in your MyIESabroad account. . Check, Renew, or Apply for your Passport This is even more important than your plane ticket! If you do not have a valid passport, renew or apply for one immediately. Read your Predeparture Information and Student Handbook This Predeparture Guide is filled with nearly all the information you need to know to be prepared to go abroad. Navigate through this Predeparture Guide using the dropdown above. Find the Student Handbook in your Predeparture...

Packing Basics Start to follow the local weather and do some research about seasonal temperatures and precipitation. Pack as light as possible! Students often regret that they packed too much. Leave room for the souvenirs you’ll want to bring home with you. Be able to carry your luggage up a flight of stairs on your own (*If you have a physical impairment that affects your ability to do this, please notify your advisor and the on-site center staff). Make sure your luggage will fit inside the trunk of a small taxi. Be aware of airlines’ limits to the weight and number of bags and any fees...

IES Abroad Scholarships & Aid As far as we're concerned, financial limitations shouldn't prevent you from studying abroad with us. That's why we offer more than $7 million in scholarships and aid. Plus, with our High-Impact Aid Commitment, we make sure that the most aid goes to students with the highest need. Remember how easy it was to apply for multiple colleges using the Common App? We took the same approach for our scholarship and aid application, because time is precious! We're all about helping you focus on the adventure you'll have, not just how you'll pay for it. Here’s what you need...

At the end of the program, IES Abroad will issue a transcript in order to transfer your study abroad credit back to your college or university. The transcript will indicate each course you took, the institution where it was taken, the grade awarded and the number of credits earned. The transcript is normally issued four to six weeks after the program end date for IES Abroad courses. (Please allow an additional four to six weeks processing time for School of Record transcripts). If enrolled in partner university courses, those grades are typically reported to IES Abroad at a much later date...

If you have not already done so, apply for your passport immediately! Processing your passport application can take up to 4 to 6 weeks. You can expedite this process by paying an additional fee. You must have a valid passport before you can apply for any other required travel documents. Your passport must be signed and valid for at least six months beyond the end date of your program. If it is not valid for at least six months beyond the program end date, you must renew it immediately before applying for any required visa or entry permit. Please be sure to check your passport dates to ensure...

Academics Course Pre-registration - You will pre-register online for IES Abroad courses approximately 6-8 weeks before your program begins. Tutoring opportunities (once you arrive at your program location, tutors can be arranged for additional help in any of your classes. If you feel that a tutor would be helpful, please notify the IES Abroad center staff) Course materials - (e.g., Please note that nearly all school supplies and language books can be found easily at your center location. Your professors can also recommend local bookstores where required texts can be found.) Syllabi - A...

Homestays are offered in private homes in Buenos Aires and Santiago. In some cases, a family may host more than one IES Abroad student in their home. All homestays are secured by the IES Abroad staff, located in safe areas of the city, and inspected on a regular basis. Just as “family” could mean many different things in your home country, South American families also are quite diverse. While some families might resemble the classic "nuclear family" structure, others may represent a myriad of different make ups and could consist of any array of family and extended family members, or just a...