Beginning Wednesday, July 1 at 8:30 a.m. Central Time, you will not be able to log in or create an account while we transition to our new student portal. Access is expected to be restored by the end of the day on Monday, July 6.

If you have started any forms in your MyIESabroad student portal, please complete and submit them by end of day Tuesday, June 30. Submitted forms will carry over automatically. Any forms that are started but not submitted by June 30 will not transfer—but don't worry, you'll still have access to the same forms in the new portal on July 6.

For more details, please review our student system upgrade information. Want a heads-up when the new portal is live? Fill out our interest form. Thank you for your patience during this transition. We're excited to welcome you into the new portal and continue supporting you every step of the way.

Today, and every day, we celebrate who you are and who you will become. We take pride in simply getting to know you, and look forward to adventuring through this incredible world with you.

Studying abroad as part of the LGBTQ+ community can present unique opportunities and challenges in exploring a new culture, so we have compiled resources on sexual orientation, gender identity, and allyship to help prepare you and support you along the way. 

Browse a collection of IES Abroad and other website's resources specific to the LGBTQ+ and ally experience.

At IES Abroad, we're here to help. If you have any questions about your identity abroad, please contact our Access & Strategic Partnerships Team by emailing us at accesspartnerships@iesabroad.org or by calling 800.995.2300. Know of another resource we should add? Let us know!

What Students Have to Say

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staff standing and smiling in front of Rainbow SIG step and repeat

Our Commitment in Action

A commitment to the representation and integration of diverse perspectives, cultures, and ideas is essential to our mission. That’s why we’re a proud sponsor of Rainbow SIG, an organization of international educators whose goals are to support LGBTQ+ study abroad students and professionals; to combat homophobia, heterosexism, and transphobia within the field at large; and to increase access for LGBTQ+ students to study abroad. Learn more about inclusivity at IES Abroad, and check out our LGBTQ+ outside scholarship opportunities (aside from our own $7 million in scholarships and financial aid, of course).

John Luke Hawkins, an IES Abroad Cape Town Student
“I went into study abroad thinking I was a straight male, but I left knowing that I was a gay male. That also was a huge identity change, and was a really big piece of me finding my place in the world.”

John Luke H. (IES Abroad Cape Town | Hope College)

Browse More Resources

Just as each study abroad experience is unique, each location offers a different adventure. So we've made sure to compile resources specific to your host city and country. 

All Resources
students attend an LGBT parade