Study Abroad Parent Information

Study abroad enables your child to integrate studies at Canisius with a curriculum abroad and thus gain new perspectives on a variety of subjects. Your son or daughter will exchange ideas and information with students from different cultures and gain an increased awareness of cultural diversity and international issues. Perhaps the most important aspect of study abroad is that your son or daughter will live in a new and challenging environment that inspires both personal and intellectual growth. In an increasingly global workplace employers look for students who can communicate and work successfully in an international environment.

Most study abroad students are juniors, and many are second semester sophomores or first-semester seniors. 

While you should be available to lend yourchild help and support, planning and then going abroad is an important step in their path toward taking responsibility and making well-informed decisions.

When your child is abroad, it is often tempting to stay closely in touch with him/her. While you should arrange communication with your child as soon as they have settled in, limit and observe your interaction. Trust the local infrastructure of on-site coordinators and university personnel to help your child with the many challenges, small and large, that are part of any study abroad experience.

This is of course, a personal decision, but we recommend that you arrange to telephone your son or daughter at least once a month at a regularly set time. Make sure that you get your son or daughter’s addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, and best times to call, taking into account the time difference. Check with your long distance carrier regarding discounted international calling rates. Also consider instant messaging if your son or daughter has internet access. Many instant messaging options, such as WhatsApp, include free audio, and even video chat.

Bear in mind that your child may initially report to you that they are unhappy with some aspect of the program or that they are sad and stressed. We suggest that you exercise a degree of patience, as many of these issues sort themselves out in the first few weeks. Often, students call home in distress because of one issue or another, such as housing, the quality of the courses, or location of the program, which can lead to a discussion about changing housing, sending more money, or even dropping out of the program and returning home. Most of these issues are the result of what we often call “cultural adjustment”, which is normal and will be overcome in a relatively short time. If the situation does not improve, please recognize that Canisius students abroad are entitled to all the support services as an on-campus student. Many of our programs have counseling and psychological services. The student may reach out to the overseas international office who can contact a counselor for the on-site referral.

Of course, but you must research the necessary steps to obtain a visitor visa in their host country. Additionally, it is important to remember that study abroad students are not on vacation. Attending class with them – or taking your student out of class to sightsee – will interrupt the educational process and immersion experience. If you want to visit, it is best to do so when the program has finished or during an educational break, so you can travel together. You should not try to obtain permission for your student to return home early; the end of the semester is the most important part of his or her academic experience.

After living abroad, all students return home changed by the experience. These changes can take many forms, from new ways of dressing to cravings for different kinds of food to new political perspectives. Don’t worry too much: negative feelings usually last for a very short time, while realistic view of America and its place in the world remains with most students for life. Be prepared for them to experience some degree of reverse cultural shock – most do – and need some time to readjust fully to life back home again. In some cases, they may even experience a period of sadness or longing to return abroad. Your support, interest, and understanding will help them during this readjustment process. Observing and discussing these changes is an excellent way to share their international experience.

Students going on a Canisius program pay Canisius tuition and remain eligible for all of their financial aid. Courses taken as part of Canisius programs abroad are treated just as courses taken at the home campus. Students receive full credit; courses may fulfill curricular requirements, and their grades are calculated into their GPAs. An external program is organized by a university or provider other than Canisius. Canisius scholarships and grants will NOT be applied to external programs.

Increasingly, research supports that view that students who have had international experience are better equipped to compete in a global job market because of specific skills and attitudes they acquired while abroad: better foreign language skills, deeper cross-cultural insights, and in general a higher level of maturity. According to the 2012 IES Abroad Recent Graduate Study students who study abroad Found a career related position after graduation 40% more found a job within six months of graduation. Students that study abroad typically earn on average $7,000 more a year compared to students who have NOT studied abroad 88% felt that studying abroad helped build job skills 1/3 believed study abroad influenced them to attend graduate school. 50% stated that study abroad helped them find their first jobs.

While students are encouraged to study abroad in order to gain fluency in foreign languages in which they already have some background, there are many programs in non-English-speaking countries where classes are taught in English. Most of these programs also include a language course in the language of the host country.

Parents are invited to the individual pre-departure orientation for each program. We strongly urge you to attend this session. Students who previously studied abroad in that program will be at the session to share their experiences and advice. We encourage you to read about your child’s program on our website.

To study abroad during the semester or academic year, your son or daughter must be in good academic standing with a GPA between 2.75 and 3.0 depending on the program (higher for some programs). In addition, your child must have a satisfactory disciplinary record and receive the approval of the Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean for Students. Final approval to enroll in a study abroad program is at the discretion of the Study Abroad Selection Committee. These requirements are the same for both Canisius and external programs. Summer courses require that students are in good academic and disciplinary standing.

Whether your child studies abroad on a Canisius program or on an external program, they will be able to study most Canisius subject areas as well as many that are not taught on our home campus. Some programs may be better suited to your child’s major. The Center for International Education encourages students, with input from their major department and Associate Dean, to identify their desired courses, and with the help of our office to learn where those can best be taken.

Some programs do have the opportunity to do an internship, but this could result in an increased cost and possibly a different type of visa. These options can be discussed during study abroad advisement. 

Students are expected to enroll in a full academic course load at the host institution, although the number of classes taken may vary widely depending upon the host institution. Students meet with their Canisius Associate Dean and Department Chair prior to departure to select the courses they can take abroad. If a student does not get approval for the finalized courses when they are abroad, they risk a course not counting towards their degree. 

Yes, in many cases teaching is mainly lecture style and class sizes may be much larger than at Canisius. In some programs, the teaching style is patterned after the American system with small group discussion and group work.

Grading procedures are not the same in all countries. In many programs, your child will not have on-going assessments, but rather will be assessed at the end of the semester (or year) in the form of a cumulative exam or paper. The credits and grades from the host institution are converted into U.S. credits and grades and the grades are calculated into your their GPA. If your child is on an external program, the courses and grades will appear on the Canisius transcript.

We do our best to accommodate every student. While we try, not every program is equipped to provide for students with special needs. 

Students returning from studying abroad will contact their academic advisor for their pin number and will register online at their assigned day and time. The students will be e-mailed registration information, and the course listings will be made available for viewing on-line at the Canisius University home page.

Prior to departure, your son or daughter will meet with his or her Associate Dean and Department Chair to obtain approval for courses taken abroad with a course approval form. 

All Canisius students are required to attend a mandatory Study Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation session during the semester prior to departure. Your child will also receive a Study Abroad Handbook which provides information on study abroad policies, procedures and other recommendations, as well as Canisius program-specific information. The programs also provide on-site orientation upon arrival in the host city.

On-site support services vary by program. All host universities provide an orientation for newly arrived students. These orientation programs may vary in length, ranging from a few hours, to a few days, up to a full week, and are meant to provide your child with an introduction to the institution, the culture, and the city in which they are located. The International Office at the host university is the first point of contact for students who need anything including university resources such as accommodations for a disability, counseling or health services, or simply where to buy a phone card.

If your son or daughter goes to a Canisius semester abroad program you will continue to pay Canisius tuition. You will need to cover expenses for housing, airfare, travel, books, and meals. When a student participates in a Canisius overseas semester program, the tuition and study abroad fee charges are equivalent to Canisius’s on-campus tuition and general fee charges. The cost of meals, housing, study materials, insurance, travel and personal expenses is additional, just as it is on campus. All undergraduate semester and academic year study abroad is administered by the Canisius Center for International Education with program charges billed through the Canisius Office Student Records and Financial Services. Program costs other than tuition vary widely from one program to another.

In the event that your son or daughter must withdraw from his or her program, the Center for International Education must be contacted immediately. Students going on external programs should also be sure to contact the program provider. If your son or daughter returns to Canisius within the first two weeks of the semester at Canisius, he or she may request permission from his/her Associate Dean to re-enroll at Canisius. Students will be responsible for their entire housing cost abroad. Students will not receive a tuition refund. If the student withdraws for a serious medical or psychological problem which is documented by a physician or psychologist, the Center for International Education and appropriate Associate Dean will determine if tuition can be refunded.

Housing will be guaranteed for them when they return, but they should notify the Office of Residence Life that they will be studying abroad. They will be required to make a housing deposit for the next semester.

If your child is participating in a Canisius program, they remain eligible for Canisius, federal, and state financial aid; however, depending on the program, his or her aid may be adjusted especially regarding additional loan eligibility. ULLC students, tuition exchange students, children of Canisius faculty and staff, and students studying on certain programs (Australia, London, Galway, or Italy) must meet with a Financial Aid Counselor to determine their financial aid eligibility for their semester abroad. If they are participating in an external program, they will not be eligible for Canisius financial aid but can apply for federal and state financial aid. If they receive financial aid, we always encourage that they consult with their financial aid advisor prior to going abroad.

The best way to access funds while abroad is by using an ATM. Most banks now charge a foreign transaction fee of 2-3% for each withdrawal. Some banks also charge a non-bank ATM fee. Check with your bank for its policies. Students are encouraged to have their bank/card's app to be able to freeze or report a stolen phone. 

MasterCard and Visa are the most commonly accepted credit cards. Before your child leaves home, it is advisable to check with your credit card company about fees for purchases made abroad. Some countries will require your child to establish a bank account and to prove that he or she has adequate funds to live there. If this is the case, the on-site coordinator or host university usually assists or advises your child about setting up a bank account during the orientation period. It is imperative that your child alert their bank or credit card company that they will be studying abroad in order to avoid having their card frozen.

It is important to remember that studying abroad does not have to be more expensive than studying on campus. While some programs in large European metropolitan areas may cost more than a semester in Buffalo, expenditures for many other programs are less than at Canisius. There are many ways in which some measures of frugality can go a long way; for example, cooking instead of frequent use of restaurants, travel in the host country instead of longer trips in the region, taking advantage of many subsidized cultural activities such as free museums, and student tickets for performances. The money students spend on travel and shopping depends on individual spending habits.

Working abroad depends on the regulations in the host country. You should be aware that working abroad will reduce the amount of time the student will have for studying and travel.

The amount a student spends abroad depends on individual spending habits and their location. We suggest to do research on the host country's cost of living and create a budget. 

You should, of course, first check with your local bank on what they recommend. Generally speaking, your child will not need to open up a bank account overseas, as most international banks accept US ATM cards.  We do advise that your child bring a credit card in case of emergencies, but please make sure to keep a copy of it at home in case it is lost or stolen. The easiest way to provide your child with money is to deposit money into their account or apps like Venmo and CashApp. Also discuss with your child how you will transfer funds, in case of emergency, and how the funds you send overseas will be spent. For example, it should be clear how much money is budgeted for emergencies, travel, sightseeing, food and entertainment. Occasionally, our office encounters instances in which students choose to spend money on less essential items and fail to budget effectively for living expenses.