Berkeley Summer Abroad: Business Chinese

Now that you have narrowed down your programs, make an appointment with the respective study abroad advisor from the link in Step 1. Ask any unanswered questions after your research or to clarify any confusion you may have had. Feel free to ask for program alumni if you want to know about other’s firsthand experience that went on the program.

The application process is very simple. Once you have decided upon a program that you would like to attend, simply visit our homepage to look for your program. Once the application becomes available, you can apply directly from this website. You will be prompted to make an account. Remember your username and password because this site will become very valuable as you get closer to departure and viewing grades while abroad. Furthermore, pay special attention to the due dates as deadlines are set well in advance of the term you plan on going abroad.

Who doesn’t want free money? You should seek out scholarships as soon as possible. There are many available scholarships just for students who study abroad. One great scholarship to look into is the Gilman scholarship. You do not want to pass up on free money especially if you think money might be an obstacle. If you need more help, feel free to make an appointment with any financial aid study abroad staff in 160 Stephens Hall.

You will want to visit the website of the school you want to travel to in order to view a list of courses and try to obtain the syllabus for the courses you are interested in. This way, you can allow yourself to fulfill graduation requirements while having fun abroad. Make sure to check in with your advisor to talk about the potential options that your major department has already approved. Advisors should be able to pull up a document of courses taken by previous students. Once you know the courses and have the syllabus, fill out a course equivalency form to obtain credit. It is much better to turn in this form before you take courses because you will know what requirements you are satisfying before you leave. No one wants to know that your course has been denied once you come back from abroad!

If you have been accepted, you should receive an email detailing your next few steps. Some may include obtaining a visa or finishing paperwork for your host institution. For those on financial aid, double check your aid status and set up a direct deposit with the UCEAP office. Even if you have direct deposit set up with Berkeley, you STILL have to submit another direct deposit with UCEAP.

This step is very helpful in shedding some light on studying abroad. You will get to meet with your specific host countries’ advisor and several alumni of your program. This is the perfect opportunity to ask any lingering questions you may have before you leave. It is a great opportunity to learn about the culture and style of the living environment. Also you should probably ask about the weather and other crucial items you should bring abroad.

Make sure you do not over pack! Take about half as much clothes as you would normally need. If you need more, you can always buy some abroad. It will also allow you to fit in more! One very important thing if you plan on using your bank account while abroad. Call customer service and let them know that you are abroad so they do not freeze your account. It would be no fun being stuck in a foreign country without money! Tell them the duration of your stay so they do not think you have been hacked. Lastly, have an amazing time! Don’t spend your free time catching up on television. Make sure you go out and explore! That is why you went abroad right?