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Page last updated by NLW on 29 July 2025
Students are encouraged to research the impact studying away will have on their identity.
Research Culture & Expectations
Research Culture & Expectations
Identities are complex, how you perceive and are perceived by others changes based on where you are and where you come from. Studying away is a great way to challenge yourself by examining identity and learning more about how you fit into the world at large.
Just like life at home, you and your peers may encounter pre-conceived notions and stereotyping while studying away. Along with positive interactions, you may notice additional attention, judgment, or misinterpretation depending on your perceived identity, which sometimes results in discrimination. All participants should be aware of the cultural, legal, and social issues regarding identity in their program location and how aspects of your identity can affect your experience.
By learning about the country and culture of your destination, you can help to prepare yourself for the climate and norms you will experience. This preparation will help you to reflect on, learn from, and respond to intercultural experiences.
Student Stories
Student Stories
In addition to the helpful resources from Includifi students can explore Dartmouth Student Stories about their experiences away. Our website also provides Dartmouth resources and support for diverse identities.
Gender Identity
Gender Identity
Before you leave, research how cultural dynamics, gender roles, and dress norms are approached in your program location.
Before you leave, research how cultural dynamics, gender roles, and dress norms are approached in your program location.
Adjusting to a new culture and potentially unfamiliar gender roles and norms can present travelers with a variety of reactions and feelings.
Some locations may be more challenging to adjust to than others due to the gender norms and mores of its given culture.
Interactions between people of different genders differ in every culture.
Some cultures have a more marked segregation between genders than we may be used to in the U.S.
Additionally, in some countries, locals may openly initiate behavior that travelers may find offensive such as catcalls, staring, or unwanted attention.
Check out the section on Street Harassment for tips on how to approach these situations.
Racial & Ethnic Identity
Racial & Ethnic Identity
You may find that your racial or ethnic identity is seen in a new way, or experience minority or majority status for the first time.
Understanding how cultural differences can impact perceptions of race, ethnicity, and identity in an international context is an important component of your preparation to study away.
Resources
Resources
For additional resources check out ALLABROAD.us which is a comprehensive site for students interested in diversity issues abroad.
The site also provides specific advice for BIPOC students.
Additionally, the Office of Pluralism and Leadership (OPAL) at Dartmouth has more resources to help you prepare for your off-campus program.
Accessbility
Accessbility
The Guarini Institute encourages all students who meet program eligibility requirements to participate in an off-campus program.
If you want to study on an off-campus program but anticipate barriers to participation due to accessibility or health concerns, you should contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to discuss your plans for studying away.
Discuss your personal needs on program with SAS and a Guarini Institute staff member early on.
Discuss your personal needs on program with SAS and a Guarini Institute staff member early on.
Residential Status
Residential Status
Most academic departments and programs at Dartmouth, in addition to various institutes and centers, oversee student engagement in international study away and internship opportunities.
For those students who are on DACA, international travel requires additional planning and consideration.
For those students who are on DACA, international travel requires additional planning and consideration.
Fortunately, DACA recipients can once again apply for permission to travel outside the U.S. using a process called Advance Parole.
If an undocumented student has plans to travel outside of the US, they should consult the Guarini Institute staff immediately, in addition to an immigration attorney prior to making any plans to depart the U.S
LGBTQ+ Identity
LGBTQ+ Identity
Researching the LGBTQ+ climate of the country you will be visiting is another helpful exercise even if you do not plan to have a sexual relationship while away.
Researching the LGBTQ+ climate of the country you will be visiting is another helpful exercise even if you do not plan to have a sexual relationship while away.
You must educate yourself about specific laws regarding sexual behavior, orientation and/or gender expression. This can help you to better read and understand situations, risk, and support yourself and your peers while on program.
When doing your research, try to find:
The age of consent in the country and legality of same-sex sexual behavior
Restrictions on freedom of association or expression for LGBTQ+ people
Anti-discrimination and/or sodomy laws (national and/or local)
A few places to start your research:
A few places to start your research:
ILGA
The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association has information on over 110 countries and offers a country-by-country survey of the legal position of LGBTQ+ individuals
Equaldex
A collaborative LGBTQ+ knowledge base
The State Department
On-Campus Resources
On-Campus Resources
Religious Identity (The Tucker Center)
Religious Identity (The Tucker Center)
The Tucker Center can assist you before and during your off-campus program
Attend Virtual Services
The Center offers opportunities for attendance at worship or spiritual observances on campus that may or may not be represented in-country.
Consider Religious Needs in-country
The Center provides resources to build awareness of religious and spiritual considerations for the country where living/traveling (including calendar, food, fasting, dress, observances) as well as resources for individual or personal faith observances while living/traveling on program.
Reintegration & Debriefing Sessions
The Center offers opportunities for reflection and debriefing on religious, spiritual, cultural (re)adjustment issues while away and on return.
Virtual Pastoral Counseling
Scheduling virtual Pastoral counseling while away that is inclusive, nonjudgmental, and available to all students to discuss all topics.
Office of Pluralism & Leadership (OPAL)
Office of Pluralism & Leadership (OPAL)
The Office of Pluralism and Leadership’s mission is to foster a Dartmouth environment where all students can thrive, value difference, and contribute to the socially just world. OPAL Deans provide 1:1 advising in addition to a variety of community and leadership development offered through OPAL programs. Workshops touch on topics such as social identities, intersectionality, and responding to bias. OPAL can also support and advise students on off-campus programs: prior to travel, on-site, and upon return.
The OPAL can assist you before and during your off-campus program.
Advising & Engagement
In partnership with student organizations and campus partners, we create supportive systems for students to ensure a smooth transition to Dartmouth, facilitate student’s identity development, and increase their awareness of and access to resources throughout their time on campus
Community & Leadership Development
We work to create a respectful and inclusive Dartmouth by coordinating and facilitating programs that center the values, needs, strengths, and practices of marginalized communities and by approaching leadership development through the lens of social justice.
Education & Training
We conduct workshops and trainings for students to increase their knowledge and awareness of identity, power, and privilege and the impact these have on themselves, others, and communities. We equip students with tools for communicating across difference, recognizing bias, and intervening in moments of harm.
Advocacy
We work across the institution to remove barriers and address needs related to ethnicity, gender identity or expression, nationality, race, sexuality, first gen identity, and socioeconomic status. We empower students to selfadvocate by helping them identify needs and develop strategies to achieve their goals.
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