Education Abroad for Families

This experience can be a pivotal moment personally and professionally:

• Degree Credits: many students get credits to count towards their degree program.

• Independence Boost: students come back with a newfound self-reliance having navigated new environments.

• Maturity: The independence to go abroad enhances one’s personal growth

• Problem-solving and Critical Thinking skills: learning to adapt and work outside the box

• Adaptability: a new culture can enhance flexibility and resilience

• Networking: students meet other students, faculty and staff from various countries, opening doors to the global market

• Global Competence: many employers are looking for individuals who have international experience and cultural awareness.

• Cultural Immersion: Gaining a deep understanding of another culture can broaden their own worldview

• Career Advantage: All the above sets your student apart in future job interviews that employers want.

Going abroad won’t necessarily set your student back from graduating on time. We work with students, their department, the registrar and financial aid to make sure students can earn credit towards their degree while abroad. This will depend on what type of experience they are doing.

Financing an abroad experience is utmost on student’s and parent’s minds. The cost of going abroad varies by program. Some programs are similar (sometimes less!) to the cost of studying at SDM, and others are more.

Cost will vary based on what you are doing and your destination. It will also depend on if you will do an exchange, direct enroll, third party provider, or other type of education abroad experience. Each option has different benefits. 

If students have federal financial aid or other scholarships, they should work with the SDM Financial Aid office to see how those funds can be used for their experience.

We give students various tools to help them create a budget. There are national and international scholarships available, and we highlight these to students during the application season.

Some information to help decide if this experience is feasible:

• Research program costs, including tuition, housing, meals, and travel expenses

• Create a detailed budget breakdown (we give student examples/templates)

• Explore scholarship and financial aid options

  • There are national, international, country specific, and much more out there. We inform students as we get updates and new information.

• Compare costs of studying abroad vs. staying at your home institution

Read more about costs here

Safety is a priority! We want to make sure all our students have a safe and wonderful experience abroad.  

• We require students to go through the safety and health videos before they depart the U.S.

  • • We also have resources available to help keep them safe.

• We strongly recommend that students enroll with the Smart Travel Enrollment Program through the U.S. Department of State.

• Insurance: South Dakota Board of Regents policy requires that students have insurance that specifically covers education and travel abroad. There is an approved insurance policy through them, and if the student is utilizing a provider, the majority of providers have credible insurance that matches or exceeds the South Dakota Board of Regents requirements for insurance. All policies are reviewed prior to departure.

  • • For students who do not receive insurance through the program, we enroll them in the SDBOR required insurance - CISI: Cultural Insurances Services International.

• Emergency contacts: we gather information on the student’s emergency contact(s) and keep them on file for emergencies

• All programs have support services either through the school and/or provider they are working with. The student will receive information about emergencies and how to stay safe from those entities as well.

Education Abroad must abide by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). FERPA protects your student’s educational records and limits the information that can be discussed with anyone – even you as family– unless your student specifically allow you to access their information.

Wherever possible, we encourage you to have your student take responsibility for their education abroad experience. However, while your student is abroad, you may want to talk to the Education Abroad, Office of Financial Aid, or Registrar’s Office, if problems arise with bills, registration, or financial aid. Your student can complete a FERPA release which allows an authorized third party (e.g., a parent or guardian) to contact the university (including Education Abroad) on their behalf and discuss their academic and/or financial records.