Resources for Academic Advisors
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Academic advisors are an integral component to a student’s success in having an impactful and rewarding study abroad experience. Thank you for being a champion of study abroad for your students! We are here to make sure that you have all you need to provide the most accurate information for any student who is either in process to study abroad, or for a student you believe is a good candidate to study abroad. With your help, including study abroad in a student’s academic career will be a seamless process.
Step-by-Step Guide to an Academic Advisor's Role in Study Abroad Heading link
Planning and Application Stage
- Talk about study abroad during relevant advising appointments and refer students to a study abroad advisor or a First Step Info Session via iAdvise
- Discuss with students how study abroad can fit into and expand their UIC education
- Inform students of the type of credit available abroad and specific degree requirements courses abroad can fulfill
- Help determine when (which term or terms) studying abroad can fit into a student’s schedule
Pre-Departure
- Work with students to complete the applicable Course Approval Form once they have selected a program and submitting their SAO Application
- Advise students regarding the term following their study abroad experience (registration will likely occur while they are abroad)
While Abroad
- Update CAF should students need to change classes during the first 10 days of their program
- Continue to advise students to register for the term following their study abroad
Re-Entry
- Work with the SAO in the case of any post-program course approvals (if a student took courses not pre-approved by their advisors)
Talking Points for Advising Appointments Heading link
Although every student who studies abroad will meet with a study abroad advisor to get individualized information regarding their study abroad plans, there are important things to bring up to all students at any point during their academic career.
Academic Talking Points
- All study abroad courses are for UIC credit.
- Students can get General Education, Elective, Major, or Minor credit (this may vary depending on their major, minor, or college).
- Students can take classes, participate in internships, or conduct research – all for UIC credit!
- Classes can be in English in all locations (unless the program is specifically language-intensive).
Financial Talking Points
- The average cost of attendance (tuition, fees, housing, medical insurance, personal expenses, etc.) is very similar to the cost of attendance for UIC. Many programs cost less, and some cost more. Visit our Affordability page for more details.
- Financial aid (grants, loans, some scholarships) can be applied to study abroad program fees.
- There are many scholarships available for every student. Some are need-based, merit-based, program-specific, location-based, and many others. Visit our Scholarships page for a list of the most frequently-awarded scholarships.
Additional Resources:
- UIC Financial Aid and Scholarships Office – Information about types of aid
- Advisor’s Guide: Study Abroad Course Scheduling and Registration for Faculty-Directed Programs
- Student Loan Guide – Education Loan Finance*
*This is an external source and is not affiliated with UIC. It is only meant as a resource and is not endorsed by UIC or the Study Abroad Office.
For all other questions, direct students to our FAQ page or have them Meet with an Advisor!
Curriculum-Integration and Major-Based Program Database Heading link
Coming soon! We are currently working on a database of programs by major as well as a database of course equivalencies for many of our programs.