Passport and Visa

Make sure that your passport will be valid for at least 30 days beyond the duration of your program. Click here for the U.S. State Department page with information on applying for or renewing passports, including last minute options.

Be sure to check with the embassy of the country you are visiting to determine whether or not a visa is required – especially if your passport is not issued by the U.S. Embassyworld has a list of embassies for every nation.
Do this at least six months before your program begins.

Orientation

After you have signed on to your program, the UW Study Abroad office will notify you of several dates for in-person pre-departure orientation meetings during the quarter before you leave.  (Orientation for autumn programs will take place during spring quarter.)  You will be required to attend one of these in order to register for your program.

Academics

Check with your academic advisor to make sure that the credits you earn can apply towards your degree requirements. Your advisor may require you to do a specific type of work in addition to or as part of your assignments on the program, and you will need to be prepared for this well before the program begins.
Do this at least three months before your program begins.

Concurrent Enrollment and Medical Form

In order to earn academic credit for the program, you must submit a completed Concurrent Enrollment and Health Screening Form to the IP&E office. Deadlines for this form are as follows:

The Medical Form must be signed by a physician, so be sure to make an appointment with a doctor well before the deadline date. During every quarter that you are enrolled at UW, you are entitled to one free health screening at Hall Health Primary Care Center. If you choose to use for free visit for this purpose, be sure to tell them that you require an IPE screening.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid will probably not be disbursed until your program starts. If you usually receive financial aid in the form of a check, you should make arrangements to have the aid directly deposited into your bank account so that you can access it while abroad.
Do this at least a month prior to departure.

Insurance

The University of Washington strongly recommends that all UW students participating in foreign study or research programs purchase the UW Study Abroad Insurance.  For information about this plan, click here for the IP&E website page for Health, Safety & Insurance page.
Do this at least two weeks prior to departure.

Maps and books

Conduct some research on the site that you will be visiting.  At least one map of the city you will visit is essential.  Obtain a guidebook (many are available at the University Bookstore) with maps, information about transportation, where and what to eat, public services etc. 
Do this at least two weeks prior to departure.

Contact info

Your Program Director should provide a note card with emergency contact information for on-site and on-campus resources.  Carry this card with you at all times. It is also a good idea to carry contact information for your family or friends at home and for your bank/credit cards, in case the cards are lost. 
See our contacts page for U.S. emergency contact information.
Do this at least one week prior to departure.

Banking

Inform your bank and the issuers of any credit card that you will use that you will be accessing their services from abroad.  If you do not do this, your bank may freeze your account due to abnormal activities.  Also be sure to find out how much your bank charges for using foreign cash machines.
Do this the week before you depart.