Study Abroad for Parents & Students
Welcome! We are very excited to be working with your RIT student as they prepare to study abroad. We recognize that this is an important decision, not only for your student but also for you.
At RIT, our top priorities are student safety and successful academic integration. We work closely with students, faculty, academic advisors, financial aid advisors, and our partners abroad to be sure our students have the most positive experience possible.
Please peruse these pages to understand more about the types of programs available to students, the application process, funding, and health and safety abroad. For more resources specifically about the practical preparations prior to travel, visit the Preparing to Go section of our website.
The Education Abroad and International Fellowships office is always available to answer questions from students and parents. Please do not hesitate to contact us via email (global@rit.edu), by phone (585-475-4466), or in-person (RIT Global Office in Global Village).
COVID-19 and Study Abroad
The RIT Education Abroad office is constantly monitoring how COVID-19 is affecting international travel, with student safety as our top priority. While RIT no longer requires students to be vaccinated, we highly encourage study abroad participants to stay up-to-date with immunizations, boosters, and social distancing policies. In fact, study abroad partners and vendors, travel providers, and foreign governments may have different requirements, and it is your responsibility to understand and adhere to all requirements and guidelines.
If you feel ill while abroad, inform your primary in-country contact immediately. At the start of your program, your program provider or primary contact will likely go over your program’s plan/policies related to COVID-19, including isolation procedures, continuing academics if you must isolate, doctor visits (if needed), or how to get medications.
All students studying abroad will have an international health insurance plan (either through RIT or affiliate program provider). International health insurance providers typically assist in finding local medical providers, coordination of illness/medical issues, coverage for medical care, doctor/hospital visits, and emergency evacuation due to accident, illness, or safety reasons. You should make sure you have the contact information and basic policy information of your international health insurance plan before traveling.
Finally, taking some time to familiarize yourself with the current state of COVID-19 in your host country will make you a more responsible and informed traveler. It's important to understand infection rates, vaccination rates, and guidelines around COVID-19 safety in the country you plan to travel to.
If you have any additional questions about COVID-19 and study abroady, email global@rit.edu.