Pre-Departure Requirements

Once approved to study abroad, students will complete pre-departure requirements (PDRs) in order to participate on the program. PDRs are an important part of study abroad as they help the student prepare for a successful experience abroad.

EA Portal Requirements

Once approved to study abroad, additional items appear in the student’s EA study abroad application. The approval email will prompt the student to login to their application to complete these requirements. This may include uploading a passport copy, uploading a flight itinerary, submitting payments and confirming participation on a program. The portal PDRs will differ between program types and even specific programs. It is important for the student to read the approval email carefully as well as the instructions found in the EA Portal.

Many of these requirements will have very specific deadlines, which cannot be extended. Students must adhere to these deadlines carefully to prevent issues with confirming their participation.

Pre-Departure Requirements

In addition to the tasks students are required to complete in the EA Portal, all students studying abroad through UNC Charlotte must complete pre-departure requirements.

Pre-Departure Canvas Course

The Pre-Departure Canvas Course is a non-credit self-paced course broken down into modules covering academics, health, safety, travel, money, policies, cultural considerations and additional resources. All students approved to study abroad will be required to complete the course. Approved students will be automatically added to the course and will need to complete all modules prior to the Pre-Departure Conference or Orientation. Each module should take approximately one hour to complete.

Pre-Departure Conference

Students participating on a semester or summer study abroad program will be required to attend a Pre-Departure Conference hosted by EA. At the conference, students can choose from several 30-minute information sessions with topics ranging from International Travel, budgeting, social media presence, identity abroad, culture shock, health and safety preparation, and more. The last session of the conference will be a 60 minute region-specific session in which staff from EA will share essential health and safety information along with a student panel. It is the perfect time for students to learn from fellow 49ers who have just completed their own study abroad program. The conference is typically held in late October/Early November for Spring students and Early April for Summer and Fall students.

NOTE: Students participating on a fall break or spring break faculty-led program will attend a Pre-Departure Orientation for their individual program led by their UNC Charlotte Faculty Member. The Canvas Course remains a requirement.