Study Abroad Information for Parents and Families

• Studying abroad is a rewarding experience, allowing for personal and academic growth.
• Students gain cultural and historical knowledge and a new way to look at their world and themselves.
• Exposure to other cultures encourages students to embrace diversity and become more accepting and understanding of others.
• Studying abroad teaches many skills that can’t be fully learned in the classroom, including independence, maturity, fluency in a foreign language, and self-accountability.
• Students often return from study abroad feeling more confident and capable of dealing with challenges and opportunities in creative and productive ways.
• Studying abroad also offers excellent professional experience. Employers are looking for applicants with demonstrated global awareness and communication skills, and having opportunities to collaborate and interact with students of other backgrounds is a valuable precursor to a professional career.

Study abroad options are available to suit almost any interest. Depending on their major, students may be able to study abroad for a semester or a full academic year. Short-term programs (winter and summer term) are also available. For more information, see the list of types of study abroad opportunities.

Remember, no matter which type of program your student plans to participate in, it's essential for them to meet with an academic advisor during the planning process to ensure that the credits they earn abroad are approved to apply toward their degree. Not all programs are available to all majors.

Studying abroad can be much more affordable than many people imagine. Students who study abroad at Parsons Paris during the fall or spring semester or at an exchange partner school continue to pay New School tuition and keep their financial aid package. Students who study abroad through another external institution direct application or a third-party provider pay tuition directly to that school or provider.

It is always important that students budget correctly. We recommend that all students meet with a financial aid counselor to discuss financial aid options at the beginning of the study abroad planning process. The sooner students meet with Financial Aid, the better they and their families can plan for the costs associated with studying abroad. Your student should email [email protected], call 212.229.8930, or visit 72 Fifth Avenue to speak with a financial aid counselor about their aid package in preparation for studying abroad.

Many external scholarships for study abroad also exist. These scholarships can assist with tuition, housing, and sometimes even costs related to travel.

With proper planning, studying abroad will not delay a student's graduation plans. Approved study abroad programs are intended to fit seamlessly into a student's academic experience, and the credits earned while abroad will apply to the student's degree requirements. Many majors can study abroad for an entire year and still graduate on time. The New School also offers short-term programs (in the winter or summer terms) for students who prefer not to spend a full semester away from The New School.

Students must speak with their academic advisor before committing to a study abroad program to ensure that the program and the credits they will earn are approved and apply to their degree.

Student safety is of the utmost importance. Although no one can guarantee safety, The New School has health and safety measures in place and continually monitors developments in countries where our students are studying.

We encourage parents and students to familiarize themselves with and monitor the political, economic, and social climate of their host country before departure and during study abroad. Although it is not required, we also encourage parents to obtain a passport before their student goes abroad to facilitate travel on short notice in the event of a child's medical emergency.

The New School takes student safety and health seriously and follows established procedures in emergency situations to protect and assist students.

Yes. New School students studying abroad are eligible to remain enrolled in The New School's Student Health Insurance Plan. Students may request to waive coverage through the New School policy if they have alternative coverage in their place of study. Please note that students who study abroad in the fall semester and wish to reinstate The New School’s Student Health Insurance Plan for the spring semester must show proof of terminated alternative coverage for the fall semester.

FERPA stands for "Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act." FERPA guidelines protect the legal right to privacy for students aged 18 and older. This means that New School staff are prohibited from sharing any student information with anyone other than the student. In case of an emergency, we will follow the procedures outlined on our Health and Safety Information page, but we are not permitted to communicate information about your student in non-emergency situations.

Students can request a FERPA waiver to permit us to share information with other individuals whom they designate within FERPA guidelines.

We are here to support your student. We encourage your student to email us directly at [email protected] if they have any questions or concerns about studying abroad.

Yes. The Institute for International Education has developed A Parent Guide to Study Abroad, which is available for free download in English and Spanish or may be purchased in print.