Prepare for routine mishaps adequately and assess what you'll need to take with you to address any specific medical needs. Last, but not least, familiarize yourself with specific health concerns of the area where you're going and plan proactively to help mitigate any health emergencies.

Students (and non-students, too!) have more opportunities than ever to study in areas where ancient cultures still exist and the contrast between rich and poor exists on a scale unlike anything we might see in the United States.

Many schools actually require prior approval of your program before you go, and won't accept any credits you earn if you don't get that approval ahead of time. This article offers some tips for studying abroad.

If you've done much traveling by air, it might seem that your options are pretty limited as far as tickets go since they always seem to be non-refundable and unchangeable without paying a hefty fee.

Semester at Sea sails three voyages each year for academic credit. Unlike traditional immersion programs, it gives you a taste of the entire globe as students and faculty travel more than 24,000 nautical miles around the world to many off-the-beaten-path international destinations or to a fascinating world region for intensive exploration.

When you apply to a study abroad program, part of your application includes information about your health history. You'll likely need to be cleared medically by your doctor to be approved to travel to your destination.

There's a lot going on in the world, and things can change frequently. Even if you're heading to a relatively safe part of the world, check for official Travel Warnings issued by the U.S. Department of State and keep an eye on the news.

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires international exchange programs, study-abroad offices and international community service projects to offer the same services to you as they do to everyone else. They may not be able to guarantee accessible services and sites everywhere, but they do need to assist you by finding and making international programs as accessible as possible.

The one valuable opportunity that students sometimes overlook is the chance to live with a host family. It’s common for students to flock to live in arrangements that are similar to their current housing: dorms or apartments. Some students contend that living with a host family cramps their style, but this is rarely the case.

If you participate in a program run by your own university, you will continue to pay tuition and earn credits as if you were at the school. When you enroll in a program run by another school or consortia of schools, you’ll probably pay tuition to the sponsoring institution and earn credits by transfer.

A temporary change in scenery can offer the opportunity of a lifetime. Why not consider enhancing your college experience with a culturally defining semester or two in another country? Studying abroad is an acceptable way to earn credit at most major institutions and provides a hands-on opportunity to connect with other languages and customs. Whatever your course of study, attending school in another country can further your education in immeasurable ways.

If you've been wondering how you'll come up with the cash to cover a year of studies in the Middle East, it should help you to know that federal student aid can usually be used to pay for study abroad, as long as the program you attend has been approved for credit by your home school. Here are some tips for what to do.