Parents, Set Up These Five Things Before Your Kid Studies Abroad

The five most important things for parents to do before their child studies abroad.

Deciding to study abroad is an exciting time for any adventurous college student. As the parent, you want to ensure your child has everything squared away before they leave the country. Packing the essentials, securing a phone plan, and sending money abroad are just a few items to check off the to-do list. We have some tips to help make the process easier.

Setting up communication

Before your child leaves the country, make sure you both have a plan to stay in contact. Some U.S. phone companies have international plans, but they can get expensive quickly. If you set your child up with an international SIM card, then you’ll have no problem staying in contact. An international SIM card gives your child a local phone number and data plan. Data helps your child access the internet when they can’t access Wi-Fi, which is helpful for moving around the city. WhatsApp, Zoom, and Facebook messenger are other apps that help guarantee communication overseas.

You should also check if your child’s university has a VPN or virtual private network. Because of its more secure nature, a VPN gives your child access to their university’s library database, and all their favorite websites from back home, like Netflix and Hulu.

Packing strategically

It’s important to sort out packing ahead of time, so there’s no big rush before your child leaves—challenging, we know! Try and help your child figure out the number of bags they can bring, including whether they should check a bag or use a carry-on. Pack in consideration of the seasons, so your child doesn’t go overboard with their clothes. Remind them to leave room in their suitcase for souvenirs and that they can always purchase any essentials in their host country.

Make sure your child knows to stay aware of their belongings and important documents while abroad to prevent loss or theft. It’s recommended to bring a cross-body bag to keep items secure, especially when traveling on public transportation or in crowded areas where pickpockets may be more likely. Another great tip is to keep cash and important documents in separate places, so your child doesn’t potentially lose everything important in one misplaced or stolen bag.

Talk about safety

Even though studying abroad can be one of the most adventurous times in your child’s life, they’ll still need to take daily precautions. Your child should be aware of the potential dangers of day-to-day living in a foreign country. Pickpocketing, scams, and other general safety issues are just some of the few dangers that foreigners encounter. Before your child leaves to go abroad, help them learn more about their host country, the local customs, and how to speak conversationally in the local language. Remind them to keep an eye on travel warnings, listen to authorities, and watch the local news.

You and your child should also know the location of their country’s American embassy. They should keep photocopies of their passport, license, visa, and other essential documents and give you copies to keep at home. For parents, have the contact information of the study abroad director, your child’s address, and their abroad university’s address and contact information.

Setting up health insurance

International health insurance is one of the most important things to square away before your child studies abroad. Health insurance protects your child in any type of situation. Whether they need cold medicine, antibiotics, or the unexpected trip to the doctor or ER. Check with the study abroad program to see if they have options they can recommend.

Also, be sure your child knows their full medical history and has important medication and prescription information. If your child is traveling for a long time, they should bring an extra set of prescriptions, contact lenses, and other over-the-counter medication from back home.

Setting up a bank account

Studying abroad can get expensive if you’re not careful. Have a conversation with your child about how to manage money and help them set up a budget ahead of time. Your child should consider opening an account with a local bank in their host country, which will help them avoid costly transaction fees. Your home bank might have connections with international banks, making the process that much easier. If not, see if they can get a travel credit card with no foreign transaction fees.

If you want to send money abroad to your child, Western Union can help in a snap. Through Western Union’s mobile app, you can track the status of your money transfer and receive a notification when your child receives your money. Your child can then receive the money in the local currency into their digital wallet*, bank account*, or cash from a Western Union store, which can be found in over 200 countries/territories. You can also send money via WU’s website or any of the 59,000 U.S.

Studying abroad will be a fantastic memory for your child, especially with some careful planning ahead of time to make sure they’ll have everything they need before they leave the country.

* Third-party charges may apply.

** Agent location count valid as of December 31, 2021.