Study Abroad will continue processing student applications at this time, as to allow for study abroad opportunities should they become possible in the coming months. Study Abroad will carefully reevaluate the situation again during the listed Go/No-Go Dates below, in hopes that the restrictions have improved. Any programs that still remain suspended under the restricted travel policy at that time will be cancelled. If cancelled, students/program directors will be able to submit a petition to seek an exception. Study Abroad is cautiously assessing the situation and ask that students do the same based on their personal comfort level and risk tolerance.

In alignment with the Restricted Travel Policy, all of the following conditions must be met by the listed Go/No-Go Date in order for programs to proceed:

• Department of State (U.S. DOS) travel advisory for the host country is at a level 1 or 2
• CDC travel notice for the host country is at a level 1 or 2
• NC State has not implemented policies restricting travel
• the host country allows entry of student visitors

What this means for you

The Study Abroad Office will maintain the current Go/No-Go dates for all Fall/AY study abroad programs.

If on the Go/No-Go date, your program’s host country is categorized by the CDC as:

Level 3 and 4: The program falls within the Restricted Travel Policy, but is not automatically cancelled. However, in order for the program to proceed, a completed petition must be submitted and then approved by SAERT.

Level 2 or below: Assuming the host-country does not fall within the Restricted Travel Policy for other reasons, the program would be allowed to proceed. No petition would be required.

Fall 2021 Contingency Planning

Consult with your academic advisor regarding your tentative study abroad plans and contingency plans. Please register for NC State courses for the fall term, continue with other necessary accommodation arrangements, and any other necessary plans for the fall semester at NC State, should study abroad remain suspended.

Financial Commitments & Considerations

Students are encourage to proceed with caution and delay any financial commitments to their program, including a visa/residency permit application (and related expenses), airfare, and housing deposits to outside entities until after the listed Go/No-Go Date. However, Study Abroad recognizes that some immigration processes may take significantly more time to process and must be done sooner. Please note that any of these expenses are not refunded by the NC State Study Abroad Office, should programs remain suspended for the fall term.

If students proceed with an on-site deposit or related program purchases, Study Abroad strongly encourages them to consider purchasing Cancel for Any Reason and Trip Interruption insurance, such as CISI Cancel for Any Reason Insurance or Gallagher Student Health & Special Risk coverage to insure their airfare, housing deposits, and other required financial commitments (standard travel insurance is not sufficient as it no longer covers cancellations/interruptions due to COVID-19).

• Students are individually responsible for any flight change fees or other individually arranged expenses.
• If you have to quarantine or self-isolate onsite, participants may be individually responsible for any additional expenses, such as housing and meals.
• NC State Study Abroad can not provide refunds for any monies paid to outside entities.
• All students are held to the NC State Study Abroad Withdrawal and Refund Policy and Program Cancellation Policy.

Pre-Departure

All students approved to study abroad during Fall 2021/AY 2021-22 were invited to attend a health and safety abroad virtual pre-departure orientation on July 19, 2021*. This informative session covered topics such as: the AlertTraveler smartphone app, GeoBlue health insurance, and COVID-19 specific resources. Students, families, and support systems who were unable to attend may access the recording, slides, and additional asynchronous pre-departure sessions below.

Recording & Slides Additional pre-departure sessions

*Students participating in the “Italy: Engineering in Roman Times” fall break program will have a specialized health and safety orientation closer to their departure date

The Study Abroad Office hosted a Next Steps Webinar/Q&A session for all accepted Fall 2021/AY 2021-22 study abroad participants on February 22, 2021. The presentation and recording of the webinar are available below. Students are encouraged to share these resources with their support systems.

Exchange & Direct Enroll: Next Steps Webinar Recording
Webinar Presentation Slides

Group Programs: Next Steps Webinar Recording
Webinar Presentation Slides

Timeline

February 1: Study Abroad Deadline
February 15: NC State Decision Date
February 22: Next Steps Webinar/Q&A
March 1: Student Commitment Deadline
March 7: Scholarship Notifications
April 2 – July 2 (see below): Go/No-Go Decisions
April 12 – July 12 (see below): Petitions Due (if needed)
April 16 – July 16 (see below): Students Notified of Final Decision (if needed)

The Study Abroad Office has adopted a COVID-19 Admin Fee Refund Policy to offer students the most flexibility during these uncertain times, due to the global pandemic.

Students who applied to study abroad for Fall 2021 or Academic Year 2021-22 are eligible to withdraw their application prior to program start for any reason due to concerns related to COVID-19 and will receive a full refund on the admin fee.

The Study Abroad Withdrawal and Refund Policy applies to all other and future terms (including if you choose to defer your application to a future term).

• The Study Abroad Office adheres to the following health and safety practices, including that all study abroad students are covered by GeoBlue International Health Insurance.
• Per the Study Abroad Participant Agreement signed at the time of application, students are:
  • Expected to comply with local government and host program/institution rules, expectations, and compliance requirements. Behavior or conduct which violates laws or standards could harm the health and the safety of the individual and other program participants.
  • Subject to the NC State Code of Student Conduct, including Community Standards and Personal Safety Requirements Related to COVID-19 (RUL 04.21.01).
• Program participants are expected to follow CDC recommendations.
• To the extent possible, students should self-quarantine for 14-days prior to departure (quarantine housing for study abroad purposes cannot be provided by NC State)
  • If required by the host country, students may be required to complete a COVID-19 test or quarantine upon arrival
  • After returning from the study abroad experience, students should follow CDC guidance upon return to the U.S.
  • After returning from the study abroad experience, students should follow NC State guidance before engaging in on-campus activities.

International students who are currently residing in their home country and are unable to come to NC State University should consider the following unique opportunities: NC State Connect, Study Abroad at Home.

For situations in which NC State courses are not possible (e.g., firewall, significant differences in time zones) and opt-out of one of the identified NC State programs above, students who complete the following steps will be permitted to transfer credits from an international university in their home country back to NC State. 

1. Discuss your plans with OIS 
2. Discuss your plans with your Academic Advisor
3. Complete all requirements for the Non-NC State: Unaffiliated Programs (Semester) application

International students who remain in the U.S. in fall 2021 and wish to take courses must take NC State courses. 

International students who wish to study abroad (outside of their home country) on either an NC State program or a Non-NC State program must follow the standard NC State Study Abroad deadlines.

Effective January 26, 2021, all airline passengers (including U.S. citizens) to the United States must provide either:

• a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel, or
• a positive test result and a letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official that states you have been cleared for travel. The positive test result and letter together are referred to as “documentation of recovery.”
  • A letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official that clears you to end isolation, e.g., to return to work or school, can be used to show you are cleared to travel, even if travel isn’t specifically mentioned in the letter.

Passengers must also attest, under penalty of law, to having received a negative qualifying test result or to recovery from COVID-19 and medical clearance to travel.
Airlines must deny boarding to passengers who do not meet these requirements.
See the CDC Proof of Negative Test Result page to view the order, complete the attestation, and to see FAQs.