No, flight costs are separate from program fees.

LeadAbroad offers recommended group itineraries for every program. You can purchase a ticket on our recommended itinerary directly from the airline. Most flight recommendations originate out of Atlanta or New York City. If you begin your journey in another city, we suggest booking your flight with the recommended airline so that you have a layover that will connect you with the official itinerary recommendation. This way, all flights are on the same itinerary and ticket.

If you decide not to purchase the group flight recommendation, you have the option to book your own itinerary that is most convenient for you. LeadAbroad will provide specific recommendations on arrival and departure times in order to line up your flights as close as possible to the recommended flight itinerary. This will allow you to take advantage of pre-arranged group transportation between the airport and program accommodations.

On most programs, staff will already be abroad preparing for your arrival and will not be flying on the student travel dates.

If you arrive within the group arrival window specified for your program, LeadAbroad will provide transportation to the accommodations. Arrivals outside of the group arrival window must coordinate transportation separately.

If you arrive into the program city early, we will not be able to accommodate early check-in. You must secure your own accommodations until the official check-in day. Early arrivals do not require special approval.

The logistical and/or academic consequences of a late arrival could severely impact your experience on the program. Due to this, we generally do not allow late arrivals. If you have a special circumstance you can reach out to us to discuss further.

If your flight departs within the group departure window, airport transportation will be provided. If your flight departs earlier than the group, you may have to secure your own transportation to the airport.

Visit travel.state.gov to begin your passport application. All details and action items will be addressed on the U.S. State Department’s website.

Currently, U.S. citizens do not need a visa for any LeadAbroad program location. If you are not a U.S. citizen, a visa may be required. You are responsible for doing the proper research and applying for the appropriate visa. If you need documentation from LeadAbroad, please email info@LeadAbroad.com for assistance.

Immediately check your passport’s expiration date. LeadAbroad recommends renewing your passport if it expires within the year of your planned travel. Generally, foreign countries require your passport to be valid for six months from the date you return home after your program. For example, if your program ends on August 10th, you must renew your passport ASAP if it expires before February 10th of the following year.

You must also ensure your passport has at least three consecutive blank pages. Many countries require this space for entry/exit stamps or visas.

Our program countries do not require immunizations to enter the country. However, consistent with the requirements of the Georgia Board of Regents, the following vaccinations are required for all students enrolled in LeadAbroad:

• Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) 2 doses
• Tetanus or Diphtheria (Tdap or Td) must be up to date
• Hepatitis B series
• Varicella (Chicken Pox) 2 doses or date of disease
• COVID-19 Vaccine Policy

The logistical and/or academic consequences of an early departure could severely impact your experience on the program. Due to this, we generally do not allow early departures. If you have a special circumstance, you can reach out to us to discuss further.

We know you are already dreaming of your packing list. Don’t worry, once you are accepted you will gain access to your program specific accepted student page which will have lots of details from our years of experience. Also, we’ll provide student tips and tricks to make packing easy.

Our programs feature a centralized housing model which is unique in the study abroad community. Rather than scattering students in small apartments throughout the program city or with host families, we partner with universities, student housing companies and hotels to keep students together and safe in one or several large groups. In addition, our staff live on site with the students to support them as needed. Our housing is not luxurious but is comfortable, safe and located in central neighborhoods where students want to live.

Yes! To request an itinerary, get in touch with our team by scheduling a quick call here.  We will send you a sample itinerary for the program that best fits your interests and travel goals.

Yes, your LeadAbroad portal includes a roommate form where you will enter your specific request. Roommates will only be paired if it is a mutual request. If you do not have or want to live with someone you know on the program then just let us know. Our team will use their roommate matching skills to match you with your new best friend.

Each program location enforces specific housing policies and rules; however, in general, LeadAbroad does not enforce a curfew. On PRO Costa Rica, during the medical portion of the program, there is a curfew.

All students are required to have a working cell phone abroad. Details on cell service and internet abroad can be found on your accepted student page. If you are attending a for-credit program, you are required to bring a laptop as well. Non-credit programs do not require a laptop, and we recommend you leave it at home unless you absolutely need it while traveling.

Yes, all accommodations have WiFi.

There are many benefits to studying abroad – personal growth and development, resume building, creating a global mindset and standing out in job interviews. We hear over and over again from parents that their student returned home from our program with a new sense of purpose, perspective and maturity. We would love to talk with you about the ways one of our programs can benefit your student specifically. Schedule a call with us here.

We know that studying abroad can be one of the most transformative opportunities your student can pursue during college. We focus on student development beyond the classroom. More than simply biology or calculus, students will learn about themselves, who they want to be and where they want to go in the future. We know the power of moments; those moments that inspire students to dream the impossible, give more than they knew they could and contemplate their life’s purpose. Our experiences, coupled with intentional support, are uniquely designed to engage students wherever they are in life, expose them to new ideas and life-changing experiences and equip them with the tools to make a difference.

Our people, program model and the holistic nature of our experiences make LeadAbroad unique. First, LeadAbroad is a team of young people who work year-round to plan, organize and deliver exceptional study abroad experiences to our students and their families. Most of our full-time staff members began as LeadAbroad students ourselves. We pride ourselves on supporting you and your child throughout the entire study abroad journey.

Unlike many study abroad programs which are facilitated by a single faculty member or national third party study abroad providers which take thousands of students on hundreds of programs scattered around the world, we are a boutique solution. Our experienced faculty work to develop engaging and relevant courses, while our programming team focuses on safety, community building and logistics. We design our programs to create trusting environments to proactively support students and help them maximize their time abroad. LeadAbroad’s unique staffing model abroad includes program directors, interns, faculty and teaching assistants and a domestic support team. This robust staffing and centralized housing strategy thoroughly supports our students and allows us to keep our students safe.

There are thousands of study abroad programs. LeadAbroad is different due to our strong commitment to support, learning and community on every experience. Students and parents tell us that they value our commitment to communication throughout the process, our focus on safety during the program and our staff’s interest in connecting with each student and challenging them to discover the best version of themselves. Learn more about the LeadAbroad promise here and hear from past parents in this quick video.

LeadAbroad’s unique staffing model includes program directors, interns, faculty and teaching assistants and a domestic support team. This robust staffing approach thoroughly supports our students and allows us to keep our students safe.

Whether students are signing up with a group of friends or joining us without knowing a soul, because of our program structure they will make meaningful connections with fellow students that often grow into lifelong friendships.

LeadAbroad has been leading experiences since 2009 and has led more than 3,800 students abroad.

Safety is our number one priority. Learn more about our commitment to health and safety here.

Not at all. Many of our students have never been abroad and this is why they choose LeadAbroad. Our team takes care of all of the details and is committed to supporting you and your family every step along the way.

Programs generally range in size from 30-100 depending on the location and program structure. Regardless of the size of your program, LeadAbroad values community and facilitates small group environments so students can connect and build authentic relationships.

Program fees range in cost depending on program length, location and inclusions.  Tuition is paid for programs carrying academic credit.  Please review your specific program page for pricing details.

Students are required to have a cell phone abroad for risk management purposes and communication. All accommodations are equipped with WiFi to make it easy for families to stay connected via WhatsApp, FaceTime or Zoom. We encourage families to make a communication plan prior to departure and have realistic expectations for the frequency of communication. Students can either get an international phone plan through their current carrier or a local SIM card upon arrival. Our team on the ground will be happy to help as well.

All of our locations have easy access to ATMs. We encourage students to obtain money directly from an ATM abroad versus bringing U.S. dollars to exchange. Typically, foreign ATMs will charge a flat fee and your bank will charge a fee of generally 2-3% of the withdrawal. Many U.S. banks have agreements with banks in foreign countries to waive transaction fees. We encourage you to review options with your bank. We also encourage students to use credit cards whenever possible. Credit card companies can do more to help protect you against fraud if your card is lost or stolen. Be sure to check whether your credit card charges foreign currency translation fees (typically 3%). If they do, you may want to consider getting another card that does not charge such fees.

Almost every student experiences some degree of culture shock while traveling. As defined in the Education Abroad Glossary, published by The Forum on Education Abroad, culture shock is:

The anxiety and feelings (of surprise, disorientation, confusion, etc.) one feels coming into contact with an entirely different social environment, such as a different country. It often relates to the temporary inability to assimilate the new culture, causing difficulty in knowing what is appropriate and what is not.

Our team will discuss culture shock with students during orientation and help them process through some of the challenges of being away from home. However, it is likely that when students are experiencing some of the components of culture shock (anxiety, disorientation, frustrations, etc.) they will not name it as culture shock but rather speak about the new environment through the food, weather, classes, transportation and housing.

Learning that your student is discouraged is a heavy weight for parents, but please be mindful that students will typically mirror the same emotions that they hear from you at home. And, sometimes, these validating and affirming words can unintentionally escalate the problem.  We encourage parents to help their student identify their feelings as culture shock and not something more. If your student contacts you with anxiety about being abroad, we have found that the best way to support them is the following:

• Direct your daughter/son to our on-site program staff.  Our team is always available to listen, support and mediate problems.
• Remind her/him that they are experiencing culture shock and to revisit their notes from orientation regarding coping with challenges abroad.
• Encourage your student to take this new experience one day at a time. Oftentimes students become overwhelmed during the first few days and think they will feel anxious the whole time. However, we have found that the feeling associated with culture shock actually come in waves.

Some students will face other kinds of challenges while traveling. Some examples include: losing a phone, having a debit card stop working, getting sick, missing a train/flight or struggling with a roommate.  Overcoming these obstacles helps the student gain a renewed sense of self-confidence and grow as an individual. Our on-site program team has experience helping students with these situations and can provide support in person. Always encourage your student to go directly to the program director in these types of situations.

Here are a few ways our on-site team will support your student abroad:

• Providing comfort and company during a visit to the doctor
• Locating a new/replacement phone
• Solving money issues by connecting parents and students through a money transfer
• Sharing safe and budget-friendly travel advice
• Facilitating shared goals during a roommate mediation

At home, it is easy to feel helpless and anxious when your student calls and is noticeably upset. Again, the best thing to do is to direct your student to the program staff. Also, encourage your student to stay positive and help them gain perspective on the situation. So few students have the opportunity to go abroad at all and these small bumps are just part of the experience.

Our programs feature a centralized housing model which is unique in the study abroad community. Rather than scattering students in small apartments throughout the program city or with host families, we partner with universities, student housing companies and hotels to keep students together and safe in one or several large groups. In addition, our staff live on site with the students to support them as needed.

Students attending for-credit programs through LeadAbroad will receive a transcript from our academic partner Oglethorpe University. This school of record relationship ensures the academic courses are high quality and meet the standards of the regional accrediting organization, SACS. SACS is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

LeadAbroad has worked with students from over 75 universities and we have learned that each school has slightly different processes. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the student to identify how the credits will transfer back to their school. If your school has a credit equivalency search function, students can start there, but then we also encourage them to talk to their advisors.

LeadAbroad has a partnership with Oglethorpe University which provides academic credit on our for-credit study abroad programs. LeadAbroad programs are designed for students from all universities and colleges; however, LeadAbroad has no formal agreement, affiliation or relationship with any other academic institutions.

Each student has a custom portal that contains all pre-departure forms required for the program. These forms include a program participation agreement, health, flight, passport and roommate form. We also have some additional forms that are very simple and designed to make sure that students stay on track with the pre-departure process. Students can access their portal from the homepage of our website by selecting Log In.

We completely understand that parents want to share this experience with their child. We have found, however, that the best way to take part, while not creating tension for your student, is to join them before or after the program. This way students can spend all day with their family and not have to try to balance program activities and class with the visit. Though discouraged, parents can visit during the program. It is important to note that family and friends are not able to stay in the students’ accommodations nor participate in the LeadAbroad tours and activities.

Generally, we do not recommend sending mail or packages with valuable items (such as cell phones) abroad. In the past, we have seen packages get stuck in immigration for weeks and subject to large fees and/or taxes.

The main costs are program fees, tuition, flights and meals. There are other smaller costs and LeadAbroad will provide a general budget sheet for a student which can be found on your accepted student page.

Program fees include accommodations, medical insurance while abroad, tours and activities, in-country transportation to program events, international and domestic staff support and, depending on your program, some meals. It is important to make a financial plan for costs not included in the program fees which may include flights, meals, personal shopping and expenses and cell phone usage.

LeadAbroad accepts credit card payments from Visa, Mastercard and Discover. We do not accept American Express. In addition, we accept debit card payments from most U.S. based institutions and eCheck payments from U.S. banks. It should be noted that all credit and debit card payments have a 4% convenience fee added to your payment and eChecks are free. If you require an alternative method of payment, please contact our finance director at Marc@LeadAbroad.com.

Payment due dates differ based on student acceptance dates and the time of year the student is accepted. For a detailed explanation, click here.

In addition to our standard installment plan structure, we offer customized payment plans. If you’re interested in an alternative payment schedule, please contact Marc@LeadAbroad.com.

Yes, we offer scholarships. Learn more about LeadAbroad scholarships here.

Immediately after you complete your application.

It varies every year. We review a variety of criteria including on campus leadership, past experience, recommendation letters and need in order to select winners.

See the scholarship page here for deadlines for each award.

Scholarship winners will be notified November 15 for applications prior to November 1 and March 15 for applications prior to March 1.

All scholarships awarded will be sent by either check or wire to the recipient upon completed payment of all installments. If you require additional assistance or information, please contact Marc@LeadAbroad.com for additional steps.

LeadAbroad does not offer federal financial aid directly but many past students have utilized financial aid to study on LeadAbroad programs.If you need assistance or information, please contact Marc@leadabroad.com for additional steps.

Yes, we will require a guarantee letter from your lender or school stating that the funds will be available to you and when they will be available. If you plan to use financial aid to pay for the program, please contact Marc@LeadAbroad.com for additional steps.

Yes. There are many different rules for 529 plans depending on your individual plan. We recommend you consult with your financial advisor to determine what types of expenses are eligible for reimbursement from 529 funds. We can accept funds from any 529 plan and for both program costs and tuition expenses, but it’s up to you, your family and your financial advisor to determine fund eligibility. If you would like a breakdown of program costs to help with your 529 plan, please email Marc@LeadAbroad.com.

If you are on a LEAD program, you will take two classes for six credit hours. On GO programs, students have the option of enrolling in two classes (six credit hours) or one class (three credit hours) plus our professional experience (PRO track). This unique opportunity to work as a consultant for two different international clients adds relevant, real-world learning to the experience. The PRO track infuses a career focus to the program but does not include academic credit hours. Students may consider pursuing academic credit for the professional portion of the program through their home university directly. Typically academic departments are responsible for granting credit. If you are seeking credit for your professional experience, we encourage you to contact your department office/advisor early in your planning efforts and review the procedures in detail.

Yes, students attending for-credit programs through LeadAbroad will receive a transcript from our academic partner Oglethorpe University. This school of record relationship ensures the academic courses are high quality and meet the standards of the regional accrediting organization, The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

SACSCOC is the body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. It serves as the common denominator of shared values and practices primarily among the diverse institutions in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Latin America and other international sites approved by the SACSCOC Board of Trustees that award associate, baccalaureate, master’s, or doctoral degrees.

LeadAbroad has worked with students from over 75 universities and we have learned that each school has slightly different processes. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the student to identify how the credits will transfer back to their school. If your school has a course credit equivalency search function, students can start there, but then we also encourage them to talk to their advisors.

Final grades are usually made available by faculty within two weeks of your program ending.

Your grades from the program will become part of your academic record. Whether your grades will affect your GPA is determined by the policies of your home university.

Oglethorpe University will send one copy of your official transcript to the registrar’s office of the school we have on file for you. If you prefer to send to another office on campus, let us know ahead of time and we will use a different address. Once your first copy is mailed, you will need to pay for any additional copies required.

Oglethorpe University will send one copy of your official transcript to the registrar’s office of the school we have on file for you.  If you prefer to send to another office on campus, let us know ahead of time and we will use a different address.

Your school should receive your transcript within two weeks of mailing (mid September). If you need a copy sooner, you can request online through Oglethorpe University’s website.

Transcripts will be sent automatically to a students registrars office in September. If a student needs an additional transcript they can request one online through Oglethorpe University.

Please see the refund policy here.

To officially withdraw, please contact info@LeadAbroad.com for access to the withdrawal form.

Eligible refunds will be processed within 15 business days to your original method of payment, unless otherwise requested. If your original method of payment is no longer available to receive a refund, a check will be written to the address provided in the withdrawal form made out to the recipient requested in the withdrawal form.