CIS Abroad Response to COVID-19. Updates here.

COVID-19 Updates

Here’s how we are moving forward as we discover our new normal.

We're excited to offer new ways for students to engage with the world

Campus Internationalization Solutions

Higher education, and international higher education in particular, has been undergoing rapid change – changes accelerated by the recent events surrounding COVID-19. CIS Abroad has been transforming, too.

We’re creating new opportunities to support students in their efforts to internationalize their college experience, both at home and abroad. We have developed opportunities to help you internationalize your curriculum while student mobility is no longer an option. Our opportunities range from expert lecture series to cultural engagement labs and faculty preparation workshops; we believe each of these opportunities serves as a way to immediately and efficiently help initiate or expand internationalization efforts on your campus. Learn more about sample student learning outcomes, the process, and more of our internationalization solutions.

Explore Campus Internationalization Solutions

Virtual Internships

We offer Virtual Global Internships (6 weeks with a few start dates per term) and Virtual Accelerated Internships (4 weeks with start dates every few weeks.) Students will be connected with a company in Argentina, Barcelona, South Africa, Ecuador, New Zealand, or NYC to work on a project in their chosen career field. This full comparison of programs breaks down the differences between our Accelerated vs. Global Internship options.

Browse Virtual Intern Fields

New for Interns! Earn a Micro-credential

The Working Across Cultures micro-credential will guide students to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and cross-cultural communication skills while engaging in professional work experiences abroad – adding a global perspective to their professional experience. Through facilitated reflection, students will gain insights into potential career fields, apply in-class learning to real-world projects, and deepen understanding of what it means to be interculturally fluent – in alignment with their professional goals.

Micro-credential Add-On: Working Remotely Across Cultures

Virtual Study

Students can gain international learning experience without leaving home through our innovative courses that combine remote live lectures, virtual field trips, and class engagement.

Explore Virtual Study Programs

I noticed that not all of your programs are open for Spring. Why not?

We have made the careful decision to only open a program that we believe will meet our Guidelines for Restarting International Programming: it must be possible for US citizens to travel abroad, and return safely; there must be confidence that the host country is managing the COVID-19 pandemic in a way that would enable students to successfully complete their program; and, the program design, delivery, and advising strategy must be reviewed and potentially altered to mitigate risk to students, faculty, the host community, and onsite staff.

What are the refund policies for 2021?

We have fundamentally changed our refund policies to be as flexible as possible. Read more: CIS Abroad Refund Policy.

Are prices and dates confirmed 100%?

We’ve confirmed prices and dates as best as possible for 2021. We do not expect them to change, however in the time of COVID there could be small changes, especially to program dates when quarantine upon arrival may be required. We’ll update you immediately if any dates change. Please do not book your airplane ticket until your Program Coordinator tells you to do so!

When will I get more specific pre-departure information?

We plan to run multiple webinars for each program to properly update students on their programs. These will start 4-8 weeks prior to the program beginning. We also have parents and guardian webinars designed for them to join.

What if CIS Abroad cancels a program?

CIS is in daily contact with our in-country partners to monitor the situation. At the time of this writing, all countries in which we plan to send students abroad in 2021 are open to students and we expect that to continue. However, if we decide to cancel a program we will plan to notify students at least 60 days in advance AND we will refund all paid program fees. You will also have the option to apply your program fees to another program.

What is the likelihood of cancellation?

CIS Abroad has already narrowed our program offerings to those that meet our guidelines for COVID-19. Our open 2021 programs are those where we can provide quality, consistent, and useful information to interested students before making financial or academic commitments so you can apply today.

Why would I choose to go abroad this year when I could just wait until next year?

We know not everyone will be comfortable traveling this year- and that’s fine! We also know, you may be balancing other financial, academic, and personal priorities that still make 2021 the ideal time to have an international experience. Maybe you have a strict major and this is the only semester you can go. Maybe you have an internship commitment next year. Maybe you’re just ready to get a change of scenery! We are committed to offering students safe programs during this time of change.

When is the deadline for making a decision to study abroad in Summer and Fall 2021?

Accepted applicants on all Summer and Fall 2021 programs have up to 31 days prior to their program start date to decide if they want to study abroad. Individual program dates vary so refer to the program page for specific details. See more about our refund policies here.

If I decide to withdraw from a program before it begins, will I receive a refund?

Yes! If you withdraw from your Summer or Fall 2021 program at least 31 days before the program start date you will receive a full refund less any non-refundable deposits or quarantine upon arrival costs. If you withdraw after that you can receive a partial refund between 80-0% depending upon your withdrawal date. Read more on our CIS Abroad Refund Policy. If you want to protect even more of your investment in your travel abroad, you can opt to purchase Trip Protection Insurance.

If I decide to withdraw from a program after it has begun, will I receive a refund?

Perhaps. Our refund policy states that once your program has started, if for any reason you withdraw or the program is suspended or cancelled, CIS Abroad will always recoup and refund you any recoverable* costs. Recoverable costs are noted on our refund page. If you want to protect your trip, you can opt to purchase Trip Protection Insurance.

If I have questions that are specific to my program location, to whom can these be directed?

Specific program location questions are addressed here on our website, on the page specific to your program (find your Summer or Fall 2021 program) and by your Program Enrollment Coordinator. Because the situation is changing weekly, we would recommend that you keep in close contact with your coordinator as they will have the most up-to-date information available.

What are CIS Abroad health and safety policies with respect to COVID-19?

There are many, but here’s a quick summary and more can be found on our latest Return to Travel plan. We have carefully curated our 2021 program offerings to mitigate COVID-19 risk and are only running programs in locations where our academic institutions have guaranteed that they are willing and able to follow local and host national guidelines for pandemic health, safety, and sanitation. Additionally, we have altered the program design to help to reduce risk, particularly when it comes to housing. You can see part of this design change in our COVID Care Package which includes:

COVID compliant airport pick-up and transfer to housing.
Access to quarantine housing upon entry, if quarantine is required when entering the country; this housing may incur additional charges*
Information and assistance on meal delivery, if quarantine is required when entering the country
COVID-safe classrooms, campus facilities, and housing as well as access to masks, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies according to country and location-specific standards
Access to accommodation if isolation is necessary due to positive COVID test or exposure; this housing may incur additional charges.
Access to COVID testing; this testing may be an additional charge.
Medical and accident insurance that covers COVID-related illness (except for on programs operating in the USA).
La Vida Local cultural activities and reflection that emphasize safe, local exploration geared to the specific context of being abroad at this special time.

And finally we have created a new agreement and release for students that outlines what behavioral expectations we have for study abroad in the pandemic. Students know from the beginning that their ability to travel may be limited, they may not be able to have visitors while on program, there may be areas that are no-go ‘red zones’ for personal travel, etc.

Will I live alone or will there be shared housing?

On all of our European programs we have built single rooms into the program. In most cases these are single rooms within a shared apartment. On some of our Asia-Pacific programs we have double occupancy student accommodation.

If I am studying on my program and the government mandates that universities close, what will happen to me?

Each program that we have open will ensure that either you are housed until the university is able to reopen or that you are housed until you are able to return to the US. In either case academic continuity is guaranteed – you will be able to finish the semester either in person or online. See our Return to Travel Plan for our academic continuity information.

Will I be able to travel to other countries while I'm abroad?

Due to travel restrictions and health concerns, we are asking students to not travel outside of their host countries during the program. We are also asking students to travel directly from the U.S. to their host countries. Unfortunately, this will impact your ability to visit other countries within the region where you are studying. But this will give you extra time to immerse yourself in your host country’s culture, become more familiar with your host city, and learn how to truly live like a local.

Will I need to quarantine when I arrive?

It’s likely but unknown. As local government regulations change, we will keep all applicants informed. If quarantine is required upon entry, we will let you know 60 days before a program starts, or as soon as the information is known to CIS Abroad. Your Program Coordinator will keep you updated as to any changes in dates, arrival, local restrictions and costs. If it is required, this may entail an earlier departure date and an additional housing and meal cost.

What if my university cancels all study abroad programs?

CIS Abroad recommends that you talk to your study abroad office directly about your situation. Some students were able to petition to study abroad through an affiliate education abroad program, like CIS Abroad, even though their universities had officially cancelled study abroad.

Can CIS Abroad help me with my university's petition and/or risk management approval process?

We know some institutions are still in the process of making decisions around 2021 travel. CIS Abroad has developed Site Specific Risk Mitigation Plans for each location in which we are operating. Talk to your Program Coordinator about how they or you can share this information with your university leadership, use information to complete approval paperwork, etc. If your university requests additional information not covered in these documents, please reach out to us.

Will my classes be in person?

Yes! We anticipate that many of your courses will be in-person, but similar to course schedules at U.S. institutions, you should be prepared for the possibility of hybrid courses or other types of online learning. We will work with your host university to ensure that any in-person classes will be as safe as possible and any online courses will be engaging.

Why should I go abroad if some or all of my classes will be online?

We understand that the prospect of having online coursework while abroad can be unattractive, but even if some of your courses are online you will still be in a different country exploring a whole new world! Any type of coursework will be taken alongside other international students and/or local students, which will allow you to experience intercultural exchange whether or not your courses are in-person. You will still be able to explore your host city, eat wonderful food, make international friends, and have an unforgettable experience.

What if the program I’m attending goes remote during the semester?