Pre-Departure Orientation
At your pre-departure orientations, you will:- Address expectations for your upcoming experience
- Hear from study abroad alumni and international students about their experiences with the culture of your host region
- Meet other students who are studying abroad in your host region or on your program
- Learn how to prepare for your upcoming experience
Additional pre-departure events
Mandatory Pre-Departure Orientation Meeting
All students must attend a mandatory pre-departure orientation meeting. There are no exceptions. For some programs, the session will be held in-person and others will be held virtually on Zoom. Please review your orientation schedule and location closely and follow up with your EA advisor if you have any questions. Click on your program type below to see orientation information:- Maryland-Led Short-term Programs
- Maryland Semester Programs (i.e. Maryland-in)
- Exchange, Affiliate, and Other Approved Programs
Mandatory Orientation Information
Maryland-Led Short-term Programs
Students participating in Maryland Short-term programs are required to attend a program-specific meeting with their program leader(s). Your program leader(s) will give you the details about the time and date of your meeting.Maryland Semester Programs (i.e. Maryland-in)
Students participating in a Maryland Semester program will attend a program-specific orientation.| Spring 2027 Programs | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arts & Humanities in London | Part 1 (Virtual with QMUL staff): Part 2: |
Part 1: Part 2: |
Part 1: Part 2: |
| Clark-in-Madrid & ENGR Exchanges in Madrid | Wednesday, September 30 | 5-8pm | IRB 0324 |
| Maryland-in-Barcelona | Monday, November 9 | 4-6pm | ESJ 0202 |
| Maryland-in-Copenhagen & Stockholm | Thursday, October 22 | 4-6pm | HJP 1102 |
| Maryland-in-Florence (including ARCH and PHYS) Maryland-in-Perugia |
Tuesday, October 6 | 4-6pm | ESJ 2208 |
| Maryland-in-Aix | Part 1 (UMD only): TBD Part 2 (Virtually with Resident Direct and all APA students): Thursday, November 19 |
Pt 1: TBD Pt. 2: 10am-12pm |
Pt 1: TBD Pt. 2: Zoom link here |
| Maryland-in-Rome | Tuesday, October 6 | 4-6pm | SKN 0200 |
| Maryland-in-Sevilla | TBD | ||
| Maryland-in-Amman | Part 1: CET Jordan Student & Family Webinar: Tuesday, October 20 Part 2: TBD |
Pt 1: 4-5pm EST Pt 2: TBD |
Pt 1: Link TBD Pt 2: TBD |
| Maryland Honors-in-Oxford | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Exchange, Affiliate, and Other Approved Programs
Students participating in UMD exchanges, affiliate, or approved programs are required to attend a pre-departure orientation. There are different sessions based on either term or regions/countries. You should attend the session that encompasses your study abroad program.
Exchange, Affiliate, and Other Approved orientation sessions will occur as assigned below:
| Affiliate, Other Approved PDO 1 | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| REGIONS TO BE DETERMINED | Wednesday, October 28 4:30 - 6:30pm ESJ 0202 |
||
| Exchange, Affiliate, Other Approved PDO 2 | Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| REGIONS TO BE DETERMINED | Tuesday, November 10 5 - 7pm ESJ 0202 |
||
Additional Pre-Departure Events
Community Coffee Hours
Education Abroad is hosting the Community Coffee Hour event series to create a more inclusive space for students to build community around study abroad planning and experiences. We are inviting prospective, admitted, and returned study abroad students for an afternoon of snacks, beverages, activities, resources, and panel discussion facilitated by Education Abroad staff tailored to each student group.
First Gen Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, November 11
4-6pm
HJ Patterson Hall, Global Crossroads