ISA is aware of and has been tracking closely the State Department's recent adjustments to their Travel Advisories and, at this time, do not anticipate making any alterations to current or future ISA programming as a result.

ISA monitors messaging from both the CDC and Department of State, however those are just two of the many sources from which we gather information when making decisions about our programming. Other sources of information include, but are not limited to: WHO, ECDC, OSAC, WorldStrides' medical advisors, security providers, ISA's global offices and partners, foreign governments, and many open-source outlets.

ISA has implemented new mitigation measures at every level of our programs to respond to COVID-19, and we have been successfully running programs during the Spring 2021 semester. ISA will continue to review any new guidance from the Department of State and are closely monitoring developments in this fast-changing environment. Based on Department of State contextual statements regarding the changes and our own assessment of a variety of factors (including the health situation in our program locations), ISA is moving forward with plans for summer and fall programming in select locations.

In 2021, ISA has hosted students in 16 different countries around the world. Looking ahead to Spring 2022 and beyond, we are optimistic we can return to most all our traditional program locations, but with the understanding that some countries have been slower to reopen to travelers than others. Interested students should review the ISA program pages on our website to confirm if we are currently accepting applications and/or contact their Program Manager for more information.

We are coordinating with our global partners to confirm program dates and extend deadlines where possible. Dates and deadlines vary by program and are listed on the program pages of the ISA website. Students should plan to have some flexibility with program dates and deadlines as they are subject to changes made by ISA and/or our host institutions. Interested students should check the program information on our website. Applicants can confirm dates and deadlines in the ISA Student Portal and will receive email notifications regarding any date/deadline confirmations or changes.

ISA is tracking entry requirements for all of our program locations. Students should expect to present their proof of vaccination to ISA and, in many cases a negative COVID-19 test prior to travel. Additionally, students may be required to obtain a visa and/or travel with documents proving they are studying abroad. Required documentation and visa advising will be provided by ISA, but it is ultimately the students’ responsibility to meet entry requirements while traveling. The ISA Program Manager will communicate specific entry requirements via email and during the pre-departure orientation.

ISA strongly recommends waiting until after the Forms and Payment Deadline before purchasing airfare. Students will be notified once more information is available in their ISA Portal about how to purchase their flight. ISA recommends purchasing direct flights into the host country and avoiding layovers in third countries when possible. Students should consider purchasing trip insurance and/or refundable tickets in case they are unable to travel. Airfare is not included in the ISA program fee, so in the event of a program cancellation or trip interruption, students will need to work directly with their airline on any possible refund. ISA is not able to issue any refunds for airfare changes or cancellations.

ISA has resumed most day and overnight excursions in our program locations. Cultural activities within the host city are still taking place with additional health and safety considerations. If excursions are cancelled, accepted students will be notified and provided a discount off of their program price. Students who attend a U.S. university with a direct bill agreement with ISA should communicate with their home university directly regarding payments and discounts

Students may withdraw up to the Forms and Payment deadline for their program (found in their Student Portal) without incurring additional costs. Review the ISA cancellation policy for more details.

Yes! A student who wishes to study abroad for a future term can defer and transfer their application deposit to the new term up until the ISA Forms and Payment due date. If you prefer to defer to a different program or semester, that is also possible. Please let your Program Manager know your preference once you decide. If you need help finding another program, our team can help you!

Yes, ISA has a few different options to choose from! For students interested in professional experience, receive up to 6 credit hours through our Global Remote Internships. ISA is also continuing to offer our Remote Learning program, with different course options available, choosing from 1-5 courses, which includes our virtual discovery model! This is a great option for students who need to take global credit from the comfort of their own home either full or part-time.

ISA continues to monitor worldwide developments of COVID-19 and our Health & Safety team is regularly assessing factors for international travel. Factors include local COVID-19 transmission rates, national and local restrictions, host university contingency plans and campus closures. Due to a variety of reasons including local COVID-19 transmission rates, national and local restrictions, host university contingency plans and campus closures, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the following programs/locations: All Spring 2022 programs have been suspended in these locations: Argentina, the Dominican Republic, and Peru. Additional countries may be added to this list. Please reach out to the Program Manager with any questions about which programs are running for Spring 2022

ISA will look at all recoverable costs and will issue a refund of any costs we can recover. If ISA cancels or suspends a program after the start date, there is no guaranteed refund. ISA makes plans and must commit funding for any upfront costs for all types of programs abroad. Where possible, ISA will work closely with our partners abroad to recover any costs such as tuition and fees, housing, excursions, insurance, etc. If your home university suspends travel while you are abroad, the ISA cancellation policy does apply.

Any student who decides to withdraw from a program that is not cancelled should review the ISA cancellation policy.

To give students more time to make a final decision, we have extended due dates for Spring and Winter programs, where possible. Students can find the their deadlines in their ISA Student Portal or can contact their Program Manager for any updates. In addition, if dates are later extended the Program Manager will be in contact with the students.

While ISA programs have many inclusions in the program price, airfare is not included in our costs. We recommend all students confirm through their airline, or other applicable agency, to see what insurance coverage or change policies apply in the case travel plans are interrupted due to this pandemic. Even if you purchased through a third-party site, we always recommend calling the airline directly to confirm their policies and see if they can provide any additional flexibility.

No, if you are unable to attend the program for any reason, the costs associated with obtaining your visa (including transportation, visa fees, and other related expenses) are not included in the ISA program fee and are not eligible for reimbursement.

Students will have the option to consider an alternate program, a future program, or a refund of your ISA program fees paid. Review the full ISA cancellation policy for further details.