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Independent Travel Checklist

Below is a checklist of activities for students pursuing independent travel or studies which are not University of Michigan Related Travel, or UMRT (see the University's International Travel Policy for a definition of UMRT). 

  • Travel Registration: Register your travel with the University of Michigan
  • Travel Abroad Health Insurance: Consider getting U-M Travel Abroad Health Insurance, even if health insurance is already provided in the program.
  • Travel Resources: View numerous travel resources.  
  • Approval Forms: If you need approval from a study abroad advisor, email the form to [email protected]. 
  • Countries with U-M Travel Restrictions: U-M will not approve or endorse any undergraduate study abroad programs while a U-M travel restriction is in place. Students pursuing independent study abroad programs (not UMRT) may obtain verification of enrollment from the Registrar’s Office and offer this as documentation to external study abroad program providers, and explain that U-M advisors cannot sign approval forms while a U-M travel restriction is in place. For additional details about U-M travel policy and U-M warnings/restrictions, please see U-M’s Travel Warnings and Restrictions.
  • Credit Transfer: If you want to transfer in credit, you will need to determine with the help of your academic advisor if credit will transfer back to UM-Dearborn and if the credits can be used to meet degree requirements.  
    • Please note: this process can take a long time due to the infrequent scheduling of various curriculum approval committees and can also involve a significant amount of student work in securing the course documentation needed to make proper appraisals.  Please initiate this process at least 12 weeks prior to your deadline for submitting course determinations to the program provider.  Also note that faculty approvals might be difficult or impossible to receive over the summer months, so please plan accordingly.  
    • The University of Michigan-Dearborn does not accept transcripts from study abroad providers.  Students will need to ensure that the transcript is from an accredited higher education institution (this sometimes costs extra for a study abroad provider to issue this type of transcript).  
    • Submit an official transcript from the program to [email protected] once you have received your grades.