Study Abroad COVID-19 Updates

In Spring 2022, study abroad resumed to certain parts of the world, and the university is continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation worldwide with student health and safety as the top priority.

In winter break 2021-2022, faculty-led study abroad resumed with two CWRU courses going abroad to Costa Rica and Spain. 

Due to COVID-19 health and safety concerns, university leaders have made the decision to suspend all but a few study abroad programs for Fall 2021 and Academic Year 2021-2022.

This decision was based upon many factors such as the ongoing uncertainty of COVID-19, international travel restrictions, CDC and State Department travel guidance, the situation in the host countries and at the host institutions.

An appeal process is available for students who feel their particular situation warrants an exception.

Due to COVID-19 health and safety concerns, university leaders made the decision to suspend all study abroad international travel for Summer 2021. 

An appeal process was made available for students who felt their particular situation warranted an exception. 

Due to pandemic-related issues that are unlikely to be resolved in the near term, Case Western Reserve University leaders have determined that Spring 2021 study abroad will be suspended until Summer 2021.

For students enrolled in a calendar year 2021 program, international travel for Spring 2021 is suspended. This decision impacts undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who were planning to travel abroad for study and/or research during the Spring 2021 semester.

The pandemic is still evolving and we will continue to monitor the situation for programs in the approved countries and notify you of any changes.

Students may request to defer their Spring 2021 application to a later term.

If you have paid a deposit for your program, the deposit will either be refunded to you or transferred to your new program if you defer to study abroad at a later date. 

As the global spread of COVD-19 continues to evolve in the United States and around the world, the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of State continue to advise against non-essential international travel.

Case Western Reserve University has cancelled Winter Break 2020 study abroad programs due to the on-going uncertainty of COVID-19, international travel restrictions, and health risks.

We are sorry that COVID-19 has interrupted our students' study abroad plans, but also hope that this decision provides some clarity for planning for Winter Break.  We encourage students to consider studying abroad again in the future.  

As the global spread of COVD-19 continues to evolve in the United States and around the world, the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of State continue to advise against all nonessential international travel.

Case Western Reserve University has cancelled Fall 2020 study abroad international travel due to the on-going uncertainty of COVID-19, international travel restrictions, and health risks.

This decision impacts undergraduate, graduate, and professional students who were planning on traveling abroad for study and/or research in the fall 2020 semester.

For those enrolled in an academic year-long program, international travel for Fall 2020 is prohibited.

At this time, Spring 2021 international travel is not cancelled. University leaders and our Risk Management Committee will continue to evaluate the COVID-19 situation for Spring 2021 international travel and will announce decisions in the near future.

An appeal process is available for students who feel their particular situation warrants an exception. Students should fill out the appeal form as soon as possible to ensure that we have enough time to review your appeal prior to the start date of your program (link to petition). The appeal process will consider health and safety, travel restrictions, and the host institution situation.  Appeals will be reviewed each week.

We are sorry that COVID-19 has interrupted your Study Abroad plans, but also hope that this decision provides you some clarity for your planning for fall.  We encourage you to consider studying abroad again, either on another semester program, a short-term program with one of our faculty, or next summer.

Please let your Study Abroad Advisor know by as soon as possible if you would like to transfer your application to another semester. 

Summer 2020 programs have been cancelled.

Students can still take courses remotely at universities abroad that are offering remote coursework or internship. Please let your Study Abroad Advisor know your plans to take your courses remotely by May 1.

There is an appeal process available for students who feel their particular situation warrants an exception. This exception could include students who want to continue their in-person study abroad or students who are currently residing abroad and want to take classes at an approved institution. Students can fill out the appeal form by May 1. The appeal process will consider health and safety, travel restrictions, and the host institution situation.  

All May and Summer 2020 Faculty-Led study abroad programs have been cancelled as a result of the rapid global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here is information regarding immediate areas of concern for students impacted by the program cancellation:

Academics

Please work with your Navigator to find an alternate course, if needed.

Finances 

All students will receive full refunds on program fees and deposits paid. Fees paid by credit card will be credited back to the credit card that was used to make the payment. Please allow a minimum of one week for processing.

Flights 

Most of our programs require students to purchase their own flights.  If you have already purchased your flight, contact your carrier as soon as possible to inquire about refunds and changes to your ticket.  See Updated Flexible Airline Policies for guidance.

We are deeply sorry that this pandemic demands that we cancel these programs out of profound concern for your health and safety. We believe strongly in the academic and personal value of every one of these programs, and very much wish you could have participated in them. Given the information available at this time, we felt that canceling the programs now gives priority to protecting your health and safety.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your course instructor or to the Office of Education Abroad at studyabroad@case.edu.

All Spring May Abroad and May Term study abroad programs have been cancelled as a result of the rapid global spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here is information regarding immediate areas of concern for students impacted by the program cancellation:

Academics

Faculty program leaders are working now on alternative approaches for students scheduled to participate in these programs to be able to meet the academic requirements required for credit.

The faculty program leaders will be in touch with students to share their specific approaches for their course.

Please keep in mind that these faculty also just received formal notice of their programs’ cancellation. While most were aware such a step was a possibility, they still will need some time to develop new ways for you to meet the academic goals of the course. 

Please know that they will contact their students as soon as possible.

Finances

All students will receive full refunds on program fees and deposits. If a program fee was paid through a student account, the student will see the program fee credit on their account as soon as we can complete processing it. 

Given the significant number of students affected by this change, we ask for patience as we work through each account.

If the deposit was paid by credit card, it will be credited back to the credit card. 

Flights

Most of our programs require students to purchase their own flights. If a student has purchased a flight, contact the flight carrier as soon as possible to inquire about refunds and changes to the ticket.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your course instructor or to the Office of Education Abroad at studyabroad@case.edu.

All Spring Break 2020 study abroad programs were cancelled based on guidance from the CDC, which explicitly urged universities to consider canceling or postponing programs, adding that “students may face unpredictable circumstances, travel restrictions, challenges in returning home or accessing health care while abroad.”  

We are deeply sorry for the disruption this news creates for our students. 

Here is some information about the academic, financial and travel implications of the cancelation. 

Academics

The faculty program leaders are working now on alternative approaches for students to be able to meet the academic requirements required for credit.

Faculty leaders will be in touch with students in their program to share their specific approaches for their course.

Please keep in mind that these faculty themselves just received formal notice of their programs’ cancellation. While most were aware such a step was a possibility, they still will need some time to develop new ways for you to meet the academic goals of the course. Please keep these points in mind, and know that they will contact their students as soon as possible.

Finances

All students will receive full refunds on program fees and deposits. If a student's program fees were paid through their student account, they will see the program fee credit on their account as soon as we can complete processing it. Given the number of students affected by this change, we ask for patience as we work through each account.

If a student paid their deposit by credit card, their deposit will be credited back to their credit card. If they were enrolled in MGMT 458, they will receive separate information regarding refunds.

Flights

Most of our programs require students to purchase their own flights.

The Case Western Reserve Travel Office has reached out to airlines to determine what they may be willing to do to help students. Please see: Airline Accommodation for COVID-19 Impacted Travel.

If students booked through an airline not listed on this document, we encourage them to reach out separately to their respective airlines regarding refunds or other options they might be willing to provide.

All Case Western Reserve University students who are currently studying abroad for Spring Semester 2020 and Academic Year 2019-2020 were recalled from their host countries around the world. 

This decision was made based on several factors including:

• President Trump’s ban on the entry of foreign nationals and other non-U.S. citizens who have been in Europe within the past 14 days. The order—which takes effect at midnight Friday, March 13 — except those travelling from the United Kingdom;
• the U.S. Department of State’s Level 3 Global Health Advisory advising citizens to reconsider all travel abroad; and
• notice from one of our European partner institutions that it is closing and that all study abroad students must leave.

Our first priority remains the healthy and safety of all of our students and these developments coupled with the recent pace of COVID-19 spread and increasingly aggressive government responses, require this action.

All students participating in an education abroad experience must immediately take steps to return home.

The Office of Education Abroad will do all that it can to assist students in making arrangements. All students will be contacted with additional guidance, but for now, it is recommended they follow these instructions:

Travel Logistics

Contact your air carrier immediately.

Many airlines are working with students and other travelers to waive change fees. If costs become an issue—and/or any students have difficulty changing their flight—they should contact the Office of Education Abroad at studyabroad@case.edu for assistance.

If a student has not yet purchased a return flight and would like help in making a reservation, please contact studyabroad@case.edu for assistance.

The student's flight destination should be their permanent address rather than our university campus (as you may have read, Case Western Reserve providing remote delivery of education from March 18 through at least April 6).

Academic Plans

We will do all that we can to help students complete this academic semester successfully. Staff in Undergraduate Studies and Student Success have been working together to determine the best ways to achieve that goal; we also are communicating with our partner institutions abroad regarding their contingency plans for students who must leave prior to the end of classes.

Navigators and/or Undergraduate Studies staff will contact students individually to determine how they can best assist them with this unexpected transition. 

Financial Aid

Each student has a unique financial circumstance, and our Office of Financial Aid is reviewing that information now. Students will soon hear from a financial aid representative whose goal will be to help them determine what resources they now have and how the office might assist in finding additional support for them.

If students have any questions or concerns, please reach out to studyabroad@case.edu. We are here to help you.