Program Overview

Independent Path

The Independent Path is a component of the undergraduate experience that provides students with the opportunity to engage in professional development through independent international experiences. This path allows students to find work, internship, or service experiences abroad outside of official UNH programs.

Step 1: Decide on the Type of International Experience

To begin, students must decide on the type of international experience they want by considering the following issues:

1. Timing – When can you go and for what length of time? Some programs operate year-round, while others only during specific periods. Duration can range from a few weeks to a summer, semester, or even a year.
2. Location – Consider developed vs. less developed regions, cost of living, health, and safety issues.
3. Type – Each category of international experiences (internship, volunteering, teaching, paid jobs, research) has its own distinctive focus and a greater or lesser degree of structure.
4. Eligibility requirements – Some programs require specific skills (e.g., engineering or foreign language competence or teaching English certificate), while others are open to generalists. Some programs are restricted to U.S. citizens. Read the fine print to ensure you can be considered for the program.
5. Costs – With very few exceptions, there will be expenses for which you will be responsible. Even paid positions will usually have program fees or at least start-up expenses.

Step 2: Evaluate Programs

Evaluate the programs you are interested in by considering the following criteria and asking the recommended questions:

1. Standards – Refer to the full IVPA Standards List, which establishes best principles and practices in the development and operation of volunteer programs abroad.
2. Program History – Is the program well-established? For how long have they been operating? Who are their founders/staff, and do they have extensive experience?
3. Program Contact – Can you easily reach a live person who is responsive and helpful?
4. References – Get references about the program from reliable sources, if possible. Ask for participant references and follow up with detailed questions.
5. Health and Safety – See the Department of State's Travel Advisories and consular information reports for assessments of these factors for every country.
6. Program Offering – What is the program offering you? Can they follow through with what they are promising? Always ask for contacts and identify who their staff are and how they will support you.
7. Fine Print – What are your rights if you participate in the program? Always read carefully the fine print in the liability waivers and terms and conditions before signing any documentation.
8. Program fee/costs – What is included in the program fee, and is it what you expected? Understand how the fees are broken down, what is not included, and for what you will be responsible for paying extra.

Step 3: Research Funding Opportunities

Research funding opportunities, paying attention to eligibility requirements. Some available programs include:

• Jerome Foundation Travel & Study Grant Program
• Work Immersion Study Abroad Program
• LIVFund
• Travel for Good Voluntourism Grant
• America's Unofficial Ambassador's Mosaic Grant
• Go Overseas Volunteer Abroad Scholarship
• Samuel Huntington Public Service Award
• Sarah's Wish Scholarship Award
• Agricultural Cooperative Development International and Volunteers
• Overseas Cooperative Assistance
• Omprakash Ambassador Travel Grant
• WorldTeach Scholarships
• InterExchange Christianson Grant
• Web-based platforms for fundraising, such as Fundmytravel.com, Volunteerforever.com, and Gogetfunding.com

Step 4: Prepare for Departure

Prepare for departure by:

• Documents – Making sure you know what documents are required and that they are up-to-date (passport, visa, plane ticket, confirmation of vaccination, prescriptions, power of attorney).
• Insurance – Purchasing international insurance.
• Up-to-date Country Information – Reviewing country information and recommendations on the State department website and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website.
• Health and Safety –
  • If you have any pre-existing conditions (mental or physical), communicate these with the program and your doctors to develop a plan. You will also need a strategy for traveling with medications and having sufficient medications for your entire stay.
  • Register with the US Embassy via The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
  • Develop a personal emergency action plan.
• Logistics – Preparing how you will manage and access money abroad, communicate on-site and with home, and pay bills.
• Resources – StudentsAbroad.com has a helpful study abroad handbook online that will include helpful and important pre-departure information relevant to any experience abroad.

Step 5: Coming Home

When coming home:

• Customs – Understand duties and customs declarations for traveling with goods and money. Know what you can bring out of your host country and bring into your home country.
• Culture Shock – It is quite common that people returning from an extended period abroad experience reverse culture shock, in which your home seems unfamiliar and difficult to adjust to, and you miss your friends, lifestyle, and culture from abroad. There is additional information in the StudentsAbroad.com handbook referenced above.
• Resume Building – Meet with a career counselor to discuss how best to integrate your international experience into your resume and discuss it in an interview.