COVID-19 Updates

The health and safety of TEAN students is always our highest priority. This page provides updates and FAQs on how COVID-19 is impacting our program locations. (Last updated on September 23, 2020)

Most Spring 2021 programs are currently running as scheduled. We understand that this is still an uncertain time and students applying to Spring and Summer 2021 programs will be protected by TEAN’s ‘We’ve got your back’ refund policy that provides added flexibility and options in case of unexpected program changes.

A new Global Remote Internship is also available, offering students the opportunity to gain professional work experience at an international level from the convenience of their own home.

As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues, we’re constantly monitoring data and recommended best practices regarding COVID-19 to make decisions about TEAN programs. Some factors we are tracking in our evaluations are the status of travel restrictions abroad, country entry requirements, and the current levels of COVID-19 transmission in program locations. The following updates are gathered from direct observation by our resident staff and partner universities in all program locations, U.S Department of State (DOS) recommendations, Overseas Security Advisory Council reports, and guidance from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).

This page will be updated with new information and announcements as necessary. TEAN will also continue to directly communicate relevant information to our participants and partners as needed. If you have any questions, please contact us at 312-239-3710.

Frequently Asked Questions

2021 Programs

Q. How are future programs being vetted for health and safety?
Your health and safety is our highest priority. The past few months have been a roller coaster of developments and changes surrounding the global COVID-19 pandemic. As travel restrictions begin to ease, we’re looking ahead to future programs to give students a study abroad adventure worth waiting for!

TEAN’s Health & Safety team is continuing to monitor data and recommended best practices from trusted security resources plus local staff regarding the status and impact of COVID-19 in each of our program destinations. We are regularly assessing all programs and locations to ensure programs are safe — with a focus on hygiene and social distancing — while still providing a rich cultural and academic experience. When determining updated health and safety guidelines to meet this “new normal,” we’re considering both location-specific guidance and general travel, social and education recommendations.

Q. Are any Winter/J-term 2021 programs running?
All TEAN Winter 2021 programs have been canceled. Students who were enrolled in these programs were given the option to choose whether they wanted to attend a different program or receive a refund of any paid program fees.

Q. Which Spring 2021 programs are running?
Most TEAN Spring 2021 programs are currently running as scheduled, though things can change. (See below for a list of canceled programs.)

Some Spring programs begin in late December 2020 while others begin in late March or early April 2021. If you have a flexible schedule, we suggest considering programs with later start dates to give more time for global travel and safety restrictions to loosen up.

Q. Which Spring 2021 programs are canceled?
Spring 2021 programs at these schools have been canceled:

Australia

Macquarie University
Monash University
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)
RMIT University

New Zealand

University of Auckland
AUT University
Massey University

Singapore

Singapore Management University

Q. When are Spring 2021 program applications due?
We have extended our Spring 2021 deadlines and withdrawal dates. You can find all deadlines here.

Q. Will students be required to wear face masks or follow other protocols, like social distancing, while abroad?
All TEAN staff and students are required to follow COVID-19 restrictions and rules established by local, state and federal governments, as well as any rules established by attractions, sites, and service providers (such as host universities, housing, airlines, hotels, restaurants, etc.). Prior to arrival, TEAN will prepare you with specific information about your host city and expectations related to COVID-19. We also encourage you to research local guidelines in your destination abroad prior to traveling.

Q. Will students need to quarantine once arriving at their program location?
Potentially – this depends on the restrictions and requirements of the various host countries. If your host country requires a mandatory quarantine period, TEAN will help guide you throughout the entire process. TEAN will follow the protocols of your host country and evaluate any additional measures necessary to provide for the health and safety of all TEAN students, staff, and any other people that you may have contact with upon arrival. Regulations can change quickly and your TEAN Program Manager will be in contact with you to set arrival expectations for your new country.

Q. What happens if a student needs to self-isolate while abroad?
If you need to self-isolate for any reason, TEAN will organize separate housing and TEAN resident staff will continue to be available to advise and support you however possible. This would include advocating on your behalf with your host university and coordinating meals and medical care, if necessary. The TEAN health insurance that’s already included in your program fee covers medical care as well as mental health services, such as counseling, so you can rest assured that all your needs will be met.

Fall 2020 programs

Q. Are TEAN Fall 2020 programs still running?
All Fall 2020 programs except for the Global Remote Internship have been canceled. Students who were enrolled in these programs were given the option to choose whether they wanted to attend a different program or receive a refund of any paid program fees.

PLANNING, SUPPORT & REFUNDS

Q. If TEAN cancels a Spring or Summer 2021 program prior to the program starting, will I get a refund?
Yes – we have your back! See details here.

Q. What is the refund policy if I voluntarily choose to withdraw from a study abroad or intern abroad program prior to departure because of concerns about COVID-19?
If TEAN cancels a program, we will issue a full refund of all fees paid. If you withdraw from a program prior to the listed withdrawal date, we will provide a full refund except for the application deposit. If you withdraw after the withdrawal deadline, TEAN will work to refund all recoverable costs. However, the available refund may be minimal, if anything, depending on the program and the date of departure. All TEAN Spring 2021 study abroad program withdrawal deadlines have been extended to give students more time before committing to a program. Find a list of all application and withdrawal deadlines here.

Q. If my home university requires me to cancel my study abroad or intern abroad plans, will I get a refund?
If TEAN cancels a program, we will issue a full refund of all fees paid. If you are required by your home university to cancel your study abroad plans prior to TEAN’s withdrawal deadlines, TEAN will provide a full refund except for the application deposit. (We will also work with you to see if attending a different or future program is possible.) If your home university requires students to cancel their program with TEAN after our withdrawal deadlines, TEAN will work to refund all recoverable costs. However, the available refund may be minimal, if anything, depending on the program and the date of departure. Find a list of all application and withdrawal deadlines here.

Q. Will TEAN help cover any flight-related costs if a program is canceled?
No — while TEAN program prices cover many aspects of the program, airfare is not included. Each student is responsible for booking and paying for their own flights to/from the program destination. Therefore, any potential refunds will need to be handled directly with the airline or third-party provider that the student purchased tickets from. Before booking any flights, we recommend confirming with the airline, agency or third-party booking website you choose what change/cancelation policies or insurance coverage apply in case travel plans are affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Q. I have submitted an application – who can I contact for more information?
You can always contact your TEAN Program Manager directly or our TEAN headquarters in Chicago at 312-239-3710.

Program Updates

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (UPDATED AS OF September 3, 2020)

Due to ongoing COVID-19 developments, along with education and travel restrictions, all TEAN Winter 2021 programs have been canceled. We have reached out to enrolled students to discuss alternative options, including deferring to later programs or receiving a full refund of paid program fees.

We are accepting applications for Spring and Summer 2021 programs.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (UPDATED AS OF JULY 8, 2020)

Due to ongoing COVID-19 developments, along with education and travel restrictions, we have decided to cancel all TEAN Fall 2020 programs, including programs starting August and September. We have reached out to enrolled students to discuss alternative options, including deferring to later programs or receiving a full refund of paid program fees.

Students can look into participating in TEAN’s new Global Remote Internship for Fall 2020 as well as look ahead to Spring and Summer 2021 programs.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (UPDATED AS OF MAY 6, 2020)

TEAN continues to track developments related to COVID-19 and its impact on future programs. In light of current conditions, we have made the decision to cancel all TEAN Fall 2020 programs with June and July start dates. This includes all New Zealand, Fiji and Australia programs starting in July. TEAN has reached out to enrolled students to discuss alternative options, including deferring to later programs or receiving a full refund of paid program fees.

TEAN is in regular communication with our host university partners abroad as we assess future Fall programs with start dates that begin August 2020 and later.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (Updated as of April 5, 2020)

As we continue to assess the ongoing COVID-19 developments here and abroad, TEAN has made the very difficult decision to cancel all TEAN Summer 2020 programs. TEAN has reached out to enrolled Summer 2020 students to discuss alternative options, including deferring to later programs or receiving a full refund of paid program fees.

At this time TEAN is not canceling any Fall programs. TEAN is in regular communication with our host university partners who are working on adjusting deadlines and start dates for Fall programs to allow more time for decision making. TEAN will continue to monitor the fast-moving developments related to COVID-19 and provide significant updates to students, their parents, and our U.S. partner institutions as we look forward to hosting students on future programs.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (Updated as of March 19, 2020)

On March 19th, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) raised their Global Health Advisory to Level 4: Do Not Travel. In the update, the DOS advises U.S. citizens to avoid all international travel due to the impact of the COVID-19 virus. Additionally, U.S. citizens abroad are urged to arrange for an immediate return to the United States, unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period.

At this time, all TEAN programs worldwide have been suspended and students advised to return home. Many TEAN students have already departed their program location; and those who have not yet arranged travel back to the U.S. have been notified of the update to the DOS advisory level. TEAN is working to support students still on-site in making their final transportation arrangements and is liaising with host institutions abroad regarding student academics.

TEAN continues to monitor developments related to COVID-19 and will provide significant updates to students, their parents, and our U.S. partner institutions.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (Updated as of March 18, 2020)

Australia, New Zealand and Singapore

On the morning of March 18th, TEAN communicated with students, parents, and home university advisors the decision to suspend all programs in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. TEAN resident staff in these countries are closely supporting students as they arrange transportation to the U.S. Affected students will continue to have access to TEAN resident staff, housing and insurance while they actively make preparations to depart.

TEAN continues to be in contact with all host institutions in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore to discuss academic options available to complete their coursework remotely or online. Once those details are finalized, TEAN will be in direct communication with students and recommends students continue to communicate directly with their professors.

Though TEAN has now suspended all Spring 2020 programs, we continue to monitor fast-moving developments related to COVID-19 and will continue to provide significant updates to students, their parents, and our U.S. partner institutions as we look forward to hosting students on future programs.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (Updated as of March 16, 2020)

Vietnam and Thailand

As of March 15th, in addition to previously suspended TEAN programs in China and South Korea, TEAN has made the difficult decision to also suspend TEAN programs in Thailand and Vietnam. TEAN staff have communicated with all TEAN students and have been assisting them in their prompt return to the U.S. Although their semesters have been suspended, TEAN support (e.g. access to resident staff, housing, insurance) will still be available to students while they actively make plans to return home.

TEAN is in contact with all host institutions to discuss the academic options available for students to complete their coursework from a distance. We will continue to communicate with students and our university partners regarding these options.

TEAN continues to monitor fast-moving developments related to COVID-19 and will provide any significant update to students, their parents, and our U.S. partner institutions as necessary.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (Updated as of March 10, 2020)

China

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) Travel Advisory for China remains at a Level 4, advising U.S. citizens to not travel to China at this time. Due to the continuous rapid spread of COVID-19, our Health & Safety team has made the decision to cancel our Summer in Shanghai program to Fudan University.

TEAN staff are in contact with students who had applied to this program to discuss alternative options or deferring to a future term. Students who decide to not proceed with any alternative program are being issued full refunds of any fees paid.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (Updated as of March 3, 2020)

We are closely following COVID-19 developments and have reviewed the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) recent public statement regarding students traveling abroad to study.

After carefully considering the message and reviewing additional guidance from organizations like PULSE and the Forum on Education Abroad, TEAN (along with WorldStrides and other organizations that are part of the WorldStrides family) is not suspending any current programs, with the exception of previously suspended programs in South Korea and China.

The health and well-being of our students and staff are of utmost importance. We’re continuing to monitor all program locations regarding the spread of COVID-19 daily and are working closely with staff both in the U.S. and on the ground in host countries to communicate any additional guidelines that are developed in conjunction with our medical director. Should a situation change within a program host country, we have processes in place to respond quickly and will directly communicate with students on our programs, their emergency contacts and their home institutions.

In the meantime, TEAN will support program participants following the guidance of their home university, as each institution has its own policies during this time.

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (Updated as of Feb 28, 2020)

In December 2019, a viral pneumonia outbreak was reported in Wuhan, in the Hubei Province of central China. Authorities identified the virus as a novel (new) coronavirus, which was later named COVID-19. Although initially contained to mainland China with most cases concentrated in Hubei Province, there have been confirmed cases of COVID-19 in other countries, including the U.S. On January 30th, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). This announcement allowed WHO to coordinate international efforts and resources in combating the spread of the virus.

TEAN is closely monitoring COVID-19 developments and adjusting student programs as necessary. TEAN’s Spring 2020 programs in China and South Korea have been cancelled. (See country specific information below.) TEAN has been communicating with all Spring 2020 China and South Korea program students, their emergency contacts, and home institutions to work together and provide the best possible outcome for each student in this situation.

TEAN’s Spring programs in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand are currently running as planned. TEAN resident staff in these locations are advising students on best practices to stay healthy while abroad and providing guidance on independent travel.

This page will be updated with new information and announcements as necessary. If you have any questions, please contact us at 312-239-3710.

CHINA

On January 27th, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its Travel Notice for Mainland China to a Level 3 and recommended that all travelers avoid nonessential travel to the country. Subsequently, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) raised its Travel Advisory for China to a Level 4: Do Not Travel and recommended that U.S. citizens not travel to Mainland China at this time.

For these reasons, TEAN cancelled the Shanghai program for Spring 2020. Students had not yet departed for their Spring semester and TEAN staff worked with students on alternative program options. Students who had been planning on attending this program are receiving full refunds.

SOUTH KOREA

Beginning February 21st, a new cluster of COVID-19 cases was identified in South Korea. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that there was sustained community spread occurring, particularly in the areas of Daegu and Cheongdo (approximately 145 miles southeast of Seoul). On February 24th, the CDC raised their Travel Notice for South Korea to a Warning Level 3, advising travelers to avoid non-essential travel to South Korea.

In light of these developments, TEAN canceled all Spring 2020 programs in South Korea. TEAN staff communicated with all South Korea program students regarding the cancelation of their program and assisted students with returning to the U.S., as well as provided information about alternative program options. TEAN is issuing students full refunds for their semester program fee.