Southeastern Oklahoma State University is currently offering two study abroad opportunities for students, faculty, staff and alumni.

These opportunities include a trip to to Germany and the Czech Republic over winter break, and another to France during spring break.

The Germany and Czech Republic trip will be Dec. 29 to Jan. 7, and the France trip will be March 10 to March 20.

Enrollment ended Saturday, Sept. 25 for Germany, however, the deadline to sign up for the France trip is Dec. 5. Students who do not have a passport should begin the application process as quickly as possible.

Dr. Margaret Cotter-Lynch, who will be accompanying the students to France, stressed the importance of applying early for passports. “Passports are actually taking longer to process now than they were like two years ago, because of the shutdowns with COVID,” she explained. “So, at the moment passports are taking between 12 to 18 weeks to process, whereas previously they were like six to 12 weeks.”

Students should also consider possible COVID-19 vaccination requirements in each country before applying.

On Sept. 10, the French Embassy announced that those traveling from the U.S. to France must either be fully vaccinated, or provide a compelling reason to enter France. The unvaccinated must also provide a negative COVID-19 test taken less than 72 hours before departure and must begin a seven day self-isolation upon arrival. These requirements may change as time goes on, so stay updated.

If you are interested in applying for a study abroad scholarship, the deadline for the Gilman Scholarship Program is Oct. 5. The application requires three essays, including one describing how you will share your new knowledge with others once you return home. To learn more, visit www.gilmanscholarship.org.

For more information on the trips, contact Dr. Cotter-Lynch at  [email protected] or Adeline Patterson at [email protected].