Young HAE patients should not let this rare immunological disorder keep them from pursuing their travel, study or career dreams. If you are a young HAE patient currently studying at high school or college and considering spending a semester or two in a foreign country, with careful preparation, planning, and program selection, you can make it happen!
In this guide, you'll find recommendations and tips for young HAE patients on how to go about planning your study abroad experience.
Firstly, try to think which study programme is suitable for you, what your language skills are, which country you would like to study in and for how long. There are usually 1 or 2-semester programs available for undergraduates, but you can also choose to take several-week-long language courses during the summer holidays.
ERASMUS+ is by far the most popular program for the university as well as high school students, which can provide a scholarship covering a large part of the costs. For basic information and assistance, contact the study department of your university/high school or college. Czech students can also search on dzs.cz, studentagency.cz or afs.cz.
The administration around studying abroad is a process that takes time. In addition, HAE patients will have consultations with doctors (read below), so it's worth starting the paperwork up to a year in advance. Find out the deadlines for applications or scholarship applications, attend preparatory tutorials at the university, and schedule a consultation with your physician.
At the application stage, applicants usually have to fill in a form about their limitations or special needs. When completing the form, it is a wise idea to mention your HAE diagnosis. Don't be afraid to stress that you are familiar with the diagnosis, you can manage prevention and self-administration of acute treatment, and your HAE specialist has approved your study abroad.
Prior to your departure, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss treatment options abroad and the supply of medication in sufficient quantities for the entire stay. Use the doctor's appointment to review the correct administration of injectable medication under the guidance of a healthcare professional, if relevant.
The most important and most recent medical reports should be translated into the official language of the destination or into English. Ask a professional translator or agency to carry out the translation to ensure maximum accuracy and professionalism.
Carefully select health insurance for the entire duration of your stay. ISIC or ALIVE cardholders can take advantage of various insurance discounts. Another option is to buy health insurance directly in the country of study, which is worthwhile, especially if it is a non-EU country without a cross-border healthcare agreement.
We recommend that you consult your university representatives or your HAE specialist when choosing the insurance.
When getting ready, make sure to find an HAE specialist in the city or region where you plan to study. Save important websites, addresses and phone contacts. You can also find useful information at www.HAEi.org or in the HAE Companion mobile app. In addition, it's worth contacting the HAE center in advance and informing them about your plans for a longer stay in the destination. They will surely give you a lot of good advice!
If applicable, inform your host family about your diagnosis and your personalized management plan. If you anticipate that you might need assistance in managing your illness abroad, you may want to inform your dorm mates. For this purpose and in case of an emergency (including HAE attack), prepare a good plan of action (with contacts, phone numbers, etc.).
It would be a bad idea to underestimate the difficulties connected to actual relocation to a new country and school. Packing, preparing documents, saying goodbye to parents and friends together with traveling by plane are all stress triggers that can potentially increase the risk of an HAE attack. For practical tips on how to successfully manage traveling with HAE, see our article and leaflet in the Information center on the website.
Remember to take enough medication with you, but also check the expiration date. Make sure medicines are not exposed to direct sunlight or high temperatures (see the packaging or package leaflet for storage information). If you are traveling by air, keep your HAE medication in your hand luggage - you can download an English form for storing your medication during the flight in our Infocentre.
For further information or study abroad recommendations, feel welcome contact us at the HAE Junior patient organization.
You can send your financial donation also to our bank account 2001782429/2010.
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