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Office of Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ’s Responsible Engagement Policy
ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ students are invited to responsibly engage with their new host community through a variety of academic, cultural, and experiential activities. To ensure both the academic progression and the well-being of our students, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ has set standards of engagement for our students in our Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ programs. Please become familiar with these policies as it pertains to your time abroad.
Admission Policies
Study Abroad is intended to build upon and enhance students’ educational experiences. For this reason, program choices will be carefully reviewed with each student to ensure a good fit between academics and destination.
- ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University administers its own programs called Centers in Australia; France, Italy; Ireland; and Spain. ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University also has a variety of approved programs through other institutions and providers that bring students to other parts of the world such as Africa, Asia, the Americas and other countries in Europe. Please consult with a study abroad advisor or visit the study abroad website for the complete list of approved programs. In order to receive academic credit, students must both apply through Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ and participate in an approved program. Students may only participate in an approved study abroad program coordinated through Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ.
- All students must apply for approval to study abroad through the Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ. Once approved, students will be advised on the steps needed to receive acceptance through the host provider or institution.
- All applications will be considered, but students may not always receive approval for their desired program. Admissions decisions are made in collaboration with the host institution and are based on a variety of factors the first of which is academic compatibility as well as space availability in classes and accommodations. While we will make every reasonable effort to place students with their preferred program we ask that students indicate alternate programs that also meet their needs and interests.
- Students must be in good standing with the Dean of Students at the time of application and program start date. Students with unresolved code of conduct issues may not be approved for study abroad; such applications will be considered on a case by case basis.
- Students are required to submit a non-refundable application fee to Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ for application review and consideration. Upon approval from ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ, students may encounter a separate application fee for acceptance into their program of choice.
- An overall GPA of 2.8 is required to study abroad for all programs at the time of application and program start date, including short-term and summer. Certain programs have their own criteria and may require higher GPAs.
- As is stated in the under "Residency Requirement," students who wish to study abroad are reminded that ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University requires students to complete the final 30 credits of their academic degree on the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University campus. Any student who wishes to request an exception to this policy must do so through their Dean’s Office. Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ is not authorized to grant exceptions to this academic policy. Students must complete a Global Study Plan in consultation with their academic advisor. To request the Global Study Plan for the 30 credit exception please contact GlobalÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ@ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ.edu. The signed Study Plan must then be submitted to the Dean’s Office for final review and signature. Requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If approved by the Dean’s Office, the Global Study Plan may then be submitted to Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ and the student may proceed with their application to study abroad.
Financing
The $1,000.00 Housing Placement Fee will indicate commitment to a Study Abroad Program and can be received up to the applicable deadline. Once the deposit is paid, the student is committed to the program. Should the student decide to withdraw from the program after the $1,000.00 is received, students should refer to the Cancellation and Withdraw Policy. The fee is applied to the semester housing while abroad and will be reflected on the student's account. For payment deadlines, please visit our .
- Students who study abroad through ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University for a semester on an approved program are charged regular ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ tuition. Housing and meal charges will vary by location.
- Fees and billing for short-term programs vary. . Students who wish to use financial aid during the summer are encouraged to connect with the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University Office of Financial Aid to explore the possibility of having their financial aid package readjusted to include their summer abroad.
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Housing Security Deposit -Upon program acceptance students will be required to pay a $500 Housing Security Deposit. This may be refundable to the student upon final review by local landlord and staff. Refunds may take between 4 and 6 weeks to process.
- All ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ scholarships and aid, including federal funds, can be used towards study abroad expenses for one semester with the exceptions of athletic scholarships, FACHEX, tuition exchange and work-study monies. With the approval of the Associate Vice Provost for Global Strategy, modern language, international business, and international studies majors may use ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University financial aid for two semesters abroad for select programs.
- Fees and billing for short term programs vary. Please visit the program specific website for information.
Academics
- The normal course load for a study abroad student is four/five courses per semester, equivalent to 15 to 16 credit hours, depending on your program.
- All coursework while studying abroad must be taken with the partner University/program the student is enrolled in.
- Students participating on semester long programs must abide by the requirements for full-time enrollment established by the host institution/partner program and visa requirements.
- Students must be academically engaged in courses at a minimum of 4 days per week.
- Courses taught abroad are conducted in English, unless otherwise specified on the brochure page and Database of Approved Courses. All students who participate in a Center program for a semester or more in a non-English speaking country must enroll in a course related to language and culture. Some programs have a required language component which will be indicated on the program brochure page.
- Students may only select coursework that has received pre-approval and is listed in the Database of Approved Courses for their chosen program and term. The Database of Approved Courses can be found on the relevant program brochure page. Failure to comply with this policy may result in delayed graduation and/or have financial implications based on your Financial Aid Award package. Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ withholds the right to remove students from unapproved courses and register them for an approved course of the Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ's choosing.
- All academic coursework completed through a Center or an Academically Preferred Program receives ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University resident credit, and the grades are calculated into the student's grade point average. These grades will be posted to the students’ ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ transcripts. ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University may not edit, delete or change the grade notations on a foreign university transcript.
- Students participating in affiliated or exchange program, like Black Friars, CYA Non Honors Summer or Semester, Domestic Jesuit Partner Programs, LSE, Loyola Vietnam, Maastricht, Sogang and WII earn transfer credit, meaning that grades earned will not appear on your ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ transcript. Students must earn a C or better for credit to transfer. ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University may not edit, delete or change the grade notations on a foreign university transcript
- Drop-add requirements vary by program and may be considered by Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ in consultation with the host University/program. Requests made for courses that are not approved, alternates that do not fit the prescribed schedule, or to reduce class days will not be approved.
- ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University’s top priority is ensuring that students are enrolled in the courses they need to progress academically. As some courses have mandatory Field Learning and as all students are required to be academically engaged 4 days per week, some course schedules may include Friday classes or weekend excursions.
- As a reminder, to merit a ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University degree, at least 60 credits must be taken at ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ. This includes the last 30 semester credits immediately preceding graduation that must be earned at ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University.
For academic grievances, students are expected to first follow the academic grievance process of their program/University abroad. If this step fails to resolve the matter, students may file a grievance through Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ. In collaboration with the program/University abroad, Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ will oversee the relevant next steps towards any further resolution of the grievance.
Tuition, Fees And Financial Aid
ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University students who study abroad for a semester or year are charged Undergraduate ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ tuition. Where applicable, students will be charged ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ housing and ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ board rates. ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University scholarships and aid, including Federal Funds, may be used towards your study abroad expenses for one semester. Athletic scholarships, FACHEX, tuition exchange and work-study monies are not eligible. A percentage of Dependent Grant-in-Aid may be used for study abroad tuition. Please contact Human Resources for details. With the approval of the Associate Vice Provost for Global Strategy and the relevant department chair, Modern Language, International Business, and International Studies majors may use ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University financial aid for two semesters abroad.
The ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University Office of the Bursar will bill all ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ students studying abroad prior to the start of each term. The Monthly Tuition Payment Plan is available.
Payment for ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University administered summer or short term programs are made directly to Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ.
Scholarships
Students studying abroad are often eligible for alternative scholarships and are encouraged to use these resources to reduce their financial burden. Some scholarships can be used to pay parts of tuition while others can be put toward flights or living expenses.
Withdrawal and Cancellation Policy
If ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University authorizes a withdrawal, a meeting will be required of the student upon their return to the states to discuss whether or not any course work is recoverable and how to proceed.
Cancellation and Withdrawal Policy
Cancellation
A student may cancel their program participation prior to departure. Should a student decide to cancel, the student may still be assessed any portion of those costs which are non-recoverable to ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University up to and including all tuition, housing, board, and/or any programming fees for the full length of the program in which they are enrolled. This will be assessed on a case by case basis. ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University is not responsible for personal expenses, visas, airfare, books, personal travel, incidentals, transportation costs, etc. not directly paid by ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University or included in the published program fees.
If students wish to insure against the financial impact of an interruption or cancellation of program abroad, please refer to the options for Cancel for any Reason (CFAR) or Interrupt for any Reason (IFAR) travel insurance.
ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University Program Cancellation or Suspension
ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University reserves the right to make cancellations, changes or substitutions in cases of emergency or changed conditions. Should ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University cancel a program prior to departure, any program fees paid to ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University would be reimbursed. ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University is not responsible for non-ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University billed expenses such as visas, flights, etc. if the program is cancelled.
Withdrawal
A student may request to withdraw from their program at any point after departure. All requests must be received in writing to the Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ account (globalfairfield@fairfield.edu). ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University is not required to approve withdrawal requests. If ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University authorizes a withdrawal, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University cannot guarantee the completion of courses interrupted by an early return or guarantee that any credits, grades, or transcripts will be awarded or that any portion of the costs associated with the entirety of the program in which the student is enrolled including tuition, fees, housing, board and programming fees will be refunded. ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University is not responsible for personal expenses, visas, airfare, books, personal travel, incidentals, transportation costs, etc. not directly paid by ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University or included in the published program fees.
Medical Withdrawal
- Per the medical insurance provider, a student request for a withdrawal for medical reasons must be verified by our medical insurance provider prior to departure from the program for support and benefits to apply.
- If the student complies with the medical verification, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University and the hosting University/partner will review the request and respond accordingly. All decisions are final.
- If the student does not comply with the medical verification and withdraws from the program without approval no credit or transcript will be awarded and no program fees will be refunded.
Personal Withdrawal
- If a student requests a withdrawal for personal reasons ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University will require verification and may request additional documentation in order to approve the withdrawal.
- If a student does not comply with the request for verification and withdraws from the program without approval no credit or transcript will be awarded and no program fees will be refunded.
Code of Conduct
While studying abroad, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University academic and student conduct policies remain in effect. Participants are expected to follow and adhere to these policies as enumerated in the Undergraduate Catalog and Student Handbook. From time to time deviations from these published documents may be required due to differences in local law, practice, or custom abroad. For more information, please refer to the Student Handbook.
Students who violate the code of conduct while abroad will be required to meet with staff from the Dean of Students Office by phone or skype to address the violation.
- Infraction will become part of their student record and serious violations may result in the dismissal of the student from the program.
- If a student is dismissed due to code of conduct violations, no credit or transcript will be awarded and no program fees will be refunded.
- Students are also required to adhere to all local laws.
Students participating on a Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ program are expected to participate on all scheduled programming events. Failure to participate will result in a financial penalty after a review is conducted of the expenses that were incurred on the students’ behalf.
ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ students: These charges will be applied directly to the students’ University bill and can be paid online through the Office of the Bursar.
Non-ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ students: Students will be provided with an invoice of the charges and payment instructions. Failure to submit this payment will result in a hold on the students’ account. Until the hold is removed, the official transcript will not be released to the student or their home institution.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
The Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) provides for the confidentiality of student educational records at ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University. ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University may not disclose information in a student’s educational records to anyone without the permission of the student, unless disclosure is permitted by an exception set forth in FERPA, 20 U.S.C.A., Sec. 1232 et seq. By completing and signing the attached form, you the student are granting permission to ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University officials to disclose and/or discuss the information authorized by the student on their FERPA Release form. Students are not required to submit a FERPA form; it is the student's discretion to decide whether or not they want to provide ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University with this information.
Students who choose to complete the FERPA Release Form, must complete the FERPA Release questionnaire in their StudioAbroad application following approval to study abroad. For students who elect not to complete the FERPA Release Form, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University and the Office of Study Abroad will be unable to relay certain information to parents or guardians. In cases of emergency abroad, including hospitalization and student status during national emergencies, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University and the Office of Study Abroad may release necessary information to parents or guardians.
Questions regarding FERPA and the procedures followed by ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University to comply with FERPA may be referred to the Office of the Dean of Students. Information about FERPA can be found online at
Accessibility Support Policy
The Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act do not apply to foreign institutions. Though many of our partners will do their best to accommodate for student’s needs, please know that there are times when accommodations cannot always be made.
We invite all students to self-disclose to Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ throughout the application process so that the Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ may work with the student to identify the programs and services that best meet their individual needs and provide them with comparable services while abroad. Students who wish to disclose should request their paperwork to be forwarded the Office of Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ. The student should then request a meeting or call with their Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ study abroad advisor to discuss their needs. Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ will work closely with the student, accessibility support services and with the institution overseas to see if accommodations can be met and to assist with next steps.
If the student requires a reasonable accommodation or has concerns about participation in any Travel Program activities, the student agrees to provide adequate notice to Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ in advance of their commitment deadline in writing. Student also agrees to provide a complete and detailed written description, and supporting documentation as necessary, concerning the accommodation being requested. Student agrees to provide such information in writing between the time of application approval and the program commitment deadline so as to provide sufficient time for the Program Administrators to review together with the student and confirm the capacity of the Program to provide the requested accommodation(s). Although many countries are becoming more aware of the needs of people with disabilities, not all countries have similar laws and accessible infrastructure and services. Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ will make efforts to assist students with finding reasonable accommodations which cannot fundamentally alter the nature of a course or program of study or present an undue hardship for either ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University or the Host Institution. If the student agrees to participate in the Program, the student also agrees to participate safely in all Travel Program components with or without reasonable accommodation.
Students who determine to self-disclose after the deposit deadline, are advised that not all hosting partners are able to accommodate all disabilities. Should a student make the choice to self-disclose after the deposit deadline, Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ will work with all parties and make every effort to accommodate the students’ needs but cannot guarantee that the host institution will be able to meet those needs. In this event, the host institution may withdraw their acceptance of the student. The cancellation policy will still be applicable in this situation. If Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ is not able to find an alternate program that is still accepting applications and which meets the students’ academic and disability needs the student will be withdrawn from study abroad or advised to study abroad in the following term, where applicable.
Students who choose not to self-disclose, risk the ability to receive disability support while abroad and may be dismissed from the program at the discretion of the host university if the institution determines that they are unable to provide the required support services and that those services are deemed to be essential to the student’s ability to successfully complete the program. The withdrawal policy will still be applicable in this situation.
Housing Policy
- All students studying abroad are required to be housed in ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University approved or administered housing.
- All students must abide by their program specific housing rules and regulations discussed on-site during orientation. Failure to follow these rules and regulations can result in code of conduct discipline up to including expulsion from the program.
- Only students who participate on a ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ program can be placed in ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University Program housing.
- Upon arrival, students are often required to sign a housing lease and/or agreement understanding the terms and conditions of their residency.
- Housing Security Deposit - Upon program acceptance students will be required to pay a $500 Housing Security Deposit. This may be refundable to the student upon final review by local landlord and staff. Refunds may take between 4 and 6 weeks to process.
- All types of damage caused to any student residence or its furnishings are the responsibility of the students assigned to that residence, and repair costs will be billed accordingly. Damage that occurs in common areas of student residences (e.g., hallways, common bathrooms, backyards, etc.) will be divided and shared among all residents of that particular residence hall, floor, or block.
- All Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ students are expected to be considerate of their neighbors and the community at large. They should monitor noise levels within and projecting from their homes, and if they host guests or parties, they should arrange for the quiet and appropriate arrival and departure of their guests.
- The standards of conduct will be violated by behavior off campus that results in a neighborhood disturbance. A neighborhood disturbance may occur at the site of a social gathering at an off-campus residence (e.g., loud music or conversation levels) or through activity on the part of those arriving at or leaving a social gathering at an off-campus residence (e.g., littering, property damage, fighting, obscene or disruptive behavior, noise disturbances, etc.).
Health Safety
Please be aware of the following safety requirements while you are studying abroad:
International Insurance Policy
ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University provides all students studying abroad with international medical and emergency insurance coverage for the dates of their study abroad program. Federal law requires all students to maintain domestic year-round coverage in the U.S. even while the student is studying abroad. This means, students should remain enrolled on the policy of their parent or guardian, or in Gallagher Student Health Insurance through ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ while on their program abroad.
Students will be automatically enrolled in CISI Health Insurance from the start date to the end date of your study abroad program. This insurance program is included in the program fee, and there is no additional cost. This coverage does not replace your primary insurance but does provide extensive medical and emergency coverage.
Click to view detailed documents with all the information regarding your ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University coverage with CISI.
- If you currently take prescription medication and will need this medication during your semester abroad, it is important you to discuss your needs and options. You need to ask (1) is my medicine legal in the country in which I am studying and in the locations to which I plan on traveling (2) am I legally allowed to bring xxx month(s) of medication with me or am I able to fill my prescription abroad. Depending on the answers to these questions CISI may advise you to contact your primary care physician to discuss your options.
- The Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act do not apply to foreign institutions. Though many of our partners will do their best to accommodate for student’s needs, please know that there are times when accommodations cannot always be made.
- We invite all students to self-disclose to Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ. Once you have received your documentation from the Accessibility Office in campus, please forward the documentation to the relevant Study Abroad Advisor.
- If you seek counseling while at ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ and wish to continue those services while abroad, there is substantial support available to you through CISI and with our location health resources. We are happy to review resources with you and help connect you directly to CISI to see what services best meet your needs.
- Students who do not self-disclose put themselves at a disadvantage. With advanced planning, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University can assist the student with the communication necessary with all parties involved in order to ensure support while abroad.
Risk Management
Though a collaborative service with CISI, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University provides all participants with travel safety resources like the myCISI APP, Emergency Check In feature, and Weekly Travel Log. These services are our way of ensuring your travel safety. For purposes of Risk Management, and to ensure your optimal safety during your program, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University requires that all travel done independently from the program be registered with CISI using the Weekly Travel Log Itinerary. You will register your independent travel, meaning any time you are spending time outside of your host city, through CISI every Thursday indicating your location Friday - Sunday by logging into your CISI account. Students will receive instructions on how to Access to the CISI APP and online account upon receiving their insurance card.
If you are traveling before and/or after the program dates and would like to purchase CISI insurance for this period of your trip please see page 6 of the CISI Participant Guide found below (Purchase Individual Coverage) for information.
All students and their families are encouraged to review the CISI Participant guide to learn more about the CISI portal and the services they provide.
If you have additional questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact our office -globalfairfield@fairfield.edu
Travel Protection for Academic Travel (CFAR-IFAR)
If you have any concerns about the financial impact if your program abroad will be canceled prior to departure or while abroad, you can enroll in Cancel for any Reason (CFAR) or Interrupt for any Reason (IFAR) travel insurance. These plans can help protect your prepaid costs if you are forced to cancel or interrupt your travel for any reason Pre-paid costs might include a VISA application fee, books, supplies, travel arrangements or activities while in country, or airfare to your study abroad location.
Through our partnership with Cultural Insurance Services International, we have identified World Trip Protector Plans offered by Travel Insured International as a provider with options that may be of benefit for you. To learn more about these travel protection plans or request a quote, please visit the
ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University does not endorse any specific carrier and purchase of CFAR insurance is not required, Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ strongly encourages students and their families to research travel protection options and consider purchasing a plan in order to limit the financial impact should you need to cancel your program abroad.
Booking Flights
ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University International Travel Policy
ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University has an International Travel Policy that all staff, faculty, and students must adhere to. The International Travel Policy is a risk-management policy intended to support the health, safety, and welfare of ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University staff, faculty, and students and is intended to facilitate a comprehensive health, safety, and risk-management review of ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University sponsored international travel.
As part of the International Travel Policy, students are required to purchase round trip, changeable/ refundable tickets. Students must depart from their home country to their designated program airport, and then depart from their designated program airport back to their home country.
Students are required to arrive on a specified date, within a specific timeframe, to a designated airport, identified as the “program airport”, nearest to the host country program, in order to facilitate check in with local staff at the official start of the program. To ensure there are no delays to arrival that would interfere with required orientation activities, students are not permitted to: 1) Request an arrival date that is different than the designated arrival date; 2) Request a flight itinerary that is not a direct itinerary from your home to the program airport, or 3) Request deviations from the designated program airport for either arrivals or departures. Students may list an alternate departure date from the official program end date when booking their flight, or may change their departure date after arrival in country.
ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University Approved Travel Provider
To facilitate full compliance with the International Travel Policy, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ has partnered with ScholarTrip, a travel agency that provides students with airfare tickets that include risk management assurances such as changeability and refundability, emergency support, and program-specific bookings.
By having all students use the approved travel provider when booking round trip flights to their program destination, Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ is able to work with that provider in a time of emergency to affect expedited ticket changes for individuals or entire programs.
Students are given detailed information about booking their flights with ScholarTrip during First Steps Presentations, Next Steps Presentations, and through their study abroad application requirements.
Process for Booking Your Flights
Airfare Booking Process:
- Payment of $600 Study Abroad Airfare booking deposit (applied to the final price of your ticket). The $600 payment does not book your flight for the program or guarantee an optimal flight or quote price.
- Once your application is updated with the $600 payment information, you will be emailed a link to the ScholarTrip Flight Request Form to proceed with requesting an airfare quote.
- A ScholarTrip agent will then email you with flight options and you will proceed with purchasing your ticket directly with ScholarTrip, remembering that the final price is minus the $600 booking deposit that would have already been paid at that point. A quote is not a final booking until final payment is made to ScholarTrip.
Any special requests for the airfare booking, including flying with friends, requesting specific airlines or flight routes, or any other requests may be submitted on the flight booking form in the Notes/Special Requests field.
After a student is approved to study abroad and puts down their program commitment fee, students are then instructed to purchase their round-trip airfare through ScholarTrip. Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ requires that all students submit an initial booking deposit payment of $600 through the study abroad application portal to begin this process. The $600 payment does not book your flight for the program or guarantee an optimal flight or quote price. Upon receipt of the $600 payment, Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ will post the payment information to the student’s application and an email will be automatically sent to the student with a link to the ScholarTrip Flight Request Form and instructions for completing next steps to request a quote. Once the student completes the ScholarTrip Flight Request Form, an agent will review the information and will email the student with quote options. Students should remember to look in their junk mail folder for this email. Student should review the quote, and if satisfied, should inform the agent via email that they would like to proceed with booking that flight and securing that roundtrip airfare quote. ScholarTrip will then reach out to the student via email to instruct the student on how to remit final payment. Should the roundtrip airfare exceed $600, students will be required to pay the balance of the ticket directly to ScholarTrip. A quote is not a final booking until final payment is made directly to ScholarTrip. Students are encouraged to start this process as soon as they are allowed, as it is common for ticket prices to increase as it gets closer to the date of departure.
Students should not book their flights directly on the ScholarTrip.com website. If a student does not follow the correct process outlined in steps 1-3 and purchases a flight by going directly to ScholarTrip.com or any other booking site, the student must cancel that ticket and proceed with booking their round-trip airfare using the correct process. Any refunds or credits for the initial ticket will be the responsibility of the student to negotiate. Any student that is noncompliant and does not book their roundtrip airfare using the outlined process will be withdrawn from their study abroad program and non-recoverable costs will be incurred.
If Something Goes Wrong - Working with ScholarTrip vs. the Airline
When you receive a booking confirmation from ScholarTrip, it will include all the pertinent information surrounding your flight.
- You should carefully review immediately upon receipt to ensure that the details of your booking and itinerary are correct. You will have 24 hours to confirm the booking or to let them know if amendments need to be made so that they can void out the ticket within their 24-hour void window. After this time, any changes or corrections are subject to airline rules and penalties at the responsibility of the traveler.
- It is important to note that the name(s) on the ticket will need to match your passport exactly so to avoid any problems through customs.
Each ticket is electronic, and the traveler will use the ticket number or Airline Record Locator to check in for the flight directly with the airline. This can be done either at the airport or on the airline’s website, at least 4 hours prior to departure. At that time, the traveler will receive a boarding pass with a barcode which they will present to TSA and any gate agent. Requests for checked luggage or seat assignments can be made directly with their airline during check in. Changes to your itinerary prior to check in may be discussed with ScholarTrip. ScholarTrip will be continuously monitoring the flight for any schedule changes from time of booking until day of departure.
On the day of departure, the airline takes full control of the ticket and ScholarTrip is no longer able to see last minute delays or cancellations. Because of this, ScholarTrip recommends that the traveler check the airline’s website 24 hours prior to departure to ensure that the flight is departing on time. ScholarTrip also recommends that travelers plan well and arrive at the airport at least 3 hours prior to the scheduled flight departure time to account for any last-minute changes as well as the time needed to get through security.
If you miss your flight or there are unanticipated flight changes on the day of travel, your best option is to work directly with the airline to rebook the next available flight from the airport using your current ticket.
In the event that you miss you flight for any reason and are rebooked, you should immediately contact your on-site team at your program destination to let them know about your new arrival time.
As part of the International Travel Policy, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University requires all students book their round trip flights to and from a U.S. airport through the University's designated travel agency. After program acceptance student will receive detailed information on round-trip airfare and next steps.
Why Can't I Book my own round-trip flight to arrive at my study abroad destination?
Students will be advised on which travel agency they will need to book the pre-approved group or suggested itinerary flights to and from their study destination. This allows Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ to connect with the agency in a time of an emergency to serve our students to safely return them home.
Once the student is accepted to the study abroad program, they must start arranging their round-trip flight travel to/from the destination. As part of the International Travel Policy, ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University requires all students book their round trip flights through the university's designated travel agency.
ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University approved Travel Provider
- As part of the ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University International Travel Policy, all students are required to book their round-trip flights from an U.S. airport through the University's designated travel agency. After program acceptance student will receive detailed information on round-trip airfare and next steps.
- The University's designated travel agency is able to ensure that students are provided with low cost tickets that also include risk management assurances such as changeability, emergency support and program specific bookings that gets you to your program on time.
- All students participating in a Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ program, must fly from a U.S. Airport into the designated study abroad program airport, on the designated program start date and within the specified arrival times. For Faculty Led and Provider Programs students are required to follow the flight requirements of that program.
- ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University is not responsible for changes made by the airline or for the agency's refund policies. Students should not plan personal or family travel prior to the program start. Early or late arrivals are not approved. There are no exceptions to this policy.
International Cell Phone Policy
- Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ requires all students to have a cell phone with an international call and data plan (must be able to use off of Wi-Fi).
- Students are required to register their international cell phone number on their ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ University study abroad application and with their host institution within 2 days of arrival to their program.
- Failure to have a working cell phone abroad with a data plan will result in first a warning then dismissal from the program.
Credit Card Policy
- Global ÐÓ°ÉÔ°æ requires that all students studying abroad must have access to a credit card during their time abroad. This requirement is for safety purposes and is especially essential in cases of emergency.
- Credit cards may be in the name of a parent or guardian as long as the student is authorized to use the card. Please note that some host countries have different requirements for students applying for a study visa; be sure to check specific consulate requirements for more details.
- Students should also notify their credit card company that they’ll be traveling to a foreign country to avoid rejection or cancellation of card use while abroad.
Many study abroad locations require that students have their own bank account not attached to their parent or guardian. Students should search if their current bank has ATM’s abroad or if they have international
partners where students can withdraw funds. Typically, these partner banks will not charge usage fees for withdrawals but may charge a fee for converting USD to the local country’s currency.
Students should also notify their bank that they’ll be traveling so the bank doesn't’t cancel their debit credit due to perceived suspicious activity. Although bringing the proper currency is not required for travel into the country, it is certainly helpful for the first few days before the student is able to locate an ATM, as taxis and some small businesses do not take credit cards.
Students can purchase local currency prior to their program start date directly through their bank. We do not recommend students travel with large sums of cash – please visit website and read your country specific information. This website will tell you any currency restrictions for entry. Though
these restrictions are typically 10,000 dollars or more, is strongly recommended if students want to bring local currency with them, it should be less than 300 dollars.
Passports and Study Visa
All students studying abroad are required to have a passport that is valid for at least six months after their program end date. Some countries may require students to apply for a visa. A visa is a document issued by the host country that allows a student to enter, leave and/or stay in a specific country for a designated amount of time.