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EPA Internships in
Pre-Departure Packet Table of Contents

1. EPAs Role 2. Program Directors and Travel Arrangements 3. Academics and Daily Life 4. Internship Placement 5. In the Office 6. Making the Most of your Placement 7. Program Costs and Billing 8. Budgeting and Currency Exchange 9. Health and Wellness While Abroad 10. Taking Care of Business Before you Leave 11. Student Life Overseas and Culture Shock 12. Mental Health and Commuting 13. Housing 14-15. General Passport and Visa Information 16-17.EPA Policies and Regulations

EPA Internships in Europe

Welcome
Congratulations on your acceptance to Educational Programmes Abroad! Your internship in Europe will be your passport to the experience of a lifetime!

EPA US Office:
Mailing Address: Lattimore Hall 206 University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627 Telephone: [585] 2758850 Fax: [585] 276-2167 Email: usoffice@epainternships.org Website: www.epa-internships.org

EPAs Role
Educational Programmes Abroad (EPA) is an educational We hope that this agency that organizes and newsletter will answer administers study abroad many of the questions programs in Europe on behalf that you have. If you of the University of Rochester, still have any concerns Northern Illinois University and after reading through other American colleges and these articles, please universities. EPA is responsible feel free to give us a for all local arrangements and call or send us an eprogram administration. EPA mail. has reviewed your application and consequently, admitted you to the program. EPA oversees the academic quality of the program, your internship experience, and your housing option. We will also send your school a copy of your course grades and an internship evaluation form filled out by your site supervisor at the conclusion of the program.

Pre-Departure Packet

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Program
London Edinburgh
Andrea Morris

Karen MacCormick

Brussels

Keira Holland

Bonn/Berlin/Cologne
Hartwig Prussman

Madrid
Rocio Bartolome Rodriguez

Overseas Program Directors

Program Directors are responsible for arranging potential internship placements for you. They also keep in contact with the course instructors and your placement supervisor. You will be provided with orientation materials designed by them, and an on-site orientation. In addition to administrative duties, the Directors assist you with adjusting to living abroad for a term, and act as advisors to make appropriate referrals (e.g., physicians, interesting things to see and do). They are there to help you make the most of your experience.

You should feel free to contact them whenever you have questions and concerns.

Travel Arrangements

Please note that most flights to Europe from the US are overnight flights. Please verify that your flight is scheduled to arrive the morning of the

EPA students are required to make their own arrangements for their flights to and from Europe. If students plan on traveling in Europe before the start of the program or are planning to arrive at the Program Site before the start date they will be responsible for finding housing until the program begins. All students, except those studying in Germany, must arrive at their city of study by the day the program begins. All students attending a program in Germany will begin in Bonn with a two-week orientation where they are housed in a hotel provided by EPA. It is up to the student to make sure that he or she understands the airlines requirements for the number of baggage items allowed, size and weight restrictions, and the rules concerning items that are allowed in carry-on or checked baggage, reconfirmation of flights, etc. Most airlines provide this information on their websites, and of course will be happy to answer questions on the phone if anything is unclear
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Day to Day Life.

Academics
Classes are held at the following locations for semester students.

*Summer students in Edinburgh and London will participate in a single course taught by local faculty.

What is a typical week like for program participants? Students attend classes half of the time and intern half of the time. Your actual schedule depends on the courses you have chosen, and the arrangements you make with your internship site. Because of the nature of our program, do not expect to have Fridays or Mondays free for travel. Also, when you have a school break, do not assume that you will have time off from work as well. If you must, for any reason, adjust your work or class schedule, it is your responsibility to discuss the matter with your instructors and/or supervisor ahead of time. Not all placements are 9:00am-5:00pm. Students in more creative placements, such as theaters, or those in psychological or educational facilities may be expected to work in the evening. What else do I need to know?

London:
University of Westminster

Bonn/Cologne/Berlin :
Local German faculty

Brussels:
Vesalius College

Edinburgh:
Edinburgh Napier University

Madrid:
Universidad Antonio de Nebrija

While abroad you will be a representative of your home institution, your home country and of Educational Programmes Abroad. We hope that all of the materials and advice you have received have been helpful. Try to be sensitive to cultural differences not only in daily life
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How Internship Placements are Made Placements are arranged by your overseas Program Director. Once an application has been approved, it is sent to the Program Directors. Based on the information you provided in your application (Part 2 and your essay) the Director contacts relevant organizations. The process of contacting a potential supervisor and making further arrangements can be quite extensive. Usually you will hear about your placement approximately four weeks before the start of your program.
Please keep in mind the following points: Students may be notified of their placement prior to arrival, but the placement is provisional and dependent upon a successful on-site interview. In the rare event of an unsuccessful interview, the Program Director will make arrangements for another placement. You will have a placement in an appropriate field, i.e., a business applicant will not have a health sciences internship. Ultimately, placements are dependent upon firms, organizations, and departments that are willing to, or in need of, an intern for a semester. Thus, the exact placement you have in mind may not be available. EPA is an educational program. There is much to be learned from any placement, Pre-Departure Packet

even if, for example, you are placed in a small firm but had hoped to be in a large organization. In fact, many of our students have had more fulfilling placements in smaller organizations because of the interest taken in, and the responsibility given to, them.

What does it mean to be an INTERN (not only a student) abroad? Unlike students on classroom-based programs, you will need to adjust to working and taking classes, in other words, to really living in a large, foreign city. This entails a schedule that may be quite different from your routine on your home campus. Adjustments to be aware of (suggested by previous program participants):
Keeping an apartment; living with new roommates or a host family, cooking, living in closer quarters than youre used to. Budgeting - most large European cities are very expensive for American college students Commuting between home, class and internship site in an unfamiliar city. Possibly long commutes (up to one hour).

Your Internship Placement

How internship placements are made, the importance of being an intern abroad, and personal conduct in a foreign workplace.

What is appropriate clothing for my internship? Political, business, law, and other interns working in

public areas are expected o dress professionally, i.e., suits, sport coats/blazers, skirts or dresses. Other placements, especially health science interns and those working with children, may allow for more casual dress. Dress formally on the first day and observe how others

(continued)
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Internship s Continued

Workplace and cultural differences between the USA

are more advanced than at your internship site. Dont expect that every office will be equipped with the latest computers, programs, e-mail and internet connections. While it may seem a step into the past for you, keep in mind that your co-workers are used to working that way. Hearing from you about how much better things are at home wont win you any friends. Most importantly, remember that there are no free local telephone calls in Europe. Be sensitive. Youve probably heard the old adage When in Rome, do as the Romans. Keep this in mind at your internship site and in your daily life and travels. Use common sense and be courteous; always remember that you are a guest in someone elses country. Make an effort to immerse yourself in your new culture. Adapt to their way of life; dont try to

Students are often surprised at differences in technology, comfort level, and workplace behavior. Many of us are used to non-smoking offices, residence halls, restaurants, and shopping areas. In Europe, consciousness of non-smokers rights is rare. While it is acceptable to ask coworkers not to blow smoke in your personal space, it is unreasonable to assume that your department will cease smoking during your tenure, simply because you are an American and thats not the way it is at home. It may be uncomfortable because you arent used to it, but unless you become physically ill by cigarette smoke, you will have to cope with it. The U.S. is a land of excess, and we are graced with seemingly unlimited, and relatively inexpensive, supplies of natural resources. These same resources, such as electricity, are scarcer and therefore more expensive in Europe. Much of the architecture is hundreds of years old and while the buildings can be charming, they dont lend themselves to high tech comforts. Be prepared to live, work and study with less heating than you are used to. If you will be in Europe during the summer months, dont expect airconditioned buildings. They are the exception rather than the norm. You may be surprised that technological amenities in your residence hall here
Pre-Departure Packet

Pack Light
No one will notice if you wear the same thing more than once per week. Europeans tend to own fewer articles of clothing, and often of better quality, than Americans. Wearing a different outfit every day may be interpreted as flaunting your (perceived) wealth.

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Placement is Different

Making the most of your placement

Your supervisor likely will not be there every day and will expect you to be able to Undertaking an handle tasks with little international internship can supervision. There is be an exciting yet daunting something to be learned experience. You will be from even the simplest of expected to perform to tasks (e.g., filing, opening your full potential, perhaps and distributing mail). For even in a foreign language. example, what kind of mail Responsibilities and tasks or calls does the vary, of course, from organization receive, and placement to placement, from whom? Who responds but you can expect to work and why? Does this independently, with a great distribution of power make deal of responsibility. sense to you? Why or why not? Your supervisor will be interested in your ability to Comparing your Placement follow directions, punctuality, attitude Everyones experience will toward your work, and be different because every more. Following through office or organization is simple tasks with flying different. Therefore, colors and an excellent students interning in the attitude will pave the way House of Commons, for for further responsibility. example, may work for
Pre-Departure Packet

M.P.s whose interests and projects are very different from one another. One intern may do a great deal of research on policy, while another may spend more time attending meetings and contacting constituents. Your level of interest in a placement is subjective, and not easily comparable. Changing a Placement Placements, as we mentioned earlier, take time to arrange, and are made with great care. Your placement cant be changed on a whim or because you like someone elses position better. Likewise, it is not possible to change from one type of internship (from politics to theater, for example) to another once you have been admitted to the program. Internship supervisors are
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The financial aid situation is going to depend on the policies at your home university.

Program Costs The program fee covers the costs of orientation, tuition, accommodation, and internship placement. The program fee does not cover your plane fare, student visa, meals, the costs of commuting or any additional personal expenses. Whether or not a student visa is required will depend upon the country

you study in. Scholarships There are numerous scholarships and other resources available for study abroad. There are also a good number of scholarships for students studying in foreign languages, which could be useful for students planning to go to our Berlin, Bonn, Cologne, Madrid or Brussels Program Sites. Application deadlines vary and some may be up to a year in advance of a study abroad program. Also, be sure to check with a financial aid counselor to discuss how these outside awards might affect your aid In any case it will be to

Billin

All students going abroad with EPA Internships in Europe must pay a $300 housing deposit in order for EPA to secure their housing. However, the tuition and housing billing situation will be different for each student. If you are going directly through EPA and do not attend an affiliate university you will

usually pay the fee directly to EPA. If you attend an affiliate university or the University of Rochester you may only need to pay the housing deposit directly to EPA and will be billed by your university for the remainder of the program fees. You should speak to the EPA US Representative, your study abroad office, and your financial aid counselor to verify how the
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billing process will work in their specific case.

EPA Internships in Europe

Budgeting
How can I plan for the cost of day-to-day expenses while I am abroad? This may be

one of the hardest questions for program providers and study abroad advisers to answer very satisfactorily, and most frustrating thing for students and parents not to be able to predict accurately. But the truth is that the question of how much money you will need while abroad depends so much on where you are going, what your personal financial situation is, how well or how poorly you manage your money, and what effect inflation and changing currency exchange rates may be having on the cost of living in the country which you will be studying in. It is therefore very difficult for program advisers to answer this question with any degree of precision and accuracy. You should establish a budget you will have to live within, and/or to what degree your parents may be able to help you with expenses while you are away. Knowing in advance that the first month is almost always the most expensive may help in planning, and in avoiding dismay and panic if and when it happens.
Pre-Departure Packet

Credit cards are a convenient and usually favorable way of making purchases abroad. But, they offer the same pitfalls as credit card use anywhere, perhaps exacerbated by the feeling of being in a place you may never be again. Currency Exchange In most of Europe, ATM debit cards offer the most convenient way of getting foreign currency, and usually a favorable rate of exchange as well. If you do not already have an account with an ATM card, you might want to get one for the time you are abroad. Be sure that the bank you are opening an account with has reciprocal agreements with banks in the country they will be traveling in, and ask whether there are any special rules governing PINs, withdrawal amounts, what the amount of charges

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More on Financing Study Abroad

for withdrawals are, etc. Unfortunately, U.S. travelers on the ground in a foreign country often find that the information they were given by their banks back home turns out to be less than totally accurate, or insufficiently comprehensive.
Money Matters Tips

Resources on Study Abroad Costs and Expenses: http://www.internationalst udent.com/study_usa/finan cing/ http://studyabroad.isp.msu

1. It is very important that you notify your bank and/or credit card company before you leave the United States and let them know when, how long and where you will be traveling abroad. 2. Do not carry large amounts of cash with you; however it is always a good 8 8

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Health and Wellness While Studying Abroad

are away. It is often easiest to request a vacation size refill from the insurance company and have it filled before leaving the United States. Remember that in foreign countries their exact prescription may not be available or the mailing regulations may make it difficult to get a package containing medical prescriptions through customs. (Be sure you also have a copy of your prescription in a safe place.) EPA Health and Special Needs Form: Be sure that you are honest when filling out the health questionnaire in your EPA acceptance packet. Studying abroad is a wonderful experience, but it is often challenging both intellectually and emotionally. If there are any emotional or mental
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Medical Insurance: Check your health insurance coverage to find out if you will be covered during your stay abroad, and whether any special conditions apply. Be sure you know how this system works: how bills are paid, in the case of a medical emergency, and how to access routine treatments. Should you require medical attention abroad, it may be necessary for you to have sufficient cash on hand to make payment at the time of treatment since the foreign physician and/or hospital may not be able to process medical bills through an American insurance company. Travel and Property Insurance: Student travelers should have
Pre-Departure Packet

insurance to cover any loss of money because of trip interruption or cancellation, as well as loss of baggage and other property while traveling or living in overseas. In addition, we recommend that students consider purchasing personal liability insurance against injury or damage caused by or resulting from students acts or omissions during enrollment in any program. EPA Internships in Europe is not liable for damage or loss of personal property. Contact your insurance agent regarding property insurance. Prescriptions: If you need prescription medication, make sure that you have a sufficient supply to last while abroad, or a plan for how to get refills while they

EPA Internships in Europe

We often remind students to take care of all business before they leave their home university

Taking Care of Business While Still at your Home Institution

It is much easier for students to contact professors and staff members, obtain necessary signatures, and sign important forms in person, rather than from a distance. Here is a brief checklist of things you should get done ahead of time:

1. Find out about your banking options in your host country. Call your bank and inquire about international fees and notify them that your credit card or debit card will be being used in Europe. 2. Meet with a counselor in the Financial Aid Office at your home university if you receive any financial aid (this includes need-based aid or merit awards, i.e. scholarships). 3. Obtain course approvals for foreign language courses and for courses you wish to use towards your major, minor, or certificate. Verify with your home university that all of your courses will be accepted for transfer credit before leaving. If your university is not an affiliate of EPA inquire whether they will accept your transfer credit as pass/fail, an academic letter grade or both. 4. Make several copies of your passport. Send a copy to EPAs US Office. 5. Research the city and country where you will be studying, as well as the place you will be interning. 6. Forward your university email account to a web-based email provider such as Yahoo or Gmail. Visit your home institutions post office to give a forwarding address and to maintain
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The important thing to remember is how much it depends on you: Learning to recognize, understand, and appreciate the differences is what a foreign study experience is all about.

Student Life Overseas

As you prepare to study abroad, you may be wondering what to expect. In European cities, American students are often surprised to find that there is far less "campus life" than in the US. You could conceivably live in one part of the city, attend classes in another part, and have your internship in yet another area. Your courses will be taken in buildings that are located in the center of a major city. You will learn to cope with the demands of city life: mass transportation (buses and Culture Shock

American universities, there will subways), strikes, impersonal be clubs for sporting, musical, attitudes, crowds and tourists. cultural, political or specialWherever possible, students interest group. are enrolled as associate members of the local Many of the students you will university's student union. meet have gone through a This means that you can take more specialized system of part in most student social and education; you may find them sporting activities. It is one of more sophisticated and the best ways to get to know worldlier than their American European students. Student counterparts. You may be unions organize social events surprised at how politically such as dances and concerts, knowledgeable these students and can supply details about are of the United States, Europe clubs and societies. Just as in and the rest of the world! Your relationships with local students will be greatly aided if you and lonely, frustrated, disappointed, homesick, work on want to complain about irritable. You may improving your knowledge Be prepared to undergo some changes during everything and everyone; you may wish you had your time abroad. You will probably be never left your campus or your country! disoriented at first. There will be plenty of However, you will later realize that overcoming ups and downs during the first few weeks. "culture shock" is part of the total experience, At first, your new home abroad will be the and that the stress of learning to cope with a most fantastic place on earth. This may new environment is part of the adjustment especially seem so if it's your first overseas process, and will pass with time. Bit by bit experience. After the initial rush of things will get better, and you will focus less on excitement, reality sets in, and you may feel the petty frustrations, which will tend to disappear You will delight in some of the
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+ Adjusting
Commuting

to Life Abroad

Mental Health
As wonderful as study abroad is, it is also stressful. Learning a new language, navigating foreign streets, and meeting new people are all exciting experiences, but they require intense physical and mental energy. Coupled with jetlag and loneliness, it can prove overwhelming. In short, studying abroad is not a way to escape problems. All students should have strategies for taking care of themselves while abroad. Keep a journal, exercise, or take up a new hobby. The methods used by students at home for reducing stress are also excellent choices for reducing stress abroad. Students who have mental health concerns should consult a therapist/counselor before going abroad and have a plan for staying healthy while abroad. Students should inform EPA of any special needs or requirements and find out what services will be available to them while they are abroad. Your college or universitys counseling department may offer phone consultations with students studying

What else do I need to know?

One fact every student must face up to is that commuting will almost certainly be necessary. Everyone will have to use buses, subways or the trains, and allowance must be made for this travel in preparing a budget. This cost is not included in the program fee. If you are used to rolling out of bed at 8:45 a.m., climbing into a pair of jeans and getting you find it can take an hour to commute door-to-door to your place of internship or to classes. You won't be alone. The vast majority of people who work and study in cities must also commute. Once you get used to it, you'll use the time to listen to music on headphones, read the morning paper, or just

While abroad you will be a representative of your home institution, your home country, and of Educational Programmes Abroad. We hope that all of the materials and advice you have received have been helpful. Try to be sensitive to cultural differences, not only in daily life, but in the classroom, and at your internship site. We encourage you to contact the US Office of Educational Programmes Abroad, or your schools Study Abraod Office, with any questions or concerns.

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Housing
Apartments/Flats In all program centers, students can live in shared apartments. The advantages of apartment living include independence and easy commutes to city centers. Apartments are fully furnished and fully equipped. In Brussels, students should be aware that completely independent apartments in a student budget are difficult to obtain on a short-term basis. Therefore, students often live in shared studio apartments (combined bedroom and living quarters for 2 EPA students) or in rented sections of family homes (private bedrooms) where bathroom and/or kitchen facilities may be shared with other students or the owners. As in any other large city, commuting times and distances from home to class and internship may be very short, or up to one hour. Dont expect the same amenities you may have in your current on or off campus housing, such as inexpensive, fast internet and telephone access, or utilities included in your rent. Many apartment buildings in Europe are quite old and have not been set up with internet access, but there are often internet cafes within walking distance. There is a $300 pre-arranged flat security deposit fee, payable prior to the beginning of the Program. It is refunded approximately six weeks after the end of the program, if no damage is done to the flat. (All London students will have a $25 cleaning fee deducted from their housing refund.) Family Accomodation (Homestays) Many families live in houses in the suburbs,
Pre-Departure Packet

while the city is dominated, as with any big city, by shops, offices, and apartments. Family accommodation is, therefore, less centrally situated, and more time and money will be spent commuting. You will also be less independent than students in apartments since certain rules, regulations, and minor restrictions are an unavoidable part of living as a paying guest in someone elses home. In Europe, people may offer rooms in their homes to students as a means of augmenting their incomes, not as a cross-cultural gesture as is usually the case when American families take in foreign students. However, every effort is made to find warm, welcoming families, who are interested in students as well as willing to provide pleasant and comfortable accommodation. The term family is used loosely: single people as well as married couples with or without children provide home stays for students. Your objections to small children, domestic animals, and smoking will be taken into account and you will be placed as near to your place of work as possible. Opting out of Housing Due to visa regulations students who opt out of housing must pay the full amount and be reimbursed for the housing portion upon arrival. Housing is very difficult and expensive to obtain. For this reason we highly recommend that all students choose pre-arranged housing. Changes in Housing Arrangements If you change your housing preference after submitting your program application, notify the program office in writing, no later than six weeks prior to the Programs start. Water/Utilities Use Keep showers or baths brief and dress in layers. Water and power costs in Europe are much higher than in the U.S. Some homes or flats may be equipped with laundry facilities; others may not. There are coin-operated laundromats available.
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General Passport and Visa Information

For students applying to the EPA Internships in Europe Program
You must have a passport valid for the duration of your stay abroad.

Passports

If you do not have a passport, please visit http://travel.state.gov or the County Clerks Office in your area to see what the requirements are. The processing of a passport application can take 10 weeks or more.

Visas
A visa is official permission, granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or visit, which allows you to enter and remain in that country for period of time. Some countries require you to obtain a visa either in the U.S. or at a consulate abroad. Costs and entrance requirements vary, but expect to pay between $75 and $500. Find out now what visas, if any, you will need, for places where you will either live or visit. Visas can take up to 10 weeks to process, and some countries/consulates may require you to appear in person to obtain the visa, but most consulates will not allow you to apply until 90 days before you intend to enter the country.

U.S. Citizens: You NEED a visa for semester study with an internship in the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Spain. The Belgian government requires an FBI background check for students who are age 21 or older when they apply for the visa. This process takes approximately 4-6 weeks in addition to the time one should allow for the visa application. If you are applying to the Brussels program and are age 21 or older, we highly recommend that you begin this process as soon as possible. Students studying in Brussels during the summer do NOT need a visa, but those studying in the UK do.

EPA will send out information regarding visa applications approximately 90 days before the start of the program. It is your responsibility to check the consulate website to see what may be required of you. You may need to show English language proficiency if you are not originally from a majority English speaking country. You will likely be requirement to submit original bank documents, originally letters of support, an original birth certificate, and of course, your i i l t Ch k ith th l t f th t i hi h ll b t d i f
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IMPORTANT VISA INFORMATION

Visa application requirements and processes can vary greatly from country to country, and even from Consulate to Consulate. In other words, the Spanish Consulate in New York may have completely different requirements than the Spanish Consulate in Los Angeles. The process can be time-consuming and complicated and we provide the following tips to help you know what to (possibly) expect as you begin the process. When applying for a visa, you are dealing with the government of a foreign country. They can make and change their policies and procedures at any time. We are not agents of foreign countries, so our ability to help you fill out visa applications is extremely limited. It is always best to get answers directly from a Consulate employee. Read very carefully the application and instructions before contacting a Consulate. This will enable you to ask appropriate and informed questions. If you download visa application materials from a website, call the Consulate to be sure that it is the most recent version. Many websites contain outdated application materials. Consulates generally have very limited open hours both for answering the telephone and for public appearances. When you speak with someone in a Consulate write a detailed record of the conversation: date, time, name of person with whom you spoke, and their comments or answers or recommendations. Never assume that because your friend got a visa in one week, that you will, too. You may have to appear at a Consulate in person to submit your visa application materials. If this is a requirement, there is most likely no way to get around it. If the NY Consulate of Spain, for example, requires you to apply there, you must be prepared to drive, fly, or take a bus or train to NYC. We cannot ask them to eliminate this requirement for you. Dont assume anything. We cannot guess how or what to answer for any question; neither should you. Again, requirements vary, but in general, you can expect to provide the following when applying for a student visa: Demographic information about yourself and your parents, including dates and places of birth; your passport; your round-trip plane ticket to your study abroad country; certification of health and/or certain immunizations; letter of acceptance to your study abroad program and/or host institution; letter verifying that you are currently enrolled in a degree program in good standing; detailed financial support information, notarized, e.g., bank statements (family and self), financial aid sources, etc.; proof of health insurance coverage abroad. Dont be surprised if this is not all that is required! This is why it is absolutely essential that you determine your specific requirements very early on in the study abroad application process. Most of all, be patient and be prepared. The visa application process is normally the most daunting and time-consuming part of the study abroad process. Keep in mind the end result!

Check out these websites for more information: Belgian Consulate www.diblobel.us Travel Document Systems Embassy World www.traveldocs.com

Spanish Consulate http://www.maec.es

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www.embassyworld.com
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EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES ABROAD INTERNSHIPS IN EUROPE PROGRAMS GENERAL POLICIES AND REGULATIONS Confirmation Deposit Students who have applied independently and who have been admitted to the Educational Programmes Abroad Internships in Europe Program (EPA) must submit a $500 non-refundable deposit within two weeks of admission in order to confirm their participation. Students from Affiliate schools will need to pay their school the deposit fee that they are assessed. The process of arranging housing and an internship placement generally does not begin until the deposit has been received by the Program, so it is important to return the deposit promptly in order to assure housing and placement. If EPA has begun the process in reliance on a students application or other request before the deposit is received, the student may be charged non-recoverable costs incurred if he or she ultimately declines to participate and return a deposit. See the Withdrawal and Refund policy below. Payment of fees The confirmation deposit, $300 housing deposit (where applicable), and balance of the program and housing fees must be paid in full before the official Program start date. Students whose accounts are not paid in full may not be permitted to participate. EPA reserves the right to charge supplemental fees to cover fluctuations in exchange rates, or any other unforeseen price increases, full details of which will be supplied if such charges are made. Housing Information Housing costs are paid in full by EPA for Program participants prior to the beginning of the Program for all students in homestays and in pre-arranged apartments. All students who choose the pre-arranged flat option will be billed for a $300 housing deposit by the U.S. Office of Educational Programmes Abroad (EPA), which is refundable after the program has ended minus any charges for cleaning or damages. (All London students will have a $25 cleaning charge deducted from the refund.) This housing deposit is due by May 1 for summer programs, July 15 for fall programs, and by December 1 for spring programs. Refunds are issued 6-8 weeks after the program ends. Internship Placement Information The Program Directors begin the process of arranging internship placements as soon as the student has submitted the Confirmation Deposit. A great deal of time and effort is put into the placement process by the Program Directors. Every internship placement is made with care and consideration for the students strengths and interests, and the needs of the potential placements. Students may be notified of their placement prior to arrival in Berlin, Bonn, Brussels, Edinburgh, London, or Madrid, but the placement is provisional and dependent upon a successful on-site interview. In the extremely rare
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Withdrawal and Refund Policies

EPA makes significant financial commitments on admitted students behalf well before the start of the Program, even before the confirmation deposit is received. Therefore, certain fees may be charged to students who withdraw from the Program after the date they are notified of their admission. Students who withdraw or decline to participate in the Program 30 or more days before the Program start date will forfeit the confirmation deposit and any non-recoverable costs incurred EPA (even if no deposit has been paid). Students may be eligible for a refund of amounts paid in excess of the deposit and non-recoverable costs. Students who withdraw or decline to participate in the Program fewer than 30 days before the Program start date will be responsible to pay the confirmation deposit, full terms housing cost as well as other non-recoverable costs incurred by EPA. Students may be eligible for a refund of amounts paid in excess of the deposit, housing, and nonrecoverable costs. Students who withdraw on or after the official Program start date may be eligible for partial refunds, less non-recoverable costs and confirmation deposit, only in documented cases of serious illness or emergency requiring a students return to the United States. The amount of any refund will be determined in the sole discretion of EPA and the affiliate school after written notice of withdrawal from the Program is received in the Rochester office. In all cases described in these policies, unrecoverable costs are variable depending on the circumstances and cannot be estimated in advance. Examples may include orientation fees, housing deposits and payments, and other costs.

Disciplinary Matters EPA reserves the right to ask a participant to withdraw from a program for serious breach of discipline. This extreme action will only be taken after full consultation between the students, EPA, and the credit-granting institution (if applicable). Any student dismissed from the program by the school or EPA, at any time and for any reason, is liable for the full cost of the program, including housing, other fees, and the comprehensive program fee.

Pre-Departure Packet

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