University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Office of International Education (OIE) WEB GUIDE
Economics in Scotland
Location: London, Cambridge, York - England;
Dalkeith, Stirling, New Lanark, Edinburgh - Scotland
Dates: June 18, 2013 - July 13, 2013
Course: Economics 409 (SS) and Economics 427 (3 cr)
Accommodation: hotels; Dalkeith House
Program Model: Faculty-led
Contact: Nancy Burnett, Sage 2481, 424-1471; Lee Van Scyoc, Sage 2483, 424-7153
Explore the development of Great Britain from the stone age to today – from the druids to the Romans to today’s great economy. Visit sites as diverse as a distillery, a woolen mill, roman ruins and one of the great castles and palaces in all of Scotland. Go on a ghost walk, see how people lived in the 1700’s, experience life in a Scottish castle, learn about the lives and history of Scotland and England… and create memories that will last a lifetime. Join a group of UW Oshkosh students and faculty as they...
EXAMINE the philosophical foundations of modern economic theory,
COMPARE original market structures from the middle ages
with the industrialized might of modern manufacturing,
EXPLORE the development of economic conditions
which paralleled economic theory of the time and
EXPERIENCE places illustrative of economic theory and living history in action.
LIVE in Dalkeith Castle!
Are you an Economics Major or Minor?
Apply for the James Grunloh Economics Study Abroad Scholarship
All of the information included here is subject to change. Modifications may be required depending on the exigencies of the situation.
Academic Coursework
Course Information
Required Courses
Economics 427 - Economic and Social Development of Britain (3 credits)
Prerequisites: completion of any economics course or permission of instructor
Instructor: Nancy Burnett
Fulfills upper division elective credit for economics majors and satisfies Global Dimensions requirement in place of BUS 494 for business majors.
Economics 409 - History of Economic Thought (SS) (3 credits)
Prerequisite: Econ 204 or 209 and Econ 206 or 208 with an average grade of C or better. Or permission of instructor
Instructor: Lee Van Scyoc
Fulfills a required course or upper division elective credit for economics majors.
Optional Course
International Studies 333 1 unit (cr.)
Study Tour
Prerequisites: none; syllabus
If you request enrollment in this course on the study abroad application, you will be automatically enrolled and will not be contacted about the coursework involved. Assignments for this course must be done independently. Contact the Office of International Education with questions.
Study Abroad and Graduation
Students graduating at the end of this study abroad experience must choose a summer graduation date. Summer graduates may choose to walk in the May or the December graduation ceremony.
Full Estimated Cost of Participation
The "Full Estimated Cost of Participation" includes your Program Fee (the amount due directly to UW Oshkosh), your airfare and other expenses related to your participation on this program.
Full Estimated Cost of Participation: $4,990 for summer 2013
As part of the application process for this program, you are required to review, sign and submit the "Full Estimated Cost of Participation" worksheet for your program. The worksheet includes all of the cost details for your program and is linked from STEP III of the "Apply" section of this guide.
Accommodation & Meals
Accommodation
Check the link for your accommodation for amenities, room size and location. Rooms can be extremely small. It isn't unusual to have very little space around the bed, shorter beds, only a few inches for a closet pole, tight showers and/or buildings directly outside your window.
Kent Hall Hotel (London)
Kent Hall is a medium sized hotel 10-15 minutes from central London/Leicester Square by tube/underground (Manor House stop on the Picadilly Line) and only a short walk from the tube station, grocery store, chemist (pharmacy), bagel shop, fruit market, several small stores and a park. Rooms each have 6-7 beds, and many have a safe which will allow you to enter a unique PIN. There is a pay phone in the lobby which will accept American Express calling cards. Laundry service is available for a fee. Breakfast is served daily and is included in your program fee. There is WI-FI access for a fee; you will need to use internet cafes in London. Address: 414 Seven Sisters Road, London, N4 2LX; Tel: 011-44-20-8802-0800; Fax: 011-44-20-8802-9070; kenthall@dircon.co.uk.
Hamilton Lodge (or similar; Cambridge)
Address: 156 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 1DA; Tel: 011-44-1223-365-664; Fax: 011-44-1223-314-866; Email: hamiltonhotel @ talk21.comAce York Botique Hostel (or similar; York)
Address: Micklegate House, 88-90 Micklegate, York, YO1 6JX; Tel: 011-44-1904-627-720; Fax: 011-44-1904-627-720; Email: reception@ace-hotelyork.co.uk
Dalkeith House (just outside Edinburgh in Dalkeith City)
Dalkeith House is an 18th century manor house known to the Scots as Dalkeith Palace. It was rebuilt in 1701 on the remains of the original Dalkeith Castle built in the 12th century. The "Palace" is a magnificent example of late William & Mary architecture and is renowned for its fine oak paneling and carvings.Students share multi-bed rooms, with 3-6 students per room. In addition to students, faculty and house administrators live in Dalkeith House. The house has plenty of space for residence life and food service facilities, classrooms, offices, lounge areas, and laundry and recreation rooms. There is a computer lab equipped with software for word processing, high speed internet and PowerPoint. If you want to save information using House computers, you must bring a large zip disk with you. You cannot save on the hard drives in the computer lab. Additional House resources are listed here.
Address: Dalkeith House, Dalkeith Midlothian, Scotland EH22 2NA; Student Payphones: 011-44-131-660-4065 or 011-44-131-654-1416 or 011-44-131-663-9740; Fax: 011-44-131-654-0320
Dalkeith is a village just six miles southeast of Edinburgh in the Midlothian region of Scotland. Edinburgh and the surrounding region provide an ideal environment for educational programs and personal exploration. The richness of British history, politics, literature, poetry, arts, and other subjects come alive at every turn. Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland since 1124, is a classic European city. There the medieval grandeur of Old Town, crowned by Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood House, joins harmoniously with the modern attractions of New Town. The natural beauty of the Scottish landscape and its coastline provide a majestic background for exploration, education, and enrichment.
Dalkeith town is a modern but historic village with shops, restaurants, banks, a post office, a travel agency, and other amenities to meet students' immediate needs. Frequent buses join Dalkeith to the center of Edinburgh. Students stay in Dalkeith Castle on the Dalkeith Estate, an 18th century manor house and grounds known to the Scots as Dalkeith Palace. It was rebuilt in 1701 on the remains of the original Dalkeith Castle (12th century) and is currently under lease to the University of Wisconsin. There are nature trails, fishing, an adventure park, animals (sheep, cattle, horses, ponies, pigs, goats, pheasants, and fox, just to name a few) and a full time ranger service on the estate on which Dalkeith House is located.
Roommates
You and your friends may request each other as roommates by editing your on-line study abroad applications. The Office of International Education will not assign roommates unless students request EACH OTHER!
In some cases, participants may be able to elect a single room. There is always a significant fee; check with the Office of International Education for an estimate if you are interested.
Those who do not make a request will be assigned a roommate.
Meals
Daily breakfasts and a lunch allowance while in Dalkeith are included in your program fee.
Review the estimate for the amount of money you should bring to cover meals in the Full Cost of Participation worksheet. It is not reasonable to think that you can save money by spending less than the food estimate provided by the OIE! This estimate is meant to be the BARE MINIMUM in relation to your particular destination!
Eligibility
Undergraduate students must have a minimum G.P.A. of 2.0 and be in good standing, have a clean disciplinary record, and meet course prerequisites. Undergraduates who do not meet these requirements should contact the program leader. In some cases, the eligibility requirements can be waived.
Participants With Disabilities
If you have a disability that requires reasonable accommodation, it is best to consult with disability services on the UW Oshkosh campus at least a few weeks prior to the study abroad application deadline. If this isn’t possible, consult with disability services as far in advance as possible or by the study abroad application deadline. If you are a student on another campus, please consult your own disability services office first and then ask that office to contact the UW Oshkosh disability services office at (920) 424-3100.
Orientation & Pre-/Post-travel Class Dates
Inability or failure to attend may affect your participation, course grades and ability to receive and use financial aid.
Mandatory Orientation
- Fall Interim & Spring Semester Programs: Sat, 11/9/13, 9:00-1:00, Location TBD
- Spring Interim, Summer & Fall Semester Programs: Sat, 4/13/13, 9:00-1:00, Location TBD
- All classes will be taught in the U.K. Students should meet with faculty leaders individually to prepare for the program abroad.
Application Process
Before You Apply
- Write the Study Abroad Orientation dates in your calendar.
All participants must attend from beginning to end. Inability or failure to attend orientations may affect your participation. Approximately 95% of our participants bring one or more family members, though family participation is optional. - Write all payment deadlines in your calendar.
If you aren't the person who will be making payments, share this information with the person who will be. - Understand how seats are assigned on study abroad programs.
Securing Your Place on a Study Abroad Program
Seats are assigned in the order in which qualified applicants have completed STEPS I & II of the application process, provided STEP III has also been completed by the STEP III application deadline.
This means that you may be conditionally admitted following completion of steps I & II, but NOT receive a seat if you then fail to complete STEP III on time.
If you are on the waiting list, you may receive a seat if applicants who have been conditionally admitted have not completed STEP III by the deadline.
After the deadline, seats are assigned in the order in which qualified applicants have completed all three steps.
Application Deadlines
Summer Programs
STEPS I & II: last Friday in February by 12:00 pm.
STEP III: 1st Friday of March by 12:00 pm.
Application STEPs & Application Checklist
Complete the three steps below in order, or work on all three steps simultaneously. Check off items as you SUBMIT them to the Office of International Education.
| Step I | |
| Complete the on-line study abroad/away application. | |
| Step II | |
| Print the application packet and sign where appropriate. | |
| Pay the UW Oshkosh application fee ($100 for in-state residents and $200 for out-of-state residents) per the instructions in the application packet and turn in your receipt to the OIE. If you have mailed the application fee to the Cashier's Office, notify the OIE so that OIE staff can contact the Cashier's Office for confirmation. |
|
| Print an unofficial copy of your university transcript Highlight course prerequisites (if applicable) and final GPA. To print your transcripts, EITHER copy and paste your transcript from TitanWeb into Word and print OR follow these instructions: 1) Open your transcript in TitanWeb using Internet Explorer. 2) Highlight all of the information in your transcript. 3) Go to "print preview" 4) Click on "as selected on screen" 5) Change the orientation to "landscape" 6) Print |
|
| Credit Overload Form Complete and submit to the OIE ONLY IF you will exceed the maximum credit limit for the semester. |
|
| Special Student Form for Undergraduate Admissions Complete and submit to the OIE ONLY IF you are not a student at UW Oshkosh OR if you are not a student at all. |
|
| Graduate Registration Form and Graduate Special/Non-Degree Information Form Complete and submit to the OIE ONLY IF you are not in a Graduate program at UW Oshkosh and want to earn graduate level credit, or if you are in a Graduate program at UW Oshkosh and want to earn undergraduate level credit. |
|
| Submit the Disciplinary Clearance Form Complete ONLY IF you are a student at a university or college OTHER THAN UW Oshkosh. Submit this form to the appropriate office on your HOME campus; request that the office on your HOME campus submit the form directly to the UW Oshkosh OIE by the deadline for this step of the application process. |
|
|
Program-specific Application Materials/Requirements: none for Step II |
|
| Step III | |
| Review, sign and submit the Full Cost of Participation worksheet. |
|
| Edit the "medical" and "medical III" sections of your on-line study abroad application to ensure that every question is complete. Each and every question must be answered, even if the answer is obviously "none" or "n/a"! | |
| Provide proof of passport Complete only if you will travel outside the U.S. If you already have a passport, edit the "passport" section of your on-line study abroad application to include all requested passport details. If you do not already have a passport, apply for one and submit a copy of your receipt to the OIE showing that you have applied. Click here for passport forms and instructions. |
|
| Edit the "passport" section of your on-line study abroad application to include your full name. If you are traveling OUTSIDE the U.S., enter your full name EXACTLY as it appears on your passport or on your passport application. DO NOT GUESS! If you are traveling WITHIN the U.S. (including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands), enter your name EXACTLY as it appears on your driver’s license. DO NOT GUESS! Your name will be printed on your airline ticket exactly as you enter it. If the name on your airline ticket does not match the name on your identification, you will be charged a correction fee or may not be allowed through airport security. |
|
|
Program-specific Application Materials/Requirements: none for Step III |
|
Application Status
Log in to your on-line study abroad/away application to see the status of your application; this is explained in the the upper right-hand corner of the screen.
Use the "application status" tab on your on-line application to check for missing application materials. Because our on-line application system is unable to generate application materials lists which are specific to each individual study abroad program, missing "program-specific" materials aren't outlined on the system. Use the check boxes above to keep track of forms you've completed and then to track forms you've submitted to the OIE.
Communicating with the OIE
Prior to completing a study abroad application, OIE staff will correspond with you via your UW Oshkosh email account.
After completing the first step of the study abroad application process, which is done on line, you'll mainly communicate with the OIE via this same application. This allows all staff in the OIE to review questions or issues even when the primary staff member working with you is out of the office.
To ask or respond to a question, log in to your application and click on "Add Comment". Comments are emailed to you and to oie@uwosh.edu and are saved in the application "history".
Communication to groups will be via UW Oshkosh email.
To avoid having our messages to you end up in the cyber trash, if you do not have a UW Oshkosh email address you must use your work or university email address. The OIE will not accept hotmail or yahoo addresses under any circumstances.
See http://www.uwosh.edu/titanapps for instructions. For help, call (920) 424-3020.
Withdrawal & Program Cancellation
Program Withdrawal
You are subject to the withdrawal and refund policy which you signed (or will sign) when you applied to a UW Oshkosh-sponsored study abroad program. Because this is a financial contract between you and the university, it is in your best interest to read this if you haven't already!
If at any time in this process you decide to withdraw, you must formally request to withdraw following the OIE Withdrawal Process.
If a program is cancelled by UW Oshkosh, you will receive a full refund.
Paying Your Program Fee
Financial Aid
Using financial aid to cover some or all of your costs? See our detailed financial aid information.
Payment Deadlines
Summer Programs
- First Payment of $1,000 (or full fee if the total due to UW Oshkosh is less than $1,000) is due the last Friday of March.
- Final Payment, including all related tuition fees, is due one month before the trip departure date.
First Program Fee Payment
Your emailed study abroad acceptance letter (the one that says that you have been officially accepted to participate) includes a link to a statement for your first payment. This statement will not be sent to you in any other way. No one else will receive this statement or a copy of your bill; no further reminders will be sent. It is your responsibility to make payments according to the payment deadlines; you will need to forward your statement to the person who pays your bills if you are not that person!!!
The initial Program Fee Statement is also provided here. You can use this copy or the copy included in your acceptance letter (they are identical) when paying your fees.
You will receive a link to a statement for your second payment VIA EMAIL from the Office of International Education just prior to the second payment deadline. Some programs have been advertised using a range of fees; if this is the case, you must plan to cover fees at the top end of the range until you receive your second statement. This statement will indicate whether there have been cost savings due to increased participant numbers, exchange rates, etc. and, therefore, a reduced program fee.
If your program includes a required tuition payment IN ADDITION TO YOUR PROGRAM FEE, this will be clearly indicated on the Full Cost of Participation Worksheet linked within the "Apply" section of this guide.
For interim programs, follow the program fee payment deadlines ($1,000 total due by the first deadline date, the remaining tuition and program fee due by the final deadline date).
For semester & summer programs, tuition will be billed by Student Accounts just before the term at UW Oshkosh begins, just as it normally is. It is your responsibility to make payments according to the normal university tuition payment deadlines.
Payment by Cash or Check
All payments by cash or check must be accompanied by a copy of your program fee statement. Make checks payable to “The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh” and write “Study Abroad” in the memo section. Pay fees at the Cashier's Office on the second floor of Dempsey Hall or mail your check to: Cashier's Office, UW Oshkosh, 800 Algoma Blvd, Oshkosh, WI 54901. Cashier office hours: Mon – Fri 8:30-4:00 (8:30-3:00 the day after Thanksgiving).
Payment by Credit Card or E-check
Payment by MasterCard or American Express carries a 2.5% convenience fee and can be made through TitanWeb http://www.uwosh.edu/tw/. E-checks carry a fee of $0.50 per transaction.
Payment by Financial Aid, Grant, Scholarship or External Loan
Submit the "Notice of Financial Aid Award for Study Abroad" form to Student Accounts by the first payment deadline. Students who plan to to cover some costs on their own and remaining costs using financial aid, grants or scholarships must pay costs not covered by aid/loans/scholarships, up to $1,000, by the first payment deadline.
For UW Oshkosh students, financial aid will automatically be applied toward study abroad-related fees on your student account. If you are a student elsewhere, you may need to pick up your change check from your home campus, cash the check, and send payment to UW Oshkosh.
Once your "Notice of Financial Aid Award for Study Abroad" form has been submitted, a "positive service indicator" will appear on your record indicating that financial aid will be paying your study abroad program fees. This should not prevent you from doing anything except printing transcripts.
Scholarships
Scholarships offered through UW Oshkosh and outside organizations.
Flight & Program Schedule
Oshkosh - Departure
Mode of transportation: school bus
Meeting Date & Time: 18 JUNE 2013 at 10:15 am
Departure Time: 10:30 am
Departure Location: Parking Lot 30 (corner of Wisconsin and Pearl)
If the "mode of transportation" to the airport for your program is "bus", there is a bus scheduled to take participants from Oshkosh to the airport.
If there is a bus, and if you plan to ride the bus...
your on-line study abroad application must show "I will take the group bus from Oshkosh to the airport" on the transportation tab. You may request a pickup or end-of-program drop-off in Milwaukee by emailing reinkem@uwosh.edu. If you don't make this request in advance, the bus will not stop in Milwaukee. Check your on-line application if you aren't sure what you indicated when you first applied; if the information is incorrect, edit your information AT LEAST two business days prior to your departure.If there is a bus, and if you do not plan to ride the bus...
your on-line study abroad application must show "I will arrange for my own transportation from Oshkosh to the airport" on the transportation tab. It is then your responsibility to arrange for transportation between your residence and the airport and to arrange to meet the group at the airport. Check your on-line application if you aren't sure what you indicated when you first applied; if the information is incorrect, edit your information AT LEAST two business days prior to your departure.Park in UW Oshkosh Lot 30 with a Valid UW Oshkosh Parking Permit
If you have a valid UW Oshkosh commuter parking permit (look for the “S” on your permit) AND will be away for one month or less over summer break or interim, you may park in university parking lot 30 (located behind Gruenhagen Conference Center), for the duration of your study abroad program. You must use one of the stalls that is furthest from the parking lot entrance. Check the expiration date on your parking permit to be sure that it is valid for the duration of your program.
Students with “evening parking permits” (also called a night permit) may not leave cars parked in this lot for the duration of their program.
If you don't have a valid permit, you may purchase a temporary permit from Parking Services ((920) 424-4455) in the lower level of Blackhawk.
18 JUNE 2013
04:20 pm Depart Chicago O'Hare on Delta Airlines FLIGHT#3586
05:52 pm Arrive Minneapolis/St. Paul
09:45 pm Depart Minneapolis/St. Paul on Delta Airlines FLIGHT#40
12:05 pm Arrive London
This program itinerary is tentative and subject to change.
19 JUNE 2013
Coach transfer from airport to Kent Hall.
London - walking tour, London Museum, British Museum.
20 JUNE 2013
London - wall walk, Tower of London.
21 JUNE 2013
London – ½ day Stonghenge tour.
22 JUNE 2013
London - Portobello Road Market, National Gallery or British Library (home of the Magna Carta)
23 JUNE 2013
Cambridge - Coach transfer to Cambridge .
Guided walking tour including INSIDE VISIT/entrance to King's College.
Punting activity.24 JUNE 2013
Cambridge - Museum, Round Church, walking tour
25 JUNE 2013
York - Coach transfer to York; Guided walking tour and ghost tour.
26 JUNE 2013
York Castle Museum, Dungeon, and Minister Tour.
27 JUNE 2013
Dalkieth – Coach transfer to Dalkeith. Orientation in Dalkeith. Walking tour of town
28 JUNE 2013
Edinburgh - bus tour using public bus.
29 JUNE 2013
Leisure Day
30 JUNE 2013 - 3 JULY 2013
Class 6 hours a day.
4 JULY 2013
Scottish Mining Museum. Afternoon classes.
5 JULY 2013
Edinburgh Castle and Craigmiller Castle.
6 JULY 2013
Day trip to Stirling by coach.
Visit Stirling Castle. Walking tour of Stirling, Argyll’s Lodging, William Wallace Memorial.
7 JULY 2013
Visits to Holyrood Palace, Peoples Museum, Royal Musem of Scotland, Gladstone's Land, Charolette Square, Money Museum, Mary King's Close.
8 JULY 2013
Day trip to New Lanark by coach.
Economic topics prepared and given by New Lanark staff, economics oriented tour led by New Lanark, discussion.
9 JULY 2013
Class for 6 hours.
10 JULY 2013
Visits to Glenkinchie Distillery by coach, includes lecture and tour of working facility, after Final Exams (class 4-6 hours)
11 JULY 2013
Optional tour to Loch Ness.
12 JULY 2013
Leisure Day.
13 JULY 2013
Departure to Chicago O'Hare.
The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh reserves the right to make changes to itineraries, travel arrangements, hotels, excursions, activities or other arrangements made necessary by factors beyond its control. On certain dates when some attractions or activities may not be available, UW Oshkosh reserves the right to substitute alternate attractions or activities.
13 JULY 2013
09:10 am Depart Edinburgh on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines FLIGHT#1278
11:40 am Arrive Amsterdam
12:40 pm Depart Amsterdam on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines FLIGHT#611
02:10 pm Arrive Chicago O'Hare
Mode of transportation: school bus
Estimated date & time: 13 JULY 2013 at no earlier than 5:30 pm.
Return Location: Parking Lot 30 (corner of Wisconsin and Pearl)
Family Orientation
Participants may choose to attend in-person Family Orientation OR participants may exempt themselves from in-person Family Orientation by completing family orientation on line PRIOR TO the in-person Family Orientation date.
Family orientation is mandatory FOR PARTICIPANTS ONLY and must be completed on or prior to the in-person Family Orientation date. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.
For dates, see Orientation & Pre-/post-travel Class Dates.
Family member attendance at the in-person orientation is not required. Family members who don’t plan to attend the in-person orientation, or who would like to review the orientation prior to attending in person, may also access the on-line orientation. However, please encourage family members not to submit the orientation quiz.
Prior to in-person or on-line orientation, be sure that family members who plan to attend have access to the print documents and have reviewed these documents in advance.
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MAY YOUR FAMILY MEMBER ATTEND ORIENTATION IN YOUR PLACE.
All participants, regardless of whether you will complete the on-line or the in-person orientation, must review these print materials prior to orientation. Share these with interested family members as well.
Most of these materials are referenced throughout both the on-line and the in-person orientation. A few are provided only in print below and are not referenced.
- Orientation Notes Pages
You won't have to write EVERYTHING down! Print the notes from below and use these to follow along while you watch the on-line presentation or while you attend the in-person orientation. Not everything in the presentation will reference these notes; references will also be made to other sections of this web guide (especially the Full Cost of Participation worksheet and your schedule).- Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Information on immunizations & much more. Read the highlighted version now. Refer to the most up-to-date information prior to travel.
- Highlighted version of the CDC for the U.K. (last updated 2/27/13).
- CISI Health Insurance Policy and CISI Security Evacuation Policy
Your insurance doesn’t cover the things you don’t know about! (In other words, if you’ve never read your policy, you won’t know when to go to the insurance company for reimbursement.) Know what your policy covers and how to get reimbursed PRIOR to travel. If this is your first experience with health insurance, review this with a family member.- U.S. State Department Country-specific Information
How do Americans know what not to do when they travel? What should Americans be aware of when traveling to a particular place? Find out here. Read the highlighted version now. Refer to the most up-to-date information prior to travel. More information like the above will be available in “guide books” written specifically for your country/ies.
- Up-to-date Country-specific Information for the U.K., including links to other Department of State-generated advisories.
- Highlighted Country-specific information for the U.K. (last updated 2/27/13)
- U.S. State Department Special Warning About Drug Offenses Abroad
Drug offenses abroad will lead you to straight to jail.- U.S. State Department Worldwide Caution
Know what the U.S. State Department has to say about your safety in the world today!- Transportation Security Administration
What you can & can’t take along when you fly. Prohibited & Permitted Items and
311 Rules.- Luggage Limits
Carry-on, checked and excess baggage restrictions TBD.- Packing List
Very basic; you'll need to add to this! If you are traveling with a UW Oshkosh professor, you may also receive packing guidance specific to your program. If you are traveling independently, your host may also be providing packing guidance.- Electricity
Adapter plug pictures and basic informtation on using electronics and appliances abroad.- Emergency Communication Form
Optional form for your own personal use to record important phone numbers and information.- Withdrawal & Refund Policy; Uniform Statements of Responsibility
This is the policy you signed when you applied to participate.- Culture and Conversation
- What’s Up With Culture? On-line training resource for study abroad
- Issue Briefs – understanding issues as a means to connect with people
- Culturegrams –4-page reports on history, religion, greetings, etc. ($)
Review the materials linked above, grab some paper and a pencil, and schedule about 90 minutes to focus on your on-line orientation. Complete your orientation requirement by submitting this orientation quiz to the Office of International Education by the Thursday prior to in-person orientation.
Click here to access your on-line orientation.
All participants who have not completed the on-line Family Orientation PRIOR TO the in-person Family Orientation date are REQUIRED TO ATTEND IN PERSON. Arrive at the designated room at least 15 minutes before this event is scheduled to begin to sign in. Registration will close approximately 5 minutes before the event.
From highway 41, take the highway 21 exit east into Oshkosh (from the south, take a right; from the north, take a left). After crossing the bridge, take a right onto High Avenue. Parking is available in Parking Lots 15 & 32 (available from High or Algoma) or Lot 34 (available from Elmwood). You can purchase a parking permit on campus (the parking office is accessible from Lot 15) or park only in lots with a meter. Campus Map
Accommodation is available on the Oshkosh campus to participants & family members. To make reservations, contact Gruenhagen Conference Center at (920) 424-1106. Be sure to reference the study abroad orientation when you call.
Family Orientation Notes
(for courses taken during study abroad)You will automatically be enrolled in your UW Oshkosh courses as late as a few weeks before your program departure date.
Most airline tickets for international flights are now e-tickets. You will receive a copy of your e-ticket via email prior to travel; you must print at least one copy to take with you when you travel. While having the copy with you is not a requirement, if the airline is having trouble finding you in their system when you show up to check it having the copy with you may be the only way to resolve the issue quickly.
If you will be on flights abroad which are not part of your international flight, you may receive paper tickets. Often, U.S. airlines cannot issue e-tickets for flights which originate and end entirely within countries outside the U.S. If there are paper tickets for your program, you will either receive yours when you board the bus at UW Oshkosh or, if there isn't a bus or you aren't taking the bus, be asked to stop in the OIE prior to travel to sign for your ticket. To avoid loss of ticket, the OIE does not mail paper tickets to participants.
You must pay your entire program fee IN FULL BEFORE you receive your e-ticket or paper tickets.
See our information on Frequent Flyer Miles for basic information on how these programs work. See the website of the specific airline you will fly for program enrollment information.
In a life and death emergency ABROAD
U.S. Department of State Citizen Emergency Center (1-202-647-5225) will relay messages to the foreign Embassy. Embassy personnel may try to locate your student, pass on urgent messages and, consistent with the Privacy Act, report back.
To reach your student directly
If your student is staying in a hotel, use the hotel contact information listed on the web page for your student's program. The Office of International Education cannot give out private residence or homestay phone numbers unless authorized in advance by the student, but we will contact your student for you in an emergency.
To reach someone at UW Oshkosh during office hours (7:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F)
Office of International Education Phone: 1 (920) 424-0775
Jenna Graff: Director, Office of International Education - graff@uwosh.edu
Tanya Kollross, Study Abroad Advisor - abroad@uwosh.edu
Emily Hoffmann: Hessen & NSE Advisor - nse@uwosh.edu
Mary Reinke: Program Manager - reinkem@uwosh.edu
Sarah Christensen : International Student Advisor - christes@uwosh.edu
Office of International Education Fax: 1 (920) 424-0185
Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor Phone: 1 (920) 424-1410
Office of the Provost & Vice Chancellor Phone: 1 (920) 424-0300To reach someone at UW Oshkosh outside of normal office hours
University Police: 1 (920) 424-1216
To reach local contacts associated with our program ABROAD
Dr. Nancy Burnett and Dr. Lee Van Scyoc, the faculty leaders from UW Oshkosh, will accompany the group throughout the program. Both faculty can be reached using contact information listed under "accommodation" above.
During the group stay in Dalkeith only: If the UW Oshkosh faculty accompanying the group cannot be reached, try the resident director at Dalkeith House at fax: 011-44-131-654-0320.
Money Matters
In addition to advertised program fees, you will be responsible for other expenses. The budget estimate for your program is based on an average person's expenditures and takes into account pricing for goods and services at the destination. It is unreasonable to think that you may spend significantly less than the estimates for your trip. If you enjoy shopping or plan to spend evenings out, bring more than the budget estimate! Official exchange rates are available from the Currency Converter at http://www.xe.com.
Cash (foreign currency)
It is typically least expensive and recommended to purchase foreign currency once you arrive at the international destination airport unless you are traveling to a place where currency exchanges & ATMs may be closed outside banking hours (Japan) or exchanging in the airport is unsafe (Mexico, countries in Africa). You may also purchase most (but not all) foreign currencies before traveling from a currency exchange outlet at an international airport or by ordering through your local bank or credit union. For up-to-date locations and hours of operation - Currency Exchange at O'Hare Airport.
Traveler's Checks
Purchase enough traveler’s checks at your bank or credit union to bring as backup when a credit or ATM card cannot be used or is stolen. PROs: given increasing credit, debit and ATM card fees, traveler's checks may be less expensive. CONs: traveler's checks can only be cashed at the airport, in banks, at money exchanges and in SOME hotels. Expensive hotels tend to give bad exchange rates for traveler's checks. If there is an American Express office in the city you plan to visit (and you are on a program with a flexible enough schedule to conveniently get there), cash your traveler's checks there. American Express will not charge commission.
Credit, Debit & ATM Cards
Plastic is extremely convenient in some parts of the world and useless in others. Use your guide book to determine whether this type of currency is accepted at your destination. You'll be charged a percentage of each transaction; this fee is "rolled" into the exchange rate and can be the daily rate of exchange plus 2.5% or higher. You may also be charged per transaction by your bank and/or by the foreign bank (owners of the ATM machine).
In order to use your cards abroad, you must let your credit/debit/ATM card company know you plan to travel abroad. If you don't, it's quite common, even for regular travelers, to find that their card has been red flagged and cancelled by the issuing bank's computer system. In addition, for security reasons some cards are not validated for overseas travel and may be confiscated by a machine even after entering the correct PIN. *At least one area Credit Union has cut off all access to ATM's from abroad due to fraud.
Global VISA ATM locator
Global MasterCard ATM locator
Global American Express ATM locatorCredit Cards: Bring VISA or MasterCard only. American Express may be used at American Express offices. PROs: credit cards typically offer protection against unauthorized use provided you follow the company's reporting policy. CONs: numbers are often stolen; credit card cash advances are extremely expensive and require a PIN. *Know your credit card limits--charging over the limit is an arrestable offense in some countries. Paraphrase from a US State Department Consular Information Sheet: Credit card fraud is on the rise in many countries, and both theft and 'number skimming' are common. Retain all your credit card receipts and check your accounts regularly to help prevent unauthorized use of your credit cards.
Debit Cards vs. ATM Cards: In the U.S. we typically use debit cards rather than ATM cards. Debit cards allow users to withdraw cash using a PIN or make purchases WITHOUT using a PIN. In other countries, because of the high incidence of theft, ATM cards are a better choice because they always require a PIN. PROs: In developed countries (except Japan) ATM cards are typically the most convenient way to access money. CONs: Your account can be emptied if your numbers (or numbers and PIN) are stolen. You should keep only the money you plan to spend on your trip in your account; remove overdraft protection. To protect your PIN
- never access cash from machines visible to other people
- always shield both your hand and the PIN pad to protect against cameras planted near ATMs
- avoid ATM machines which require you to swipe your card in order to open the door to the ATM booth
- Paraphrase from a US State Department Country-specific Information publication: avoid using debit cards for point of sale purchases, as a skimmed number can be used to clean out an account.
Wire Transfer
To send money by wire transfer, you will need the following information from the institution/organization/individual you are paying:
--Name of the institution/organization/individual --Account # (at the bank) --Address --Fax Number (optional) --Phone Number --Email (optional) You will also need the following information from the bank which will receive the money. The institution/organization/individual you are paying will give this information to you.
--Bank Name --Bank Fax --Sort Code --Bank Address --Branch Number --Swift --Bank phone --ABA When requesting a wire transfer at your local bank or credit union, present the information above and ask that the bank "cover the wire transfer fees at both the sending and the receiving banks." If you don't cover the wire fees at the receiving bank, your payment will be reduced by the amount of the fee and you will end up still owing.
When you order the transfer, you do so in foreign currency. Therefore, you will typically be charged in U.S. dollars after the transfer has been processed. Your fee will include the equivalent of the wire transfer in U.S. dollars plus a bank fee (ask how much this is before ordering the transfer).
Wire transfers typically take 3-5 days to process. Be sure that you make payments by wire transfer far enough in advance of payment deadlines.
Bank Drafts in Foreign Currencies
To make a payment in a foreign currency by check, you will need to order a "bank draft" in that foreign currency through your local bank or credit union.
When you order the draft, you do so in foreign currency. Therefore, you will typically be charged in U.S. dollars after the draft has been processed. Your fee will include the equivalent of the draft in U.S. dollars plus a bank fee (ask how much this is before ordering the draft).
Be sure that you make requests for drafts far enough in advance of payment deadlines. Bank drafts take at least several days to process before being mailed to the bank and then to you. Plan for an additional 10 days to mail the draft to a foreign country.
UW Oshkosh may include only qualified tuition paid to UW Oshkosh for enrollment at UW Oshkosh on 1098-T's issued to students.
Qualified tuition is tuition for academic credit which a student must pay to be enrolled at or attend an eligible educational institution.
Academic credit is credit awarded by an eligible educational institution for the completion of course work leading to a post-secondary degree.
An Eligible educational institution is a ... university ... that is described in section 481 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as in effect on August 5, 1997, and that is eligible to participate in the Department of Education's student aid programs.
Financial Administration of Study Abroad Programs (UW System). In order to increase student access to UW study abroad programs and minimize the cost of student participation, study abroad programs will be financed on a cost recovery basis. Students studying abroad will be exempt from paying the Board of Regents' approved academic fees.
This means...
- For study abroad with course enrollment at UW Oshkosh, no UW Oshkosh tuition is charged. If no tuition is charged, no tuition will appear on the 1098-T.
- For study abroad with NO course enrollment at UW Oshkosh (except a "placeholder" used to keep your registration at UW Oshkosh active), no UW Oshkosh tuition is charged. Your program fee may include tuition from an ineligible educational institution abroad. If no UW Oshkosh tuition is charged, no tuition will appear on the 1098-T.
- For tuition paid directly to an institution abroad, check with that institution to see whether a 1098-T can be issued. It is our understanding (and we may be wrong - check with your tax advisor on this!) that while some foreign schools do participate in the Department of Education's student aid programs (making them eligible educational institutions), students must also be completing course work leading to a post-secondary degree at that institution for the 1098-T to be issued.
Health, Safety & Security
If I am on a UW Oshkosh-sponsored program, do I have insurance for medical and emergency services while studying abroad?
YES - but only during your official program dates! UW System requires all participants on UW Oshkosh-sponsored programs abroad to purchase insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). This insurance is included in your study abroad program fees; your coverage will begin on the first day on which you are required to be in the host country and end on or just after the last day on which you are required to be in the host country.
In addition to CISI, all students studying through an Australian, German or New Zealand university are required by the foreign government to carry additional health insurance. You will receive instructions and the necessary paperwork to obtain your insurance card at your host university’s orientation.
- Students studying in Australia must purchase "Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
- Students studying in Germany and New Zealand must purchase health insurance offered through individual universities.
What does CISI cover?
CISI coverage can change from policy year to policy year. All benefits are clearly explained on the Description of Coverage. If your program begins
- on or after August 1, 2012-May 1, 2013: http://www.uwosh.edu/oie/abroad/handbook/CISIpolicy20122013.pdf
on or after May 1, 2013 - April 30, 2014: http://www.uwosh.edu/oie/abroad/handbook/CISIpolicy20132014.pdfAdditional Comprehensive Security Evacuation Insurance is outlined on a separate Description of Coverage, available from http://culturalinsurance.com/pdf/security_evac_comprehensive_ace.pdf.
How do I access information about my CISI coverage and print my insurance card?
Instructions on accessing information and printing your insurance card, among other things, are available from http://www.uwosh.edu/oie/abroad/handbook/myCISI.pdf.
In addition, use the CISI Participant Portal to
- View, print and email your
- Consulate letter (if you are applying for a visa to enter a foreign country, you may need this),
- Claim form (submit this directly to CISI)
- Access travel-related sites.
- Research country specific information.
- Access a personal security assistance website.
- Extend your coverage (prior to or following your program dates).
I will arrive abroad prior to my official program start date and/or will return after my official program end date. Do I need to extend my insurance coverage if I'm on a UW Oshkosh-sponsored program?
YES! If you don't extend your insurance coverage, you won't be covered. Follow the instructions available from http://www.uwosh.edu/oie/abroad/handbook/myCISI.pdf to extend your coverage. You must pay for the additional coverage directly at the time that you request the extension.
Can I use my personal health insurance plan without purchasing additional insurance for travel abroad?
If studying on a UW Oshkosh-sponsored Program, no. UW System does not allow for the exemption of any participant for any reason.
If you are studying through a program not sponsored by or affiliated with UW Oshkosh, sickness and accident coverage while in a foreign country may be included in your personal health insurance plan, but it is rare for personal health insurance plans to cover medical evacuation, security evacuation, repatriation or emergency medical reunion. BEFORE you travel you should be familiar with the type of coverage you have and the steps you need to take in order to use your policy abroad. If you are not satisfied that you have sufficient coverage abroad, you can purchase a temporary policy.
My insurance company requires me to be a full-time student in order to take advantage of a lower premium. Will study abroad affect my ability to keep this premium?
Your insurance company may require you to be a full-time student in order to take advantage of lower premiums. IF you are NOT enrolled in classes at UW Oshkosh for a full semester (i.e. you are transferring credits back to UW Oshkosh at the end of your study abroad program), AND you are NOT enrolled for full-time credit through another accredited U.S. institution, this may affect your premiums. Information on your enrollment status is automatically extracted from UW Oshkosh records and sent to a Clearinghouse, which many insurance companies monitor. You will show up in the Clearinghouse as “not enrolled” at UW Oshkosh IF you are not enrolled for courses AT UW OSHKOSH, and your premiums may be affected.
In order to avoid problems, contact your insurance company BEFORE leaving for your study abroad destination. Your insurance company will either give you a form or a list of information which they need. You can fax this form/list to the institution abroad for verification of full-time status while studying there.
Please note that if you are on Academic Leave of Absence, you are being reported by UW Oshkosh as "not enrolled."
What are some insurance supplements or alternatives?
If you need comprehensive security evacuation insurance, Global Rescue and International SOS both offer to individuals.
At $22, the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is a popular option for students. The ISIC can be purchased on line; policy details are available from the link above. To call STA Travel: 1-800-329-9537 (menu option “Student, youth and teacher identity cards”). A second option is to search on the internet or contact your local travel agent. There are many other insurance companies that will cover you during your time abroad.
What are medical evacuation, security evacuation, repatriation and medical reunion?
Medical evacuation, security evacuation and repatriation benefits cover the insured when the insured is moved to a location outside of the host country or returned to the U.S. because a medical condition cannot be treated locally, because of a security risk at the site abroad or because of the death of the insured. Medical reunion benefits cover a family member who travels to the location where the insured is undergoing medical treatment. If you have medical reunion, identify one or more family members who have a valid passport as your emergency contact. Anyone not holding a valid passport will need to apply for one before being able to take advantage of emergency medical reunion.
Is the insurance offered through CISI sufficient?
CISI insurance is not comprehensive. It is each participant's responsibility to review the policy for sufficient coverage. If you feel that coverage is insufficient, purchase additional coverage through your insurance agent. Do not cancel your health insurance policy in the U.S. while you are gone. In most cases, your international policy will cover you while you are gone and/or bring you back to the U.S., but once you return, your domestic policy will need to provide coverage.
Do I need trip cancellation insurance or baggage insurance?
Because the UW Oshkosh OIE runs all programs on a cost-recovery basis, it is not possible to make exceptions to the withdrawal and refund policy for any reason, including withdrawal for medical reasons or family emergencies. To protect yourself, reach through the CISI insurance policy provided through UW System and then consider purchasing TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE to cover other potential eventualities. If you choose not to purchase trip cancellation insurance and the CISI policy does not cover your withdrawal, study abroad fees assessed by the OIE will be your responsibility regardless of your reason for withdrawing. Trip cancellation insurance may provide reimbursement for CERTAIN financial losses UNDER A LIMITED SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. Read policies carefully and shop around. Not all policies cover pre-existing conditions.
Baggage insurance typically provides coverage related to lost or delayed luggage. Because there are fairly low limits on the claims you can make, you may also need to purchase insurance riders through your home insurance policy to cover items such as digital cameras or other expensive equipment.
If traveling with valuable personal property such as cameras, laptops or equipment, your (or your parents') rental or homeowner's policy may provide sufficient coverage or you may need to purchase a rider to cover specific items; items normally covered without a rider may not be covered while traveling.
If traveling to parts of the world which are difficult to reach or are considerably less safe than you are accostomed to, you may want to consider purchasing additional insurance to cover security or medical evacuation (above and beyond what is provided by the university insurance or by your own insurance). Two options are International SOS (http://www.internationalsos.com/en/) and Global Rescue (https://www.globalrescue.com/).
The Center for Disease Control provides health information on specific destinations, information about specific diseases that can affect travelers, immunization recommendations, tips on avoiding illness from food or water and more through it's web site. For information specific to your destination/s, see http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/.
When reviewing the CDC information, it's important to understand the distinction between "recommended" and "required" immunizations.
- Required immunizations are those immunizations which a foreign country requires that you prove you have had in order to enter that foreign country. For example, a country that requires the yellow fever immunization will require you to present your "yellow fever vaccination card" when you show up in the foreign airport or you apply for a visa. If you don't present this, you may be required to get the immunization (and pay for it) on site or you may be sent back to the U.S. (at your own expense).
- Recommended immunizations are those immunizations which the CDC recommends that all travelers have prior to visiting a particular foreign country. Unless you face serious health risks if you receive a particular immunization, it is extremely unwise to ignore these recommendations. If you think you'll save a bit of cash by not getting the recommended immunizations, think again! If you were to contract a disease overseas, you could be faced with $1,000's of dollars in medical expenses upon return. In addition, depending on the disease, you may miss a semester or more at UW Oshkosh upon your return. This can happen! A UW Oshkosh student did not to get the Hepatitis A vaccination prior to traveling to Peru, contracted the disease and was too ill to attend UW Oshkosh over the semester following her program abroad.
If you can't afford an immunization, you may be eligible for a financial aid loan.
If you aren't sure whether you've already had a particular immunization recommended by the CDC, you may be able to check your records with your healthcare provider or on the Wisconsin Immunization Registry.
The student health center offers the most frequently used immunizations, and can get others on order with advance notice, at lower fees than travel clinics and other healthcare providers. Make an appointment with the student health center (424-2424), a Travel Health Clinic (listings for Aurora available through International Travel Clinic) or your healthcare provider at least 6 weeks before leaving for a foreign country. Some immunizations must be administered over time in order for them to be effective. You will be asked to provide information on your specific destination/s (within each country), date of departure, length of stay and childhood immunizations (bring a copy of the actual record, if possible) either when making the appointment or during your visit.
Travel to an unfamiliar environment can increase stress levels; honestly evaluate your mental health in relation to support systems you can reasonably maintain while studying abroad. If traveling to a developed country, consider setting up an e-mail and phone-support system with friends and family before you leave. Keep in mind that some study abroad sites have very limited means of communication.
The Student Health Center can also provide certification of physical and mental health if needed to apply for a visa. Take care of all dental work, eye exams, and other things which may be offered at a different level of quality or standard of care efore you leave for abroad.
U.S. embassies often maintain lists of English-speaking doctors by city. For a list specific to your destination, find the embassy or consulate nearest your destination city using the link above, click on "American Citizen Services" and look for a "medical" list.
Many prescription and over-the-counter medications available in the U.S. are not available abroad or cannot be found in the same form or at the same quality. Carry all prescription medications AND a letter from your doctor describing your condition and your prescriptions (using both the generic names and the drug name which appears on the prescription container) in your carry-on luggage. All prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs must be carried through customs in original containers. Consider bringing a medical ID bracelet if you have allergic reactions.
For those who wear glasses or contact lenses, carry an extra prescription or extra lenses. Not all countries use the same scale for determining prescriptions, so arrange to have someone send a replacement pair in an emergency. Contact lens supplies can be rare and expensive, so bring saline and cleaner or wear glasses.
The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs regularly publishes country-specific information, travel alerts and travel warnings; U.S. embassies abroad publish messages for U.S. Citizens and emergency messages for U.S. Citizens.
- Country-specific Information includes health conditions and crime and security information. If an unstable condition exists in a country that is not severe enough to warrant a Travel Warning, a description of the condition(s) may be included under an optional section entitled "Safety/Security.
- Travel Alerts are issued to disseminate information about short-term conditions, either transnational or within a particular country, that pose significant risks to the security of U.S. citizens. Natural disasters, terrorist attacks, coups, anniversaries of terrorist events, election-related demonstrations or violence, and high-profile events such as international conferences or regional sports events are examples of conditions that might generate a Travel Alert.
- Travel Warnings are issued when long-term, protracted conditions that make a country dangerous or unstable lead the State Department to recommend that Americans avoid or consider the risk of travel to that country. A Travel Warning is also issued when the U.S. Government's ability to assist American citizens is constrained due to the closure of an embassy or consulate or because of a drawdown of its staff.
- Message for U.S. Citizens is used to disseminate information about routine topics such as voter registration, income tax season, new passport procedures, and other non-security issues of interest to the local U.S. citizen community.
- Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens is used to inform U.S. citizens about events or threats that can affect their personal security. This includes demonstrations, civil disturbances, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and other breaking events. Whenever the Department revises the Worldwide Caution or issues a Travel Alert or Travel Warning for a country or region, posts (Embassies or Consulates) will also disseminate it with an Emergency Message for U.S. Citizens. To ensure that you receive these messages, register on the State Department's Smart Traveler's Enrollment Program (STEP).
The Smart Traveler's Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service which allows you as a U.S. citizen to record travel details which help the U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad locate you when you need them the most.
All UW Oshkosh students traveling abroad are required to (and responsible for)
completing the registration at
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/.The UK, Canada, New Zealand and Japan have similar systems for their nationals.
For faculty-led programs, your faculty leader is responsible for the activities of your group for the entire program. For student exchange programs, your host school is only responsible for activities such as course registration and orientation. In either case, your faculty leader, program sponsors or host school:
- cannot guarantee or assure the safety of participants or eliminate all risks from the study abroad environments.
- cannot monitor or control all of the daily personal decisions, choices, and activities of individual participants.
- cannot assure that U.S. standards of due process apply in overseas legal proceedings or provide or pay for legal representation for participants.
- cannot assume responsibility for the actions of persons not employed or otherwise engaged by the program sponsor for events that are not part of the program or that are beyond the control of the sponsor, or for situations that may arise due to the failure of a participant to disclose pertinent information.
- cannot assure that home country cultural values and norms will apply in the host country.
Participants are responsible for preparing academically and personally for their experience abroad. All participants must understand that the orientations offered by the OIE and by faculty offer only an INTRODUCTION to issues related to travel abroad and cultural/language differences you will encounter. We do our best to cover the most important topics, but there is absolutely no possible way that we can tell you everything you will want to know or feel you need to know before your trip. You can prepare by reading resources suggested to you at orientations, by exploring on the internet, by knowing your itinerary and checking out your hotels on-line, and by reading books and articles related to your destination. The more you know before you go, the steeper your learning curve will be while abroad.
You also signed a statement of responsibility which you will be expected to abide by. Faculty leaders and host school liaisons have the right and responsibility to remove any participant from the program for disruptive or unsafe behavior.
Travel
Identification
Bring a student ID to take advantage of student entry fees. Make sure you have both your passport and a second official form of identification (e.g. driver’s license). Consider bringing your birth certificate (with the raised seal) as this is helpful if replacing a lost passport.
Electricity
Avoid bringing electrical appliances if possible; buy adapters (plug shape) and a converter (to change voltage) if necessary and use both. Try to AVOID purchasing an UNFUSED adapter (otherwise the charge goes either into the appliance or into the wall - potentially starting a fire - if it blows). For more information on adapters and converters, go to http://www.walkabouttravelgear.com/wwelect.htm.
Pack to Stay Safe!
For you own safety, follow this simple rule: Don't bring anything that someone else may want. Don't pack clothing or accessories that will make you a target for theft. Leave name brand clothing at home and don't wear any jewelry. Empty your wallet or purse before traveling. Remove extra credit cards and other items you won't need.
Pack to Walk!
You will walk a lot. Codes pertaining to the height and depth of steps, sidewalk conditions, the height of signs (this is for you tall people!) etc. may be different. Avoid foot and ankle injuries by packing appropriate shoes, socks and lots of bandages!
Luggage
Your airline will limit the number and size of both carry-on and checked bags. Check baggage restrictions on the website of your airline of choice and know in advance what fees you may need to pay for excess baggage.
Note that most airlines impose a maximum of excess baggage as well (in other words, you can't just pay to bring as much as you'd like). If you show up at the airport with baggage which exceeds the maximum excess baggage limit, you will not be allowed to bring this baggage with you.
Convert kilograms to pounds.Regardless of the luggage limits for your flight, limit yourself to one reasonably-sized check-on piece of luggage and one small carry-on. Leave extra space for things you buy abroad to avoid paying fees for going over luggage limits on your return. Label every piece of luggage both inside and out and buy TSA-approved locks (so that your locks aren't removed during airport inspection) for use at hotels. If you can't carry your luggage (all of it at once) up and down the block and up and down a few sets of stairs, you have probably packed too much.
Airline Entertainment
International flights can take anywhere from several to fourteen hours. Generally, passengers are offered food and beverages, movies (depending on the airline and length of the flight) and music channels & headphones. If you think you might require other entertainment, you'll need to bring it with you.
Prohibited Items
U.S. Department of Homeland Security's list of prohibited items
Jet Lag
To avoid jet lag on flights where there is a large time difference, it is best to immediately adopt the sleeping schedule of your destination; this means either attempting to sleep or to stay awake according to the time of day (or night) it is at your destination before arriving. You should begin doing this at the front end of your trip (i.e. while riding to the airport if someone else is driving or immediately upon take-off on the first leg of your trip).
If there is a large time difference between Wisconsin and your destination and you arrive at your destination during the day, DON’T SLEEP! If you can manage to stay awake on the first day, jet lag will be less difficult for you during the days to come. You're going to be extremely tired either way, so it’s best to fight it at the very beginning of your trip so that you can enjoy the days to come!
Procedures at U.S. International Airports
Arrive at a U.S. international airport (O'Hare, Minneapolis, etc.) a minimum of 3 ½ hours early so that you complete your check-in 3 hours early. Passengers who show up later to check in on planes which are oversold don’t always get a seat assignment. Go through security immediately after checking in; if you run into trouble with security you may still have enough time to get cleared and make your flight. You must be through security a minimum of ½ hour to 45 minutes (the exact timing depends on the airport) before your plane is scheduled to BOARD. If you aren't, you may not be allowed through security and you will miss your flight. Boarding times are typically 30 to 45 minutes before scheduled take off. Anyone who is not flying will not be allowed to pass through security.
For airport maps, terminal information, parking information, etc., check the appropriate web pages below:
O’Hare: http://www.flychicago.com/PassengerInformation/AirportMaps.aspx
Milwaukee: http://www.mitchellairport.com/
Minneapolis/St. Paul: http://www.mspairport.com/maps.aspx
Outagamie County (Appleton): http://www.atwairport.com/Customs Declaration Form
Either just prior to check-in or while on the flight, you will receive a customs declaration form; be sure you have the form for U.S. citizens (unless you are a citizen of another country) written in English. Complete this form—front and back—either before check-in or before the plane lands. You will need this form to go through customs (explained elsewhere in this guide).
Remain with your group
Whether you've navigated foreign airports on your own or not, please remain with your group while exiting the aircraft and going through immigration, baggage claim and customs. Your faculty leader will appreciate your help with students who haven't traveled and, if you happen to be pulled aside at immigration or customs, will want to be right there with you to offer assistance.
Immigration
When you go through immigration, officials inspect your passport and may ask for your hotel/host family address and telephone number; it's a good idea to carry this information with you. If asked what you will be doing in the host country:
- short-term programs with NO ENROLLMENT in a university or school ABROAD, “I'm here on a cultural visit with my U.S. professor.” Do not say “to study” or "for international business."
- short-term programs WITH ENROLLMENT in a university or school ABROAD (LdM, Germany, Spain), "I'm here to take classes at (institution name) for # (number) weeks."
- semester or longer, “I'm here to study at (institution name).”
- USA Summer Camp, “I'm here to participate on a language camp.” Do not say "to work at a summer camp."
- Wisconsin in Scotland, present a letter to immigration officials (included in a packet sent to your permanent address before departure)
- Even if you hope to find a legal job later, do not mention working.
If you say “to study,” "to work," or “for international business" when you are not studying at a university or getting paid for work, you will confuse immigration officials, who may assume that you then need a special student or work visa.
Photographs and Fingerprinting
Just as the U.S. does with foreign nationals entering the United States, you may be photographed and fingerprinted upon entry in the foreign country. Data collected may be checked against a database of international terror and crime suspects, checked against domestic crime records and/or used for other purposes. The U.S., Japan and Brazil are photographing and fingerprinting.
Customs
After immigration, you will go to the baggage claim to get your luggage and then head through customs. At this point, officials will decide whether or not to search through your luggage. In general, you cannot bring meat or agricultural products across borders. These items will be confiscated. For more information on customs regulations, see the U.S. State Department's Country-specific Information for your destination.
Develop a reasonable family communications plan that includes contingencies for emergency situations. Use the Emergency Communication Form to record important information; leave a copy of this form, your itinerary and other important information with someone back home.
UW Oshkosh also has Emergency Response Plans in place.
Upon Arrival (this could take more time than you had planned!)
It's not easy to contact friends and family upon arrival! By the time you get off the plane, go through immigration & customs, travel to your accommodation, purchase an international calling card, learn how it works and locate a public phone or an internet cafe, all when you're jet lagged and dealing with a new environment, you may not be able to call or email until the next day.
You may or may not have easy access to reliable email from hotels, internet cafes or universities, depending on your study abroad site. In some countries where crime and computer theft are problems, internet sites may be protected by guards. In this case, avoid sites which are open to the street or are not guarded.
When using UW Oshkosh TitanApps:
- Turn off the pop-up blocker on the computer you are using. TitanApps WILL NOT WORK with the pop-up blocker turned on.
- Remember that staff & faculty at UW Oshkosh will continue to use your UW Oshkosh email address. If you are away for an extended period of time, you must continue to check this!
Snail Mail
Sending mail to the U.S. can take two to several weeks, depending on your location. Choose DHL to ship important items and USPS for regular mail. If staying in hotels or hostels, you will not be able to receive mail and you will not have an address abroad. If staying with a host family, your address will be the same as the host family's address, but ask friends and family to use both your host's name and your name when addressing the envelope. At USA Summer Camp, you can send mail from some camp sites but not from others. If possible, buy stamps in Japan before you get to the camp. Mail should be sent to your host family's house rather than to the camp so that it can bereturned to you if you are no longer in Japan when it arrives.
Telephone
- It's best to use pre-paid phone cards purchased in your destination country. If you purchase these in the U.S., call the customer service number on the back of the card before departing from the U.S. to get the access number from your destination country!
- Avoid using an international phone card tied to your phone number in the U.S. It’s very easy to rack up a $100-200 phone bill in just a few nights.
- Do not make international phone calls from your hotel room, even with a calling card or pre-paid calling card, without asking the hotel desk clerk whether or not you'll be charged by the hotel for time spent on the telephone line! Hotels are notorious for charging for time spent on the phone, regardless of how you are paying for the actual call.
- Never call the U.S. from your host family's phone without a calling card. This is expensive, and it will be difficult to pay the family for the calls after you return to the U.S.
- Wisconsin in Scotland: international prepaid calling cards purchased in the U.S. do not work on the phones in Dalkeith House.
Cell Phone
While most cell phone companies will tell their customers that their U.S. cell phone will work abroad, the reality is that some U.S. cell phones work abroad and others don't. In some cases two people with the same cell company experience different results. In many cases cell phone customers have been unpleastantly surprised upon returning home to enormous phone bills. Unless you have a cell phone which is specifically designed for use outside the U.S. or you have successfully used your U.S. cell phone abroad, use your U.S. cell phone at your own risk!
If you plan to use your cell phone a lot while outside the U.S. and perhaps plan to continue traveling into the future, consider purchasing a phone which will work anywhere in the world. Otherwise, consider renting a phone. There are lots of options available on the internet - here's what you're looking for:
- GSM Quad Band (850/900/1800/1900)
- It must be unlocked!
You will also need to purchase a SIM card. Your phone number will be on the SIM card (not on the phone). Without a SIM card, your phone is useless.
- If you plan to be abroad short-term, for many countries you must now purchase your SIM card PRIOR to traveling. In many countries, you now need to show that you'll be residing in the country for a significant period of time before you can purchase a SIM card in-country. If purchasing before travel, consider purchasing a card which can be replenished on line. A simple google search should turn up multiple companies selling SIM cards.
- If you plan to be abroad long-term (a semester or longer), purchase your SIM card in-country after speaking to other students in the area to find out which company is currently offering the best deal for international students.
Purchase a travel guide for your study abroad destination for current information on money/currency, customs & duties, staying healthy, public transportation, travel tips, telephones, sending mail, tipping, and a lot more. Choose the guidebook which fits your needs, and make sure it is current for the year in which you are traveling! Guidebook titles include Frommer's, Fodor's, Lonely Planet, Rough Guide, Let's Go and more.
A Little Advice (from us and from you)!
For getting through the tough times and the culture shock ups & downs...
It isn't better. It isn't worse. It's just different.
Learn to accept -- not to expect. False expectations can lead to disappointment.
Don't be afraid to ask directions.
Don't be afraid to get lost. Getting lost can lead to wonderful discoveries!
(But stay safe.)Be flexible -- tolerate ambiguity.
Talk to the locals as much as you can.
Remember that you are a guest who has traveled to learn about cultural differences--not an intruder who has come to make a difference.
Work hard to find the positive in everything you do and see--this will have a tremendous effect on your own attitude and, in turn, on the type of experience you have.
Take lots of pictures and keep a journal.
Don't worry about what's going on back home - just enjoy where you are!
Know about your own country before you go.
Learn to budget your money before you go.
Be practical with your packing.
Have fun and enjoy the time that you are there. You will be gone before you know it!
RESOURCE LIST
- London Tube
- The TrainLine (advance bookings & train schedules)
- British Tourist Authority
- Historic Royal Palaces
- Public Transportation in Edinburgh (pricing is from 2006)
- Lothian Bus Company
- First Bus Company
- Train Schedules and Fares
- Back in the U.S.A.: Reflecting on your study abroad experience and putting it to work
- Basic Concepts of Intercultural Communication
- Cross Cultural Communication: A Visual Approach
- Developing Intercultural Awareness: A Cross-Cultural Training Handbook
- Do's and Taboos of Preparing for Your Trip Abroad
- Everybody's Guide to People Watching
- Mindsets: The Role of Culture and Perception in International Relations
- Safety and Study Abroad (32 minute video)
- Study Abroad: A Parent's Guide
- Survival Kit for Overseas Living: for Americans planning to live and work abroad
- Whole World Guide to Culture Learning
- FAA Airport Status Reports (general airport conditions)
- Subway Page (links to subway maps)
- World Airport Guides
- Youth Hostels: Hostels, Hostelz.com
- What’s Up With Culture? On-line training resource for study abroad
- Issue Briefs – understanding issues as a means to connect with people
- Culturegrams –4-page reports on history, religion, greetings, etc. ($)
- StudyAbroad.com Handbook: exploring cultural differences, health & nutrition, safety & security, legalities & emergencies, careers, pre-departure checklist
- Atlapedia Online physical and political maps; key facts on countries of the world
- International Affairs Resources
- Travlang travel resources; signs and road rules, foreign newspapers, flags
- U.S. Department of State Country Maps
- World Factbook
- World Holiday & Celebration Calendar
- WorldWide Classroom Travel Planner culture shock, people & culture, air/bus, weather, world news and much more!
- International Phone Calls
- Fodors: French, German, Italian, Spanish useful phrases and word lists
- Travlang: foreign language useful phrases and word lists with AUDIO
- International postage calculator
- Universal Postal Union international address formats; click on "Postal Addresses" and then on "Postal Addressing Systems"
- Time Zone: England and Scotland
- Universal Currency Converter
- Weather.com
Centigrade x 1.8 + 32 = Fahrenheit
Fahrenheit - 32 / 1.8 = Centrigrade- Electricity Guide (from Walkabout Travel Gear)
- Mobility International U.S.A. for people with disabilities
- OSAC (Overseas Security Advisory Council)
- International Society of Travel Medicine
- World Health Organization
- Center for Disease Control
- Intercultural Press Books/videos dealing with intercultural issues
- Transitions Abroad Publishing
- TravelMedicine Information & products for safe travel (not just medicine!)
- WalkAbout Travel Gear (surge protectors, converters, adapters and much more)
This page was last updated on: May 8, 2013
