Who can participate in Berkeley Summer Sessions Travel Study programs?
Berkeley Summer Sessions Travel Study programs are open to UC Berkeley students, students from other colleges and universities, international students, and adults with an interest in studying abroad. All participants must have successfully completed at least one year of college coursework. Because of the rigorous academic nature of these programs, they are not open to high school students.
Can international students participate in Travel Study?
We welcome the participation of international students in our Travel Study programs.
I will be graduating from UC Berkeley in May. Can I still participate in a Travel Study program during the summer? (For UCB students only)
Yes. Berkeley Summer Sessions Travel Study programs have an open application policy to allow students who have already graduated to participate in the program as visiting students. Students who are due to graduate before the summer may wish to place themselves on the Summer Degree List rather than the Spring Degree List, to maintain UCB student status for the duration of the Travel Study program. By doing so, you can take advantage of the lower course fees for UC undergraduate students, and may even be eligible for financial aid. If you wish to consider this option, you are strongly encouraged to consult with your college advisor and the Financial Aid Office before making the decision to move your name to the Summer Degree List.
How do I apply for a program?
Applications will be available online starting February 1, 2010. Applicants are required to submit the online application along with a non-refundable deposit (payable by credit card only), which will be applied toward the total cost of the Travel Study program.
You will also be asked to write a short Statement of Interest (500 words or less) as part of the online application.
Applications will be reviewed by Summer Sessions, and admitted students will be notified of their acceptance by e-mail by April 15, 2010.
All applicants are required to submit a copy of their most recent college transcript (official or unofficial) with a 2.0 GPA or higher online at MySummer within 14 calendar days from the day the online application is submitted or by April 1, 2010, whichever comes first. Applications are not considered complete until your transcript has been submitted. Failure to complete your application does not make you eligible for a refund of the application deposit. If you have questions, please contact the Travel Study representative at: travelstudy@berkeley.edu or call 510-642-5612.
What should be included in the required short statement of interest?
The statement should include, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Why you chose this program.
AND
2. A description of any cross-cultural or international experience you have had.
What are the selection criteria for Berkeley Summer Sessions Travel Study programs?
All participants must have a 2.0 GPA or higher. Applications are reviewed by Summer Sessions to ensure compliance with University policies and individual program requirements. Applicants may not be on academic probation or under censure for student misconduct at the time of the review. Summer Sessions reserves the right to void the admission of any student who is discovered after being admitted to a Travel Study program not to meet the above requirements.
When is the application deadline?
The deadline for all Travel Study programs is April 1, 2010. Interested students are encouraged to apply as early as possible, as space is limited. All applications will be reviewed in the order received.
What if the program I applied for becomes full before my application is reviewed?
If a program becomes full, a waitlist of all eligible applicants will be created in the order in which applications are received. If you are placed on the waitlist, you will receive an e-mail notification. Upon receipt of the notification, you must reply to Summer Sessions with your intention to:
If an opening occurs in the program, the first student on the waitlist will be notified by e-mail. If you receive an offer for a place in the program, you will have 24 hours to accept the offer. After 24 hours, you will be placed at the bottom of the waitlist, and the next student on the list will be offered a spot instead.
When do programs usually fill up?
Different programs may fill up at different times, based on applications and interest. We recommend that you submit your application to us as soon as possible if you are interested in one of the programs.
Can I apply to more than one Travel Study program to increase my chances of getting into at least one program?
No. You can only apply to one program. However, if you applied to a program that is cancelled by Summer Sessions or if you are placed on a waitlist, you will have the option of switching to another open program that does not have a waitlist.
I don’t need to receive credits for the courses offered in the program, but I really want to participate. Can I audit the program?
No. The audit option is not available to Travel Study program participants.
What can I expect once I’m admitted to the program?
Applicants admitted to the Travel Study programs will receive a confirmation packet including detailed program information by April 15, 2010. The packet will include important documents that need to be signed, scanned and submitted online, or returned as a hard copy, including a Student Agreement, a Waiver of Liability, and a form showing proof of enrollment in health insurance.
These forms must be signed and returned to Summer Sessions by April 15, 2010 or you will lose your spot in the program.
Participants are also required to attend the pre-departure orientation conducted by Summer Sessions for the individual Travel Study program in which they are participating. If you are unable to attend the orientation for any reason, it is your responsibility to notify the Summer Sessions Office to ensure that you receive the information and materials covered during the orientation.
How do I enroll in Travel Study courses?
Once the required confirmation documents are returned to our office, Summer Sessions will enroll you in your Travel Study courses. You will NOT be able to enroll yourself in, or make any changes to, Travel Study courses, though you can check the status of your enrollment via Summer Tele-BEARS: telebears.berkeley.edu/telebears/summer/
or Bear Facts: bearfacts.berkeley.edu
I’m not a UC Berkeley student and will not be able to attend the required pre-departure orientation. What do I do?
All participants are strongly encouraged to attend the pre-departure orientation. However, if you are from outside of the Bay Area and unable to attend, after the orientation has taken place we will contact you via e-mail with instructions on how to access the orientation materials and information electronically.
Can my parents (spouse, friend, etc.) attend the program without being registered in the program?
No. Program classes, excursions, guest lectures, dinners, receptions, program-provided transportation, and all other program-related events are open only to those officially enrolled in the program. Berkeley Summer Sessions will not provide support services or assume any responsibility for those not enrolled in the program.
Why is Summer Tele-BEARS not allowing me to change my schedule or grading option?
Once you are registered in the Travel Study program, you will be identified in the University system as a Travel Study participant. This identification prevents you from making any changes via Summer Tele-BEARS. If you would like to make changes not only to your Travel Study program but also to your on-campus summer courses, you must submit a Student Record Change Form to Summer Sessions and request that Summer Sessions make the changes on your behalf. It is important that you indicate on the form that you are a Travel Study student.
Can I take Travel Study courses for a Pass/Not Pass grade instead of a Letter grade?
You can take Travel Study courses for a Passed/Not Passed grade instead of a Letter grade, but you will be enrolled on Letter grade basis by default when enrolled by Summer Sessions. If you wish to receive the Passed/Not Passed option, you must submit a Student Record Change Form to Summer Sessions by the deadline that corresponds to your Travel Study program. Please check this deadline with a Travel Study representative, as the deadlines are different for on-campus courses. It is strongly advised that you consult with your college advisor if you are unsure how the Passed/Not Passed option will impact your major/minor or graduation requirements.
How do I cancel/withdraw from the program?
All cancellation/withdrawal requests must be submitted via a Student Record Change Form. Writing an email or talking to Summer Sessions staff about your intention to cancel is not considered an official request. You can submit the completed Student Record Change Form to the Summer Sessions Office in person, by mail, by e-mail, or by fax.
Berkeley Summer Sessions – Travel Study
1995 University Ave., Suite 110
Berkeley, CA 94704
travelstudy@berkeley.edu
Fax: 510-642-2877 (Attention: Travel Study)
Please be sure to indicate that you are a Travel Study student, and review the refund policy carefully for details on cancellation/withdrawal deadlines.
What is the refund policy?
The refund policy is as follows:
The deposit is not refundable, except in exceptional cases under the following circumstances:
Once you have confirmed a spot in the program by submitting your confirmation documents, you will be assessed program and course fees. You can receive a refund of the program fee, minus the deposit, if you cancel by the deadline of 5:00 p.m. on April 30, 2010. (See “How to Cancel” for details). If you cancel after this deadline and have not made payment, you will owe the program fee.
You will receive a refund of course fee(s) if you cancel by the Friday of the first week of your program.
What happens if I applied for a program that is later cancelled by Summer Sessions?
Summer Sessions reserves the right to cancel Travel Study programs for any reason. In the event that your program is cancelled, you will be notified and have the option of switching to another open program by completing an Alternative Options Form. If you decide not to participate in another program, you will receive a full refund of all unit fee(s) and program fee, including the deposit.
Summer Sessions is not responsible for any costs incurred regarding air travel, housing or personal expenses. We highly recommended that you do not proceed with expensive arrangements, such as an airline ticket, until you are admitted and confirmed in the program. It is also advised that you purchase trip cancellation insurance.
What is the cost of participating in a Travel Study program?
Charges applied to your CARS account by Summer Sessions are as follows:
1. Unit Fees
Per unit cost x number of units offered in the program.
Per unit cost is different based on your student status: UC undergraduate student rate, UC graduate student rate, or Visiting student rate for all non-UC participants.
2. Program Fee
The program fee is specific to each program and can be found on the Summer Sessions website.
In addition to the fees (program fee and unit fees) applied to your CARS account, you will be responsible for additional expenses such as airline tickets and other out-of-pocket personal expenses not covered by the program.
What is included in the program fee?
The program fee covers the costs that arise due to the program not being held on campus. The program fee varies from program to program. However, the following items are included in the program fees for all Travel Study programs:
1) Student Housing (room only)
2) Excursions (museum tickets, etc.)
3) Other program-related costs
The fee for some programs may also include program-related meals, group transportation, internal travel airfare between multiple program sites (once abroad), guest lectures, etc.
The following items are excluded from the program fee for all Travel Study programs:
1) International airfare (except for any travel airfare that takes place during the program)
2) Personal expenses (souvenirs, emergency expenses, medical expenses, toiletries, etc.)
3) Course materials (textbooks and readers)
Will financial aid cover my Travel Study program expenses?
(For UCB students only - All visiting students should contact the financial aid office at their home institution for more information)
Please consult with the Financial Aid Office to find out if you are eligible for aid for the Travel Study program. If eligible, you should be able to estimate the amount of aid you will receive by accessing the Summeraid Estimator in early March: summeraid.berkeley.edu. You will need to provide the Course Control Numbers (CCNs) for the Travel Study courses in order to access the estimates. Please contact Summer Sessions for the CCNs.
I’ve talked to the Financial Aid Office, and the cost they provided for my Travel Study program is much higher than how much Summer Sessions charges. What is going on? (For UCB students only)
The charges posted directly to your CARS account by Summer Sessions are for the unit fee(s) and the program fee, which are the only charges that you pay to Summer Sessions. When Financial Aid calculates the amount of aid offered for participation in Travel Study, they not only consider Summer Sessions charges, but also any out-of-pocket expenses they anticipate you may incur during your participation. For example, an estimated amount for your airline ticket, personal expenses, etc. will also be budgeted into your offer.
Are there any scholarships available for Berkeley Summer Sessions Travel Study programs?
Currently, there are no scholarships for Travel Study.
How do I submit payment for Travel Study fees?
Once you are registered in the Travel Study program, the corresponding charges will appear on your CARS (Campus Account Receivable Statement) bill. Visiting students will be assigned an SID (student identification number) to access their CARS bill.
You can pay several different ways:
If you are a UC student:
* UC students are not allowed to pay the course fee(s) with a credit card.
Do I need a passport?
A valid passport is required to travel to all Travel Study program destinations (including Mexico). It is important to ensure that your passport is valid for the duration of your Travel Study program and for at least 6 months beyond travel dates; otherwise, you must renew your passport before the program starts. Passport renewal can be a lengthy process, and it is strongly advised that you start the process as early as possible. Berkeley students may obtain a passport at the RSF.
Do I need a visa to travel?
A visa may be required for travel to the Travel Study country or countries, depending on your citizenship and length of stay. Visa requirement information can be obtained from the embassy or the consulate of the country you are planning to enter. There may be different requirements for U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens. Please make sure to obtain information pertinent to your citizenship status. It is your responsibility to prepare any visa documents that are necessary to enter the foreign countries. Summer Sessions is not responsible for ensuring you have the appropriate visa or documentation.
Will I have health insurance coverage while I’m abroad?
When traveling to participate in off-campus activities sponsored and supervised by the University, registered students will be covered worldwide, 24 hours a day, for a wide variety of accidents and incidents.
This coverage is provided at no cost to students; however, students MUST register in order to be covered. Travel Study participants will receive registration instructions in their confirmation packet. This coverage includes:
Do I need to get vaccinations before I travel?
Please refer to the Center For Disease Control’s (CDC) travel website, which include vaccination requirements and other helpful health-related information. http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationList.aspx
I have heard that the earlier I purchase airfare, the cheaper it will be. When is the soonest I should purchase my airfare?
It is strongly advised that you do not purchase airfare until your participation in the program is confirmed, meaning that you have already been admitted into the program and have submitted all confirmation documents.
When purchasing an airline ticket, you may want to consider purchasing a refundable ticket or trip cancellation insurance to prepare for the unexpected.
Will there be a group flight for my program?
An optional group flight may be available through a travel agency designated by Summer Sessions. Information will be provided to you as it becomes available. However, please keep in mind that the price of group airfare is not guaranteed to be the lowest. You may be able to find a cheaper fare through websites such as Cheaptickets, Orbitz and Student Universe, or by redeeming frequent flyer mileage. It is your responsibility to make reservations and pay for all airline tickets.
Group flight participants for some programs may also be provided with transportation from the airport to the residence.
Where can I find specific details regarding program housing, excursions, destination country and city, etc.?
The most basic and essential program and country information can be obtained from the following sources:
Program and country information may not be immediately posted online by Summer Sessions. It is important that you actively research and ask appropriate questions to get the answers that you need.
How do I transfer my Travel Study course credits back to my school if I am not a UC Berkeley student?
If you wish to transfer the course credits earned at UC Berkeley, talk to your advisor at your home institution prior to applying for the program to ensure that the transfer is possible.
Will my Travel Study course credits count towards my major/minor or graduation requirements?
You are advised to consult with your advisor prior to applying for the Travel Study program to confirm whether the course credit(s) through your participation will fulfill any of these requirements.
Travel Study Tips
>> Ten Things to do NOW.
>> Ten Ways to Travel Green.
Helpful Links
Apply for your Passport with
>>US Department of State or
>>UCB Recreational Sports Facility
>> Financial Aid information (UCB only)
>> Country-Specific Information
>> Lonely Planet Guidebooks
>> Study Abroad During the Academic Year
