Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I have a copy of the Student Handbook?
- How do I call my son/daughter while abroad?
- How do I transfer money?
- When are program fees due?
- How do I set up a payment plan?
- What is included in the program fees?
- Can my son/daughter apply their financial aid to the Interstudy program?
- How much is the meal allowance?
- When will I know final program dates?
- What orientation materials will I receive?
- How do we book the flight?
- How does my son/daughter get their prescription medicine while abroad?
- Will my son/daughter be safe?
- Do you have a catalog?
-
Q.
Can I have a copy of the Student Handbook? -
A.
Yes. Click the below links to download a copy. -
Q.
How do I call my son/daughter while abroad? -
A.
Parents can have their own 'cross-cultural' experience dialing their son or daughter overseas. Here's how to make it as painless as possible.
First, check the time; remember it is 6 to 10 hours later where you are calling. It's very easy to forget and call in the middle of the night, and students generally find this somewhat unpleasant to say the least! If your son or daughter just arrived that day, chances are they haven't yet received their Interstudy cell phone, and chances are they are either sleeping, or very tired.
Calling abroad is a relatively easy process. You will need your son/daughter's phone number, as well as the country code to the country where you are dialing. You probably have a number for them that look something like this:
South Africa: 46 6341468
Europe: 01904 466572
First, dial 011, to get an international line.
Next dial the country code: 44 for the UK, 353 for Ireland, or 27 for South Africa.
Finally, dial the number you have written down, skipping the 0 if the number you have begins with it (that's for local use only). That should be it. The phone should be ringing!
If the phone isn't ringing, and especially if a recorded voice is giving you a cryptic message, or there is a busy signal at the other end, the problem probably lies with your long distance provider or your son or daughter has not set up their voicemail. These days there are many 'off' brand long distance providers offering great country-to-country rates, but in our experience, more often than not, they're not worth it as they don't seem to work very well. Stick with AT&T or MCI. They can be a bit pricier, but they work. In the meantime you can dial zero and ask the operator to connect you. This will probably cost you quite a bit to call this way, but it is a way to get connected immediately. International calling cards can work well too, but the same rules apply, we recommend using only ones that are issued by AT&T or MCI.
-
Q.
How do I transfer money? -
A.
Interstudy has set up a bank account in your son/daughter's name and it is a simple process to transfer money into that account through Interstudy. Interstudy does not charge for this service, but bank and/or credit card fees do apply.
There are two ways to transfer money; the first is by way of a Cashiers Check or Money Order. This is the preferred manner of transfer as it is quick and inexpensive. You can get a Cashiers Check or Money Order at your bank or at the post office for a nominal fee. Have the check made out to Interstudy and in the notes section, include your son/daughter's name, and write 'MT' for money transfer. Mail it to our office in Boston, the address for which can be found on our Contact Interstudy page. Upon receipt of this check the money usually appears in your son/daughter's account in 2-3 business days.
*NOTE: With both of these methods, a $10-$20 currency exchange fee applies.
The third method of transfer involves the use of a credit card. Interstudy accepts Visa MasterCard, or Discover. To transfer money this way we take the details over the phone submit your Online Payment on this site. Call 800.663.1999, M-F 9-5pm EST,--do note that the credit card companies charge a fee of 2% of the total you are transferring for this service. -
Q.
When are program fees due? -
A.
A fee of $35 dollars is due when the student applies to the Interstudy program. A $500 non-refundable acceptance confirmation fee is due upon acceptance of an offer of admission to an Interstudy program. The remainder of the program fee is due the 1st of June for Semester II (fall) programs in Southern Africa, the 1st of July for fall programs in Britain & Ireland, the 1st of December for spring programs in Europe and Semester I programs to South Africa. Full Year programs have a two-installment plan with fees due on the relevant due dates above for each of the respective countries. Special arrangements can and will be made on a case-by-case basis. A payment plan can be set up in lieu of fee due dates, and fee due dates can be adjusted to accommodate the disbursement of financial aid. -
Q.
How do I set up a payment plan? -
A.
Payment plans are arranged on a case-by-case basis and can be created to fit your ability to make monthly payments. One-half of the program fee must be paid by the due date with the remainder typically spread out over 3 to 5 months. Payment plan arrangements need to be made before the fee due dates, and monthly payments need to be honored. To set up a specialized arrangement, call the Boston office at: 800.663.1999 -
Q.
What is included in the program fees? -
A.
A full listing of what the Interstudy program fees include can be found on the Interstudy Package page of this site. Generally, the Interstudy program fees are all inclusive excluding the following items: meal money, air fare, medical and travel insurance, books, science/lab fees (where applicable), incidentals, vacation meals/accommodations, local and holiday travel expenses, and personal spending. -
Q.
Can my son/daughter apply their financial aid to the Interstudy program? -
A.
Students who have federal financial aid (Stafford loan, Pell grant etc.) may apply it to their Interstudy program fees. Often times State based aid transfers as well. Home institution (campus) based aid, may or may not transfer dependent on the institution. In all cases the Financial Aid office on the home college campus should be contacted for further details. Students using financial aid to pay for all or part of their Interstudy program fee must return a signed Program Funding Agreement to Interstudy. All financial aid that applies to the Interstudy program should be sent to the Boston office. -
Q.
How much is the meal allowance? -
A.
Students have the option to include meal money as part of their Interstudy package. An amount of $1000 USD will be included on the Billing Statement. Students typically find that the meal money allowance covers about two out of every three meals during their time abroad, excepting the time periods when classes are not in session, or the student is on their own traveling.
How far the meal money goes also heavily depends on personal habits, eating out will cost more than grocery shopping etc. Additional money for meals for your son/daughter does need to be budgeted for. -
Q.
When will I know final program dates? -
A.
Final dates for fall programs to Europe usually appear mid-May, and the beginning of November for spring. Final dates for South Africa usually appear the beginning of November for Semester I (spring) and mid April for Semester II (fall). Interstudy posts final dates on this website and they can be accessed by going to the individual program page.
Final dates for our programs also appear in the Orientation Handbook package sent to all students. Before booking any travel or flight plans do be sure you have the final dates for the program as changes do occur. -
Q.
What orientation materials will I receive? -
A.
Interstudy sends a comprehensive Orientation Handbook prior to the students departure. The book is broken into two areas, functional and cultural. The functional parts relate more to the Interstudy process and the cultural parts relate to the preparation for the study abroad destination. Students also receive an Arrival Packet and additional on-site arrival materials after they arrive at their program site.
All orientation materials are sent directly to the student. It is up to your son/daughter to read the material and communicate to you any vital information. We take this approach to encourage the students to be responsible for the planning of their own experience abroad. Most, if not all, of parent questions can be answered by an in-depth examination of this website. -
Q.
How do we book the flight? -
A.
Interstudy recommends that students book their flights through the STA Travel office in Cambridge, MA. STA student flights typically offer more flexibility at a better price than commercially available flights. The majority of students traveling to South Africa take advantage of the Interstudy designated STA flight which routinely offers rates from $1500 to $2000 round trip, a significant savings over what can usually be obtained on ones own. -
Q.
How does my son/daughter get their prescription medicine while abroad? -
A.
Prescription drugs are dispensed through pharmacies similar to the system employed in the United States. Interstudy recommends that if students routinely take a prescription drug, they should bring a supply sufficient to last throughout their enrollment period. If this is not possible, we recommend students have their physician at home provide them with the chemical (generic) composition of the medications; it may have a different name in other countries. Also, a letter from the doctor on official letterhead explaining why the drug has been prescribed can be helpful in obtaining a similar prescription overseas. It is usually a simple process whereby the student visits the Health Center on campus to obtain a prescription. The cost of prescription medicines abroad is most often dramatically less than here in the United States. It is essential, however, that students are insured during their time abroad.
Additional shipments of a prescribed medication may be made to your son/daughter, but most often this is a very long and difficult procedure as customs officials often seize and destroy any drugs trying to exit, or enter a given country. Interstudy does not recommend you try to ship prescription drugs overseas. -
Q.
Will my son/daughter be safe? -
A.
Interstudy makes the health, safety and well-being of our students our highest priority. All Interstudy program locations have been carefully chosen and are under continual review to insure our student's safety. Full details of Interstudy's efforts in this arena can be found on our Health & Safety page. Additional information that is of particular benefit for parents can also be found on our Helpful Websites page. -
Q.
Do you have a catalog? -
A.
You may download a copy of the Interstudy Viewbook here: 2011-2012 Viewbook
800.663.1999
