FAQsCourse Info| Expand |
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| title | I've already taken the required course. May I still attend? |
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| Unfortunately, no. |
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| title | Will I complete the entire class on the trip? |
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| No. You will complete a portion of the class during the trip. The other portion will be completed after via Zoom sessions and online deliverables. |
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| title | What will class sessions abroad be like? |
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| Coming soon! |
Financial Aid
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| title | Can I use my financial aid (loans, grant, scholarship)? |
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| Please direct questions related to using student loans, scholarships, grants, and any other form of financial aid to your Financial Aid Counselor. |
Insurance & Legal Documents| Expand |
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| title | Do I need insurance? |
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| Yes. The University of West Florida requires that all UWF students and programs going abroad have Study Abroad Insurance coverage. Insurance costs are included in the cost of the trip. See Getting Insurance for Study Abroad for more information, |
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| title | Do I need a passport? |
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| Yes. If you do not currently have a passport, we urge you to start the passport application process ASAP. You will need it well before the trip begins for things like airline tickets and travel insurance. According to the State Department, current wait times are as follows (as of 10/12/23): - Routine processing: 8 to 11 weeks
- Expedite processing (for an additional $60): 5 to 7 weeks
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| A visa is not required for U.S. citizens. |
Technology & Electrical Devices| Expand |
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| If you have a recent iPhone or Droid phone, yes. |
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| title | What about my phone/tablet/laptop charger? |
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| You will need an adapter. We love the OREI Grounded Universal 2-in-1 plugs (about $7 at Amazon) |
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| title | Do I need an International Plan? |
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| Yes. All participants must purchase an international plan and have their mobile data turned on for the duration of the trip. |
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| Wi-fi is free at most hotels, but a bit less common at German restaurants and other businesses. |
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| title | What about hair dryer/straightener/razor? |
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| Some of these products have 110-220V Worldwide Voltage capability. Check yours. |
Money| Expand |
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| “Using ATMs abroad is the most effective way to get money when traveling. But some banks will charge a foreign currency rip-off fee that usually starts at $9 or $10 per transaction! That's outrageous.” “If you're with a big bank, check to see if they're part of any alliance where you can use ATMs fee free in other countries (for Bank of America, Deutsche Bank). Simply tell them what country you're going to and they can tell you if there's a fee-free alliance partner bank there.”
“You can also get fee-free ATM transactions abroad with most Capital One cards.” Source: http://www.clarkhoward.com/handling-your-money-overseas (February 21, 2019) |
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| title | What about my credit cards? |
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| If - Determine whether you have
a new one with a chip (and you know the PIN), you will have no problem using it. For a magnetic stripe, our experience is they will take it at department stores and hotels, but not at restaurants. In either case, notify the card issuer before you go or they may block the charge. Note: the card issuer will convert euros to dollars, but at a fee.When you shop for coffee or a snack (and basically any small amount of money) make sure you have cash. Many places (like bakeries or kiosks) either do not accept credit cards at all or only if you spend more than 20 Euros.- /can get a "no foreign exchange fee" card. Most major card issuers have them, even some credit unions, but your card may include a 2 or 3 percent fee for every transaction.
- Notify your issuer that you are traveling abroad a couple of days before departure.
- If the retailer gives you a choice, pay in EUROS (the dollar option is often a bad exchange rate).
- For more, see our source: https://clark.com/travel/handling-your-money-oversea/ (October 26, 2023)
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| title | Is it all schnitzel, pretzels, and huge beers? |
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| No, food in Germany can be very healthy (salads are very popular), or very American (our fast food chains) or very traditional German. Gyros (called doner), kebab, pizza and other Italian dishes are also very popular. Since Germans love, and have, great bread, we will share the takeaway sandwich approach for inexpensive eating. For beverages, some areas are wine producing and local products are always popular. Bottled water and soft drinks are common, and you can get most conveniently (and reasonably priced) at local supermarkets or convenience stores (drug stores) such as Rossmann, Müller, or dm. Soft drinks at kiosks and in bakeries are usually over-priced. Also: when you order a drink in restaurant, there are no refills. |
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| Leaving a lot of food on your plate is considered somewhat impolite |
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| You can get medication against common cold symptoms, headaches, toothaches, and digestive problems etc. at pharmacies over the counter (they are everywhere, but expensive so bring ibuprofen/aspirin type products if you know will use them). For more serious health problems, you will need to see a doctor. UWF Study Abroad Services has spent a lot of time researching insurance programs to make this easy. |
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| Public Restrooms are not free, costing anywhere from 30 cents up to 1 Euro (in cash, of course). If they are clean, we don’t mind! |
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| title | How do I navigate public transportation? |
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| Coming soon! |
Weather & Attire| Expand |
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| title | What's the weather like? |
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| Coming soon! |
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| Do Bring... - Tours: business casual attire is appropriate
- Final dinner in castle: business professional attire is appropriate
Don't Bring - Avoid t-shirts with weird, political, funny, etc. slogans/pictures
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| title | Need a visual? Check out these photos. |
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| Coming soon! |
Other| Expand |
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| title | Do the people speak English? |
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| The vast majority of Germans speak very good English. Some immigrants to Germany do not. |
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| You should pack to minimize the need, but we have some tips in and near the accommodation so ask. For example, we all wash microfiber apparel in the hotel bathtub and hang it up for a quick dry. |
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| One surprise in Germany is that air conditioning isn’t popular. Trains, buses, department stores, McDonalds etc. have it, but many affluent Germans do not. On hot days, we employ strategies to stay cool and take an extra shower. |
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| title | Any tips for the trip over? |
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| We like the neck pillow, noise cancelling headphones and a spare battery. Also, take a picture of your passport information and email the picture to yourself (we use to keep a photocopy in our suitcase, we like this better). |
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| title | Other cultural norms |
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| - Be quiet after 10pm, before 6am, and on weekends
- Don’t be late
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Failure to follow these critical dates and deadlines could result in your participation being revoked. 
