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. Pay attention to the type (Germany and Switzerland) and whether other purchasers had problems with the individual adapter. |
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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. In 2023, a student had to replace Cricket with a short-term Google phone plan. The former did not have service in Europe. |
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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
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| title | What about my credit cards? |
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| - Determine whether you have/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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| Bus and tram stops have machines that sell small tickets (you can choose English instructions). Once you get on the bus/tram, there is a machine to validate the ticket. It is a little confusing at first but you don't have to rush, find the machine and get it validated. |
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
We will share pictures, from previous trips, to help you stay on the nicer side of casual. |
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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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Ask a Question!If your question about the COB Study Abroad in Germany experience isn't addressed above, ask us here! A COB faculty or staff member will do their best to respond with an answer as quickly as possible. We may even add a version of your question to our FAQs. You must be logged into your UWF ArgoNet account to complete this form. | HTML |
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Failure to follow these critical dates and deadlines could result in your participation being revoked. 
