Before you begin classes, you will take a Language Placement Exam to assess the appropriate course level for you to enroll in. You will take the courses that correspond to the level that you are qualified for.

You should consider different ways in which the year abroad can coordinate with the current year and the year(s) upon your return. Your local ACA Campus Coordinator and registrar’s office are your best resource to help you select courses that work towards your major, minor, and general studies requirements.

Neither ACA nor the overseas schools can act as your academic advisors. Your local campus has the right to determine how a given course satisfies a specific degree requirement.

All ACA students must enroll in a minimum of 12 quarter credits (8 semester credits). The maximum load is 18 quarter credits (12 semester credits), but students can also take 20 quarter credits (13 semester credits) with the written authorization of the home campus Registrar). The ACA Consortium policy does not allow students to take more than 20 credit hours per quarter.

Yes, all guided field trips, including tours, are a required part of the instructional program. Students must participate in these field trips and tours. They are not optional. No refunds will be given if students are, for any reason, not able to participate.

Your ACA fees cover lodging, three meals a day, tuition, books, and all official cultural trips and tours.

• Airfare to and from the program
• Room and board charges for early arrival or late departure
• Private music lessons and rental of practice rooms.
• Personal trips
• Dental work, eye examinations, and glasses (unless they are due to an accident or hospitalization)
• Health club memberships, aerobics/workout room fees, swimming pool fees/memberships, etc.

Obtain a debit card with the Visa or MasterCard logo. These cards are generally well accepted abroad.

Yes, we recommend that you bring a minimum of $200 worth of the local currency with you when you arrive. Avoid exchanging currency at airports due to high fees and unfair exchange rates.

Internships are only available in the Academic Year programs. Please see the Academic Year Catalog for a full list of internships and their requirements.

1 internship credit = 75 hours per quarter.

ACA couples planning to attend as married students, or accompanied by children, need to contact the ACA office to confirm that the host campus can accommodate them. Married ACA students will pay the standard ACA tuition fees. Any other financial arrangements must be made directly with the international school via the ACA office. Do not hesitate to discuss your plans with us.

This is a general packing list. A country-specific packing list will be given in your acceptance package.

• Prescribed medications (with prescription)
• Brand-specific toiletries (shampoo/conditioner, body wash, face wash, razors, makeup, etc.)
• Warm and lightweight pajamas
• Prescription glasses/contacts
• $200 worth of the local currency
• Power adapters and converters (Adapters and converters are not the same. Please make sure you bring both.)
• International driver’s license
• Clothes hangers (students may chose to purchase after arrival)
• Backpack
• Mosquito repellent (Summer programs)
• Swimwear
• Personal electronics and chargers (laptop, phone, headphones, etc.)
• Hairdryer/straighter (Large, heated electronics may be purchased locally as they often break even if converters are used.)
• Church/banquet clothes (There are usually 1 or 2 large events on campus)
• Favorite snacks

This is an incomplete list. It is only possible to indicate some of the items that students have indicated as having a high priority.

Yes, all ACA students must have valid passports for all programs. Passport applications are available in federal post offices and in many local government record offices. It may take several months to receive a passport, so apply for your passport (or renewal) as early as possible.

Important: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months longer than your stay abroad, and you must have at least 2 blank pages (if you need a visa).

It depends! If you are attending more than 1 quarter, you will always need a visa unless you are a passport holder of that country. All students that apply to Argentina will need a visa regardless of the length of stay.

The ACA office is not an immigration office and does not have direct connections/access to foreign consulates. If you need a visa to attend an ACA program, we will notify you with instructions ad the necessary documents for obtaining a student visa in the United States.

Do not purchase your airline tickets before you obtain your visa.

Important: Obtaining a student visa is your responsibility as a student. Check your host country consulate’s website for any changes to regulations and requirements. The ACA office will not be responsible for any changes in your Consulate’s regulations or for the outcome of your visa request.

The ACA office is here to help with any visa issues that you may have. Do not contact your host school for visa questions.

Although you are welcome to take trips outside of the official cultural tours, we recommend that students travel in groups. This is particularly important for students who have not had previous international solo experience.

Problems in traveling in an unfamiliar city increase markedly after dark. Plan on arriving during daylight hours if at all possible. Traveling light (with just a carry-on) makes the experience easier and safer. Backpacks are the best carry-on luggage for short trips.

Your ACA insurance policy will cover you while you are traveling. Please make sure you keep the ISOS app and contact information close while you travel in case you experience a medical emergency.

Personal travel is not considered a legitimate excuse for a class absence. Please make sure that you arrange your travel during school breaks and over the weekend.

If a parent needs to ship a package to their student abroad, it is necessary to comply with any instructions given by postal authorities. Nevertheless, despite parents’ efforts to pay all fees when shipping a package to their student abroad, sometimes, students have been charged extra fees when receiving their packages.

Suggestions:

• Do not ship prescription medications abroad. Instead, send your children with the maximum allowable amount of their medications in their carry-on luggage. These medications should be clearly labeled. A doctor in the host country will continue to prescribe medication for your child.
• Declare the minimum value of items. For example, if you do not mark clothing as used, they may be charged an additional fee. Make sure that any original packing materials are taken off of items to demonstrate that the package contains used items and not new ones that could be used for resale abroad (as the customs office will assume).
• Contact the school abroad for the most appropriate shipping address for your child.