FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

While almost all students participating in CEA programs are from North America, students have access to a multitude of opportunities to immerse themselves in the host culture. As mentioned above, many will be fully integrated into the university and take classes with host country students as well as students from around the world. They may also get involved in activities ranging from cooking classes to university clubs and sports teams. There are also volunteer and service learning opportunities available.

Our onsite staff organizes an extensive program of social and cultural activities, including short excursions to nearby locations of interest and overnight trips to other regions of the host country. Culture clubs, activities, museums and even native cuisine courses help your student get involved in the community and extend their awareness beyond the classroom.

CEA programs vary in cost from site to site. The cost of programs is also affected by the term. All information regarding program cost can be found on the individual program pages. Learn What's Included in CEA programs.

Yes. Federal loans, scholarships and grants can be used to pay for a study abroad program.

• Scholarships: The CEA Study Abroad Scholarship Program promotes international understanding among students by subsidizing part of the cost to study abroad on CEA programs.



• Financial Aid: CEA has helped thousands of students at more than 700 schools obtain financial aid and scholarships. We work closely with your financial aid offices to make this a smooth process for the student.

CEA can provide a breakdown of costs for Tuition, Fees, Housing and Meals for all programs. This will allow your students to specify needs for Financial Aid. These costs vary by program, so please call our office at 1-800-266-4441 for a cost breakdown of your student's program.

There are sample budgets available for all CEA programs by looking up the specific program and session of interest online, or you can contact your University Relations Regional Consultant by calling our office at 1-800-266-4441. Help your students plan their expenses before they go by using our sample budgets.

All 14 countries and 24 cities in which CEA has programs are available for a custom group program. You will need to decide which of these locations is best suited for the needs of your students.

Group programs can run from 2 weeks to a full semester in length. The program can be customized to the length you need or it can match one of the summer, trimester or semester programs.

Group programs require a minimum of 10 students to run for each session of the program. This allows for the expenses of faculty or additional activities to be shared equally by a large group. There is no maximum student limit for group programs.

Teaming up with another university or college will help you to promote the program and meet the minimum number of students needed. Schools of similar size and focus usually have similar program needs. Your University Relations Regional Consultant can work with you to coordinate options for schools in your area.

CEA will help to develop promotional material for your campus and work closely with your office to set a timeline for the success of your group program. Your University Relations Regional Consultant is also available to set up campus events and recruitment meetings.

CEA can work with you to let students complete an online application for your group. You can also use a paper application, if you have one, from your university. CEA will work to determine the application and paperwork needs for your program.

Typically a school will begin planning the group program two semesters before the group is to depart. This allows time for promotional activities, student enrollment, and program implementation. CEA will work with you to develop all of your student program planning.

All CEA group programs utilize recognized universities in the host countries. With the exception of courses taught by your traveling faculty, you will receive an official transcript for all courses taken by your students. Students typically earn credits in semester credit hours, based on 45 hours of instruction. CEA will also provide you with course descriptions for all classes and sample translations of foreign transcripts.

Since not all group programs are faculty-led, the CEA onsite staff will handle all of the student logistics, support and problem resolution. If the group is led by a faculty member, his/her only responsibility is student instruction. CEA will make all other arrangements.

Students use the housing available for all of CEA's programs. These options include: homestays, casa residencias, universitarias, residence halls, and apartments. Depending on the needs of your program, CEA will place the students in the appropriate housing. University faculty and staff will typically use the apartment facilities available in each city.

CEA Tempe staff communicates daily with overseas directors and staff. CEA's onsite staff has been trained in emergency procedures and has practiced scenarios for most situations. Our onsite directors have regular meetings with CEA students and are in contact with the local police agency. Onsite directors register all CEA students with the local US embassy or consulate. Students on CEA programs have an intensive orientation to gain heightened awareness, use common sense, and keep a low profile. During orientation, all CEA students receive the onsite staff's 24-hour contact information.

CEA has onsite staff members available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, to assist students with any health or safety-related emergencies. CEA also has a 24-hour emergency cell phone in the US, which is carried by a CEA staff member at all times. Learn more about our Emergency Plan.

CEA has a comprehensive insurance policy through HTH Insurance which is specifically designed for study abroad students. All students participating in CEA programs are required to enroll in this insurance plan and the coverage is offered at an additional fee.

Yes. Learn more by visiting the Health & Safety section of our website.

CEA has a detailed Emergency Plan in place for this type of situation.

A Travel Warning for the host country issued by the U.S State Department would be needed for a program to be discontinued. Recent travel warnings have been issued for countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia, but there have been no travel warnings for any countries where CEA hosts programs.

On February 6, 2003, the US State Department released a Worldwide Caution Public Announcement to remind Americans to remain vigilant due to a heightened threat of terrorism and to avoid demonstrations. This announcement concerns Americans whether they are in the US or traveling abroad.

A Public Announcement is used to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions that pose significant risks or disruptions to Americans. Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid a certain country.

The decision to cancel a program due to a Travel Warning is made by the Executive Officers at CEA in accordance with the recommendations of leaders in the study abroad industry and the Health and Safety Committee of NAFSA: Association of International Educators.

CEA's Refund Policy states that once the program begins, refunds are not granted for meals, housing, tuition, CEA-sponsored excursions, or transportation unused by students due to absence or any other reason.

If CEA cancels a program due to a Travel Warning, accepted applicants are given the choice of (1) deferring to a future program session; (2) switching to a different CEA program site; or (3) a full refund of all recoverable fees less the $95 application fee.

In the history of CEA, there has never been a need to cancel a program. CEA will only cancel a program if the State Department issues a Travel Warning for that particular country. This policy is in accord with that of other study abroad providers.

Yes, CEA's programs are offered in Western & Eastern Europe, Latin America and Australia, regions and countries considered to be safe for American students.

Although individual Americans are generally liked abroad, host nationals will often question the activities of the US Government and may espouse anti-American views. This has occurred for some time, both in peaceful and crisis periods. Using common sense, keeping a low profile, dressing to blend in, speaking softly, avoiding overt displays of American patriotism and staying away from known established American locations (like McDonald's or Hard Rock Café) all help to alleviate this issue. Students are always advised to avoid all public demonstrations. Additionally, all CEA students undergo an intensive onsite orientation on safety awareness.

CEA Admissions Counselors and Student Services Advisors are available to talk with students and parents about their concerns. Please call CEA at 1-800-266-4441 or email us. Institutional representatives should contact .

No refunds can be given to students who withdraw after the program withdrawal date. If a student must withdraw due to an illness, family emergency, or other similar circumstance, CEA will do its best to refund any recoverable costs. Any academic credit awarded for incomplete work would be determined by the faculty at the host institution overseas.

Students may be accepted to CEA programs prior to receiving program approval from their study abroad office. However, CEA refers all students to their study abroad offices for program approval, transfer credit approval, and financial aid issues.

At CEA, we offer you the combination of excellence in all areas:

Academic Excellence: No matter where in the world you want to study, CEA is committed to working with excellent and credible schools.

Academic Flexibility: Whatever your major, whatever your language ability, CEA has courses you need, taught in the language you need, all around the world.

Extras Amenities: By including excursions, immersion events and technological amenities, CEA will make sure your cultural experience is as rich as your studies.

Student Services: From your first contact to your return and everywhere in between, CEA takes care of our students with service unparalleled in the field.

University Relations: Through our Affiliation Program, custom programming and campus visits, CEA is working hard to serve the study abroad needs of US universities.

Affordability: Without cutting corners on desired amenities, CEA offers programs for every type of student budget.

CEA has welcomed students from over 950 US and Canadian colleges and universities. Last spring alone, we had participants from over 300 schools. Our Affiliate Program is also expanding rapidly, and we currently have over 140 affiliated schools. See a complete list of current Affiliate Schools.

Affiliated schools work closely with CEA to make credit transfer, financial aid usage and student recruiting as easy as possible. CEA rewards this cooperation with scholarships, expanded advising materials, visits to our international sites, and other office contributions. Learn more about our Affiliate Program.

We would love to! We know that you have people on campus who would like to fashion their own study abroad curriculum and perhaps teach overseas themselves. CEA has the comprehensive expertise to help build and administrate the machinery of such a program, leaving you and your faculty to focus on academics. And, because of our vast network of international connections, we can do this at a very reasonable cost. Learn more about our Custom Programs, which we can tailor to your school's needs.

Yes, both for your school and CEA. When we are able to work with larger groups of students, we find that our program expenses can be reduced. We in turn can pass those savings on to your students.

You can choose to "adopt" a program from our catalog for specific promotion on your campus. This allows your students to share a pre-existing bond when they set out on their term abroad and can allow CEA to offer a discounted price.

We are proud to have you visit us abroad! There is no better way to get a feel for the CEA difference than by taking it in on location.

CEA offers site visits on a regular basis. They are offered at a very reasonable cost and include airfare, lodging, guided visits to our campuses and housing facilities, the chance to sit in on some classes, and extra events - the type our students get to do as part of their programs!

Affiliate partners receive a significant discount on site visits and are able to earn free visits through the regular use of CEA programs at their schools.

You have a dedicated University Relations Regional Consultant or Specialist who is eager to help you with the promotion of study abroad on your campus. We are happy to answer your questions, visit your school, meet with interested faculty and staff, provide information session sand tables for students, and meet with your study abroad office to support your campus efforts. Our University Relations team is dedicated to working directly with you to provide excellent and timely service. Should you have any issue that involves your university and your students' experience with CEA, your University Relations Regional Consultant is accessible and ready to offer you the assistance you need.