Overview
Spend 2 months in Switzerland and 1 month in Eastern Africa!
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You will be based in Lugano, Switzerland, located in Canton Ticino -- the only Italian speaking Canton in Switzerland. You will take classes from Virginia Tech and Roanoke College professors at a local university and live at the Montarina Hostel, rated in a Washington Post article as one of the 8 top youth hostels in the world.
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In September and October, you take classes from US professors and have the weekends to explore the surrounding areas of Europe. Lugano is on a major rail line between Italy and the rest of Europe. You can reach many wonderful cities in a few hours. Past students have visited cities such as Rome, Florence, Venice, Paris, Barcelona, and Munich.
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In November, you participate in an experiential learning project in Rwanda. Your project will depend on the needs of our non-profit partner organizations. Students collaborate with local schools and non-profit organizations to develop, implement, and deliver curricula in areas such as:​
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ESL (English as a second language)
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Cultural exchange discussions
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Basic computer skills
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US culture
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Professional development
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To learn more about the Africa experience, check out our Service Learning and Impact pages.
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You also go on a safari excursion, reflection retreat, and other local activities. You return to Lugano for about one week to complete your semester-long project and reflect on your experiences.
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Costs
$6,594 in-state ($15,383 out-of-state) Tuition ​
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Billed in July, due in August
$12,500 Program Fees
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$1,200 non-refundable deposit billed after you accept our offer to be in the program
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$5,600 billed May 15, due June 15
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$5,700 billed July 1, due August 1
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This includes housing for the semester, dinner 4 nights a week and lunch meal card in Europe, 3 meals a day in Rwanda, airfare to/from Europe and Africa, Eurail Pass, safari excursion, weekly laundry, international health insurance, Visas, etc.
$4,000 Out of Pocket Expenses
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Not billed, just recommended out of pocket expenses.
Weekend travel, textbooks, souvenirs and gifts, breakfasts & lunches, toiletries, etc.
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IN-STATE STUDENT TOTAL: $23,094
OUT-OF-STATE STUDENT TOTAL: $31,883
Only $4,000 more than a normal semester living on campus with a meal plan.
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Financial Aid Information:
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During your semester abroad, you are enrolled in and pay tuition to Roanoke College instead of Virginia Tech.
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Please read the attached document to see which scholarships, financial aid, tuition assistance, etc. can be applied to your semester abroad.
Classes
You will be enrolled in 5 Units at Roanoke College which will transfer to Virginia Tech as 19 Credits:​
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Marketing, Society, and the Public Interest (MKTG 4644, 3 credits)
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Special Study: Legal Approaches to Change (MKTG 4984, 4 credits)
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Consumer Behavior (MKTG 4204, 4 credits)
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Field Study (MKTG 4964, 4 credits)
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Study Abroad (MKTG 3954, 4 credits)
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Credit Transfer Information:
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Virginia Tech has approved the credit transfer from Roanoke College to Virginia Tech for the classes taken through the Linking Lives Study Abroad Program
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You must receive a C or better to transfer courses back to Virginia Tech
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Course credits will transfer, but GPA will not be affected
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No more than 75% of degree requirements can be transferred from another university to Virginia Tech
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Of the last 45 semester hours before graduation, a maximum of 18 semester hours may be transfer hours (27 of the last 45 hours must be taken at Virginia Tech).
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Academic Opportunities include:
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Substitute MKTG 3954 for MKTG 4704 by completing additional reading and a paper that examines a topic in international marketing.
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Experiential field study with international organizations and semester-long grant proposal project - looks great on resume!
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Opportunity to intern with Linking Lives the summer after participating in the program