Budget and Finances
London Calling!
If you’re reading this, you’re probably thinking about coming on our trip (or, perhaps more scarily, sending your son or daughter!). London is an amazing, wonderful, incredible city… one of the most vibrant and exciting places in the world. All of that excellence comes at a price, however, and this section of our site helps you figure out how much this is all going to cost you! Here’s the basic information you need to know: Budget Information Tuition Students will register for Global Ad and PR during Spring 2013. This means there will be no additional tuition, even though we will be traveling during Summer Intersession. In other words, as long as you’re registered as a full-time student for Spring Semester, there will be no additional tuition costs for the course. Just register in Spring and save your money for the trip! Costs covered via program fees: Lodging Students will be staying in flats (apartments) at the Crawford House, a property in the Clerkenwell area of London. Centrally located, our building is near Tube stops, trendy restaurants, and the Museum of London. A total of 14 nights are included in our program fees: Friday, May 16 through Friday, May 31. Transportation Each student will have access to public transport throughout our stay in London, with our Travelcards covering the Tube (London’s underground subway system), buses, trams, light rail, and National Rail within London travel zones 1 and 2. Students arriving and/or departing on the group flight will be provided transportation via private bus to/from London. International Health Insurance Kent State University provides health insurance to study abroad students, paid out of the program fee. Special Events Oxford/Cambridge We are planning to organize at least one trip to visit Oxford and/or Cambridge. Train transport will be included in program costs as well as lunch and dinner during these outings. Group Dinners We are holding four group dinners and one lunch. The cost for these group meals has been factored into the program fees (note that there will be no drinking during these meals). Programming and Facilities Factored into each student’s program fee are costs related to programming and facilities, including such items as honoraria for speakers and location rental fees (including meeting rooms, etc.). ESTIMATED PROGRAM FEES: Program fees are estimated to be approximately $2700. Exchange Rates This is a conservative estimate, based on an exchange rate of $2 : £1 (2 American dollars to 1 British pound). Recently, the exchange rate has been hovering around $1.65 : £1, but because we can’t predict what the rate will be in May we are using this in our calculations. By being conservative with our estimates, we can better ensure that no “surprises” come up as we get closer to our trip. For the most recent exchange rates, visit www.xe.com. Final program fees will be calculated by the number of students enrolled in the course, with a maximum number of 20 students (undergraduate and master's). Final Program Fees Final program fees will be calculated by enrolled students as of March 1, 2013. Payment Information Students will be required to meet the following payment schedule:
Costs not included in the program fees: Whether looking to spend or planning to save, the wonders of London await! Take advantage of travel guides to figure out how much you want to spend–and how much you can–and budget accordingly. All students will be required to prepare and submit a budget during Spring Semester to help ensure no one runs out of money while abroad. Flights Students are responsible for booking their own flights. This gives you flexibility: use frequent flyer miles, fly out of a “local” airport (Pittsburgh, Columbus, etc.), stay a bit longer to travel around England, the rest of Great Britain, or Europe. Group flight information will be shared as soon as flights are booked, and our travel agents can help walk you through the process if you haven’t traveled internationally before. We strongly recommend that, if possible, students book on the group flight to London through the travel agency; that way, any travel glitches can be more easily accommodated. Even if you are traveling from your "home" airport, consider meeting up with the group for the overseas legs. All class members traveling on the group flights will be provided transportation to/from London Heathrow. As of September, flights from Cleveland to London for the program dates (May 16-31) are approximately $1200. These can change quickly, however, so keep your eye on sites such as Expedia, Travelocity, or specific airlines. Also consider baggage costs when booking your airline; what looks like a great deal can add up if that airline charges extra for checked baggage! Passports All students are required to have a passport that is valid until at least December 2013 to go on this trip. Passport forms will be made available to students at our first class meeting along with information on where to go for pictures. Passports currently are $135 for first-timers. Mobile Phone UK anti-terrorism regulations prohibit anyone from purchasing more than three non-contract mobile phones in a calendar year. As such, we cannot purchase mobile phones for students. Because we have found these to be important, all students will be required to buy a phone that can at minimum be used for incoming calls and texting. Phones easily can be purchased either at carrier-specific stores or at a general mobile store such as Carphone Warehouse. Food, Drink, and Other Incidentals Students will be responsible for their own food and drink while in London (with the exception of five group meals included in the program costs). This means you have a lot of flexibility with your budget; if you want to spend every night going to amazing dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants, enjoying late night snacks at the local gastropubs, and checking out the latest theatre fare in London’s West End, you are welcome to do so… it will be the experience of a lifetime! Others, however, may opt for a more budget-conscious approach: making lunch and dinner in their flats, visiting free museums, and just wandering around an amazing city while making use of their Tube passes. While more affordable, this promises to be a fantastic experience as well! A good travel guide (such as Lonely Planet) will help you figure out potential costs, based on what you want to do. If you watch your pennies (well, pence!) and share cooking responsibilities with your flatmates, you can keep your costs down to about £20/day (so about $650 in total). If you want to spend more, of course, you can… but this is a reasonable budget. How am I Going to Pay for This? Kent State's Office of Global Education offers “Free Money” informational sessions to help students figure out ways to help finance study away trips. Get in touch with them for more information! FINAL NOTE: While these costs may seem a little overwhelming at first, it’s actually a pretty affordable way to be in London for two weeks. Even if you need a passport and you choose to spend a bit more in London, you can expect to spend less than $5000 for the entire experience. All that AND college credit and a deliverable that will help give you a competitive advantage during job interviews? An amazingly good deal! |
Bottom Line:
Each student will have to pay:
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