Pre-Departure Information for Admitted Students

Passport and Student Visa
Travel and Packing
Important Items to Consider Bringing
Important Items to Consider Leaving Home
Money
Communications
Accommodation
Insurance
Health
Safety and Security
Emergency Situations
Some Tips for Ongoing Issues at Home
ISEPS Internships

Please read everything in all sections. Note that the inclusion of a resource does not imply endorsement by ISEPS.

Passport and Student Visa

The admitted student must have a legal passport, with a recommended validity date no less than six months past the actual program dates. Please see the following U.S. State Department website, if there are any questions or concerns: www.state.gov/travel

The admitted student will need a Student Visa to enter and study in Spain for up to a half year. ISEPS's deadlines for receipt of all paperwork and full payment are largely determined by Spanish Government regulations regarding the application for, and issuing of Student Visas. Please note that with current regulations the admitted student may only have a short time to apply for a visa, which varies up to approximately 90 days depending on the Spanish Consulate in the U.S. The admitted student must apply to that Consulate that has jurisdiction over his/her permanent address. The admitted student might need to make an appointment. Please see the following Spanish diplomatic website if there are any questions or concerns: www.spainemb.org

Please note that if the admitted student will be taking a full year ISEPS study option, he/she needs to apply for a Student Residence Permit. Once the admitted student arrives in Seville with his/her Student Visa (see above), ISEPS will help with this process.

Travel and Packing

Check with the airline for luggage restrictions, number of pieces, size and weight. Travel light. Try to limit this to one manageable piece of hold baggage and one carry on bag. Please take into account that if the luggage is too heavy to handle then it should be repacked to make it lighter. Remember that laundry will probably be done once a week; this may help in deciding what to pack. Avoid clothing that needs dry cleaning; it is slow and expensive. As to any valuable items (ISEPS is not recommending this), it may be a good idea to register them with Customs at home (Customs Form 4457). Please see the following U.S. Customs web site, if there are questions or concerns: www.customs.ustreas.gov

Important Items to Consider Bringing:

Tickets and travel documentation (keep a photocopy).
Passport and Student Visa (keep a photocopy).
Traveller's checks, plus the record of them in a seperate place from the checks.
Cash - Euros.
One credit card.
Number to call in case of credit card theft.
If you need to bring medication, keep it in the original and clearly labelled container. In addition, carry the doctor's prescription for the medication, also showing the generic name.
Lap top computer and appropriate connection for European electrical current.
Spare passport size photographs (at least 8).
International Student Identity Card (see Insurance Section for more information).
Letter of Acceptance to the Program (photocopy of ISEPS document to be provided to admitted student).
Contact details from home and Home Campus.
Upon arrival at immigration control, you must get your Student Visa stamped. It is invalid without the stamp.

Important Items to Consider Leaving at Home with Parent / Legal Guardian:

Copies/receipts of traveller's checks numbers.
Copies of insurance documentation.
Unwanted credit cards.
Contact details for Seville - New home address in Seville (given before student departs US), and ISEPS phone contact number in Spain - 011 (34) 636 312 312 (number of Macarena - ISEPS Student Relations).
Contact details for your home institution - Home Campus Advisor, Financial Aide, etc.

Credit card number and the number to call in case of credit card theft (for credit card taken to Spain).

Money

Do not rely on changing money on arrival at the airport. Sometimes the banks are closed and not all airports have ATM machines. Carry a sufficient amount of Euros to last a few days in Seville. Try to obtain some small bills for use on arrival. Check with the home bank to verify the credit card's validity in Europe. Should there be a need for urgent funds from the United States, the fastest and easiest way is through Western Union which has many offices in Seville. A passport is needed to collect the funds in local currency in Seville. For some ATM locations in Seville, and advice for safe credit card use, please see the following web sites, if there are questions or concerns:
Worldwide MasterCard ATM Locator or Worldwide Visa ATM Locator

Communications

It is stongly advised the admitted student contact his/her parent/legal guardian upon arrival in Seville. Advise those at home of the time difference between Spain and the USA. Spain is six (6) hours ahead of Eastern Standard time. Each admitted student will be issued one cell phone for the duration of the program, the usage and related costs of which is his/her sole resposibility (to be explained upon arrival).

The admitted student may want to set up an internationally accessible e-mail account before leaving for Seville. Or if he/she can access an account at the Home Campus through it's web page, he/she can check e-mails at the many cyber cafes in Seville.

Accommodation

Placement with a local household will give the admitted student opportunities to further develop his/her language skills, to gain a better understanding of the local culture, and to have a chance to participate in it. The home-stay is also an important network within ISEPS's care for the student; apart from communicating with the ISEPS administration in case of a problem or emergency, the home-stay may prove to be a very important aspect of the international experience in Seville.

Each home-stay is different, so the following should only be taken as rough guidelines. The food will be a new experience. There may be less meat, and more preserved or dried foods such as pastas and rice. Do not expect more than water to drink with the main meals. Advice about kitchens - tread with care! Do not presume that this area will be "on limits" to you; ask permission to keep items in the refrigerator or to make a drink. It is just a question of getting to know the rules of each home!When not eating at the home-stay, have the courtesy to give the "señora" as much notice as possible. Do not invite guests without permission. Telephone and electricity is very expensive; don't ask to use the phone unless there is a real need and don't give out the home-stay number to other people. The cell phone should be used as much as possible. Turn off lights and other electrical appliances when leaving the room, and avoid extra long showers.Above all, please be considerate to the other people in the house. Many of these apartments only have one bathroom and other people will have classes and places to go also.

Insurance

Basic medical insurance is included in the fees. The admitted student should obtain his/her own insurance to cover travel outside the program duration and the borders of Spain. Again, it is strongly recommended that the admitted student obtain an International Student Identity Card. This card has a limited insurance policy which can be valid if admitted student should travel outside Spain, as well as attractive discounts in most of Europe for travel, visiting historical sites, etc. Please see Home Campus Advisor to arrange for getting the International Student Identity Card.

Health

As part of the Student Visa application the admitted student will need to supply a medical certificate. Make the most of the visit to the physician and have a check up. Get the physician to complete the ISEPS medical form. Medical information must be made available to ISEPS. It will be held in confidence for use in case of emergency. Withholding of pertinent medical information could result in dismissal from the program; it is in the interests of the admitted students's own health and well being to be honest. If their is a condition, such as an allergy or diabetes, that merits a medic-alert tag, obtain one and wear it. Also, arrange for a pre-departure visit to the dentist. The admitted student should exercise reasonable or recommended precautions while abroad with respect to food, drink, personal hygiene, personal conduct and exposure to known disease risk factors such as, but not limited to, unprotected sexual behavior and contact.

The admitted student can try to reduce the effects of jet lag by travelling comfortably, avoiding dehydrating drinks such as alcohol, taking a little exercise in flight, and resting well upon arrival.

Seville is an old city and by virtue of its antiquity may create difficulties for students with disabilities. Please take this into account.

If there are any specific health questions or concerns, please see the following websites:

www.cdc.gov

www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm

www.cdc.gov/travel/hivaids.htm

Safety and Security for the Admitted Student

Many aspects relating to the safety and security of the admitted student and his/her property will be dealt with during the orientation in Seville. Not withstanding, always take the following general precautions :

Carry cash, passport, and traveller's checks in a secure place such as a money belt or wallet worn under the clothing.
Label all baggage inside and out with name, home address, and travel details. Use closable type labels so a casual observer cannot read the information.
Never leave luggage unattended. It may either be lost or cause a security alert.
Never carry items for anybody else.
Do not linger in the public areas of airports; it is more secure in the sections for bone-fide travellers.
Be particularly vigilant with property in bus and rail stations. Travellers may be confused, tired and preoccupied with finding out where they should be - perfect targets for thieves!
Take a look around before using an ATM machine if using one without a companion present. If the admitted student sees anyone who looks suspicious, go somewhere else. For more tips about safe card usage use the links in the "Money"section.
Do not wear expensive looking jewelry or give an impression of affluence. Dress conservatively.
Register with the US Consulate in Seville, as will be handled by ISEPS during orientation.
Do not walk alone late at night.
Avoid serious argument. If you think a situation might get out of control, walk away.
Stay away from protest marches and political demonstrations.
Should the admitted student be unfortunate enough to suffer a demand for money / property with real physical menaces, then give them up. Money and property can be replaced; the admitted student cannot!
Driving a motorised vehicle is not recommended. The driving cultures of Spain and the USA are very different, and the time available to safely adapt may not be sufficient. Road traffic accidents are the prime cause of injury to USA citizens abroad. If traveling in a car, buckle up. On no account travel with a driver who has been drinking alcohol, or otherwise under the influence.
Do not hitchhike!
Involvement with illegal substances can place the admitted student and fellow students in danger and may bring the program into disrepute. It is a zero tolerance issue for ISEPS, and will constitute grounds for immediate dismissal from the program without refund. The same applies with excessive usage of alcohol.
Inform ISEPS staff and the home-stay contact if planning a weekend away. Leave as detailed an itinerary as possible.
A cell phone will be provided in Seville for the admitted student to use in maintaining appropriate contact with ISEPS, Home-stay contact, etc.
Upon arrival in Seville, the admitted student will be given an on site emergency card which will have ISEPS phone numbers in case of an emergency, and police, ambulance, emergency doctor, etc. numbers.
Please consider as a personal safety question, "Would I be doing this in a major city in the USA?" If the answer is NO then do not do it in Seville. This question should be in reference to walking home late at night, jogging in areas at certain times of the day, etc.

Emergency Situations

Should an emergency situation occur the admitted student should immediately contact ISEPS (using the above - mentioned emergency card) and explain the situation. Likewise, in the event of an emergency in the admitted student's home, parents/legal gaurdian's etc. are asked to contact the ISEPS office either in Seville or in the U.S.

Some Tips for Ongoing Issues at Home

While the admitted student is away, life will go on at home. The admitted student should arrange to have someone deal with his/her affairs at the Home Campus, as well as all personal matters such as credit cards, voting, tax returns, etc. Try and think of other items, and perhaps give a limited Power of Attorney if necessary. Planning for one's time abroad should be done in a thorough manner so that life at home will be the same upon return.

ISEPS Internships

Internship Option for credit is available to participants in the Advanced Program for Business and Economics (APBE). ISEPS internships reinforce the APBE Program's emphasis on career preparation, hand-in-hand with academic advancement and cultural immersion. These are serious professional work - environment internships. An in-depth admitted student profile will be developed (prior to arrival in Seville) in order to best match him/her with the most compatible economic sector of Seville, always with an eye to providing the admitted student with a genuine resume-building experience. Some of the available Sevillan economic sectors include, but are not limited to: aeronautical; agricultural; banking/financial; educational; energy; food and beverage; health services; leisure and recreation; media and communications; retail operations; and transportation and shipping.

Participants must abide by all ISEPS academic rules, and the laws of the European Union, and the government of Spain regulating non-immigrant trainees. The participant agrees to honor the details of their training in the European Community, as required by any employer, and to strictly follow company rules and regulations. The participant and Internship Supervisor must sign and submit check-in, mid-point, and final evaluations to ISEPS. A copy of the evaluation will be provided to the Home Institution. Weekly meetings between the participant and the ISEPS Internship Supervisor are obligatory as are the Advisor/Counselor sessions ISEPS will set up.