Please read carefully the Global Immersion Program policies and expectations before you register for a class.
Program Fees
Students will have their program fee charged directly to their student accounts after matching on the course. Program fees will be fully refunded to students if they drop during the add/drop period - or earlier specified date within the add/drop period. Once that date has passed, students can't get a refund on the program fee.
Program fees cover double occupancy hotel stay, in-country transportation, breakfast each morning, most lunches, 1-2 dinners and cultural activities — these will be clearly labeled on the itinerary. Program fees do not cover international round-trip airfare, most dinners, visas, and evening entertainment or activities.
GIP Hold Policy
Students with holds on their accounts will not be permitted to participate in Global Immersion Program classes. Students enrolled in these courses will be notified when a hold has been placed on their account. At that time the student will have 48 hours to clear the hold; if the hold is not cleared, the student may be removed from the course. If the add/drop period has passed for the course, program fees will not be returned to the student. Bid points refunds will be processed like any other course, per the policies in place.
Attendance and Participation
Attendance is mandatory at all Global Immersion class sessions in New York and business meetings in country. Failure to participate in any required class meetings and activities will affect your grades. Students who fail to attend the first class meeting in New York may be removed from the course at the instructor’s discretion.
Students on the wait list for Global Immersion courses must attend the first class session in order to be moved into the course if a spot opens up. The first class sets the tone and expectations for the course, and it is imperative that students participate in these discussions.
Participation in Global Immersion classes is open only to MBA students; no significant others may accompany travel.
Passports and Visas
Students will be notified in the welcome email for each course about visa requirements for each country. In most cases, students are responsible for securing their own visas. If you are not a US citizen, check with your consulate or embassy and the consulate of the country you are visiting to confirm visa requirements.
Start the visa application process as soon as possible. Students who are unable to travel at the last minute due to visa difficulties will not have their program fees refunded to them. Most countries require that passports be valid for six months beyond the end date of travel; if your passport is due to expire soon, we recommend you start the renewal process immediately.
Managing Travel Expectations
Global Immersion courses often travel to emerging economies, exposing students to cultures and environments often times different than their own. This often means differing levels of infrastructure, efficiency and standards affecting hotel stays, meals, traffic delays and transportation limitations.
Our schedule relies on the schedules and generosity of others; therefore, schedules may change with little notice. Please keep this in mind if you sign up for our travel programs — it is important to be considerate and flexible. Five days is a short period of time to learn a great deal, so the majority of your time will be devoted to course activities (though cultural and social activities may be planned in the evenings and on the weekend days).