Included Program Benefits: Students participating in Loyola’s study abroad program in Paris, France will receive Loyola financial aid (academic scholarships and grants), plus federal (not work-study) and some forms of state aid. Travel assistance coverage, including emergency medical evacuation/repatriation, is included in the cost. An orientation in Paris, which encompasses housing in hostels and a few meals, is also included.

Program Costs and tips on cost of living:  You pay Loyola’s tuition, which covers tuition (5-3 credit courses) at the American University of Paris. Students pay housing and utilities to the landlord in Paris. Meals are not included. Students can cook in their independent rooms or eat out.  Living in Paris can be quite expensive. Therefore, it is important to set a budget to help keep cost down.

In order to study abroad in Paris, you will need to budget for the following: study abroad deposit (to secure your child’s spot in the program), program fee, comprehensive fee, tuition (paid to Loyola), housing (paid abroad), meals (buying groceries and/or eating out), utilities (gas and electric, phone, internet service if available), travel (round-trip airline ticket to and from Paris and independent travel), passport application or renewal application fee, CampusFrance registration fee, visa application fee, books/supplies, public transportation (métro, bus, taxis), communication expenses (cell phones internet), trips (personal and course-related), photos and miscellaneous expenses (laundry, personal hygiene, night life, gym memberships and toiletries).

Paying for your child’s education abroad requires advance planning.  Please make sure that you have contacted our Financial Aid Office or Student Administrative Services Department to understand how your aid/monies will work overseas.

Basic Living Expenses:
Basic living expenses vary according to several variables: your child’s spending habits/ lifestyle (type and standard of accommodations suits your child’s needs), the exchange rate and the cost of living in a particular country.

The expenses listed below are in Euros, estimated by the month and vary depending on the type of room a student selects. Discretionary expenses are not included. This information is taken from the housing brochure provided by AUP for the fall 2008 group only. The fees/charges are estimates only and are subject to change without notification. This is strictly for general information purposes only. 

Health Services, Insurance Information:  The French government requires all students to have a valid health insurance while studying in France. All full-time students are automatically enrolled in the AUP Student Health Care Plan at the beginning of the each semester, unless you have an exemption. An exemption is possible if you have a comprehensive health insurance policy that includes medical coverage outside of the United States, and which is the equivalent to AUP’s Student Health Plan. You will have to provide a letter from your insurance company verifying proof of coverage to Loyola. In order to apply for an exemption, a student/family must complete the Health Insurance Coverage Certificate and return it to AUP by their stated deadline. If you miss the deadline or do not complete the Health Certificate form, you will be automatically charged for the AUP Student Health Plan. You will not be able to unregister.

You have the option to purchase the AUP Health Care Plan, which covers you in France only. However, we strongly recommend that you keep your US health insurance coverage valid while your son/daughter is abroad as a precaution.

Link to Consular Information Sheet: 
It is important for your son/daughter to know as much as possible about the country he/she will be living in or visiting. The U.S. Department of State provides American Citizens with information on each country/territory around the world. Here is the link to the Country Specific Information on France, along with Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1116.html
 
Documents/Visa/Airline Arrangements:
All students must have a valid passport. The passport should have at least 6 months left on it after your son/daughter returns from abroad, and it should be signed. If your child does not have an adult passport or if he/she needs to renew one, have him/her start working on obtaining a valid passport BEFORE applying to this program. Here is the link to obtain information on how to apply or renew a passport: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

A visa (a stamp in your passport) is required to study in France. Before a student can apply for a visa, students must register with CampusFrance first. Students should not wait until the last minute to register with CampusFrance or to apply for their visa. Sometimes, it takes 4- 6 weeks to obtain the documents needed to travel.

Group travel is organized by the Office of International Programs. Students have the option of participating in the group flight or arranging their own flight. In order to get a group discount on airline tickets, we must have a minimum of 10 students booked for the group flight. Once the deposit is paid to hold your son/daughter’s spot on the flight, if he/she changes his/her mind, the student will be responsible for any monies paid on his/her behalf.

Banking/Money Issues:
Students tend to handle money in three ways while living abroad: cash, credit cards, bank or ATM cards and travelers checks. Students usually use bank cards or credit cards to withdraw cash from ATM’s. These are very convenient, but know that there are often daily or weekly limits to the amount a student can withdraw. We recommend that you contact the bank or company that issued the card to verify that the card is an international card and can be used in Paris as well as in other countries. Students should obtain a 4-digit pin code (not letters) for your card(s). Only cards with 4-digit numerical codes can be used in French ATM machines. Find out if there are any daily or weekly limits. Also, verify whether your bank or credit card company charges for each transaction made at an ATM. If this is the case, your child may want to take out larger amounts at one time and make fewer trips. Keep in mind that when you are dealing with cash, if your son/daughter loses it, it cannot be replaced.

Traveler’s checks can be cashed at any foreign exchange office or in most banks in Paris. However, there is usually a service fee charged and it is not as convenient as using an ATM. However, if they are lost or stolen, they can be replaced. You will need to discuss this with your son/daughter to see which option is best, or you may choose to do both.

Also, it is a good idea to get a major credit card (VISA or MasterCard) in your child’s name.

Packing/Getting Ready:
With airlines getting stricter with luggage limits and weight, it is best to pack light and take only the essentials. It can get cold in Paris during the winter months and spring can get warm. Students should pack a good pair of comfortable, walking shoes. Also, a weather proof jacket or coat with a lining may be useful. Most students dress in layers. Try to pack clothes that can be interchanged to make different outfits. Students should not bring anything that they cannot afford to lose. It is best to insure any electronic gadgets or laptops, in the event these items are lost or stolen. Insurance liabilities/limits differ from country to country.

Misc:  This is a Loyola program, but the experience will be an international one! Probably for the first time, your son/daughter will be living as a foreigner in a large city. With that there will be some challenges along the way. Your son/daughter can have a wonderful experience while living and learning in Paris, but part of it will depend on your son/daughter’s flexibility and openness to this new type of experience. Just like in most major cities, prices for housing tend to be expensive. Your child will have to adjust to living in small, more old-fashioned, modest accommodations, which may be different than what he/she has been accustomed to.

Websites:

American University in Paris: http://www.aup.fr
France Information: http://us.franceguide.com
Paris Information: http://en.parisinfo.com
Currency conversion: http://www.xe.com/ucc/
The World Clock: http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/