Know Before You Go

Get ready!

Whether you’re still deciding on courses or you’re packing your bags, you can always contact our staff to help you along. Yes there is paperwork and yes there are decisions to make around course selection, housing preferences, dates, travel necessities, registration, budgeting and more. Our staff can walk you through it all.

Once you apply to Arcadia, our program advisors are in regular contact with you about the status of your application and they send out extensive information that will prepare you to go abroad, including information on culture, politics, history and the local higher education system.

Once you arrive, our staff will meet you and introduce you to your accommodation and your orientation program will begin – to help you settle in academically, practically, culturally and socially.

First! Home School Arrangements

• Let your study abroad advisor know that you are taking part in an Arcadia University program
• Cancel any housing or meal contracts for the time you’ll be away and make arrangements to reactivate them when you return.
• If registration for next year's courses on your home campus will take place while you are abroad, ensure that the appropriate arrangements are made with your registrar or study abroad advisor.
• Some students enrolled on semester programs decide when they are overseas to stay for the full year. This is possible. While home college approval for continued study can be obtained when you are abroad, it will be much easier to make the necessary arrangements and receive preliminary approval before you leave the U.S.

Travel Information

Your program advisor will alert you via email when it is time to book your flight and provide pertinent logistics information at that time.

Budgeting

It’s important to think about all the expenses you are likely to incur while abroad so you and your family can plan ahead. Your program fees section explains what your program fee does and does not cover, and will provide you with an overall estimate of expected expenses. For example, your airfare to Italy is not included in your program fee. It is important to note that the "Estimate of Additional Expenses" information is provided for planning purposes only, and may vary according to your own personal spending habits.

Items to consider

• Expect to spend extra on meals and basic expenses during your first couple of weeks in-country as you settle in.
• You will primarily be cooking for yourself in your apartments in Italy. If you shop at the local markets and supermarkets, a budget of about $10 a day should keep you well-nourished. You will need to budget more if you plan on eating out a lot as a basic meal in a pizzeria or trattoria will run you at least $12-15.
• Students registered at Italian universities may also have the option of purchasing inexpensive meals at the university cafeteria or "mensa".
• You should budget at least $40-50 per class for required books and supplies. Classes that require standard US textbooks may cost two to two and a half times as much.  Check your online syllabi for required texts.
• You may want to order textbooks in advance online from UK suppliers. Language texts are purchased on site. A limited number of used books may be available from the program at discount.
• If you will be taking studio art classes, you should budget about $150 for art supplies and materials per course.
• Local transportation: Florence and Perugia are easily navigated on foot. Bicycles are also a popular option in Florence and you might consider buying a used one or renting one after arrival.
• If you are living in self-catered accommodation you may have to budget for some household items such as pots, pans, silverware, sheets etc.
• Weekly costs for postage, laundry, local phone calls and other miscellaneous expenses can run $30-40 a week. Entertainment can add another $30-40 a week.
• Vacation expenses can really add up, depending on how far you go and how much time you take. If you plan to travel, you'll have to budget for housing, meals and transportation and other personal expenses while you're on the road.
• Count up your weeks of study and vacation if any under your program.
• Make daily and weekly budgets and stick to them.

Financial Tips

• The Italian unit of currency is the is the euro [€].
• To check today's dollar/euro exchange rate, use an exchange rate currency calculator.

Banking

You will soon become an expert at international banking transactions…

Italian Bank Accounts

We do not recommend trying to open a bank account in Italy. The following information will help you maintain quick access to your funds, and protect your money against loss

Contact Your Bank

Before you leave the US contact your bank and/or credit card company to let them know that you will be studying abroad – where and for how long.

• If your bank is not aware that you will be using your card(s) overseas, they may cancel your card(s) due to suspicious activity outside your normal spending patterns.
• Also confirm with your bank that you will be able to use your card(s) overseas and what their fees are.
• Ask your bank for a list of overseas outlets where your card is accepted.

Carrying Cash

• It's a good idea to arrive with at least the equivalent of $200 in your wallet exchanged into EUR– you can do this at your local bank if you give them notice or at the airport for a hefty charge.
• Your American ATM card should work at most banks overseas including your arrival airport.  
• Local banks will also exchange currency but note their operating hours and fees.

Cash Machines (ATMs)

If your ATM card is linked to the Plus or Cirrus systems, your card will work in thousands of cash machines throughout the country. The advantage to using your American ATM card is that you will be assessed the wholesale exchange rate that applies to large foreign currency transactions.  Be sure to check with your bank about using your ATM card in Italy and about any fees that might be assessed. That said, have other sources of money in case your ATM card does not work.

Credit Cards

You can use most credit cards in Italy but they must be in your name, as it appears on your passport.  You should know, however, that Italians tend to pay in cash and shop staff may try to convince you to pay in cash, especially for small/medium purchases, even if they do take cards. Shops and restaurants in smaller towns may not accept credit cards. Visa and MasterCard are more widely accepted than American Express, but AmEx Offices can assist you with cashing US checks. Credit card cash advances are considered loans, so interest is charged from the day the advance is made. Before you depart, check with your card company for more information on what services you’ll have where, what fees are involved and what to do if you lose your card.

Italian Banks

Banks open around 8:30 am and close around 1:30 pm, open again at 3:00 pm, or 3:30 pm for another hour. You should expect to take care care of banking needs Monday through Friday; a few banks may have Saturday morning hours.

In an Emergency

When the program is in session, our offices in Italy can make emergency loans to students. Students must sign a promissory note and repay the loan as soon as they receive money from home. If you find yourself in dire financial straits while traveling, the State Department can help your family transfer money to you (provided you are a U.S. citizen).