Customs The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides helpful information about international travel and U.S. customs. For more information on international travel, students can also look to their airline and the border control agency of their host country. Shipping Precautions Shipping internationally can be very expensive. Packages aren’t guaranteed to arrive, and IES Abroad cannot influence local custom rules. As fun as it may be to get packages from home while abroad, be prepared for potentially restrictive foreign customs and long delays. If friends and family want to send you...

For more location-specific tips, check out these packing tips from former IES Abroad students. Freiburg is located in the Black Forest of Germany. Because it lies in a valley the temperature is slightly warmer than in other regions of Germany. While it is pleasantly warm in the summer, it also can have short and heavy thunderstorms. Winters in Freiburg are relatively mild with only a few days of sub-freezing temperatures per year. You will find styles of dressing in Europe to be somewhat different than in the United States, and will notice that local students dress less casually than American...

Preregistration The Course Preregistration Form must be filled out in order for IES Abroad to start preparing your course schedule. As class size may be limited, course preregistration forms will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. It is your responsibility to obtain course approval from your home institution for all courses you intend to take, including alternate courses, before your departure, especially if you intend to fulfill specific degree requirements with those courses. To select courses, you will first submit the Preregistration Form in your MyIESabroad account, which...

Orientation The mandatory week-long orientation serves not only as an introduction to your program and the various aspects of life in Freiburg. Program information sessions are also organized to help you orient yourself in Freiburg. Discussion points include housing, health and safety, and academics. During Orientation Week, staff will also walk students through the necessary paperwork for registering in Germany and getting a residence permit. Staff can also assist you with questions regarding cell phones, sim cards and public transportation. This is an ideal opportunity for you to get to know...

If you enroll in partner university courses, you are required to complete partner university exams before departure and depart IES Abroad housing the following day. Partner courses at the University of Freiburg for ESS are also three-week modules, with examinations within the modules. If you use a university module instead of an IES module, the exam is in the module period, i.e. before the official move out. If you extend your stay with a fifth module at the university, the exam is also within the extended period - no exams are planned or permitted after the module periods and so also not...

If you are a US citizen and will be in Europe before or after the dates of the IES Abroad program, notify your IES Abroad Advisor immediately, as this could affect the residence permit process. You are permitted to be in the Schengen Area, which includes Germany, as a tourist for no more than a combined total of 90 consecutive or non-consecutive days in a six month period. You will be considered a tourist until you are issued a residence permit, which will be a few weeks after the start of the program. If you remain in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days within a 6-month period, you will...

Important Initial Steps You’ll Need to Take to Be Prepared Confirm your Place in the Program Submit the Confirmation Form in your MyIESabroad account. Check, Renew, or Apply for your Passport This is even more important than your plane ticket! If you do not have a valid passport, renew or apply for one immediately. Read your Predeparture Information and Student Handbook This Predeparture Guide is filled with nearly all the information you need to know to be prepared to go abroad. Navigate through this Predeparture Guide using the dropdown above. Find the Student Handbook in your Predeparture...

Berlin Travel Delay/Late Arrival If your travel will be delayed due to changed or cancelled flight, please be sure to complete the Travel Delay Form which will notify the appropriate parties of your updated travel status: Travel Delay Form

Arrival Instructions Approximately 2-3 weeks before you depart, you will receive your Print Me document which contains contact numbers, final instructions, and specific information on how to proceed when departing from your home country. You will need to print this information and keep it with you as you travel to your program center/location. Please arrive at the appropriate airport of your program location at the specified time on the arrival date. You must inform IES Abroad of your exact flight information and all modifications. If you get lost, call the IES Abroad Emergency Number listed...

Entry Documents To intern in the UK, almost all students are required to obtain BOTH a BUNAC sponsorship and a Temporary Worker (Government Authorized Exchange - GAE) visa. The Temporary Worker visa is issued by the UK government but will not be issued until you have received sponsorship through BUNAC, which is authorized by the UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor student interns. This is a lengthy process, so carefully read through the steps below. Due to the time constraints on obtaining your BUNAC Sponsorship and Temporary Worker visa, we strongly recommend that you do NOT travel...