Policies & Procedures

Master’s Degree Policies and Procedures, click here

Please read the application procedures thoroughly. When you are ready to apply online, follow the Apply link to the left. If you have any questions, please contact the California office at 800-655-8965.

REQUIREMENTS
Students are required to be 18 years of age and have a cumulative GPA of 2.5.
Along with the SAI Application, students must also submit the following:

  • Transcript with a cumulative GPA of 2.5
  • One personal statement, one page in length

The personal statement forms can be downloaded here.

DISABILITIES POLICY
SAI is dedicated to providing education abroad opportunities to all students and does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.  If you experience any emotional, mental, physical or learning disabilities which may interfere with your ability to successfully pursue an academic course, and which you wish to be taken into account, please notify SAI as soon as possible. As always, advance planning is important in order to ensure the best possible experience abroad.

Although we may not be able to require our partner schools abroad to provide accommodations, SAI can offer understanding, respect, and support, and we will do our best to assist students in finding reasonable accommodations similar to their home institutions. Regarding physical disability, it is important to note that Europe’s infrastructure and ability to accommodate disabled individuals differs from what is available in the United States. SAI will do its best to reasonably accommodate all students’ needs.

Among our program choices, certain sites are better equipped to assist students with disabilities than others. As this may be a factor in choosing which SAI program abroad to attend, you may choose to notify us of any and all disabilities before applying. 

APPLICANTS FROM AFFILIATED SCHOOLS
Students from SAI affiliated schools should discuss their plans with the study abroad office at their home school. Some affiliate schools require students to pay all fees directly to SAI; others require students to pay their home institution fees and the school will then cover the cost of their study abroad program; and still others require students to pay certain fees and their home institution will pay the others. Be sure to discuss this with your study abroad advisor in order to be clear about the procedure your school uses in their affiliation with SAI.

Affiliate students will receive credit for courses from their home institution. While affiliated schools guarantee credit, this does not guarantee every course will transfer or that it will transfer into your major area of study. Students are responsible for meeting with an advisor to verify transfer credit before beginning their program in Italy.

If you are uncertain about your college or university’s affiliation with SAI, drop by your study abroad office to discuss it with an advisor. You will find a list of current affiliates on our website. Students from affiliated universities MUST obtain approval from their study abroad office prior to submitting an application.

APPLICANTS FROM NON-AFFILIATED SCHOOLS
All students attending non-affiliated home universities will receive course credit from Fairfield University in Connecticut. Fairfield University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and is considered one of the top private universities in the US.

SAI automatically processes non-affiliate students through Fairfield University; no additional fee is imposed. All questions and correspondence should be directed to the SAI enrollment office, SAI California. Upon completion of course work, transcripts will be issued by Fairfield with US credits. Fairfield University credits are transferable to any school, though it is the student's responsibility to confirm that specific courses will transfer by speaking with their school advisor or study abroad office.

STUDENT VISAS
All students studying in Italy for MORE than 90 days are required to obtain a student visa. SAI provides Student Visa Consutling for all our students. This is included in all our programs. SAI offers an optional Student Visa Processing Service. The fee for this service is $250.

HOUSING
Housing assignments are sent by both email and post at least 2 weeks before (5 days before for Rome housing) the term begins. Your initial $500 confirmation deposit will be due prior to receiving your housing assignment. Students requesting a single room are required to pay the single supplement fee prior to our processing of single room requests. Full Program students making their own housing arrangements will receive a reduction in the Program Cost. Since this differs from school to school, contact the SAI office for exact amount of reduction.

Step 1: Application Deadline
Fall Semester: June 15
Spring Semester: November 1
Fall Quarter: July 15
Spring Quarter: December 1
Summer terms: 60 days prior to check-in

Step 2: Acceptance Deposit
Notification of acceptance status will be sent to you by email within one week of application. Within 2 weeks of email acceptance a $500 NON-REFUNDABLE confirmation deposit must be paid. For students in SAI housing a $300 security deposit + single room supplement fee (if applicable) must also be paid in order to secure your enrollment. Acceptance letters will include instructions and program payment dates. If you have requested housing and not paid the single supplement you will automatically be placed in double-room housing.

Step 3: Payment 1
Payment equal to 50% of your total Program Fee must be paid by:
Fall Semester: May 1
Spring Semester: October 1
Summer & Quarter Programs: 90 days prior to check-in date

Step 4: Payment 2
Balance of Program Cost Due:
Fall Semester: July 1
Spring Semester: December 1
Summer & Quarter Programs: 60 days prior to check-in date

NOTE: Students confirmed after Payment 1 / Payment 2 due dates will receive an email from the SAI business office regarding further program payments now due. Either 50% or 100% of Program Cost will be due within 5 business days, based on your acceptance date.

PAYMENTS
Costs may be combined in one payment, made payable to Study Abroad Italy, and sent to our office in California. All payments, including wire transfers, should list the applicant's name. A copy of your wire receipt must be faxed to our office before we can process your application. If you are enrolling for more than one term, fees and deposits for ALL terms must be paid at the time of application. A separate Security Deposit must be paid for each term (refundable at the end of that term).

Payment Options (We DO NOT accept cash payments):

  • Personal check, money order or cashier's check made payable to "Study Abroad Italy". Please mail to Study Abroad Italy, 7160 Keating Avenue Sebastopol, CA 95472.
  • Online Payment via Visa/Mastercard and E-checks: Study Abroad Italy accepts Visa or Mastercard only. Credit card payments and E-check payments may be made directly online here. Credit card payments are charged a 2.3% convenience fee. There is no charge for E-check (electronic check from your checking account) payments.
  • Bank Wire Transfer: For Bank Wire Transfers, please contact our California office at (800) 655 - 8965 for instructions.
SAI will mail one billing statement to your permanent mailing address which will include due dates. For information on making a payment by credit card, or for our wiring instructions, please contact our office directly.

Students failing to meet any payment deadline will be charged a $150 late payment penalty and their course registration will be placed on “hold” until the balance is paid in full. Transcripts will be withheld until all accounts are paid in full. Housing requests may be withdrawn by SAI if payments are not received by the due date.

FINANCIAL AID
Students using financial aid are required to pay the Application Fee, Confirmation Deposit, Security Deposit and Single Room Supplement (if applicable). Written verification of financial aid award or loan approval MUST be sent to our office in order to delay the balance of program fee and before your application is considered complete.

NOTE: If your financial aid award is not sufficient to cover all Program Costs, the remainder must be paid by the regular payment deadline dates.

Financial aid monies will be applied last and any balance must be paid by their earlier due date. SAI will delay the final payment amount (based on your financial aid award) until the date your aid disburses.

After acceptance, you will receive by email a Financial Aid Form that must be completed and signed by you AND your school or financial aid provider, and returned to the SAI office.

Financial aid students that do not submit ALL required documents by the following dates will be withdrawn:
Fall: July 1
Spring: November 15

NOTE: Financial Aid students remain responsible for all cancellation penalties that apply, even if program fees have not yet been paid. Failure to pay cancellation obligations will result in referral to a Collection Agency.

If you intend to use financial aid, check with your school to determine if a Consortium Agreement must be completed between your college and Study Abroad Italy/Fairfield. Those students receiving financial aid through their home college may be able to transfer these funds to Study Abroad Italy for payment of their Program Cost. Contact the Study Abroad Italy office in California if you have further questions.

All application materials and payments should be sent to the Study Abroad Italy office in California, including consortium agreements or other financial aid documents.

PROGRAM CANCELLATION & REFUNDS
Check-in day is considered the start of the term. The Confirmation Deposit is NOT REFUNDABLE. Further Program Fee liability is based on the date on which a formal cancellation request is received in writing (email or fax). If a cancellation notice is received 60 days or less before orientation, students are liable for the following charges:

Italy Programs

  • 60 - 46 days prior to the start of a term: 10% of the program cost
  • 45 - 31 days prior to the start of a term: 20% of the program cost
  • 30 - 8 days prior to the start of a term: 50% of the full Program Fee
  • 7 days or less prior to the start of a term: 100% of the full Program Fee
London Programs
  • 60 - 46 days prior to the start of a term: 20% of the Program Fee
  • 45 days or less prior to the start of a term: 100% of the Program Fee
HOUSING ONLY CANCELLATION & REFUNDS POLICY
Applications are registered for housing upon receipt of the security deposit. In the case of a student enrolled deciding to cancel their housing request and seek private housing, the following penalties will apply, based on the date of withdrawal:

  • LONDON: 61 days or more prior to start of term student is liable for 10%
    of housing cost.
  • ALL PROGRAMS INCLUDING LONDON: 60 days or less prior to start of term student is liable for 100% of housing cost.
Send all application materials and payments to:
Study Abroad Italy
7160 Keating Avenue
Sebastopol, CA 95472
USA