Study Abroad: Paris and Providence Information for Admitted Students

Sciences Po and Brown University Joint Program on Political Science: National Identity in a Globalized World

Images of Paris

Before you go

You should bring your Brown student ID card with you and you should get an International Student ID card (available at STA/Council Travel) to bring with you so that you will qualify for student discounted entrance rates at museums, concert halls and historical sites. 

Bring any medication you take with you. 

Be sure to leave copies of your important documents (passport, visa, credit cards, etc) at home and bring copies separate from the originals.

When you go

If you are delayed while traveling, please call with changes in your flight schedule.

After the Institute orientation, you will have a tour around the city. 

Travel

Important Information for Attending Students

Students are required to attend the mandatory orientation session. By submitting your application and your non-refundable deposit, you are agreeing to attend these orientations and to submit the required documentation and University forms by the deadlines posted. Failure to meet these obligations may result in the forfeiture of your deposit and enrollment in the program.

The initial program orientation will take place in April.

All forms must be submitted to Summer and Continuing Studies Summer Abroad by 12PM on April 1, 2009.

Important Information about Studying Abroad

All students enrolled in Brown University’s summer programs are subject to the Student Rights and Responsibilities defined by the campus and the Office of Student Life.

Students should be advised that while abroad, they are additionally subject to the laws of the host country. Staff abroad is not qualified to offer legal counsel or intercede with local authorities on behalf of a student. Any offense committed while abroad may be reviewed by the University judicial system.

Program Orientations

Students are required to attend the mandatory orientation sessions. By submitting your application and your non-refundable deposit, you are agreeing to attend these orientations and to submit the required visa documentation and University forms by the deadlines posted. Failure to meet these obligations may result in the forfeiture of your deposit and enrollment in the program. Please visit the Study Abroad destination home page for updated information on Program Orientation dates and times.

Non-Brown students who cannot attend the Program Orientations will be forwarded information covered in the meetings and are required to review the online orientation materials.

Student Rights And Responsibilities

All students enrolled in Brown University’s summer programs are subject to the Student Rights and Responsibilities defined by the campus and the Office of Student Life.

Students should be advised that while abroad, they are additionally subject to the laws of the host country. Staff abroad is not qualified to offer legal counsel or intercede with local authorities on behalf of a student. Any offense committed while abroad may be reviewed by the University judicial system.

Students should carefully consider their decision to study abroad on a Brown University program. These programs are academically rigorous and students must be prepared to meet their academic obligations while adjusting to a foreign language, culture and climate. These intensive programs are challenging emotionally and physically – yet rewarding in personal and academic ways.

Health Insurance

You must verify that your health provider will cover you while outside the US. It is Brown University's policy that all enrolled students must have health insurance coverage. To participate in one of Brown's summer study abroad programs, you must provide proof of health insurance coverage.

Current Brown Undergraduates

As a current Brown undergraduate for the 09-10 academic year, you have already made a decision with regards to your insurance coverage through August 15, 2010. You either waived the University's student insurance plan in favor of a private insurance policy, or you are currently insured under Brown's plan. The decision you made will remain in effect for the duration of the summer study abroad program, unless you contact the Insurance Office by May 15, 2010 to make a change. Students can choose to enroll in the University's plan for the summer term (coverage effective 6/1/10 - 8/15/10) if they learn that their private plan does not provide coverage to them while overseas. The summer insurance fee of $528.00 will be charged to your student account along with the other summer study abroad fees.

Please contact the Insurance Office at 401-863-9481 or by e-mail at Cheryl_Moan@brown.edu. Be sure to identify yourself as a current Brown undergraduate who waived out of the University's plan for the 09-10 academic year, but who will need to be enrolled in the plan for the summer term while participating in a study abroad program. Please be advised that students may elect to enroll in Brown's insurance plan for the summer term, but cannot waive out of the plan for the summer period.

Copies of the Brown University student health insurance plan brochure will be available at the orientation sessions. Students who are insured through the University's plan should bring this brochure with them overseas, along with their health insurance ID card and some claim forms. Claim forms and the plan brochure are available on the Insurance Office web site.

If you have questions about the benefits of the Brown University insurance plan, you may contact the Insurance Office at 401-863-9481.

Important note: If you will be enrolled at Brown University for the 2009-10 academic year, you will receive an additional student health insurance packet in May and you will be charged a student health insurance fee on your July billing statement. This fee is for coverage effective August 15, 2009 - August 15, 2010. If you plan on waiving the University's SHIP for the 2009-10 academic year, be sure to submit your annual waiver by the deadline of June 1, 2010.

Non-Brown Undergraduates

Non-Brown students who will participate in a Brown-sponsored summer study abroad program will be automatically enrolled in Brown University's student health insurance plan for the summer term (coverage effective 6/1/10 - 8/15/10). The summer insurance fee of $528.00 will be charged to your student account along with the other summer study abroad fees. You may view information about Brown's student Health Insurance Plan.

  1. If you have questions about the benefits of the Brown University insurance plan, you may contact the Insurance Office at 401-863-9481.
  2. If you have health insurance coverage through a private plan, you may waive enrollment in Brown's insurance plan. If you do not need Brown's insurance coverage, you must complete and return the summer term health insurance waiver form to Brown's Insurance Office by the deadline of May 15, 2010.
  3. All students insured through a private plan should check on the following:

1) Will my insurance plan provide benefits to me while outside of the U.S.?
If so, you should be familiar with how to use the benefits and, if applicable, how to get reimbursed for expenses paid out of pocket while abroad. You should bring any insurance materials with you to help facilitate the process of receiving medical care abroad (i.e. health insurance ID card, summary of benefits, claim forms, etc.)

2) Will my insurance plan cover me for the duration of my study abroad program?

Letter From The Director – Safety & Security For Students Abroad

Kathryn Good
Director of International Students and Programs
Office of Continuing Education
Brown University
42 Charlesfield St. Box T
Providence, RI 02912

September 25, 2009

To All 2010 Outgoing Students, Their Parents, and Families:

The Office of Continuing Education (OCE) and its staff members abroad take the safety and security of all students who participate in our programs very seriously. Included here is an overview of OCE's health and safety precautions for programs abroad.

To remain current on health advisories, all students are requested to refer to the Brown University Emergency Preparedness web page.  OCE and its summer programs abroad follow the University guidelines and consult with on-site directors, where local health centers may have specific advisories based on regional advisories.  The current global concern regarding H1N1 is being monitored.  The most important thing Brown community members can do to prevent the spread of illness is to practice good hygiene. This includes:

  • Washing hands often with warm water and soap or an alcohol-based hand gel, especially after you cough or sneeze.
  • Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
    Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. If tissue is not available cough into your sleeve/elbow.
  • Avoiding touching your mouth, nose, or eyes at anytime, but especially when you are sick as this is a common way H1N1 can spread.

Brown University will post updates regarding H1N1

To remain current  on international safety concerns, OCE staff consults regularly with the Office of International Programs, with off-site administrators and responsible officials of foreign host universities, with the US Department of State and other governmental and non-governmental agencies, and other experts, including our faculty, who keep well-informed on issues and events in international locations where we have sponsored and approved programs. Additionally, in recent years, we have taken a number of steps to update our preparedness to deal with emergencies on Office of Continuing Education programs abroad:

  • Program Directors, at Brown and abroad, possess numerous means for contacting each other, including 24 hour phone numbers and multiple email addresses.
  • Students studying abroad are provided with 24 hour contact phone numbers for both resident staff of OCE Programs and Brown University staff. Off-site administrators and instructors have procedures in place to enable contact with students when necessary, and these procedures have been shared with students. Students, regardless of their destination, are further advised to be especially vigilant in light of the current international climate.
  • University staff monitors announcements from the US Department of State and other sources daily. These include the State Department's daily global security briefing and instant notification of all Travel Warnings and Advisories. Additionally, the University receives global health, safety and security advisories from International SOS, the largest medical and security-assistance company in the world.
  • All students studying abroad are automatically covered by a Brown Travel Assistance Plan* administered by International SOS, whose services range from telephone advice and referrals to full-scale evacuation by private air ambulance. International SOS has more than 3,500 professionals in 24-hour alarm centers, international clinics and remote-site medical facilities across five continents. You can access up-to-date reports on more than 170 countries worldwide on health issues, medical care and vaccination requirements via the International SOS website-your home page for travel health and safety information. To use their services or should you have any questions about the coverage, visit the International SOS website. For reference purposes, Brown's group membership number is 11BSGC000031.
  • The off-site administrator at each OCE program site will register the students with the local US Consulate.
  • The off-site administrator at each OCE Program site has on file an Emergency Action Protocol that covers emergency communication and assembly of students and situations up to and including cancellation of the program. Each OCE program has instructed students in emergency contact procedures and provides students with updates to these procedures as well as timely information relating to given situations when they arise.
  • Students are required, when traveling away from the host city, to provide resident staff with travel information at all times and to be in communication with their program. Furthermore, they are encouraged to check the State Department Travel Advisory website referred to in point 3 above.
  • In the event of an emergency, parents and family members can contact the Office of Continuing Education (401) 863-7900 (during business hours) or the Brown Department of Public Safety (401) 863-3322 after business hours.

Over the years, hundreds of students have participated in Office of Continuing Education programs, returning safely and in good health from their experiences abroad. While no level of preparation can prevent all problems or completely guarantee the safety of students who study and/or travel abroad, we believe that taking proper precautions not only helps avert any number of crises, but also allows for an appropriate response when emergencies arise. We ask that students participating in OCE programs abroad be especially vigilant of their local surroundings and communicate to OCE staff any security questions or concerns they may have.

The Office of Continuing Education welcomes questions relating to program safety and we ask that you do not hesitate to contact our office.

Telephone: 401 863.7900
Email: summer@brown.edu
Fax: 401 863.7908

Sincerely,
Kathryn Good,
Director of International Students & Programs
Office of Continuing Education