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Virginia Tech Students

Overview

Overview

Spend 2 months in Switzerland and 1 month in Eastern Africa! 

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You will be based in Lugano, Switzerland, located in Canton Ticino -- the only Italian speaking Canton in Switzerland. You will take classes from Virginia Tech and Roanoke College professors at a local university and live at the Montarina Hostel, rated in a Washington Post article as one of the 8 top youth hostels in the world.

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In September and October, you take classes from US professors and have the weekends to explore the surrounding areas of Europe. Lugano is on a major rail line between Italy and the rest of Europe. You can reach many wonderful cities in a few hours. Past students have visited cities such as Rome, Florence, Venice, Paris, Barcelona, and Munich.

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In November, you participate in an experiential learning project in Rwanda. Your project will depend on the needs of our non-profit partner organizations. Students collaborate with local schools and non-profit organizations to develop, implement, and deliver curricula in areas such as:​

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  • ESL (English as a second language)

  • Cultural exchange discussions

  • Basic computer skills

  • US culture

  • Professional development

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To learn more about the Africa experience, check out our Service Learning and Impact pages.

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You also go on a safari excursion, reflection retreat, and other local activities. You return to Lugano for about one week to complete your semester-long project and reflect on your experiences. 

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Costs

$6,300 in-state ($14,863 out-of-state) Tuition ​

 

$12,000 Program Fees

  • $1,200 deposit billed when committed to the program 

  • $5,400 billed May 10, due June 10

  • $5,400 billed June 10, due July 10

  • This includes housing for the semester, dinner 4 nights a week and lunch meal card in Europe, 3 meals a day in Rwanda, airfare to/from Europe and Africa, Eurail Pass, safari excursion, weekly laundry, international health insurance, Visas, etc.

 

$4,000 Out of Pocket Expenses

  • Not billed, just recommended out of pocket expenses. 

    Weekend travel, textbooks, souvenirs and gifts, breakfasts & lunches, toiletries, etc. 

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IN-STATE STUDENT TOTAL: $22,300

OUT-OF-STATE STUDENT TOTAL: $30,863

 

Only $4,000 more than a normal semester living on campus with a meal plan.

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Financial Aid Information:

  • During your semester abroad, you are enrolled in and pay tuition to Roanoke College instead of Virginia Tech. 

  • Please read the attached document to see which scholarships, financial aid, tuition assistance, etc. can be applied to your semester abroad.

Classes

You will be enrolled in 6 Units at Roanoke College which will transfer to Virginia Tech as 21 Credits:​

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  • Marketing, Society, and the Public Interest (MKTG 4644, 3 credits)

  • Special Study: Legal Approaches to Change (MKTG 4984, 4 credits)

  • Consumer Behavior (MKTG 4204, 3 credits)

  • Field Study (MKTG 4964, 4 credits)

  • Study Abroad (MKTG 3954, 4 credits)

  • Exploring Citizen Leadership (LDRS 1414, 3 credits) 

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Credit Transfer Information:

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  • Virginia Tech has approved the credit transfer from Roanoke College to Virginia Tech for the classes taken through the Linking Lives Study Abroad Program 

  • You must receive a C or better to transfer courses back to Virginia Tech 

  • Course credits will transfer, but GPA will not be affected

  • No more than 75% of degree requirements can be transferred from another university to Virginia Tech 

  • A minimum of 18 of the last 45 credit hours during your senior year must be completed at Virginia Tech  

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Academic Opportunities include:

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  • Communication majors can earn up to 12 credits in COMM

  • International Studies majors can earn up to 12 credits in IS

  • HNFE students can earn HNFE field study credits

  • Earn all but 1 final credit to receive a minor in Leadership and Social Change 

  • Substitute MKTG 3954 for MKTG 4704 to earn a marketing cognate by completing additional reading and a paper that examines a topic in international marketing. Final approval of the cognate is obtained from the department, school, or college. (Communication Majors Only).

  • Experiential field study with international organizations and semester-long grant proposal project - looks great on resume! 

  • Opportunity to intern with Linking Lives the summer after participating in the program

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