Where are you located?

We are officially incorporated in New York and headquartered in Berlin. Our GEI Regional Study Centers are located in Kigali (Rwanda), Nairobi (Kenya), Cape Town (South Africa) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam).

Where do you operate programs?

While our various study abroad and professionals abroad programs take place at our GEI Regional Study Centers in Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa and Vietnam, we operate faculty-led and custom programs also in neighboring countries:

• East Africa: Burundi, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda
• Southern Africa: Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe
• Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam

Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to join your programs?

We welcome applicants from all nationalities in our programs. If you seek academic credits or continuing education credits, please make sure that your home institution will accept the (typically U.S.) credits that we offer. More details about credits can be found on our program pages.

Can I participate in a program if I don’t meet the enrolment requirements?

It depends on the program. For any health-related curricula, enrolment requirements are relatively strict, for obvious reasons. We can be flexible sometimes, depending on your experience, skills and the particularities of the programs. If you aren’t sure, don’t hesitate to apply and we’ll reach out to you for clarifications.

Is a deposit required to apply?

No, we don’t request you to submit a deposit at the time when you submit your application. We will first evaluate your application. You will then have to make a first payment immediately after you’ve been approved in order to confirm your acceptance of a temporary offer. This deposit goes towards your total program fee.

Is my deposit refundable?

Yes and No. In general, deposits are not refundable. However, should you not be able to join a program after you’ve been approved and made a first payment, deposits can be stored for one year and used for another GEI program after discussion with your GEI coordinator. Please contact us immediately if you need to cancel your participation.

Before I apply, is it possible to contact an alumnus?

Sure, if you’re still looking for answers, we’ll be happy to connect you with one of our alumni.

What kind of credits do you offer?

We have entered into partnerships with mainly U.S. based institutions in order to offer credits for the majority of our programs. These include academic credits as well as continuing education credits. For undergraduate students, our main school of record is The College of New Jersey and field courses are transcripted as 300 level courses. You can find additional information in the following two blog posts: Academic Credits and Continuing Education Credits.

How much do credits cost?

Credits are not typically included in regular program fees. Academic credits for our field courses from our main school of record The College of New Jersey usually cost $500 (4 credits) and are payable to us. Fees for continuing education credits vary; further information can be found on the respective program pages.

How long will it take to receive my transcript?

It can take up to 4 weeks for you or your home university to receive a transcript.

How do you monitor safety and security at the destinations?

The continuous monitoring of safety and security at our program destinations has been an intimate part of our daily work since the very beginning of our operations.

All of our decisions are made after careful consideration of every resource at our fingertips – our GEI Regional Study Center staff, our diverse in-country institutional partners, contacts in the field, relevant local government and police sources, local diplomatic missions and a variety of news sources. Our program managers subscribe to various countries’ travel warnings and advisories, including those of the U.S. State Department.

Resident managers make every reasonable effort to stay informed, and they disseminate updates to GEI staff and program participants about any changes that have implications on local safety, security and health risks. And, when necessary, we take immediate action, including program relocation or evacuation.

What does your response to crises look like?

Over the years of operating in Africa and Asia, we have unfortunately been forced to occasionally deal with diverse crises, ranging from civil unrest, terrorist attacks, politically motivated violence or street crimes to car accidents, public health and medical emergencies and natural disasters. As terrible and sad as every single one of these events has been, they have strengthened our ability to foresee and prevent many potential problems, and to respond swiftly and decisively to any crisis that really hits us. They have also helped us to develop the networks and relationships to those institutions and individuals who can make the difference in the event of an emergency.

Will you provide health insurance?

Participants for the majority of our study abroad programs receive a comprehensive health insurance that includes evacuation coverage. This is part of the program fees and arranged by GEI. Participants of other programs typically have the option to book a comprehensive health insurance at an extra fee. Please check the “What’s included” section of your respective program or contact us to find out whether your program has health insurance included.

Do you help with flights?

Generally no. We are not a travel agent and only provide in-country services. We do, however, regularly book domestic and regional flights in case your program or an optional extension requires that. Furthermore, our partners and clients regularly recommend StudentUniverse for affordable international options.

Can I arrive earlier or later?

No problem to arrive earlier but you will be responsible for covering the added costs. If desirable, we will gladly help with housing and transportation services. Late arrivals are not permitted, unless previously discussed with GEI.

What are the living arrangements?

Depending on the program, we offer different types of accommodation: hotels, guest houses, serviced apartments or homestays. As a general rule, programs for professionals typically use 3-star hotels, and programs for students trusted guesthouses, homestays or serviced apartments. The latter two are particularly applicable to interns and other participants staying for more than three weeks. You can find additional information in the following blog post: Accommodation.

Do I need a power converter?

Most of the modern electronic devices no longer need power converters. Please check if all your devices can cover the current between 110–230 Volt.

Is there Wi-Fi in the hotels or homestays?

We typically select hotels and guesthouses where Wi-Fi is relatively reliable, as long as you take into account that you’ll be staying in a developing country where internet speed can be slow and patchy. Homestay host families don’t always have an internet connection readily available. In such a case, we offer mobile hotspots that you can rent at an additional fee.

Can you accommodate my dietary restrictions?

In the great majority of cases Yes! A lot of the participants we host have dietary restrictions or food allergies. Please make sure to let us know in advance – on your application form – precisely what restriction of allergy you have. We will then try our very best to accommodate for your needs, whether at a hotel or guesthouse or with a host family or serviced apartment.

Once the deposit is received, does that mean I’ve been accepted into the program?

We only ask participants to pay the deposit when they are accepted into the program. That means your application has been approved on the condition that you confirm your participation with a deposit payment.

Does my deposit go towards the full price of the program?

Yes, the deposit counts toward your program balance and will hence be deducted from the final payment.

Is my deposit refundable?

Yes and No. In general, deposits are not refundable. However, should you not be able to join a program after you’ve been approved and made a first payment, deposits can be stored for one year and used for another GEI program after discussion with your GEI coordinator. Please contact us immediately if you need to cancel your participation.

Can I avoid transaction fees for my program payments?

Unfortunately, we need to add transaction fees to your program payments. This depends on the mode of payment that you choose. As a general rule, any credit card or Paypal payment incurs a 2.9% fee (if a U.S. issued credit card is used) or a 4.4% fee (if a non-U.S. issued credit card is used). Bank or check payments incur a flat US $15 fee on our side, in addition to any transaction fees that you might occur on your side.

Does GEI offer scholarships?

Yes, GEI awards quite a number of scholarships each year, typically based on need and merit. The majority are offered to local participants at the destinations. A limited number are also available to international participants. You can find additional information in the following blog post: Scholarships.

Who can apply for a GEI Scholarship?

Eligible candidates have been accepted in a GEI program and have submitted all required materials. You can find additional information in the following blog post: Scholarships.

How can I finance my experience abroad?

Don’t wait until the last minute to take care of this important point. Various options are possible (scholarships, fellowships, financial aid, grants or loans) and seeking multiple resources, including from friends and family, may be a very good idea. You can find additional information in the following blog post: Financing your experience abroad.