Frequently Asked Questions
To apply, students must be currently enrolled at Virginia Tech with a GPA of 2.5 or higher.
Yes! All Virginia Tech students are welcome to apply.
The application deadline has been extended to February 1 for the 2024 program.
The program cost includes a non-refundable commitment fee due after admission to the program, accommodations, in-country excursions, in-country transportation, international health and security insurance, and most meals.
Study Abroad Scholarships are available. Please visit the Financing section for opportunity details. Students are also encouraged to look for other national and local scholarship opportunities that they may be eligible for.
Should a program cancellation become necessary for health and safety reasons prior to student departure, every effort will be made to refund recoverable costs to participants. Students who commit to Pathways to the Steger Center are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) Insurance. When purchasing CFAR insurance, please ensure that cancellation due to the COVID-19 Pandemic is covered in the policy terms.
Once a student has committed to the Pathways to the Steger Center Program, the student will be responsible for program costs based on the following schedule.
| Timeline of Student Withdrawal or Program Cancellation | Financial Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Prior to commitment | No Penalty |
| After commitment until March 9 | $500 (non-refundable deposit) |
| March 10 to April 9 | $2,800 (50% of the program fee) |
| After April 9 | $5,600 (100% of the program fee) |
Students planning to enroll in ITAL 1106: Elementary Italian are required to successfully complete ITAL 1105 prior to the start of the program. There are not prerequisites for ENGE 2094: Create!, ITAL 2984: European Food Practices, or Swiss Railways Discourse
All students MUST have a valid passport to go on the study abroad programs. The passport should be valid 6 months beyond the end of the program. For example, if a program ends on June 28, 2024, the student's passport should be valid until at least December 28, 2024. If you do not have a valid passport, you are HIGHLY encouraged to begin the process of getting one early as it normally takes a minimum of two months to receive it. Currently wait times may be even longer due to Pandemic delays. You can obtain a passport right here on Virginia Tech’s campus. Please visit the Passport Acceptance Facility’s webpage for more information.
All United States passport holders participating in the Pathways to the Steger Center Program will need to apply for travel authorization through the ETIAS process. Students holding passports from a country other than the United States should check the visa requirements for all program destinations.
Due to the fast-paced nature of the courses in the program, class attendance is required during all class sessions. Students are permitted to travel during free weekends and prior to the start or after the end of the program.
Should a program cancellation become necessary for health and safety reasons prior to student departure, every effort will be made to refund recoverable costs to participants. Students who commit to the Pathways to the Steger Center Program are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to purchase Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) Insurance. We are unable to recommend a specific policy or insurance company, but we encourage students to start with an internet search and compare policies based on their personal preferences and risk tolerance. When purchasing CFAR insurance, please ensure that cancellation due to COVID-19 is covered in the policy terms. Other items to consider are the percentage of costs that will be reimbursed through the policy and the timeframe in which the policy needs to be purchased in relation to the planning/paying for the program.
Students are required to participate in the pre-program orientation where they will have the opportunity to meet other participants and faculty on the program.
At this time, vaccination for COVID-19 is only required to countries where vaccination is a national entry requirement. As of July 1, 2023, vaccination is not required for Switzerland or Italy. Students should be advised that countries may change their entry requirements prior to travel and should entry requirements change, it may affect students’ ability to participate in the program. Similarly, students should be aware that even if there is no country-level requirement, companies may have policies that require proof of vaccination to access their facilities, preventing students from attending some visits if that is the case.
Students who hold passports from countries other than the United States should consider the visa requirements for entering Switzerland and Italy. If a visa is required, it may be necessary to make an embassy visit. Most embassies are processing a backlog of visa applications, so it is important to consider whether this may cause an issue with the travel timeline.
No, students are responsible for purchasing a flight that will allow them to arrive at the Steger Center in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland by the start date. Most students fly into Zurich Airport (ZRH) or Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) and take the train to Riva San Vitale. Find information about transportation to the Steger Center.
The program starts and ends at the Steger Center in Riva San Vitale, Switzerland. Students are required to purchase transportation to the Steger Center that will arrive by the start date and depart after the conclusion of the program. More details about timing will be provided closer to the start of the program.
Students must be able to enroll in two of the courses in order to participate in the Pathways to the Steger Center Program. Unfortunately, you are not able to retake a course that you have already successfully passed. If you have already taken one of the courses offered, you should plan to take two of the courses. If you are not able to take two of the courses offered, you will not be able to participate in the program. There are many other study abroad opportunities that may be a good fit for you. Check out study abroad opportunities in the College of Engineering and University-wide opportunities.