Schmalkalden Travel Plans:  (updated 16 May, 2012)

Contents:

1.    Important information for everyone

2.    For those in IMAGE (BA490) only.

3.    For those in IMAGE AND ISSS

4.    For those participating in ISSS only

4.    Added information for all participating in the IMAGE Program

5a & 5b.    Added information for all participating in the ISSS Program

6.    For those participating in German Language and Culture Class

7.    Course/travel information for all participants.

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1.  IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE:

General:

* Make sure you bring your passport, ATM card, and student ID.   Please drop a copy of your passport into the IBP office as soon as you can.

* Remember to pack light (you may end up carrying your bags a long way).  Bring a small carry-on bag (e.g. school back pack). 
Check luggage rules HERE 

* Make sure you read TIPS.   The Tips page includes information on travel insurance, getting euros and answers to lots of other questions you might have.    There at numerous ATM machines in the Frankfurt Airport outside the Customs area.  The TIPS section includes information on health insurance, as well as many other topics.

If you are not already a member of your airline's frequent flier program, consider joining before the trip - you will get about 10,000 miles - half-way toward a free ticket anywhere in the USA.  Give AA that number when you get your boarding pass at St Louis airport.

* Please pack a towel and take your student ID.. 

* For information about the weather and metric system click on link!  ;  More information on Europe and the EU?  Go here  ;   Get the latest exchange rate information.

* Please make sure tuition for your SEMO classes is paid prior to departure.  The Schmalkalden Program fee does NOT include SEMO tuition.

Getting to Schmalkalden by Train:

* If you are planning to make your own way to Schmalkalden, it is really easy  (This does not apply to those in the IMAGE program - you will begin in Munich in 2012).  There is train station inside the airport in Frankfurt.  Just follow the train symbols after you exit Customs.  Alternately, if you are travelling before the program, you can catch a train from Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (main train station) in the city center.  Or for that matter, from anywhere in Europe.

* Go to www.bahn.de  for complete train schedules.  Click the "English" icon.  Enter departing station (e.g. Frankfurt flughafen - airport), the arrival station (Schmalkalden Fachhochschule) and the date, and the alternate schedules will pop up.  

* When you get off the train at Schmalkalden Fachhochschule train station (don't get of at the other Schmalkalden stations!) just cross the tracks and go to the building on the left - Building "C".  Got to the top floor - the office of Prof. Robert Richert.  Here is a campus map.

* It is possible to save money by advance booking train tickets.  However, such tickets are only good for the specific departure time shown on the ticket.  Given the uncertainty of an on-time arrival, I think it is better just to buy your tickets when you get there.  (Tickets back from Schmalkalden at the end of your program should be pre-booked, as you have control over your departure time from Schmalkalden.

EMERGENCY INFORMATION

* Getting hold of Dr. Peter Gordon... if you are in Europe  +1 573 450 3434  Or  

Dr. Robert Richert   +49 (0)3683 688 3102* (office)  + 49  (0)160 97 62 19 64* (mobile)

*f calling from inside Germany, leave out the "+49", but include the zero.  If calling from outside Germany, include the "+49" but leave out the zero.  

* SEMO emergency contact (use only if you are unable to contact either Dr. Gordon or Dr. Richert): 

            Dean Gerald McDougall; tel: (from Europe) +1 573 651 2112
            Zahir Ahmed: tel: (from Europe) +1 573 651 6863

* US Embassy in Berlin - http://germany.usembassy.gov/germany/addresses.html

* US Consulate in Frankfurt - http://frankfurt.usconsulate.gov/frankfurt/contact.html

Please make sure you print off the above embassy/consulate information should you require emergency services while in Germany - such as if you lost you passport.

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2.  For those participating in the IMAGE (BA490) program only:

Provisionally, we will plan to meet at Munich Airport at 12:00 on Friday May 25. 

* The final exam for the IMAGE Program is provisionally scheduled for late on Friday June 1.  You can schedule to leave Schmalkalden anytime after 13:00 on Saturday (departing Friday night is possible - just not too feasible)  Make sure you have enough time to get from Schmalkalden to Frankfurt airport by train, and enough time to check in (minimum of 2 hours) before the scheduled departure time for your flight, if flying the same day.

FINANCIAL:  You have paid a $100 deposit.  The total cost of the 2 week IMAGE program is 600 euros (plus SEMO tuition)  Currently 600 euros is approx. $800.  Your balance of $700* (plus amount shown a couple of paragraphs down) is due no later than April 15. 

We have enrolled you in your classes.  These must be paid for prior to departure.  YOU CAN NOT DROP CLASSES RELATED TO THESE PROGRAMS.  IF YOU DO NOT PAY YOUR TUITION, YOU WILL BE BILLED THE EQUIVALENT OF THE TUITION AMOUNT. 

 Schedule:

25 May    Arrive Munich A&O hotel
25 May - 1 June   In Munich 
1 June - 4 June    In Berlin
4 June - 9 June    In Schmalkalden

Included in the IMAGE program is time in Munich and Berlin.  Travel between these cities in included in your program fee. 

HOWEVER: the weekend before the beginning of the program (i.e you arrive on Friday May 25 - the FhS program formally begins on Monday May 28) is not included in your program fee.  Additional costs will include:

*    train fare from MUC to city center  $10      
*    train fare to Salzburg, Austria for day trip  $25         
*    train fare/ferry/admission to King Ludwig castle at Herrensee   $25
*    train/bus fare to Dachau Camp      $15    
*    Admission to BMW World    $15                               
*    2 night's added youth hostel/hotel cost (includes breakfast)  estimated $60
*    meals and personal expenses

ESTIMATED TOTAL ADDED COST   $150  (plus your meals and personal expenses)

This $150 will be collected "up front". 

So the amount due for IMAGE is $800 + $150 = $950, less your deposit (for most people $100).   Same payment routine as paying your deposit - get a remittance slip from the IBP office, pay at the cashier's window, bring the receipt back to the IBP office.

If you prefer to arrive in Munich on SUNDAY (May 27) you can skip the pre-program cost and not pay the $150 extra.  However, typically weekend airfares are about $100 more expensive than mid-week airfares, so the "real" cost of the added pre-program is quite small.  Just let me know if you prefer to arrive on Sunday.

Hotel for MUNICH (check-in on Friday May 25)

A&O Hostel München Hauptbahnhof (Munich Central Station)    http://www.aohostels.com/en/munich/city-hotel-munich/
Bayerstrasse 75,
80335 München,
phone: + 49 (Germany) / (0)89 (Munich) / 45 23 57 - 57 00

This hotel is located very close to the Train Station.

Activities for Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday will be determined by weather, but provisionally I would plan to go to either Dachau or BMW World on Friday afternoon, then a day trip to Salzburg Austria on Saturday.

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3.  For those participating in both the IMAGE (BA490) and the ISSS:

FINANCIAL:  You have paid a $100 deposit.  The total cost of the 2 week IMAGE program PLUS the 3 week ISSS is 1500 euros (plus SEMO tuition)  Currently 1500 euros is approx. $2000.  Your balance of $1900 PLUS $150 added excursions pre-IMAGE (see #2 above), is due no later than April 15.  Same routine as paying your deposit - get a remittance slip from the IBP office, pay at the cashier's window, bring the receipt back to the IBP office.  TOTAL DUE is $2150, less your deposit of $100 = $2050.  (make sure you read information for IMAGE only participants above)

We have enrolled you in your classes.  These must be paid for prior to departure.  YOU CAN NOT DROP CLASSES RELATED TO THESE PROGRAMS.  IF YOU DO NOT PAY YOUR TUITION, YOU WILL BE BILLED THE EQUIVALENT OF THE TUITION AMOUNT. 

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4.   For those participating in ISSS ONLY:

GETTING THERE:  You should plan to fly into Frankfurt Airport (FRA), arriving on Monday June 11.  Provisionally, I will meet you outside the luggage pickup area at noon and we will catch the train to Schmalkalden.  (for ISSS people only - Intensive German participants will need to get to Schmalkalden on your own - so make sure you read the directions carefully)

   Trains headed to Schmalkalden depart from both Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof (Main train station in city center) AND directly from Frankfurt airport.  Typically, the trip involves two train changes.  The German railways website (www.bahn.de) has really complete information, as demonstrated in class) 

If you are departing from Frankfurt airport your origin is "Frankfurt Flughafen".  You are going to Schmalkalden Fachhochschule.  There are several Schmalkalden train stations - make sure you go to Schmalkalden Fachhochschule (Schmalkalden FhS).  Do NOT get out at "Schmalkalden" train station - you will have a long walk!  The Schmalkalden FhS station is about 50 metres (55 yards) from the business building (Building C) 

You can buy train tickets in advance at a discount, but these are usually train specific - a real problem if your plane is late.

A map of campus (showing the train station) can be found at: http://www.fh-schmalkalden.de/en/Campus.html   The train line is the dotted line on the left, the rectangle on the dotted line is the train station.

ACADEMIC ISSUES: In the International summer school, you will get a certificate from the University of Applied Sciences-Schmalkalden if you pass 5 one hour classes

To get 6 hours of credit at SEMO, you must pass 6 one hour classes  Grades from 3 will be combined to give you one three hour SEMO credit, grades from the other 3 for the other three hour SEMO credit.  I do recommend to try and take 7 classes - that way the lowest can be dropped.

For Graduate students - to get 6 hours of SEMO graduate credit (5xx/6xx level classes) you need to pass 7 classes while in Germany.

FINANCIAL:  You have paid a $100 deposit.  The total cost of  the 3 week ISSS is 900 euros (plus SEMO tuition)  Currently 900 euros is approx. $1200.  Your balance of $1100 is due no later than April 15.  Same routine as paying your deposit - get a remittance slip from the IBP office, pay at the cashier's window, bring the receipt back to the IBP office.

We have enrolled you in your classes.  These must be paid for prior to departure.  YOU CAN NOT DROP CLASSES RELATED TO THESE PROGRAMS.  IF YOU DO NOT PAY YOUR TUITION, YOU WILL BE BILLED THE EQUIVALENT OF THE TUITION AMOUNT. 

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5a.    Included in the IMAGE program is both time in Munich and Berlin (see #5b below for Berlin)

We have a hostel close to the main train station, with multi-bedded rooms. 

Things to do in Munich:

Deutscher Musuem
Olympic Village
BMW Museum
Rathaus
Nymphenburg Palace
Various Churches - Cathedral Church of our Lady (Frauenkirche); Church of St. Peter (Alter Peter) ; Asamkirche; Theatinerkirche
Hofbrau Haus
Dachau (a short train/bus ride from Munich - a "must see")
and lots more!

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5b.   Included in both the IMAGE & ISSS programs is a weekend in Berlin.  

Things to do in Berlin include:

Fantastic Museums (e.g. Pergamon Museum)
Berlin Dom (Cathedral)
Brandenburg Gate
Check Point Charlie
Sections of the old Berlin wall
Lots of WWII and Cold War sites
Charlottenburg Palace (just outside Berlin)

There is a great free walking tour (tip the guide) that leaves from the Brandenburg Gate (near Starbucks).  There will be signs indicating the departure time.  (I think it is 11:00)

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6.  For those participating in German Language and Culture Class

You need to be in Schmalkalden on July 2nd.  See train travel information listed in #4 above.

FINANCIAL:  You have paid a $100 deposit.  The total cost of the 2 week program is provisionally set at 500 euros (plus SEMO tuition for UI343)  Currently 500 euros is approx. $670.  Your balance is $570 is due no later than April 15.

NOTE: you must also apply for this program through the Magellan Exchange application process.  This must be done by April 1.  This applies ONLY to this program.  The address for Magellan Exchange is www.magellanexchange.org   There is a small processing fee - but the Magellan Exchange helps make this program lower cost per week than the other programs  (IMAGE is 600 euros for 2 weeks; Int. German is only 500 euros for 2 weeks)   

We will enrol you in your classes.  These must be paid for prior to departure.  YOU CAN NOT DROP CLASSES RELATED TO THESE PROGRAMS.  IF YOU DO NOT PAY YOUR TUITION, YOU WILL BE BILLED THE EQUIVALENT OF THE TUITION AMOUNT. 

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7.    Participant class/travel schedule
 

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