Arrival Details: International airfare is not included. Students are responsible for booking and paying for their travel to Mexico City (MEX). Studentuniverse.com and STA travel give student discounts. Upon arrival into MEX, students are directed to taking a taxi from the (secure taxi kiosk located outside of customs) to the hotel (approx 13 USD). At the end of the program, students will receive bus tickets to return to the airport. Buses run 24 hours a day from Cuernavaca to the (MEX) airport in Mexico City. In the past, participants have chosen to arrive a day early to take advantage of site seeing and visiting museums during the day on Saturday, since the program does not afford much free time. Hotel rooms for this extra night can be booked directly with the Hotel Gillow.
Visas: U.S. citizens are not required to have a visa for travel to Mexico. Non-US citizens may be required to obtain a visa for travel. Please check with the Mexican authorities for additional information. Participants are responsible for ensuring that they have a visa, if required. Note: A tourist/visitor visa is sufficient (a student visa is not required). Don't delay in applying for a VISA, if needed. No program refunds are given for any reason including not getting your VISA in time.
Dates of Attendance: The course combines a trip to Mexico for lectures and site visits with held pre-departure Saturday lectures at GMU. If you cannot make the lectures because you don't live in the Washington area, additional writing assignments will be given. A maximum of 30 students will be permitted to participate.
Course Credit: Students successfully completing the program will earn 3 graduate credit hours. NonGMU participants will receive graduate credit from GMU and are responsible for ensuring the transfer of credits to their home university/school.
Airfare: NOTE: Airline baggage restrictions have tightened up in recent months. Be sure to pay close attention to what is permitted and prohibited for number of pieces, weight, content, carry-on luggage size, etc.
Passport: A valid passport is required for travel to Mexico. Information on applying for a passport can be obtained from the Department of State Passport Agency at (202) 647-0518 or from the web site http://travel.state.gov. Passport applications can be downloaded from that web site or obtained from your local post office. You may also obtain and submit Passport applications at the Merrifield, Virginia--U.S. Regional Post Office on Rte. 29, between Prosperity Avenue and Gallows Road. For more information on passport services available at this site, call (703) 698-6300. Applicants are required to provide the passport number and expiration to Michal McElwain Malur. This information must be on file for all students participating in the program. As a precaution, participants should provide someone close to them in the U.S. with a photocopy of the inside page of the passport in case it is lost or stolen while overseas. Participants are responsible for ensuring that they have a va lid passport.
Internet: Our hotels in Mexico have wireless internet access from their lobbies. However, there are plenty of Internet cafés in Mexico. Internet Cafes are cheap and easy to find. It is not recommended to bring a lap top.
Room and Meals: For the period of the study program, the program fees include double occupancy hotel rooms and most meals. If a participant wishes to have his/her own hotel room, this can be arranged for an additional fee of $400. Some meals are organized through the program but there is no such requirement should students, for example, want to eat the evening meal on their own or order something different than what is provided for by the program. However, these meals are at the students' expense and there are no refunds for missed meals organized within the program. Anything students would want in terms of additional food, drinks, alcohol, personal items, souvenirs, etc. is available within easy walking distance of the school and hotel but at the individual participant's expense.
Contact Michal McElwain Malur, Director External Programs, School of Public Policy at mmcelwai@gmu.edu with additional questions.
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