Costs

The program price of $2,700 includes instructional fees and materials, hotel room on-campus, field trips, a package of guided tours to local attractions, and a farewell banquet.  Hotel accommodations are based on double occupancy.  A single room may be arranged for a supplemental fee of $500. A limited number of adult companions may accompany students for $1,450, which includes room and tours package. Anyone interested in either obtaining a single room supplement or bringing a companion should contact the program administrator in advance to determine space availability.

Meals are not included in the fee, but are available at the Shao Yuan Hotel restaurants, other on-campus café facilities, and in numerous easily accessible, excellent neighborhood restaurants. You should plan on an average of $15 per day for three full meals.

Air travel is not included. Arrangements for travel to and from Beijing are the student’s responsibility.  We recommend that you consult a reputable travel agent or airlines directly and request the lowest available fares from any reputable carrier. Airfare prices can vary widely, depending on choice of airlines, point of departure, routing, itinerary, and timing of purchase.  Early reservations are highly recommended due to the ongoing increases in jet fuel costs and subsequently higher passenger fares.  Your departure from the USA should be on Sunday, May 11 (or earlier), to arrive in Beijing by mid-afternoon on Monday, May 12, 2008.  Return flights from Beijing to the USA should be scheduled for Sunday, June 1, 2008.

Costs of passports, visas, laundry, insurance, telephone calls, excess baggage charges, optional excursions and other expenses of a purely personal nature are not included.

Travel Documentation

Each participant is responsible for obtaining a current passport and visa.  Due to the ongoing backlog of passport applications (currently 3-4 months wait), early passport applications and/or passport renewal applications are highly recommended.  Passport information, downloadable forms and directions are available on the U.S. State Department's website:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/index.html

Visa information can be obtained from the Embassy and Consulates General of the People's Republic of China in the United States.  Their website is:  http://www.china-embassy.org/eng

Program participants should apply for a Tourist / Family Type "L" visa, NOT a student visa.  Externship participants will need to apply for a visa extension.  All program participants will receive additional visa information and instructions after enrollment is completed.

You must provide a legible copy of both your passport and your visa to the UMKC administrator no later than April 30, 2008.  Please note, faxed copies are NOT acceptable!

Each participant is responsible for his or her own compliance with customs regulations.  Information is available on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's website:  http://www.cbp.gov/

Financial Aid

Students seeking financial aid loans must apply to their own school’s financial aid office.  Visiting students should contact their home institution's financial aid coordinator.  Be sure to contact your home school's financial aid office well in advance to determine eligibility and funds availability.  Allow a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks for loan processing.  UMKC will supply supporting documents and Consortium Agreements for visiting students upon request.

Current UMKC students should direct questions regarding financial aid to Linda Lawrence, Coordinator of UMKC's Student Financial Aid Office.  Telephone (816) 235-1236, fax (816) 235-5511, or email

 lawrencel@umkc.edu.

Scholarships

Information regarding scholarships and travel awards for current UMKC students may be obtained on UMKC's Center for International Academic Programs website or telephone (816) 235-5759 for further updates.  Additional scholarship information is available on UMKC's Student Financial Aid and Scholarships website.  Visiting students should check with their home school's financial aid office to obtain scholarship and/or grand opportunities that may be available to them.

Liability and Insurance

By registering, you agree that the University of Missouri-Kansas City shall not be liable for any personal injury, illness, property damage or loss you or persons traveling with you incur in connection with any accommodations, meals, transportation or other services resulting directly or indirectly from any occurrences or conditions including but not limited to:  defects in vehicles, equipment breakdown, strikes, thefts, delays or changes in itinerary or schedules that are beyond UMKC's control.  Each participant will be required to submit a signed "Assumption of Risk and Release Form" with their registration form.

The University requires all program participants to provide proof of insurance for emergency medical evacuation and expatriation of remains.  Most standard medical insurance plans do not include these two required benefits, and many do not provide overseas medical coverage.  A group policy is available for all program registrants through HTH Worldwide.  Enrollments may be completed on-line at:  www.hthstudents.com.  The access code you'll need to enroll in the UMKC group policy is BJA-2348.  This plan also includes overseas medical coverage.  After on-line enrollment in the HTH plan, please forward the emailed confirmation/acknowledgement from HTH to Nancy Kunkel (kunkeln@umkc.edu) no later than April 30, 2008.  All registrants are advised to review their health, accident and other insurance for applicability overseas and particularly for provisions for medical evacuation and repatriation.  Any non-HTH plans must be submitted to the program administrator for review prior to April 1, 2008.  A copy of the outline of coverage plus proof of insurance (i.e. photocopy of current insurance ID card) must be included for review; coverage must meet or exceed the HTH benefits.  If the current coverage does not meet the eligibility requirements, the program participant must enroll in the HTH plan.

You are advised to obtain insurance against accidents and loss of baggage.  You may also wish to consider trip cancellation insurance.

Persons with disabilities should discuss any concerns with the UMKC course director.  Public access accommodation in China is not equivalent to US standards.

Student Budget Estimate

Program Fee                                                                              $2,700.00

 Includes:         Instructional Fee

                         Book/Materials

                         Housing in Shao Yuan (Double Occupancy)

                         Field Trips/Cultural Tours

Food (Average $15/day)                                                           $ 315.00

Passport & Visa                                                                        $ 275.00

Insurance  (two months)                                                           $  80.00*

Local Transportation/Laundry/Personal Items/Leisure  $ 600.00**

Optional weekend in Xi'an (estimated)                                 $ 500.00

Externship processing fee (externship candidates only)    $   25.00

Airfare from Kansas City (estimated round-trip)                 $1,500.00***

                                                                                      $5,995.00

*Insurance - emergency medical evacuation and expatriation of remains coverage is required by the University for all program registrants.  Program participants (both students and companions) must provide proof of required insurance to the Program Administrator no later than April 30, 2008.

**Personal / Leisure costs may vary considerably more or less, depending upon the individual’s habits.

*** Travel costs may also vary substantially, depending on choice of airlines, point of departure, routing, and itinerary, as well as timing of purchase.  Some may find airfare at significantly higher or lower rates - up to $500 or more - than the estimate.  Early reservations are highly recommended due to the ongoing increases in jet fuel costs and subsequently higher passenger fares.

Cancellation Policy

UMKC reserves the right to cancel for insufficient enrollment or under extraordinary circumstances such as natural disaster, war, political instability or emergency.  In such an event, you will receive a full refund, including the deposit, within twenty (20) days after the cancellation.  If requested, the program director will use best efforts to arrange for the students to enroll in a similar program.