No. To study abroad with BCA, a student must have at least one year of undergraduate study. If you are a first year student, then we encourge you to jump right into planning for your study abroad experience. Your first year in school is a great time to figure out where you want to go and find out what your school's policies are for study abroad, including financial aid, credit transfer and programs available to you. Good Luck!
Yes. In order to legally study in Greece each student must obtain a student visa with multiple entries, in order to travel abroad to other countries from Greece. To get a visa, students must go to the Greek consulate that has jurisdiction over the state in which you permanently reside. BCA will assist students by sending the documents necessary to present to the Greek consulate to obtain the visa. For more visa information, please visit www.state.gov/s/cpr.rls/fco, http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html, and travel.state.gov/passport.
No. City University is an American-style institution located in center city Athens. All classes are taught in English. As soon as students arrive, the BCA resident director guides them through a three-week, three-credit courses titled “Greek Culture and Contemporary Life.” During the semester, students take a six-credit, basic Greek Language course entitled “Modern Greek Language: Writing and Grammar I.” Simply exploring the city and meeting people is the best way to learn the language.
Generally, students take four or five classes during a semester, receiving three credits for each class. It is important to consult with your advisor prior to studying abroad to decide what classes are needed to meet academic requirements of your college or university.
BCA Study Abroad aims to engage each participant in an appropriately challenging level of academic work while abroad. We acknowledge that an applicant’s cumulative grade point average is only one indicator of accomplishment and ability.
The BCA Study Abroad expectation is that most students would show at least a B average (3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale) across their course work prior to their study abroad term. Certain host universities may have GPA requirements of their own, in which case the higher GPA requirement of the two would apply.
Recent enrollment history shows our students’ average GPAs have been above 3.44 (4.0 scale). Our post-semester academic results reveal that students with higher and lower GPAs can excel in study abroad. We are open to discuss program selection and course of study for students who do not reach the expected 3.0 GPA.
City University has two campuses in the city. One location is in Syntagma, (constitution in Greek), which is the square located in front of the Parliament and is the center point to access all the major attractions in Athens. The other location is in Chalandri located in North Athens.
Students live in an apartment with up to seven BCA and/or CU students, which is within walking distance to the university campus. The apartments comprise of five bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a bathroom, and a lounge area with sofas, a TV, a computer and a cellular phone (working with prepaid minutes). Though each apartment has internet access it may not always be available. Each bedroom contains desks and computer chairs, wardrobes with hanging sections and shelves, bedside tables, carpets and curtains, bed linens (sheets, pillows, duvet) and towels
BCA is one of the nation's oldest independent organizations committed to promoting international understanding and academic excellence through college study abroad programs for U.S. students and adult seminars for faculty and administrators. Rooted in the values of peace and justice, BCA promotes international understanding, awareness of global citizenship and academic scholarship through educational exchange. Among the special qualities of BCA's programs are: unique opportunities to study peace and justice issues in places where conflict has profoundly affected culture, history and daily life; opportunity for cultural immersion; and tremendous academic and administrative support.
Financial aid from an individual school is transferred at the school’s discretion, but all federal aid is transferrable. Students should consult their financial aid advisor for further information and advice.
It is important that students check with their university registration and records office to determine whether BCA credits will be accepted. Each university has its own policy for transferring credits, and it is the students’ responsibility to follow their home university rules and regulations. Upon completion, BCA sends transcripts from City University and BCA course reports to students and their home universities. If the home university or college requires a transcript from a US school, BCA provides a transcript from Elizabethtown College, which is BCA’s school of record.