Applications will be available online beginning October 1, 2011.  Eligible students:

• are currently enrolled or accepted at a TnCIS member institution
• are in “good standing” – this includes academic and disciplinary matters
• have completed a minimum of 12 college level credit hours
• are at least 18 years of age

Apply Early and Save $100!!!  Eligible students with completed applications by December 1, 2011 (including paid nonrefundable $100 application fee) will receive acceptance notification by December 16, 2011 and a $100 discount off the program fee.  The deadline for all other applications is February 9, 2012. APPLY NOW. Applications received after February 9, 2012 will be considered on a space available basis.

A complete application consists of:

     1. completed online application 
     2. nonrefundable $100 application fee (paid at your home institution)
     3. official transcript sent to TnCIS by the registrar at your institution
     4. online letter of recommendation form completed by a professor

Official Transcript: Request an official transcript from your registrar or records office.  Only official transcripts will be accepted.  If you are in your first semester of studies and have no grades at the time of your application, you must still request an official transcript from your registrar to demonstrate you are currently enrolled in credit bearing coursework at a TBR institution.  Please have the transcript sent in a sealed envelope to this address:

Tennessee Consortium for International Studies (TnCIS)
Pellissippi State Community College
P.O. Box 22990
Knoxville, TN 37933-0990

Online Letter of Recommendation: Please click here to view the letter of recommendation form. This form should be completed by a professor who can make a statement regarding your preparedness for the program.  Send the professor this link http://www.tncis.org/forms.aspx in an email and ask them to complete the online recommendation form by the deadline.  They can also find it by clicking on the Forms page from the TnCIS homepage menu.

Acceptance Notification Process:  Students will be notified of acceptance by email. Once accepted, please check the TnCIS website and the inbox for the email address given on your application on a regular basis for deadlines and other important information. In international travel, frequent changes are to be expected. Email is the primary channel of communication for the TnCIS office and you will be responsible for information sent to you via email. This information is intended to keep you updated on all activities necessary in your preparation to participate in the program.

Student Portal:  A new TnCIS Student Portal has been created to allow students a self service option for tracking their progress in completing required documentation and steps involved in studying abroad with TnCIS.  Students will have unlimited access 24/7 to view what documents and payments have been received by TnCIS. They will also be able to find out what is still missing from their file and be proactive in keeping up with the items that still must be completed in the process. Students first apply to a TnCIS program through the online student application.  The application will ask students for the student ID number issued by their institution and it will serve as their login ID. The application will also ask for a student “passcode” which will be used to gain access to their personal information in the Student Portal.  The Student Portal information is view only.  Any updates or changes to information must be made by calling or emailing the TnCIS office with the corrected information.

The total cost of the program is comprised of the application fee, program fee (airfare included), and tuition.  All fees are paid at your home institution.

Application Fee: All students are required to pay a nonrefundable application fee of $100 by the February 9, 2012 application deadline.  The fee is payable at your home institution.  To qualify for the $100 Early Acceptance discount on the program fee, the application fee must be paid by December 1, 2011.  The fee is nonrefundable for early acceptance applicants after December 1st.
 
Program Fee: The program fee will cover a roundtrip economy airfare for a single seat from Nashville, and the cost of all other basic program expenses such as program lodging, group excursions, required ground transportation, specified meals and limited health insurance.  Expenses not covered in the program fee include, but are not limited to, transportation to and from Nashville, any costs/fees imposed by the airline beyond the single seat economy airfare (i.e. baggage fees or additional seat requirements), passport, any required tourist visa, textbooks and personal spending money. Please click here for airline information on "passengers requiring additional space".

Tuition: All member institutions provide a tuition waiver for TnCIS program courses. Therefore, tuition is charged to the student account, but then waived by the institution.  Students pay no additional tuition fees at their home institution.

Tourist Visa Fees:  Program countries requiring a tourist visa for US citizens include Brazil, China and India.  Students participating in these programs should plan to pay all costs and fees associated with applying for the visa.  You must be especially vigilant in keeping up with deadlines in order to have your visa in time for travel.  You should plan to have a passport in hand by early March.  Please be aware that it is necessary to have a passport in hand in order to apply for a visa.  Students will receive instructions from the Program Director in March on how to apply for the tourist visa.  DO NOT apply for a visa until you are given instructions.  You may have complications or incur additional costs if you apply incorrectly.  If you do not have your passport and visa before the departure date, you will not be able to board the flight and may be have to forfeit participation in the trip with no refund of fees. Non-US citizens may require a visa for any TnCIS program and must be aware of their individual travel document needs. 

**Due to the constant fluctuation in the value of the U.S. Dollar and currencies in program countries, it is possible that costs may increase.  TnCIS reserves the right to notify students regarding an increase in fees due to exchange rates by March 15, 2012.

Payment Deadlines: December 1, 2011 - EARLY ACCEPTANCE APPLICATION 
                       $100 Nonrefundable Application Fee

                       February 9th - $100 Nonrefundable Application Fee
                       March 15th - Full payment due (Total Program Fee)

Cancellation Policy: Through March 15th – Full refund less $100 application fee
                       Between March 16th and April 15th - $1500 cancellation fee 
                       After April 15th – No Refund

Financial Aid: Applications for financial aid (scholarships, grants and student loans) must be made through your home institution. Please consult your TnCIS campus representative (see member list) for information and instructions. Scholarships are available at many member institutions. To see FAQ’s on study abroad financial aid click here.

Mandatory Orientation: A thorough pre-departure orientation is an essential part of your preparation to study abroad. The mandatory TnCIS orientation for all programs will be held Saturday, March 24, 2012, from 1:00 - 4:00 PM at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, TN. According to Tennessee Board of Regents policy, all students must attend this orientation. Exact location for the orientation and more details will be announced in your email acceptance notification.  Please reserve the date.

Passports:  All participants must provide TnCIS a copy of their valid Passport by March 24, 2012.  It is critical that you obtain a passport if you do not already have one, or renew yours if it has expired. If you already have a passport, it must be valid for at least six months after your return date. For an application and details on obtaining a passport or renewing one, please refer to the US Department of State passport website at http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.

Program Forms: Other important forms you need to review prior to submitting your application include the program contract, agreement, medical surrogacy and medical history forms. These forms will be filled out by the applicant after being accepted into the program and turned into the TnCIS office. Details will be sent out in the acceptance letter. These forms are updated every year as needed. DO NOT complete these forms before being accepted. Any updated forms will be sent to you via email. Click here to view the forms.

Non-US Citizen Participants: If you are an international student or non-US citizen (i.e. do not hold or are unable to obtain a US passport), you must provide a copy of your current passport and a visa to enter the country of your study abroad program. If a visa is not required, a statement from the program country consulate/embassy or their official website indicating that you do not require a visa for entry to that country is required. You must also consult with your international student services office to ensure that you have the proper documentation for reentry into the US following the program.  Necessary documentation is the responsibility of the participant. Please contact TnCIS if you need assistance.

TnCIS Contact Information:

Tennessee Consortium for International Studies (TnCIS)
PO Box 22990
Knoxville, TN 37933-0990
865-539-7279
tncis@pstcc.edu