International Residency FAQ

Yes. All MBA students are required to take MBA 570 Global Environment of Business/International Residency.

International Residency locations are announced each fall in late September or early October. The residency period is during the summer session, usually in late May/early June. An email announcing class details and the residency location is sent out each year during early spring semester.

The prerequisites for MBA 570 Global Environment of Business/International Residency are MBA 506 Economics for Managers, MBA 510 Financial Management, and MBA 520 Marketing Management.

Residency trips are typically seven to 14 days. The time out of country is dependent upon which Residency for which you sign up, and the country visited.

Students will be required to attend five to six 3‐hour classes prior to leaving the country and at least two 3‐hour classes following the out‐of‐country portion of the class. Additionally, student teams will conduct extensive research outside of class to meet the objectives of their International Consultancy Project (ICP) client firms and they must prepare and submit a detailed written report and presentation for their project.

The International Consultancy Project (ICP) is the focal point of the course. Students are divided into teams and work with an actual company on an international business issue. For more information about the ICP visit the Robins School of Business International Residency page.

Hotel accommodations, breakfast, select lunches and dinners, program related activities in‐country, and transportation for such activities and the cost of supplemental healthcare and repatriation insurance are included in the standard MBA three semester hour course tuition.

You will be responsible for the cost of your textbooks, passport, visa if required, airline transportation, round trip ground transportation from the airport, meals not covered, incidentals, non-class related activities, and any vaccinations/medicines required to visit the destination country.

Visa requirements vary by country, by the nature of/reason for the visit, the length of the visit, and your citizenship. The US State Department website details visa requirements for US citizens by country. Check the Entry/Exit Requirements section in the State Department’s Country Specific Information website.

If you are not a US citizen you must check with the embassy of the destination country. For information on foreign embassies located in the U.S. you can check a site such as www.embassy-worldwide.com or simply do a Google search.

Consult the Center for Disease Control website and a travel clinic. You should discuss your medical needs with your physician.

No. The International Residency is for registered students only. Friends and family members are not permitted during the residency period.

Some students opt to schedule time beyond the residency dates in the country visited. This is a personal decision and is not coordinated through the MBA office. Note that MBA 570 does not meet during the week following the return from a residency trip but if students are taking other MBA classes during the summer session those classes may be meeting that week. It is difficult to schedule additional time out of the country prior to departure for the residency as classes sometimes meet up until a couple of days before the required date to arrive in the residency country. Students should refer to pre-and post‐residency class schedules prior to making arrangements for extended stays.

Students who indicate they wish to enroll in MBA 570 are required to complete a trip registration questionnaire which will include submitting a copy of a valid passport. The passport must be valid for at least six months after the scheduled return from the destination country. Students who are US citizens should visit the U.S. Department of State website for information on obtaining, renewing, or making changes to their passport.

Procedures for obtaining visas vary per country. If a visa is required for a residency location, the Center for International Business Programs in the Robins School will provide information regarding visa procedures to the class once the class roster has been confirmed. For non-US citizens staff in the international business office can assist with letters and other information required by a consulate when applying for a visa.

No. Students are told the date, place, and time to meet in the host country. Students are responsible for making and paying for their own travel arrangements to/from the residency destination. Students may travel as a group if they so desire, but it is not required. The Center for International Business Programs or MBA office does not assist in making travel arrangements.

This is a personal decision. However, trip insurance does afford some protection in the case of illness or if situations occur in the host country. Should you decide to purchase travel insurance make certain that you know what is covered. Also check with the Center for International Business Programs to see what is covered by the supplemental health insurance plan provided by University of Richmond.