Fall Studio 2025 - Vienna
Questions? Please contact Course Instructors Mona El Khafif and Ila Berman, and Education Abroad Advisor Margaret Walter.
Key Dates & Commitment
If you decide to participate in the travel component of this studio, you must commit (by clicking the Commit button) and submit all requirements (including passport information) by Friday, August 15.
Committing to travel is a financially binding decision. Before clicking Commit:
- Read this page in full.
- Read the Budget Sheet in full (linked at the top of this page), including billable costs, non-billable estimates of additional costs, and all notes.
- Talk to parents, guardians, or whomever you make financial decisions with, and review the Education Abroad Withdrawal, Cancellation, and Refund Policy.
- Ensure that you have a valid passport (valid at least six months after return to the US), that you know where it is, and that you are able to provide a copy by August 15.
- International students:
Students will depart the US on Sunday, October 5 and arrive back in the US Sunday, October 12 on a group flight. Note that return travel will take place over Fall Reading Days.
Travel, Housing & Meals
Participants will travel on a group flight. Students will be bused from UVA to Washington Dulles International Airport on October 5, and back to UVA at the conclusion of travel. Flight details will be provided to committed students closer to travel.
Based in Vienna, students will stay in a centrally located hostel, in shared, dormitory-style rooms (3-12 people) with shared bathroom facilities. Housing will be assigned by gender as report in SIS; rooms are either designated male or female. Any housing requests for medical needs must be SDAC-approved and made prior to August 10 in order to confirm whether the requested accommodation is possible on this program.
Breakfast is provided at the hotel each morning, and one group meal is included. Consult the Budget Sheet (linked at the top of this page) for an estimated cost for meals not included in the billable fees. The city boasts numerous affordable restaurants and markets, catering to diverse tastes and budgets. For those preferring to prepare their own meals, the housing features a communal kitchen equipped with a microwave, refrigerator, sink, and cooking utensils, allowing guests to cook and store food during their stay.
Eligibility
The studio is open to undergraduate BS Architecture students in their 4th year, graduate Master of Landscape Architecture students in their 3rd year and Master of Architecture students in their 3rd year. Students will travel to Austria per the dates listed above.
Participation in the travel component is contingent upon meeting eligibility requirements for education abroad, including clearance from Care & Support Services (CASS). If you receive an email from CASS about your study abroad plans, you must reply immediately. They may want you to set up a meeting. Failure to secure clearance from CASS or meet other eligibility requirements will result in withdrawal from the program and student responsibility for full airfare and any other unrecoverable costs.
Students are also required to confirm commitment to travel and cover required expenses, and to complete a series of requirements and other pre-travel preparations. Instructions will be sent to students once placed in the studio in late July/early August.
Cost & Financial Aid
The program cost and payment schedule are available under the Budget Sheets link at the top of this page. Significant funding is offsetting the cost of participation, however there will still be some cost to you. Committing to the program confirms your financial responsibility for billable costs outlined in the Budget Sheet. Note that the funding cannot be applied if you do not actually participate in the travel. Therefore, students who withdraw after committing to the program, or are otherwise unable to travel, may actually owe more than if they participate. See the Budget Sheet Notes for details, and review the Education Abroad Withdrawal, Cancellation, and Refund Policy.
Students interested in pursuing financial aid for the cost to them should contact Student Financial Services directly. Note that any financial aid review/processing may not be complete before the billable fees are due.
Passport & Visa Information
All participants will need a valid passport in order to travel. You must be in possession of a valid passport by August 15. Students must ensure that their passport is valid at least six months past the return date.
US passport holders will not get a visa for this program but are limited to a stay of up to 90 days (collectively) in the European Schengen area during any 180-day period. Be mindful of other recent travel.
International students, research visa requirements immediately. If you need a visa:
- You’ll be applying for a Schengen visa. You will need to travel to DC for an appointment and relinquish your passport while the visa is being processed.
- Appointments sometimes fill far in advance. If you need a visa, consider booking an appointment even before you know if you've been placed in this studio. You can then cancel it later if necessary.
- The ISO can only provide proof of travel arrangements, accommodation (housing), and insurance, as well as an enrollment/program letter after you have committed to the travel. Contact your Education Abroad Advisor at least five business days before your appointment for this documentation.
- Processing times vary and may be different based on nationality. There is no guarantee that a visa will be issued, or that it will be issued in a timeframe that allows for travel on this studio.
International students must also meet with an International Student & Scholar Advisor about reentering the US after travel.
Traveler Health, Safety, & Security
All students considering Education Abroad should consult the Students Abroad section of the U.S. Department of State’s web-based travel resources and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Traveler’s Health web resources to research health, safety, and security conditions; visa requirements; immunization requirements; and recommendations on staying healthy and safe in their target destination(s). Students should also carefully review the UVA Education Abroad Health & Safety Abroad web page. Parents and guardians are strongly advised to review all of these resources, as well. UVA students and visiting students enrolled in UVA Education Abroad programs are subject to the University of Virginia’s Policy on Student International Travel.
This program includes transit by bicycle. All students are advised to bring and wear helmets.
Accessibility Statement
The University of Virginia believes in providing reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities on an individual basis.
This program includes extensive walking on most days, approximately 15,000 steps – equivalent to about 6.75 miles – per day (though sometimes more or less). It also includes riding bicycles approximately 10-15 kilometers (6-9 miles).
If you believe that you would require adjustments in order to fully participate in this program, please contact the Student Disability Access Center at 434-243-5180 in order to begin this dialogue. Any requests for medical needs must be SDAC-approved and made prior to August 10 in order to confirm whether the requested accommodation is possible on this program.
