FAQ’s
Please read below for answers to our most frequently asked questions.
General
The Student Portal is an information hub containing your pre-departure checklist, course registration, community events, and important updates.
Please see this Student Portal Manual for information on how to log-in. You can access the Portal both on desktop and by downloading the Verto Education App via a mobile device. You will get an email prompting you to login using your email address and password. Additional help can be provided by contacting your Student Onboarding Advisor.
Participants are responsible for booking travel to and from the abroad location. Please plan to arrive on your location’s official arrival day and time window, which will be shared in your Student Portal.
Verto locations will have an official arrival day where your on-site staff will arrange airport pick-up for you within a specific time frame. You will receive information about your official arrival day and times in your Student Portal. Please be sure to submit your flight information where prompted in the Student Portal. If you are arriving outside of the designated day and time frame, you will be responsible for coordinating and paying for your own transportation. The location team will be able to provide you with the address of your residence.
Learn about vaccines and covid safety on our Health & Safety Page and Vaccinations Page.
Participants can find location-specific information on their location page. Generally though, Verto costs include:
- Housing and accommodation
- Airport reception upon arrival – for participants only
- Verto Discovery Week, including city tour
- University registration through our Academic Provider, the University of New Haven
- Pre-departure assistance and helpful guides/handbooks
- Outside the classroom experiential learning activities/excursions
- Onsite/international staff support
- Books (digital)
Does Not Include:
- Airfare
- Airport reception for those arriving outside the abroad experience arrival dates (except Costa Rica – due to distance outside arrival city, transportation can be arranged for additional fee)
- Return airport transportation (with the exception of Costa Rica)
- Travel insurance/property insurance
- Out-of-pocket Medical expenses at time of service (insurance included from Verto requires submitting receipts for reimbursement)
- COVID testing
- Meals (some locations/ housing assignments may include meal plans)
- Passport fees
- Student visa or other immigration requirements, or costs incurred while obtaining a visa
- Course supplies such as laptop, notebooks paper pencils, etc.
- Personal transportation
- Personal expenses
- Cell phone and local sim card (sites will assist with getting a local sim)
View Verto’s Payment and Cancellation Policies here.
Please visit our Location Resources for a detailed packing list for each abroad location.
All participants MUST attend a Pre-Departure Orientation in order to attend their Verto experience. We will offer multiple date and time options. Details and registration will be in your Student Portal.
All event details and registration are located in your Student Portal.
We also encourage you to attend our other optional Community Events including monthly hangouts, workshops, affinity groups, and more. See the full event list in your Student Portal.
Passports Visas & Flights
All participants should plan to have their passport ready ASAP, as passports can take many weeks to obtain.
For locations requiring a visa, you will need to have your passport in hand about 3 months before the experience start date. We cannot produce student visa paperwork without your passport number.
You will be prompted to upload your passport information on your Student Portal. Please upload this as soon as possible.
All passports should be valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of the abroad experience (and possibly more depending on your Verto location). If this is not the case, you must renew their passport as soon as possible.
Please see our blog post for instructions on how to apply for or renew your passport.
You need a student visa if:
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- You are traveling to Czech Republic, Italy, or Spain.
- Participants traveling on non-US passports will likely need a student visa for other locations, including Argentina, Costa Rica, or the United Kingdom (England). Participants with non-US passports should contact their Student Onboarding Advisor.
You should purchase your flights as soon as you know your location’s official arrival date and arrival time window. This information will be made available on your Student Portal.
Participants traveling to Italy will need to have round-trip flights booked in order to apply for their student visas. As such, you must purchase your flight as soon as the official arrival date is made public on the Student Portal.
For all locations, you will want to make sure your flight arrives on your location’s official arrival date during the designated arrival time window so that you will be eligible for Verto’s airport pickup service.
If you are arriving outside of the designated day and time frame, you will be responsible for coordinating and paying for your own transportation. The location team will be able to provide you with the address of your residence so that you can reach there on your own on official arrival day or after.
Health & Safety
Please indicate your food allergies on your ‘Health History’ form and the ‘Dietary Accommodation Form’ in your Student Portal. It’s important that you submit these forms as soon as possible and bring up any questions or concerns with your Student Onboarding Advisor so that the on-site team can prepare for your arrival.
Learn about vaccines and covid safety on our Health & Safety Page and Vaccinations Page.
Verto enrolls all participants in international health insurance coverage provided by Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI). Verto’s coverage for participants provides comprehensive medical insurance benefits, alongside travel assistance services in the event of emergencies. You can access information about your insurance in your Student Portal approximately 2 weeks prior to departure.
Participants may choose to get their own supplemental travel or property insurance as those are not included with Verto.
No, you are unable to opt out of Verto provided insurance. You are welcome to purchase additional insurance, if necessary. Our team can work with you to help answer any questions you may have regarding your Verto provided insurance.
Verto Discovery Week (your first week on-site) emphasizes the importance of self-care for your personal growth and academic success; we’ll cover topics including nutrition, time management, exercise, and rest. This blog post also has some great tips for maintaining mental health while traveling if you want to start planning now.
Throughout your time abroad with Verto, you’ll have a team of mentors including your Student Life Coordinator (SLC) and Academic Success Coordinator (ASC), who will be there to answer any questions and direct you towards the right resources.
Participants who experience minor injuries or illnesses will be assisted in seeking immediate medical support or treatment by the SLC, and emergency medical services are available in all Verto locations.
Review Verto’s Health & Safety page and our Policies page.
We highly encourage you to bring a sufficient quantity of prescription medication with you for the duration of your time abroad. This is because it may be difficult to obtain your medication while abroad. Please plan ahead accordingly with your doctor and loop in your Student Onboarding Advisor if you have any questions or concerns.
If you need to obtain prescription medications while abroad, you can work with your on-site staff to identify local pharmacy providers.
Your on-site staff will be available to assist you in identifying preferred and English-speaking medical providers, if needed while in-country. You will need to pay costs for medical services up front, and then you can submit a claim with your abroad experience insurance provider (CISI) in order to receive reimbursement for all covered medical expenses. Be sure to keep all receipts for any medical services obtained abroad–keep the physical copies and email yourself photos as well!
Mental Health support is available for participants via on-site and remote support services. Contact your Student Life Coordinator and Academic Success Coordinator while on site if you need assistance. You can also email [email protected] if you would like assistance prior to departure or need anything urgently while onsite.
Participants seeking 1:1 counseling support with a licensed mental health professional are provided local contact information, and assistance with scheduling an appointment. We must be informed of any medical or health concerns well in advance of arrival.
This varies by location. Many Verto locations are in the heart of a public ‘city-center,’ where a cluster of different buildings provide spaces for participant housing and curricular and extracurricular activities. Security guards may or may not be present. All Verto locations and accommodations are screened for safety.
Verto in-country staff are available to accompany participants to medical appointments, and assist them with communication with local medical providers.
Domestic, independent participant travel is permitted during periods when required classes and activities are not being held (e.g., weekends or holidays), unless otherwise indicated by local staff.
Extended overnight travel – or independent international travel – is likewise permitted, but participants must check with local staff before making any out-of-country travel plans, and register their travel plans with Verto staff. Whether you travel internationally or domestically, all participants must submit an Independent Travel Form (online-digital document) prior to extended absences from their site.
If participants travel internationally without explicit permission of local staff, they may face disciplinary action.
Academics
Ensure you have completed all of the required Academics items in your Student Portal, including registering for courses and sharing a copy of your high school transcript(s), previous college transcripts (if applicable), and test scores (AP and/or IB). Email those documents to [email protected].
Review the Verto Attendance policy and other academic policies, and attend all of the academic orientation sessions leading up to departure.
Please come prepared to put your best efforts into your academics during your time with Verto!
All courses, credits, and transcripts at Verto locations are delivered by our accredited Academic Provider, the University of New Haven.
Questions prior to departure should be directed to your Student Onboarding Advisor.
Once in-country you can reach out to your Academic Success Coordinator and Student Life Coordinator for support.
All courses, credits, and transcripts at Verto locations are delivered by our accredited Academic Provider, the University of New Haven.
All participants are responsible for requesting their official transcripts from our Academic Provider, the University of New Haven – Verto cannot do this for you. Towards the end of your time abroad with Verto, you will receive communication from Verto with directions to request your transcript.
All courses, credits, and transcripts at Verto locations are delivered by our accredited Academic Provider, the University of New Haven.
All academic accommodations must first be approved by the University of New Haven (UNewHaven) . Verto participants can begin that process by completing this form. Students must also complete the ‘Academic Accommodations’ form in the Verto Student Portal.
UNewHaven takes a holistic approach in determining eligibility for accommodation and will review all information that a participant submits. Once accommodation has been approved, our team will work with you to set up meetings with the relevant faculty to assess what the accommodation will look like in their classrooms.
All courses, credits, and transcripts at Verto locations are delivered by our accredited Academic Provider, the University of New Haven.
Course selection information and instructions will be provided via the Student Portal.
Please login to your Student Portal to access and familiarize yourself with the course selection guides (for guidance on course interests by location). If you are attending Verto as part of a program through a partner university, please view the channel partner registration guides for help mapping credits to those specific partner schools. You may also want to take a look at our website to browse course offerings there.
You will be notified via email and the Student Portal when course registration is open.
If you have questions about course registration, email [email protected]
All courses, credits, and transcripts at Verto locations are delivered by our accredited Academic Provider, the University of New Haven.
You will have a designated Academic Success Coordinator (ASC) on-site who can provide various levels of academic support and tutoring outside of the classroom. This coaching can include one-on-one meetings, study groups, and more. Your ASC can help direct you to further resources if needed.
All courses, credits, and transcripts at Verto locations are delivered by our accredited Academic Provider, the University of New Haven.
Add/drops are made during the first week of classes. Participants must contact their Academic Success Coordinator (ASC) to make these changes.
All courses, credits, and transcripts at Verto locations are delivered by our accredited Academic Provider, the University of New Haven.
It is very likely that you will have class every day of the week Monday through Friday, but not guaranteed. Your course schedule depends on course registration and availability, the number of courses you are taking, and the number of course credits you are enrolled in. Please note that in some Verto locations, there may be mandatory experiential learning activities or programming activities that take place outside of traditional class time.
All courses, credits, and transcripts at Verto locations are delivered by our accredited Academic Provider, the University of New Haven.
In order to participate with Verto, you must take a minimum of 12 credits. The credits allotted to each course vary, with one course usually counting towards 3 or 4 credits on average. Participants typically take 4 or 5 courses. If you want to take more than 5 courses, you must seek approval from the Verto academic team by emailing [email protected].
All courses, credits, and transcripts at Verto locations are delivered by our accredited Academic Provider, the University of New Haven.
Your Experience Abroad
Domestic, independent travel is permitted during periods when required classes and activities are not being held (e.g., weekends or holidays), unless otherwise indicated by local staff.
Extended overnight travel – or independent international travel – is likewise permitted, but participants must check with local staff before making any out-of-country travel plans, and register their travel plans with local Verto staff.
If participants travel internationally without registering their travel plans and with explicit permission of local staff, they may face disciplinary action.
Academic and attendance policies remain in place regardless of visitors; Verto participants are expected to attend class, complete coursework, examinations, and assignments as scheduled in order to receive credit through our Academic Provider, the University of New Haven.
To help families gain insight into your participant’s transformative experience abroad with Verto, students and Verto staff team up to host a virtual Family Week. They’ll get to participate in events such as student-led campus tours, cultural demonstrations, and helpful sessions on subjects like career success and finding purpose. We believe this is the best way for families to connect with their student’s experience while encouraging them to focus on their coursework and academic success, building their abroad community, and meeting fellow students on arrival day.
If your family plans on visiting, please adhere to the guidelines as outlined in our Location Resources.
No – except in the case of our foreign language courses, all courses will be facilitated in English. It helps if you’re able to speak a bit of the local language, so it’s in your best interest to learn a few key phrases in advance of your experience!
You will need a laptop or tablet for your courses. If you do not have one, you should notify your Student Onboarding Advisor ASAP so that they can help you loan one for the duration of your time abroad.
Packing lists per location are available on our Location Resources page.
Only Service Animals are permitted on Verto study abroad experiences. Service Animals are entirely location-dependent and subject to the local laws of your abroad experience. Requests to bring a Service Animal should be made by emailing d[email protected]. Emotional Support Animals (ESA) do not qualify as service animals under the ADA and are not allowed on Verto study abroad experiences.
You will receive housing details including your address, roommates, and general expectations approximately 14 days prior to your depart date. This will be shared through the Student Portal.
This depends on the location and housing type (e.g. homestay vs. residence), but generally speaking, yes. Participants typically have 1 or 2 roommates, but may have more.
If you wish to request a specific roommate, you can indicate so, along with other preferences, on your Roommate Preference Form in the Student Portal.
If for any medical reason a participant requires a single room, you must request this in advance by starting the conversation with your Student Onboarding Advisor. Please note that we can only accommodate this in some locations and in some cases. You may be required to pay any fee associated with having a single room.
This varies by location. Please view your unique location page to check whether or not food is included in your accommodations and experience cost.
Most dietary options can be accommodated across Verto locations, however do keep in mind that some cuisines may work better for you than others. It is important you specify your dietary needs on your Health History form in your Student Portal, and reach out to your Student Onboarding Advisor with any questions or concerns.
This varies depending on the location. Please check out our Location Resources for more information on your Study Center.
Your on-site staff are available for any help you may need. You will receive the phone numbers of your on-site Student Life Coordinator and Academic Success Coordinators during orientation and in your Student Handbooks.
If you or your family would like to escalate any questions or concerns, please email the team of your respective location:
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
- [email protected]
If there is an emergency:
You should first try the phone numbers of your on-site team (which you will receive during orientation).
If for any reason you need another number, or your family needs to reach you in an emergency, contact Verto’s general emergency phone number: (971) 801-0955.
Mental Health support is available for participants via onsite and remote support services. Contact your Student Life Coordinator, Academic Success Coordinator while on site if you need assistance. You can also email [email protected] if you would like assistance prior to departure or need anything urgently while onsite.
Participants seeking 1:1 counseling support with a licensed mental health professional are provided local contact information, and assistance with scheduling an appointment.
We must be informed of any medical or health concerns well in advance of participant arrivals.
We do not have medical professionals on Verto staff teams. However, local, in-country medical providers are available in each Verto location. Your on-site staff will be available to assist you in identifying preferred and English-speaking medical providers. You will need to pay costs for medical services up front, and then you can submit a claim with Verto’s insurance provider (CISI) in order to receive reimbursement for all covered medical expenses. Be sure to keep all receipts for any medical services obtained abroad–keep the physical copies and email yourself photos as well!
This varies by location. Check out our Location Resources for information on transportation. If you have additional questions, reach out to your Student Onboarding Advisor.
This varies by location. Please view your respective location page to check whether or not you will have access to a kitchen.
Check out our Location Resources for information on how setup your phone for usage abroad. If you have additional questions, reach out to your Student Onboarding Advisor.
Mental Health & Settling In:
- Mental Health Advice For Students Planning To Travel
- Participant Blog: Tips to Conquering Homesickness
- Participant Blog: Adapting to Different Cultures
- Positionality—What Is It And How Does It Affect My Semester Abroad?
- Pre-Departure Guide: LGBTQIA+ Identity Abroad
- Pre-Departure Guide: First Generation Students
Packing & Logistics:
- Participant Blog: Top 10 tips for packing for your Verto adventure
- 7 Tips For A Sustainable Packing List
- How To Apply For A United States Passport
- Participant Blog: Packing, I Know Better This Time
Get to Know Your City:
- Students’ Guide To Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Students’ Guide To Prague, Czech Republic
- Students’ Guide To Florence, Italy
- Students’ Guide to London, England
- Students’ Guide To Seville, Spain
- How to Find a Place of Worship in Seville
- Participant Blog: 10 Reasons To Live With A Host Family In Seville
- Florence LGBTQ+ Student Travel Guide
- Prague LGBTQ+ Student Travel Guide
- Buenos Aires LGBTQ+ Student Travel Guide
- Seville LGBTQ+ Student Travel Guide
- Costa Rica LGBTQ+ Student Travel Guide
- London LGBTQ+ Student Travel Guide
Financial Services & Billing
In order to be departure ready from a financial services perspective, you must have either paid any balance due in full, or set up a formal payment plan with our Academic Provider, the University of New Haven (UNewHaven) and be current on payments.
If you have questions about financial services, billing statements or payments please reach out to [email protected]
Please view Verto’s Financial Services page for information about our grants and scholarships and get in touch with our Financial Services team to learn more about your eligibility.
If you have a remaining balance after any scholarships or grants, your options include: a) applying for a) Private Alternative Loan, Use Sparrow, a trusted portal, to research and compare your loan options b) setting up a payment plan, or c) paying your balance in full.
If you have any questions about private loans or setting up a payment plan, please contact Financial Services at [email protected]
You will receive a notification of billing statement availability directly to your the University of New Haven (UNewHaven) email. You will access your billing statement via the UNewHaven Verto Participant Portal located here. Payments can be made via bank transfer using your bank routing and account number or via credit or debit card. If payments need to be mailed, they can be sent to:
The University of New Haven
One Stop
℅ Bursar’s Office
300 Boston Post Road
West Haven, CT 06516
You can check balances and verify payments received by accessing the University of New Haven (UNewHaven), Verto Participant Portal located here.
Payment due dates are reflected on your billing statement and all balances must be paid by the due date listed, or the participant must follow any instructions to set up a formal payment plan.
Inclusion of meals varies by location. Please see location pages for each location’s details.
Looking for additional resources?
Check out our Packing Lists, Arrival Details, and more for your abroad location.
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