FAQ | SAIS Europe Deferrals

The first day of non-language classes for the summer term at SAIS Europe is August 16, 2021 (for MEPP/MAGR Program) and September 20, 2021 for fall term (MAIR/MAIA/MIPP/Diploma). Please refer to the Academic Calendar for more information on the summer/fall semester schedule. 

The school hopes to offer courses in-person in the summer/fall semester, however that determination will depend upon a variety of factors related to the health and safety of the community. We will notify students as soon as a decision has been reached. Please refer to the Covid-19 Update webpage for updates.

All non-EU citizens will need a visa to study in Bologna. Please note that students needing a visa letter (Non EU-citizens) will be contacted directly from the SAIS Europe admission’s office upon formally accepting your offer in Slate.  The Admissions Office staff at SAIS Europe will be happy to advise students on the visa process. However, you are responsible for making arrangements and acquiring your own student visa. Please also note that you can only apply for a visa at your local Italian Consulate/Embassy at the earliest 90 days before the start of classes. Learn more on the First Steps webpage.

The SAIS Europe admissions office will be in touch with you in early May via email to confirm your visa status and we will aslo host a visa session in early May. Upon your confirmation, if you need a visa, we will issue you a visa letter via Fed Ex and email, which you will need to use to contact your local Consulate/Embassy. These documents will be issued in Mid- May with follow up instructions. We will also provide you further information regarding housing options, healthcare, and quarantining information (if necessary) upon your initial arrival to SAIS Europe.

The academic year begins on 16 August (Summer Term/Pre-Term) and on 20 September 2021 (fall term). Over 75% of SAIS Europe MAIA/MAIR/MIPP students choose to participate in Pre-Term, an academic session that runs throughout August before the start of the official academic year. Pre-Term allows students to get a head-start on their quantitative reasoning course requirements by taking courses. Students participating in Pre-Term will be welcomed to campus starting Monday, August 9 through Friday, August 13, 2021. Students who are not participating in Pre-Term and are joining for the start of the regular academic year should plan to be in Bologna no later than Monday, September 13, 2021. Students who do not have housing arrangements made in advance of their arrival to Bologna are recommended to arrive even earlier.

Over the summer, you will receive an email notification from our registrar’s office with information on how to register for classes and consult with an academic adviser. (Please make sure your JHU ID is activated and you have put your emergency contact information on SIS in order to register.) 

For questions concerning housing and student life, please be sure to consult the First Steps webpage. Specific questions regarding student life can be addressed to [email protected].

In accordance with University policy and Italian immigration regulations, all SAIS Europe students are required to have a health insurance policy that is valid in Italy from the first day of classes. As such, all students will be automatically billed for and enrolled in a US-based insurance policy through the university, provided by Wellfleet Insurance. However, EU or EEA citizens who are enrolled in their national health service or students who already have alternative, equivalent coverage may complete an online waiver to be exempt from the plan and fee. For details, including fees, please contact [email protected].

Tuition (first installment) for the MAGR and MEPP program is due on August 16, 2021. Tuition (first installment) for the MAIR/MAIA/Diploma/MIPP is due on September 17, 2021. The second installment for all programs is due January 27.

Students that have received a one year SAIS Europe fellowship will have half the amount awarded deducted from the summer/fall tuition (the other half will be deducted from spring tuition). For questions concerning the FAFSA disbursement, please contact the SAIS Financial Aid Office: [email protected].

Reading major daily newspapers and monthly journals such as The Atlantic, Foreign Policy Magazine, or The Economist, will keep you informed of timely issues in international affairs.  For a roundup of recent media coverage of members of the SAIS community, read In the News on the SAIS website.  If you need to strengthen your writing skills, the Office of Academic Affairs recommends the Purdue University 's Online Writing Lab and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Writing Center "Tips and Tools" page. Students who are interested in quantitative and economics course are encouraged to review these topics and ensure they have a solid foundation in pre-calculus and calculus prior to starting.  One free resource you might want to check out is the Khan Academy.

To fully optimize all of the resources and contacts that will be available to you through Global Careers once you matriculate, during your deferment, take an online Professional Development Course (PDC) offered by Global Careers. The Professional Development Course Materials will provide materials from the three PDC modules comprising the course in addition to resume/cover letter/networking templates. You can watch the video recordings of each module here:

Module 1:
Design a Career that Inspires You
Password: VHR3?6du

Module 2:
Developing Materials that Market Your Strengths and Accomplishments
Password: @?bYW@2b

Module 3:
Exploring Opportunities, Connecting, and Building Relationships
Password: 9Tuu?970