The Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change is a 3-week summer abroad program in Salzburg, Austria, where students earn 6 credits for two General Education courses in global digital media literacy (MCOM 280/380 and MCOM 281/381). Students study digital media literacy, discuss pressing global issues, produce multimedia modules, and engage in research and debates with 80 students and faculty from across the globe, while exploring the exquisite Austrian nature and culture. See here photos of past AUB Salzburg Academy students.
Salzburg Academy 2012 runs from July 22 to August 11
Application Deadline: March 30, 2012.
For 3 weeks, students will live, dine, and study in residence at the 17th-century Meierhof building and the 18th-century world-renowned Schloss Leopoldskron, the palace in the movie The Sound of Music. See photos of the residence. Academy students and faculty will be provided full room and board, including buffet-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as coffee/tea breaks and two excursions in Austria.
Highlights of the Salzburg Academy
- Earn two courses (one social sciences, one humanities) in 3 weeks.
- Live, dine, study in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
- Learn digital media literacy skills transferable to any field and industry.
- Make new friends and build lifelong contacts from all over the world.
- Chat with world leaders, international artists, and Nobel and Pulitzer prize winners.
- Enjoy the world-famous Salzburg Music Festival that coincides with the academy.
- Experience what past AUB participants called "a life-changing experience."
Who May Apply and How?
Both AUB and non-AUB students, graduates and undergraduates, may apply. Applications are open to students and institutions from all parts of the world. Students from recognized Arab universities may apply and earn credit through AUB.
AUB Students (graduates and undergraduates):
Students currently enrolled at AUB should follow these steps:
- AUB students should submit an application to the Media Studies program by the deadline of March 30. Email your application and requested documents to mediastudies@aub.edu.lb
Download the Application for AUB Students 
- Applicants will know by April 15 if they were accepted to the program.
- Accepted students must first pay a non-refundable deposit of $1,000 by April 25. Students who do not pay the deposit will not be able to register for the courses. The deposit will be credited toward the full tuition of the program.
- Next, during online registration for current students (Summer 2012: April 30 - May 3), undergraduate students should register for MCOM 280 and MCOM 281, and graduate students should register for MCOM 380 and MCOM 381.
- Students should pay the full academy fees (see cost below) by the tuition deadline for Summer (Summer 2012: June 21). Please be sure to see Withdrawal and Refund policies below.
- Students who register late or pay late may incur a late tuition fee and their acceptance to the program may be withdrawn.
- Students must apply for a visa and purchase travel insurance as soon as they are accepted. You are also advised to purchase your flight tickets as early as possible, as prices increase drastically if you wait too long. More details on visa, tickets, and travel insurance will be provided to accepted students.
- For other details, visit the Salzburg Academy Blog: URL to be posted soon.
Non-AUB Students (graduates and undergraduates):
Students not currently enrolled at AUB, including those who have never attended AUB or former AUB students not currently enrolled, should follow these steps:
- Non-AUB students must submit two applications, both by the deadline of March 30:
- First, you must apply to AUB's Admissions Office as a “Visiting Student.” Get the application and other details from here: http://www.aub.edu.lb/admissions/applications/Pages/Applications2012-13.aspx
- Second, you must at the same time submit an application for Non-AUB students to the Media Studies program. Email applications to mediastudies@aub.edu.lb
Download the Application for Non-AUB Students
- Applicants will know by April 30 if they were accepted to the program.
- Accepted students interested in enrolling in the program must first pay a non-refundable deposit of $1,500 by May 10. Students who do not pay the deposit will not be able to register for the courses even if they got accepted by AUB. The deposit will be credited towards their full tuition for the program.
- Next, during online registration for new students (Summer 2012: June 12 - 14), undergraduate students should register for MCOM 280 and MCOM 281, and graduate students should register for MCOM 380 and MCOM 381.
- Students should pay the full academy fees (see cost below) by the tuition deadline for Summer (Summer 2012: June 21). Please make sure to read the Withdrawal and Refund policies below.
- Students who register or pay late may incur a late tuition fee and their acceptance to the program may be withdrawn.
- Students must apply for a visa and purchase travel insurance as soon as they are accepted. You are also advised to purchase your flight tickets as early as possible, as prices increase drastically if you wait too long. More details on visa, tickets, and travel insurance will be provided to accepted students.
- For other details, visit the Salzburg Academy Blog: URL to be posted soon.
Other Steps After Acceptance
After getting accepted to the Salzburg Academy and in addition to paying the deposit and tuition fees, you only have a few more things to take care of before taking off to Austria:
- Book Flights Early: Book your airfare as early as you can to save money and guarantee convenient flights. July and August are popular tourism seasons in both Lebanon and Austria. The longer you wait to book your flight, the more expensive and the less likely you'll find the dates you want. Most of our students pay the following: $500 to Vienna, $550 to Munich, and $650 to Salzburg. You can fly to either of these cities and take ground transportation to the palace. For more details, see: www.salzburgacademy2012.wordpress.com
- Visa for Austria: Some students will need to get a visa to enter Europe. We will give you more directions for how to apply for a visa later. The visa usually takes 4-6 weeks and costs $35-$40.
- Travel Insurance: All students are required to get travel insurance. This is required by AUB, the Salzburg Academy, and for visa purposes. Some students already have travel insurance through their parents' insurance or from other sources. Purchasing travel insurance costs $30-$40.
- For any other questions about the weather, what to take with you, clothing and events, pocket money, calling home, internet, and activities to do in Austria and Germany, please see:
Tuition for the 2012 Salzburg Academy
The Media Studies program has tried hard to keep the cost for participating in the Salzburg Academy as close as possible to the cost of 6 undergraduate summer credits at AUB. The following table will help you compare the costs of taking two summer courses at AUB compared to the Salzburg Academy cost:
AUB Summer Tuition for 6 credits (8 weeks):
| Undergrads |
$3,500-$4,000 |
$1,000 |
$1,000 |
$5,500-$6,000 |
Salzburg Academy Tuition for 6 credits (3 weeks):
| Undergrads |
$5,950 |
incl. |
incl. |
$5,950 |
The Salzburg Academy tuition covers:
- The cost of two AUB courses (6 credits),
- Internet/library fees for summer semester for current AUB students.
- Room and Board (3 meals/day, 2 coffee breaks/day), and 2 excursions.
The Salzburg Academy tuition does NOT cover:
- The cost of travel to and from Salzburg (normally $500-$700).
- Application fees for non-AUB students (around $50).
- Internet/library fees for summer semester for non-AUB students ($100-$200).
Note: Aside from pocket money for souvenirs and other incidentals, students do not have any other substantial costs for the whole program.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
In addition to using their eligible financial aid and scholarships towards the Academy program, AUB students may apply for additional partial financial aid (normally $500 to $1,500). Students interested in applying to additional financial aid must submit a Salzburg Academy Financial Aid Application along with their application to the program.
Download the Salzburg Academy Financial Aid Application
Refund Policy
The Salzburg Academy refund policy for all students is as follows:
- The deposit is non-refundable under any circumstances.
- If a student cancels before the deadline for payment of the Summer fees (Summer 2012: June 21), 100% of the tuition (minus the deposit) will be refunded.
- If a student cancels after the deadline for payment of the Summer fees (Summer 2012: June 21), no refunds will be allowed.
This refund policy supersedes any existing AUB refund policy.
Withdrawal Policy
The Salzburg Academy withdrawal policy for AUB and non-AUB graduate and undergraduate students is as follows:
- Students may only drop both courses together (MCOM 280/380 and MCOM 281/381), and could not drop one and stay enrolled in the other course.
- Students who drop the Salzburg Academy courses by the end of the first week of the Academy will receive a W grade.
- Students may not drop the Salzburg Academy courses after the end of the first week of the Academy.
This course withdrawal policy supersedes any existing AUB course withdrawal policy.
Student Conduct and In-eligility
Students who participate in the Salzburg Academy are subject to the AUB student code of conduct and the Salzburg Academy code of conduct. Students are under any sort of academic or non-academic probation are NOT eligible to participate in the academy and should not apply until they remove their probation status.
More Information
The AUB Media Studies program is a founding partner of the Salzburg Academy and has been sending students to this program for the past three years.
For more details about the academy, see: www.salzburg.umd.edu
Also, see the 2012 Salzburg Academy Blog for details about travel, lodging, participants and many other Frequently Asked Questions: www.salzburgacademy.wordpress.com