# Winter Opportunities: Admitted Participants ## Pre-departure Requirements ### This page is for students who have officially been admitted to participate in a 2025-2026 DRCLAS Winter Program. About MLAB Additional Information ## About Once admitted to a DRCLAS program or upon notice of receiving DRCLAS funding, students should complete the related pre-departure steps as soon as possible. No student will receive financial support, or be permitted to participate in a DRCLAS-run program, without having completed all Center-wide and University-mandated requirements. For more information about the requirements, please visit [Harvard Global Support Services](https://www.globalsupport.harvard.edu/travel-tools/student-pre-departure-requirements). **Form Submission:** All forms should be submitted digitally to DRCLAS through either the University Pre-departure Portal, or to the [student email](mailto:///drclas_students@fas.harvard.edu) ([drclas\_students@fas.harvard.edu](mailto:drclas_students@fas.harvard.edu)). Follow the indications below and within the portal. *Please note:* Students cannot receive a stipend/grant before completing all required forms/steps. ## MLAB This information is for students who have officially been admitted to participate in the Mentoring and Language Acquisition in Brazil (MLAB) Program. In order to participate, all of the following steps and tasks must be completed. ### **DRCLAS REQUIRED FORMS & DOCUMENTS:** **1. COMPLETE** [**DRCLAS CONDUCT and MLAB MENTOR AGREEMENT FORM**](https://harvard.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8cTrdbVFVSw6xOm) Form should be completed online no later than October 21st. **2. COMPLETE** [**TRAINING FOR RESPONSIBLE ADULTS**](https://youthprotection.harvard.edu/training) Email the training certificate to DRCLAS [here](mailto:drclas_students@fas.harvard.edu) no later than November 21st. **3. BACKGROUND SCREENING PROCESS** Complete the Background Screening Process from the Office of Youth Protection no later November 21st. You should receive an email from *HireRight* with instructions on how to proceed with the screening process. Email proof of completion to DRCLAS [here](mailto:drclas_students@fas.harvard.edu). **4. VISA AND PASSAPORT** Email the Program Manager with confirmation on required visa and passaport validity by November 21st. For visa information, check the last item of this page. **5. ATTEND YOUR PRE-DEPARTURE MEETING** Held on **December 4 @ 2-4:00pm ET** at the DRCLAS Offices (CGIS South, 1730 Cambridge St.) ### **GLOBAL SUPPORT SERVICES (GSS) & UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS** **Prior to submitting forms, you must first register your MLAB trip to Brazil with the University:** 1. **LOG INTO THE UNIVERSITY'S** [**HEALTH AND SAFETY PRE-DEPARTURE PORTAL**](https://predeparture.fas.harvard.edu/). 2. **CREATE NEW TRIP** 1. In trip name, enter "DRCLAS MLAB". 2. Select "David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies" from the Center dropdown. 3. Select "2026 Winter" on Year/Term. 4. Select "Internship" in Purpose. 5. Select "Brazil" in Country. 6. Input your start and end dates for travel 3. **COMPLETE ALL ASSIGNED TASKS IN PORTAL** 1. Upload the correct documentation for each task no later than November 14th. ***Failure to complete these tasks may result in your removal from the program.*** ### **Payments and Funding** MLAB has no program fee. Students are responsible for passport & visa fees, as well as recommended vaccines, such as Yellow Fever. Expenses in São Paulo throughout the 2-week immersion are fully covered (i.e. transfers, housing, meals, cultural activities). The following financial aid will be provided to students on a need-based level for airfare costs to and from São Paulo for the January immersion - No need: $0 - Low to medium need: $500 - High-need: up to $1100 - Very high-need: Entire Airfare ### **Cancellation Policy** Students have until November 1st to cancel their participation in MLAB without incurring any fees. Otherwise, the following guidelines and dates will apply: • Students withdrawing themselves from the program between November 1st, 2025 and December 8th, 2025 will be charged a $100 cancellation fee. • Students granted financial support for plane tickets withdrawing themselves from the program after December 8th, 2025 will be billed 100% of airfare expenses. ### **Visa & Passport Services** In order to travel to Brazil in January, your passport cannot have an expiration earlier than July 2026. You also might be required to apply for a visitor visa (VIVIS). [Click here to see what nationalities do not require visitor visas](https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/assuntos/portal-consular/vistos/quadro-geral-de-regime-de-vistos-para-entrada-de-estrangeiros-no-brasil). US nationals require an e-visa, [that can be obtained here](https://brazil.vfsevisa.com/). Most Latin American nationals do not require a Visa. Other nationalities must check and if necessary [apply for the Visitor Visa through the Consulate General of Brazil in Boston](https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/consulado-boston/visa/visa-general-information). Ensuring that your passport is valid and acquiring a Brazilian travel visa is your responsibility. If your passport is not valid, or if you do not have one, you are responsible for applying for a new passport. We recommend that you begin the passport application or renewal process IMMEDIATELY. Doing so will allow for ample time to make flight arrangements, receive your passport, and apply for a Brazilian travel visa. Please contact the program manager with visa-related inquiries prior to the November deadline. ## Additional Information #### **Student Responsibilities** All students are responsible for knowing and adhering to program rules and policies as well as being familiar with general [**study abroad policies**](https://www.globalsupport.harvard.edu/travel-tools/forms-policies/harvard-college). #### **Payments and Funding** Where applicable, students will be term-billed twice for all program expenses. This is in the form of a "debit" to the term bill. The first is a nonrefundable $100 deposit to secure a place in the program, which will be debited mid November. The second (if relevant) will be the remaining program balance, which will be debited in late December/early January. It is the responsibility of the student to complete all tasks for the program and funding, as well as secure all payments. #### **Cancellation Policy** - [MLAB Cancellation Policy](https://prod-drclas2.drupalsites.harvard.edu/mentoring-and-language-acquisition-brazil-mlab) #### **Visa and Passport Services** It is recommended that students not travel with a passport that is within 6 months of expiration. Please contact the program manager with visa-related inquiries. #### **International Health and Safety** Traveling abroad requires careful planning, even for seasoned travelers. Each destination requires a different strategy and for responding to situations, from small inconveniences to serious emergencies. DRCLAS and Global Support Services closely monitor various outbreaks that may be or become concerns, and collaborate to monitor students' health and safety. 24/7 emergency numbers for students International SOS: +1-617-998-0000 (for medical, security, and travel advice or assistance) Harvard College Office of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response: +1-617-495-9100, [osapr@fas.harvard.edu](mailto:///osapr@fas.harvard.edu) #### **Information for Families** Our security consultants at Harvard's Global Support Services continually monitor and make recommendations to DRCLAS Summer Programs regarding current security levels and situations around the world. In addition to Harvard-based and local program staff as resources, students have 24/7 access to International SOS, which provides medical, mental health, and security advice and referrals, and emergency evacuation services to Harvard travelers abroad. Your student has been provided with complete telephone and mobile app, email and web contact information for International SOS and other Harvard-based resources that he or she may wish to take advantage of while on the program. While in country, our program staff are expert resources for their particular locales, as well as being integral members of the Harvard community during the academic year. Since his or her acceptance into the program, your student has been receiving a great deal of program information from DRCLAS staff, in the form of mailings, individual and group meetings, and regularly-updated websites. Parents and guardians are encouraged to speak directly with your student about the study abroad program and to have him or her contact DRCLAS. While program staff may be able to answer your general questions about our programs, we are unfortunately prohibited from releasing specific information as it pertains to a student’s participation in one of our programs. DRCLAS policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (“FERPA”) provide students and former students certain protections and rights concerning the confidentiality of their educational records.