Terms and Conditions — Research & Beyond

Enrollment and Eligibility Policies
Program Enrollment (Deposit Policy)
A deposit is required to hold your (the applicant’s) space on a Research and Beyond program session as you complete the admissions process and until the final payment deadline. The deposit is unique to each experience, and is outlined in the program session. This payment is non-refundable. Research and Beyond cannot guarantee a space on a program until the applicant is accepted and a deposit is paid. After the initial deposit, tuition payments must be submitted according to the appropriate schedule to continue holding a guaranteed space.

Waitlist Policy
When all spaces on a program session have been reserved, Research and Beyond may choose to open a waitlist for that program. A deposit is required to hold a space on the waitlist. Waitlist priority is determined by the date the participant’s deposit was received by Research and Beyond, even if it was originally applied to a different program. If space becomes available on the desired program, applicants will be notified by email in order of priority. Applicants must confirm enrollment by a specified deadline or the space will be offered to the next participant on the waitlist.

If no space opens on the desired program, Waitlisted applicants are eligible for a refund in the full amount of the deposit.

Eligibility for Travel
To be accepted to a program, applicants must have completed program specific criteria. Additionally, applicants must meet the minimum criteria required for participation in a given Research and Beyond program, and the criteria may be different from program to program. Research and Beyond may also deny admission to the program for reasons not listed in the criteria for a given program. Once accepted, participants must also comply with the following policies to maintain eligibility for participation.

Travel Documents: At least 90 days prior to program session start, Participants must be in possession of a valid passport for international travel with adequate usable visa pages. The date of expiration must be greater than 6 months from the date of the end of a program. Research and Beyond cannot procure travel documents on participants’ behalf.
Visas: Participants are responsible for procuring the adequate travel visa(s) necessary for program participation. When relevant, Research and Beyond will provide visa guidelines for U.S. passport holders and can recommend an optional visa processing agency. Research and Beyond cannot guarantee that participants will be granted visas or directly provide services to obtain visas. Research and Beyond does not provide visa guidelines for non-U.S. passport holders.
Vaccinations: Research and Beyond does not require any immunizations other than those mandated by host countries, where applicable. However, we do strongly recommend that all travelers receive routine and travel-specific vaccinations, including the COVID-19 vaccine, according to current CDC recommendations. Please visit the CDC website for more information. Please remember that many of the places to which we travel have different exposure risks and may not have consistent vaccination standards. Arriving with current vaccinations helps to ensure your own health and safety and minimizes potential risks posed to the communities we visit.
Required Documents:

Medical Form: All admitted participants are responsible for submitting a completed, signed medical form that completely and accurately represents the current mental and physical health of the participant. If further communication with a medical or mental health care provider is deemed necessary, the participant agrees to arrange a release of information with the provider and gives permission to Research and Beyond to contact providers directly. Participants must also notify Research and Beyond if any changes to mental or physical health occur after form submission.
Participant Agreement: Participants and guardians of minor participants are required to read and sign a “Participant Agreement” outlining behavioral expectations and policies prior to participating in our program.
Limitation of Liability: Participants and guardians of minor participants are required to read and sign an “Acknowledgment and Assumption of Risk and Release and Indemnity Agreement” prior to participating in our program.
Additional Required Documents: Research and Beyond may request additional required documents to confirm participant eligibility at any time.

In addition to the above requirements for eligibility, Research and Beyond staff reserve the right to disqualify any accepted participant from participation if considered medically necessary, or upon discovery that a participant or their representative has falsely represented the participant during the admissions or course preparation process.

Pre-Departure Program Cancellation
Research and Beyond reserves the right to cancel any program due to insufficient enrollment or health, safety, or security concerns in the host country beyond our control. Refund policies in this event are detailed in the “Cancellation & Refund Policies” section below.

Program Policies
Flight Policies
Each program will have specific details, including a range of time in which participants need to arrive.

Arrivals & Departures
Participants are required to arrive at the program start location by the date and time specified in Research and Beyond materials; late arrivals are not allowed except in exceptional circumstances. Leaves of absence from the program for interviews, personal events, conferences, etc. are not permitted. Participants must remain at designated program location(s) until the program end-date and may not depart the program early for personal reasons unless explicitly approved by Research and Beyond. After the final day of the program, participants are responsible for all transportation, housing, visa, insurance, and other arrangements. Participants may not stay in Research and Beyond-arranged accommodations or with Research and Beyond host families after a program ends.

Program Duration
If a student is traveling on flights chaperoned by a Research and Beyond staff member, the program begins upon Participant’s arrival at the Departure Airport on the first day of the program and ends upon Participant’s return to the Arrival Airport on the final day of the program, unless specifically designated otherwise. If the Participant is not traveling on flights chaperoned by a Research and Beyond staff member, the program commences upon arrival in their Destination when they meet a Research and Beyond staff member and ends upon their departure from the Destination.

Flexible Program Itineraries
Research and Beyond’s intention is to create programs that address the goals and program elements listed in each program description. Course itineraries are flexible and often vary from itineraries published on the website or shared with families. When changes are made to incorporate student goals and interests or adjust to the health of the group, or are made necessary because of foul weather, problems with transportation, political unrest, or any other unforeseen problem, Research and Beyond will make every reasonable effort to keep the course experience true to its original intent. All changes will be communicated to families.

Program Amenities
Course tuition covers the following expenses during scheduled session dates, from a participant’s arrival at their Program Start Location until their departure from their Program End Location:

All accommodation
All meals
All transportation
Museum, park, and temple entrance fees
Donations to charitable causes in the host country
Instructor, faculty, and extra guide fees
On-site equipment rental (e.g. bike rental, snorkel rental, etc.)
Travel Insurance during program duration

Tuition does NOT include personal expenses such as the cost of obtaining passports, visa fees, laundry, medical fees, evacuation costs, airport taxes, email, health or travel insurance, extra baggage fees, phone calls, lodging before or after international travel, academic supplies, etc. The costs of international airfare and any additional insurance is not included.

Medical Treatment and Evacuation
In the event of a medical emergency, Research and Beyond will attempt to procure medical treatment; however, we assume no liability regarding the provision of medical care. All costs associated with medical care must be borne by the participant. Applicants are urged to check their insurance coverage for its adequacy when outside of their own country, or to purchase travel health insurance. All participants are enrolled in an evacuation service and insurance plan, billed on the final program invoice. Click here for more information about this plan. Participants and their family are responsible for understanding the limits of any medical or evacuation policy, and for providing up-front payment for emergency and/or medical services when required.

In-field Program Cancellation & Re-Routing
Research and Beyond may choose to cancel or re-route a program that is in progress if circumstances arise that, in Research and Beyond’s judgment, make the continuation of a program no longer tenable. Circumstances that could result in a cancellation or re-route may include natural disaster, epidemic, political turmoil, government recommendation, etc. In such situations, Research and Beyond will explore reasonable options to re-route the program to another location or will cancel the program session. Research and Beyond will take reasonable steps to notify the participant of their options and limit costs associated with the occurrence, to the extent possible. However, participants are financially responsible for expenditures exceeding normal program budget such as alternative international flights, travel, academic, and accommodation costs, and must reimburse Research and Beyond for any financial obligation incurred in this regard. If a program session is canceled after course start, or if a participant chooses not to continue on a program that is re-routed, no refund will be issued.

Research and Beyond Rules and Regulations
If a participant violates any portion of the Research and Beyond Participant Agreement or otherwise acts in a way that is injurious to themself, people of the host country, other participants on the program, or generally conducts themself in a way that is disruptive to the program, Research and Beyond reserves the right to send the participant home without refund. Participants sent home early or who voluntarily choose to depart early for any reason, including but not limited to sickness, dissatisfaction, mental health, personal emergencies, or injury, will be responsible for all associated costs, including medical costs and related travel and logistical costs associated with an early departure.

Reasonable Accommodations
Research and Beyond is committed to providing participants with reasonable accommodations whenever possible. Accommodations are modifications or services that give a participant with a disability, medical, or religious need the opportunity to benefit from the programmatic experience. All decisions on accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. Accommodations that would require a fundamental alteration in the program offered or would result in an undue burden or hardship on Research and Beyond will not be provided. Fundamental alterations are generally defined as actions that would substantially change the program because a participant would not be able to perform the essential requirements of a program (with or without accommodations) or that the in-country limitations could pose a direct threat to the participant’s physical health or safety. Undue burden or hardship means accommodations that are unduly costly, extensive, disruptive, or would substantially alter Research and Beyond operations.

Tuition Payment
Full payment of total program cost is due 120 days prior to scheduled session departure. Students accepted within 127 days of departure must submit full payment within 2 weeks of acceptance. Students accepted within 90 days of departure must submit full payment within 48 hours of acceptance. Within 21 days of departure, additional terms apply (listed below). Deviations from standard payment due dates are permitted only with explicit written approval from Research and Beyond. Additional fees incurred at any time after the full payment due date are payable immediately upon invoicing.

Cancellation & Refund Policies
Cancellation Initiated by Participant
Because Research and Beyond makes commitments and other financial decisions in advance of a program session based upon enrollment, financial penalties apply if a participant cancels their participation. Penalties change according to the timing of the cancellation. The following policies apply in all cases, regardless of the reason the participant chooses to cancel their participation in the program session.

All notices of cancellation must be received in writing.
After submitting a deposit equivalent to 20% of the cost of a program, participants may cancel participation and may receive a refund within 21 days from the date of deposit. Refunds are dependent on the costs incurred and if the participant's spot can be filled. After 21 days or 24 hours after acceptance, the full deposit becomes non-refundable for any reason.

Eligible participants may choose to receive a credit toward a future session in the amount of the full deposit subject to additional terms and limitations.
Deposits cannot be transferred between sessions. If a participant wishes to transfer enrollment to a future session, they must submit a new deposit. A tuition credit may be applied to the future session as outlined above.

Payment of remaining program costs is due according to the schedule laid out in the “Tuition Payment” section above. Upon cancellation, tuition refunds are limited based on the following cancellation schedule:

Non-deposit payments are refundable up to 90 days prior to the scheduled program session start date.
From 90 days until 60 days before program session start, 50% of the total program cost is refundable, and 50% of program cost is non-refundable for any reason.
60 days prior to program session start, all payments are non-refundable for any reason.
Payments toward program cost may be applied toward the cost of a different program during the same session. Payments may not be applied as credits to future sessions.
If tuition was paid by credit card, the corresponding Payment Service Fee amount will not be refunded.

Cancellation Initiated by Research and Beyond
Research and Beyond reserves the right to cancel any program session due to insufficient enrollment, entry restrictions, or health, safety, or security concerns in the host country that are beyond our control.

If Research and Beyond cancels a program session due to insufficient enrollment, participants may choose to transfer all payments made to another program with open spaces during the same session. Alternately, participants may request a full refund of all payments.
If Research and Beyond cancels a program session prior to the scheduled start date due to entry restrictions or health, safety, or security concerns in the host country that are beyond our control, Research and Beyond will refund all tuition less costs already incurred (i.e., flight fares, hotel bookings, etc.).
If Research and Beyond cancels a program session after the scheduled start date for reasons beyond our control, no refund will be granted. See the “In-Field Program Cancellation & Re-Routing” section above for more detail regarding this possibility.
In all cases, Research and Beyond is not responsible for other costs incurred by clients in preparing for the program.

Applicants whose participation is canceled by Research and Beyond due to any reason outlined in the “Eligibility for Travel” section of these Terms are not eligible for any refund, except as determined by Research and Beyond on a case-by-case basis.

Special Trip Insurance
Research and Beyond is not responsible for costs associated with canceled participation, program sessions canceled for reasons beyond our control or due to low enrollment, evacuations, and/or separations from programs. Examples of these costs are: tuition, non-refundable flights, and international flight costs incurred by program rerouting due to health, safety, or security concerns. Participants may choose to purchase a third-party insurance policy to recoup a portion of their expenditures if participation is canceled. This insurance is optional. Please direct all questions to your insurance provider directly.

SMS Terms & Conditions
SMS Consent Communication:
The information (Phone Numbers) obtained as part of the SMS consent process will not be shared with third parties for marketing purposes. SMS opt in and Phone numbers collected for Communications purposes will not be shared with Third parties and affiliates for Marketing.

Types of SMS Communications:
If you have consented to receive text messages from Research and Beyond, you may receive messages related to the following:

Appointment reminders
Follow-up messages
Billing inquiries
Promotions or offers (if applicable)
Reminders about program application or course preparation processes
Account notifications
Information about R&B programs or links to new materials
Information about current or upcoming promotions

Message Frequency:
Message frequency may vary depending on the type of communication. For example, you may receive up to 2 SMS messages per week related to your program application and course preparation. You may receive up to 1 message per week related to marketing and promotions.

Potential Fees for SMS Messaging:
Please note that standard message and data rates may apply, depending on your carrier’s pricing plan. These fees may vary if the message is sent domestically or internationally.

Opt-In Method:
You may opt-in to receive SMS messages from Research and Beyond in the following ways:

Verbally, during a conversation
By submitting an online form
By filling out a paper form
By contacting us first

Opt-Out Method:
You can opt-out of receiving SMS messages at any time. To do so, simply reply “STOP” to any SMS message you receive. Alternatively, you can contact us directly to request removal from our messaging list.

Additional Options:
If you do not wish to receive SMS messages, you can choose not to check the SMS consent box on our forms.

Standard Messaging Disclosures:

Message and data rates may apply.
You can opt out at any time by texting “STOP.”
For assistance, text “HELP” or visit our Privacy Policy

Message frequency may vary.

Binding Terms and Conditions
Terms and Conditions are binding upon submission of any payment to Research and Beyond and are subject to change without notice at any time. All dollar amounts are in USD.

Glossary of Terms
Scholar, Student, or Applicant = Any person enrolled in or applying for admission to a Research and Beyond program. The same policies apply to any representative (i.e. family member) of the participant.

R&B = Research & Beyond, LLC.

Program = The specific course for which a participant is enrolled. For example, “South America Semester” or “4-week Guatemala Summer.”

Session = The programming season during which a program is scheduled to take place. For example, “Summer 2022” or “Spring 2023.”

Program Session = The specific instance of a course occurring at a particular time, for example, “Fall 2022 South America Semester” or “Summer 2023 Guatemala 4-week.”

Program Start Location = The final arrival destination of the Research and Beyond Group Flight at Program session start.

Program End Location = The gateway departure airport of the Research and Beyond Group Flight at Program session end.

Total Program Cost = All costs incurred by program participants, including Tuition, Flight costs, Insurance Costs, and any other applicable fees invoiced by Research and Beyond.