Frequently Asked Questions

FEES/PAYMENT
WHAT IS EXPECTED OF ME
COMMUNICATION 
CANCELATION
TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION
TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Fees and Payments

How much does it cost? 1,200 USD per workshop at the regular rate. There is a reduced participation fee available for students and CIID IDP and CIID Summer School alumni, as well as Early Bird rates if you apply before certain dates. Read more about the Fees.

How do I pay? When you submit your enrolment, you will be asked to pay the tuition amount in full via credit card or debit card. If you are unable to pay with a credit/debit card, you can pay via bank transfer. However, if we don’t receive your payment within 7 days, your workshop bookings will be cancelled. The participation fee will vary depending on your profile, whether there is an Early Bird rate available or not, and how many workshops you have signed up for. Please note that workshops that have already been paid for will not be refunded.

What if I don’t have a credit card or if the amount is too high for a single transaction? If this is the case, you can elect to make a bank transfer. You are responsible for any additional costs associated with this method of payment. Please note that if the payment is not received within 7 days from the date of your enrolment, your reservation will be cancelled.

What is included in the participation fee? The participation fee covers the workshop and materials. It does not include accommodation, meals, or transportation.

If I miss a day, can I get my money back? We cannot offer a fee reduction to those who miss days for any reason, including illness.

Is there a lower fee for some participants? Yes, please look at the Fees section. 

What is expected of me?

How much interaction design experience do I need? None, some, or lots. We encourage a multidisciplinary class, so we are looking for a diverse group of individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and experience. This approach enables peer-to-peer learning and interesting group discussions.

Do I need prior knowledge of specific software/hardware/electronics? Some applicants may already be experts in programming and electronics; others will have no experience at all. The idea is that skills will cross-pollinate across the group via teamwork and collaboration. If specific prior knowledge is required, this will be included in the workshop description.

What kind of equipment should I bring? A laptop is required. The Summer School space will have WiFi access and a printer. Depending on your workshops, you will have access to the prototyping lab, which includes laser cutters, 3D printers, soldering workstations, and a selection of electronic components.

Am I required to be present every day of the workshop or can I explore the city? The programme is intensive, as there is a lot to learn in a short period of time. No matter which course you plan to attend, you are expected to be present every working day unless another offsite location has been specified by the faculty. There will be time in the evenings and weekends for socialising and urban explorations.

Does CIID cover health & safety insurance for participants? No. You are responsible for organising your own insurance. This is important given that you could be using the FabLab and other machinery.

Summer School Interaction

Is there a Facebook group? Once you have paid your participation fee and created your online profile, you will be invited to a Facebook group where you will be connected to other Summer School participants and faculty.

What other activities will happen? You will have the opportunity to mingle with participants from all workshops, and there will be some joint social events in the evenings. From a team-building perspective, you will build close relationships with your peers—and, of course, if you are enrolling in multiple workshops, weekends will be free for you to enjoy some time off in the city.

Cancelation

Right of withdrawal: You have the right of withdrawal secured by the European laws governing web purchases. This gives you the right to withdraw your enrolment within 14 days of your payment and get a full refund, no questions asked.

What is the Cancellation Policy? CIID will not refund workshops if you choose to cancel later than the 14 days mentioned above.

What if one or more of my workshops are cancelled for some reason? In the unlikely event that any of your workshops are cancelled, we will offer you the opportunity to participate in one of the other workshops. If you decide not to attend an alternative workshop, we will refund you in full for the cancelled workshop.

Travel and Accommodation

When should I arrive? When booking your flight, please note that you will need to arrive at least one day before the start of the workshop to check into your accommodation.

Are flights and accommodation included in the participation fee? No, this should be organised and paid for by the participant.

Where will I sleep? For the first week, which takes place in San Jose, there are a number of relatively affordable options available including hostels, Airbnbs, and small hotels. We will provide participants with a list of options; it is up to the individual to find and book accommodation.

For the second week of CIID Summer School Costa Rica, accommodation has been arranged in cooperation with the Organization for Tropical Studies for an additional fee. Participants can select among various room options at La Selva Research Station, where this week will take place. Find more information here.

Can I share accommodation? This is up to the individual—we will set up a closed Summer School Facebook group for participants to get to know each other before their arrival. Room/apartment sharing can be discussed on there. Groups of people have shared in the past by means of one person taking the initiative to book a large apartment through Airbnb or similar websites. This is a great (and often more cost-effective) option.

Terms and Conditions

a) Disclaimer

I certify that the information concerning my educational, professional or personal background herein, is true and correct. Pursuant to the laws and regulations mentioned above (herein, the “Legislation” ) and in connection with your personal data that our Institute intends to review and store (herein, to “Use” ), we wish to let you know the following:

b) Use of your data

  1. The Use by the Institute of your personal data may include electronic means or other technology and may involve one or more operations permitted by the Legislation.
  2. Providing personal data is not mandatory, with a limited exception for those data that shall be supplied pursuant to laws and regulations other than the Legislation, including, by way of mere exemplification, the laws against money laundering.
  3. Your personal data will not be communicated to any third parties outside the Institute, with limited exception (if any) for certain Public Agencies (e.g. Agencies for Social Security) as provided by law.
  4. Your personal data shall therefore not be divulged to any individual or entities.
  5. The Legislation vests you with specific rights in relation to your personal data, such as those of requesting the Institute to confirm the existence of your personal data, to communicate them to you, to know their origin, to be informed on the criteria and goals on the basis of which the data are being used and/or kept, to request their cancelation, to immediately restrict the illegal use of any data, to update, modify, amend or supplement them anytime, to object to their use, based on legitimate reasons.
  6. Having acknowledged my rights under the Legislation, hereby, I expressly authorise the Institute to use any personal data that I will supply to it.

c) Enrolment

  1. Neither flights nor accommodation are included in the fee.
  2. We cannot offer a fee reduction to those who miss days for any reason, including illness.
  3. You are required to have fluency in English.
  4. This is not an accredited course. A Certificate of Attendance will be provided at the end of your workshop.
  5. You are required to obtain a visa if you need it for the Summer School country.

d) Insurance

  1. Participants are not insured by CIID, the venue, or our partners. Please makes sure you have travel insurance and all other relevant insurances. This is important given that you could be using the woodshop and other machinery.

e) Cancelation policy

  1. You have the right of withdrawal secured by the European laws governing web purchases. This gives you the right to withdraw your enrolment within 14 days of your payment and get a full refund, no questions asked.
  2. CIID will not refund workshops if you choose to cancel later than the 14 days mentioned above.
  3. In the unlikely event that any of your workshops are cancelled, we will offer you the opportunity to participate in one of the other workshops. If you decide not to attend an alternative workshop, we will refund you in full for the cancelled workshop.