Your deposit is in. Your spot is secured. That part is done.

Now comes the stretch that most students underestimate, not because it’s hard, but because there’s more to it than waiting for January. The two months between enrollment and departure are when the trip actually gets built: the financial side gets settled, the optional opportunities get decided on, and the preparation that makes free time actually feel free gets done.

Here is everything you need to do between now and boarding.

1. Sort out your remaining balance

Your deposit held your spot. The remaining balance is what gets you on the plane.

GLO offers a payment plan that lets you spread the remaining program cost across installments rather than paying the full amount at once. If you haven’t already set that up, now is the time to do it, before the remaining balance is due and before the December rush makes everything feel more urgent than it needs to be.

A few things worth knowing about this:

The program fee covers accommodation in 4-star hotels throughout the program, group meals, every company visit and cultural excursion, and faculty leadership from departure to return. Flights are separate and are your responsibility to book. The earlier you book your flights after confirming your enrollment, the better — January is peak travel season in both directions, and prices reflect that.

If you have questions about your specific payment schedule or remaining balance, contact the GLO enrollment team directly. They have the details for your program and can walk you through your exact timeline.

2. Apply for the Digital Ambassador Fellowship, rolling applications are still open

If you haven’t applied for the Digital Ambassador Fellowship yet, you still can. Applications are rolling, which means the window is still open, but it won’t stay open indefinitely.

Here is how the fellowship works: you document your experience through short-form content during the program: photos, short videos, written posts — and the fellowship pays out upon completion. No prior content creation experience is required. You don’t need a following, a portfolio, or specific equipment. You need a phone and a willingness to share what the experience actually looks like from the inside.

The practical upside beyond the content itself: the fellowship payment offsets the program cost after the fact. It’s not upfront funding, but it’s real money that comes back to you once you’ve returned, and it’s available to students who are already enrolled.

If you also applied for the Founders Scholarship, the fellowship is entirely separate. You can hold both.

Apply through the GLO scholarships page.

3. Start planning your free time, but don’t stress it yet

Every GLO program has a structured itinerary: company visits, seminars, cultural excursions, meals together. That structure is what makes the program what it is. But there is also real free time built into every program, and that time is yours to use however you want.

The honest advice here is to start thinking about it now rather than arriving without a plan and losing a free afternoon to indecision. You don’t need an hour-by-hour itinerary. You need a short list of two or three things you genuinely want to do: one thing you’d be disappointed to miss, one thing that’s spontaneous and low-effort, one meal you want to find on your own.

A GLO free time guide for each destination is in development and will be available before departure. In the meantime, a few starting points:

For London: The city rewards students who get off the main tourist track. Brick Lane and the East End vintage markets, the Tate Modern on a weekday morning before the crowds, Borough Market on a Saturday. Read out guide on Vintage Shops and Thrift Stores in London.

For Paris: The covered passages (Galerie Vivienne, Passage des Panoramas) are the version of Paris that most tourists never find. Cheaper than the obvious places and genuinely beautiful. The Marais is the neighbourhood for wandering with no agenda.

For The Hague: Smaller than Amsterdam and far less crowded. The Mauritshuis museum, home to Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, takes two hours and is one of the best small museums in Europe. The beach at Scheveningen is a twenty-minute tram ride from the city centre.

For Cape Town and Pretoria: January is peak summer in South Africa. Cape Town specifically is one of the most visually striking cities in the world, and the free time possibilities are genuinely wide: Table Mountain, Boulders Beach for the penguins, the V&A Waterfront, the Winelands an hour out of the city. Pretoria has a different character: more political history, more administrative, a different pace. The Voortrekker Monument and the Union Buildings are the two landmarks worth understanding before you arrive.

4. Pack for the right weather, not just for the flight

This is the section most students leave too late. A few weeks before departure is not the time to realise you own nothing appropriate for a January boardroom in London or a summer company visit in Cape Town.

If you’re going to London, Paris, or The Hague in January:

January in northern Europe is cold. London typically runs between 3°C and 9°C. Paris is similar. The Hague can be colder and windier given the proximity to the coast. Rain is reliable and constant across all three cities.

What this means practically:

You need a real winter coat — not a fashion jacket, a coat that actually keeps you warm in 4°C rain. You need layers underneath it. You need waterproof shoes or boots that can handle wet pavements while still being appropriate for a business environment. Ankle boots with a low heel, leather or leather-look sneakers in good condition, or clean smart shoes with thick soles all work. Flat trainers in poor condition do not.

Company visits require business casual at minimum. That means: no jeans (unless very dark and paired deliberately), no hoodies, no sports shoes. Think smart trousers or tailored pants, a blouse or shirt, a blazer or structured jacket. You don’t need to buy new clothes — you need to look intentional. A well-fitting outfit you already own is better than something hastily purchased.

Pack for the temperature differential between outside and inside. European buildings and meeting rooms are reliably warm. Layering — a good base layer, a mid-layer, a coat — is more practical than one very heavy item you can’t remove.

If you’re going to Cape Town and Pretoria in January:

January is summer in South Africa. Cape Town averages around 26°C to 30°C. Pretoria can be hotter and more humid. You are not packing for winter, you are packing for a warm business trip.

Company visits still require business casual. In a warm climate, that means breathable fabrics: linen, light cotton, lightweight trousers or a midi skirt. Avoid anything synthetic that won’t breathe. A light blazer or structured cardigan covers the transition between outdoor heat and air-conditioned meeting rooms, which can be cold.

Sunscreen is not optional. Sun protection in South Africa is serious — UV levels in January are significantly higher than most students from the northern hemisphere are used to. Pack SPF 50 and a hat for outdoor activities.

For free time: casual summer clothes, comfortable walking shoes, one dressier outfit for an evening out. If you’re planning any hikes or outdoor excursions, proper footwear matters more than fashion.

For the full GLO packing guide with a complete list, see: Study Abroad Essentials: Packing List.

5. Do the practical pre-departure admin

None of this is exciting, but all of it matters:

Check your passport expiry date. Most countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates. January programs mean your passport should be valid through at least July 2027. Check now, not in December.

Notify your bank. Let your bank or card provider know your travel dates and destinations before you leave. A blocked card in a foreign country is a solvable problem that becomes a genuinely stressful one when you’re standing at a checkout.

Sort out your phone plan. Most US carriers offer international add-ons that activate for travel days. Check what your carrier offers, activate it before you leave, and know what your data limits are. GLO accommodation has WiFi throughout, but you’ll want data for navigation during free time.

Download what you’ll need offline. Google Maps allows offline map downloads for specific cities. Download them before you fly. International data is more expensive than most students expect, and offline maps save both money and stress.

Share your itinerary with someone at home. A parent, a roommate, a friend — give someone your flight details, your accommodation address, and the GLO emergency contact. This is basic travel safety and takes five minutes.

Frequently asked questions

The hardest part is done. Everything from here is logistics and anticipation, and the logistics are manageable if you start them now rather than in December.