FIELD Global Capstone (CAP) is a semester-long course offered in the Required Curriculum (RC) Year that requires students to build on what they’ve learned so far and apply it to real-world business problems. Students are paired with a Global Partner (GP) company with a product or service challenge for students to address. The course culminates in a one-week immersion at the company’s location during which students meet with their GP and local consumers. The following course policies pertain to both the on-campus sessions and the off-campus immersion components of the FIELD Global Capstone.
Academic Policy
As with any required academic course, students are expected to adhere to all HBS Academic Policies for the duration of the course. Students will also be asked to sign a Team Agreement with their assigned Global Partner organization. The agreement is designed to facilitate the educational objectives of the course, by giving the Global Partner reasonable assurances (about confidentiality, for example) that will encourage its full and open engagement with the student team, while also protecting the student team’s interests.
Attendance Policy
On-Campus/Boston Sessions
The Attendance Policy applies for the duration of the on-campus/Boston sessions of the FIELD Global Capstone course, and students are required to participate fully in all scheduled course activities. Attendance will be taken, and students are required to report all of their absences in advance of class into the Student Absence Notification Tool. Due to the interactive format of the course, remote participation ordinarily is not possible for most FIELD Global Capstone sessions. Very limited exceptions may be made by the Registrar's Office. It is important to note that FIELD Global Capstone class days are not eligible for excused recruiting absences, and all recruiting absences on these days will be unexcused. Unexcused absences during the course will be reviewed for grading implications and/or other disciplinary action. For outstanding questions regarding absences for on-campus sessions, please contact the Registrar's Office.
On-Location
While on location, students are required to participate fully in all scheduled immersion activities (in both the designated mode and content). Remote participation, including while on location, is not possible. Late arrivals and early departures from the immersion are considered unexcused absences and are in violation of the Attendance Policy. Before the immersion begins, if a student anticipates needing to arrive late, leave early, or otherwise identifies a conflict that would cause them to be absent from any portion of the on-location immersion, they should contact geo@hbs.edu as soon as possible to discuss their situation. In some cases, a petition to the Chair, MBA Required Curriculum may be required. During the immersion, students should contact their Program Manager directly and not use the Student Absence Notification Tool to report that they will need to be absent from a session.
Participation
Due to the condensed format and teamwork required in FIELD Global Capstone, unexcused absences from the on-campus course sessions or immersion programming may significantly impact a student’s grade. Additionally, as absences significantly impact the ability of the team to function effectively, they may also be reflected in peer feedback which is an important component of the course grade.
Circumstances Limiting Travel
This program is designed for HBS students only. There may be personal, health, or other circumstances that limit a student's ability to travel, and for those students, the Boston Global Section has been established to allow for successful completion of the FIELD Global Capstone course requirements.
Community Values and Standards
All HBS policies, including but not limited to the HBS Community Values and MBA Honor Code, apply during the FIELD Global Capstone course, both on campus and on location. Students are also expected to abide by the following:
Timeliness
Students are expected to arrive punctually and participate in person until the end of all scheduled events.
Dress Code
Students are responsible for packing attire that is appropriate for the weather and respectful of cultural norms in the FIELD Global Capstone location. Students are responsible for confirming dress codes directly with their Global Partner in advance of meetings. GEO will provide a detailed itinerary for the immersion, which will include dress code recommendations for other scheduled group activities (e.g., site visits, cultural activities).
External Participants
Friends, family (including partners and children), and/or colleagues who may be visiting or residing in the FIELD Global Capstone city may not participate in course activities (e.g., Global Section sessions, field work, cultural activities, meals, etc.) nor may they stay in GEO-provided accommodations, whether a student has been assigned a single room or has requested a single supplement.
Disability Support & Accommodation
Accessibility standards vary worldwide, and advance planning is beneficial in promoting a positive experience, as well as safe and effective participation during the immersion. It is important that a student be forthcoming with the Global Experience Office about specific needs or limitations and seek guidance in selecting an experiential location aligned with the personal challenges they may face while traveling. A student with concerns about their ability to travel, or the Global Experience Office’s ability to accommodate their needs while in-country, should contact the Global Experience Office (geo@hbs.edu). Depending on the personal situation, the student may also want to consult with a health care provider. Topics for consideration include, but are not limited to, personal health (disability, mental health, physical limitations) and family health (care of a spouse/dependent, family member illness). Note that even with advance planning, a student should anticipate and be prepared to address unforeseen accessibility conditions throughout the immersion. To this end, on a case-by-case basis, the Global Experience Office reserves the right to modify the course or deny a student’s choice of location(s) for coursework participation, whichever is the least-restrictive reasonable alternative.
Drug & Alcohol Policy
The HBS Drug & Alcohol Policy states expectations for responsible alcohol use and applies during the FIELD Global Capstone course. Students are expected to behave responsibly regardless of proximity to the HBS campus or classroom. As ambassadors of HBS, students should also consider both local laws and cultural norms when determining what constitutes responsible alcohol use in the FIELD Global Capstone city.
Health & Safety (International locations only)
Students will be automatically enrolled in International SOS once their travel has been registered in MyTrips, Harvard University’s travel registry. International SOS offers general medical and safety travel advice. It can also provide emergency medical assistance and evacuation services if warranted as well as lost document assistance. This service is a supplement to, not a substitute for, health insurance. Therefore, a student may incur personal charges in the event a third party is engaged for medical assistance services via International SOS. Students are responsible for confirming the details of their personal international health insurance coverage, which includes verifying the details of benefits, the claims submission process, and potential out-of-pocket costs while traveling.
Photography/Videography Policy
During FIELD Global Capstone, students, faculty, and Program Managers often take pictures or recordings featuring elements of the immersion and submit images to the Global Experience Office. Unless a student clearly specifies to the photographer/videographer that they do not want their name, voice, and/or likeness used, they will be deemed to have granted permission to the MBA Program to repurpose content in internal and external publications related to FIELD Global Capstone.
Global Experience Office Travel Policies
Travel Dates
Detailed arrival and departure information will be shared when the course begins. All students must arrive and be ready to participate in the first mandatory session.
Flights
The Global Experience Office covers the cost of a round-trip, economy class ticket between Boston and the student's FIELD Global Capstone city, which the student will book independently through a portal developed specifically for FIELD Global Capstone by the flights provider. The allowance amount in the portal is intended to cover the cost of one economy class round-trip ticket (Boston to and from the immersion city, aligned with program dates), taxes and booking fees. A student does not have to return to Boston. Note that including a personal travel segment or booking individual one-way tickets may exceed the allowance. Any overage amount will be charged to the student's term bill at a later date.
Every booking made within this portal must include the student's immersion city airport as the destination or the origin. Students will not be permitted to book any ticket that does not include this airport. If an immersion city has a major secondary airport, a student may choose to book their arrival and/or departure flight using that airport. However, airport transfers are only provided between the immersion city's primary airport and hotel. GEO cannot reimburse for travel or related costs (luggage, seat selection, etc.) booked outside the flights portal. Students must research and obtain (at their cost) any required transit visas based on their selected flight routing.
Airport Transfers
The Global Experience Office will arrange airport transfers between the immersion city's primary airport and the immersion hotel. Information on transfers will be shared at the pre-departure session weeks in advance of the FIELD Global Capstone travel. If a student chooses not to take the GEO-provided transfers, they will be responsible for booking and paying for their own transportation between the airport and the hotel.
Visa Considerations
Some non-U.S. citizens may encounter delays or challenges securing a visa for certain FIELD Global Capstone countries due to more complex application procedures, additional consular scrutiny, or documentation requirements. The application process varies significantly depending on the passport holder and immersion location, and therefore the ability for the Global Experience Office and its contracted visa provider to operationally support and provide insight for individual students is limited. Certain countries require travelers of specific nationalities to apply directly (direct submission) to a consulate, embassy, or third-party visa services company (e.g., VFS Global) to process their visa application. In certain cases, a country may require the applicant to complete the additional step of appearing in person at the consulate to submit the visa application rather than submitting it by mail or online for an eVisa. In such cases, neither GEO nor its contracted visa provider is able to assist or intervene on a student's behalf. The personal appearance requirement (PAR) may involve weekday travel to the visa processing facility for a face-to-face interview, biometrics screening, or in-person application. If a student chooses to consider a direct submission or PAR location and is placed there for the immersion: GEO will reimburse the cost of the visa application itself but the student will be fully responsible for all other related costs; HBS will provide standard supporting documents, but cannot intervene on the student’s behalf should they encounter issues obtaining their visa; if the student misses class due to the visa application process, it will be an unexcused absence; and the student is responsible for researching all visa-related requirements pertaining to their particular circumstance(s). If a student’s visa application is denied or is not issued in time for travel, the student will be re-assigned to the Boston Global Section.
Hotels
Students are required to stay in the GEO-provided accommodations with the rest of their Global Section for the duration of the immersion. Family (including partners and children) and friends may not stay with students even if the student is occupying a single room.
Insurance (Health)
Students are responsible for confirming the details of their personal health insurance coverage, which includes verifying the details of benefits, the claims submission process, and potential out-of-pocket costs while traveling.
Insurance (Travel)
Purchasing travel insurance is encouraged, as GEO is not able to assist in the event of flight delays or cancellations due to extreme weather or other extenuating circumstances. Students are responsible for all costs associated with flight changes or rebooking and must make a reasonable effort to arrive on time to the immersion. Reimbursement for lost or damaged luggage/personal items will not be covered as part of a student's flight allowance. The Global Experience Office provides more information on travel insurance recommendations on myHBS.
Phone Policy
Students participating in FIELD Global Capstone must activate a global plan (voice, data and text) with their mobile carrier for their personal devices and confirm that their phone number in MBA Classcards is accurate. GEO requires reliable contact information before students travel to ensure continuity of communications. In the event of an emergency, the school will communicate via voice, text and email. GEO will not reimburse students for this cost. Students with concerns should reach out to the Global Experience Office (geo@hbs.edu).
Travel During the Immersion
Free time will be very limited during the immersion, and personal travel that involves leaving the country, a flight, or staying overnight in alternate accommodations is not permitted. Where safety is of heightened concern, students will be asked not to leave the immersion city or to avoid specific locations within the city and/or country.
Financial Responsibility
The cost of flights, arrival airport transfers, visas, double-occupancy hotel rooms, and some meals are covered by GEO during the immersion. Students should expect to pay out-of-pocket for most meals, a single-occupancy room (if preferred), an international mobile voice/data/text plan, and incidentals throughout the immersion. The MBA Program Cost of Attendance includes the dates of the immersion in the "Living Expenses" line-item calculation.