Applying from abroad can be a pain, especially if you're trying to communicate with admissions offices, can anybody recommend something other than SKYPE?

Don't overlook email!

Many admissions offices have an email address posted on their website. A genuine and well-crafted email from a foreign student explaining that calling is difficult will be sure to get their attention.

Use email and faxing to help you through this. If this becomes a problem, and I can't see a reason it would, then find out what their toll free international phone numbers are!

a friend successfully applied and got accepted into the erasmus program through their website and correspondence through e-mails. important documents were still sent courtesy of a reliable courier, of course.