Budgeting for a Study Abroad Program
Budgeting for a Semester Program
- Students continue to pay tuition to CWRU, and CWRU pays the student’s tuition to the study abroad program on their behalf. All aid, including academic scholarships, state grants, need-based funding, and outside assistance, is still applied toward CWRU’s tuition charge.
- Students are responsible for paying room, board, and any additional fees to the directly to their overseas institution or program provider; students will not pay room or board to CWRU during the term(s) spent abroad. Remember to cancel CWRU housing and meal plans for the term in which you will be studying abroad.
- It is very important to budget appropriately for study abroad. While there are many free budget spreadsheets available online, the Office of Education Abroad (OEA) prefers this Google sheet.
- Be sure to look at the Costs/Scholarships section of your program on Terra Dotta. The section provides a sample budget for your semester program, including costs for housing, meals, books, passport, visa, airfare, local transportation and miscellaneous spending. The sample budget will give you a good idea of how much to budget for, but everyone's needs are different.
Budgeting for Short-Term Faculty-Led Programs
- Students register for the study abroad course at CWRU, and pay tuition and a program fee to CWRU. Program fees and the items they cover vary by program.
- Federal financial aid can be used for tuition, program fees, and other course-related expenses.
- Students are responsible for paying any additional expenses themselves (travel, souvenirs, etc.).
- It is very important to budget appropriately for study abroad. While there are many free budget spreadsheets available online, the Office of Education Abroad (OEA) prefers this Google sheet.
Budgeting for a Summer Program
Summer study abroad is directly enrolling in summer courses at any of Case Western Reserve University's partner institutions.
- Register for at least one course at an overseas institution and transfer it back to Case Western Reserve.
- Students pay tuition, room and board, and fees to the overseas institution.
- It is very important to budget appropriately for study abroad. While there are many free budget spreadsheets available online, the Office of Education Abroad (OEA) prefers this Google sheet.
- Be sure to look at the Costs/Scholarships section of your program on Terra Dotta. The section provides a sample budget for your summer program, including costs for tuition, housing, meals, books, passport, visa, airfare, local transportation and miscellaneous spending. The sample budget will give you a good idea of how much to budget for, but everyone's needs are different.
Money Matters
The Office of Education Abroad has a few quick tips we have for financial security.
- Call bank(s) and credit card companies before departing.
- Find out what their international transaction fees are and if they have student accounts for international travel
- Have phone numbers and account numbers for banks/credit cards somewhere safe (i.e. not with the cards!)
- Carry some U.S. currency in case of emergency
- Obtain some foreign currency before departing, if possible
- Traveler’s checks are NOT recommended. Many retailers overseas no longer accept them.
How to Find Funding
- Additional need may be met with Parent PLUS or private loans for undergraduate students and Graduate PLUS loans for graduate/professional students.
- For questions on federal financial aid, contact Nancy Issa.
- Remember, there are many scholarships available too! Talk to your study abroad advisor about them - they can help you choose specific scholarships tailored to your region, program, and identity.