Cost of Studying Abroad
Cost Estimates
Cost estimates are listed on each program's website. Estimates are based on information provided by the host university and by reports from past participants.
Billing Procedures
There are generally four billing stages:
Stage one: Program fee due with application
When your student submitted an application to study abroad, he or she also submitted the UW study abroad program fee of $350. If your child chooses to withdraw from the study abroad program, the fee is refundable prior to April 15th for students admitted in March and November 15th for students admitted in October. The fee is non-refundable after these dates. The only exception to this rule is that if a student applies to the School of Business and is not accepted, he or she will receive a refund of the program fee.
Stage two: Additional Fees Due to International Programs
Your child will receive an invoice for the mandatory CISI health insurance policy in March (summer and fall participants) or October (spring participants). Invoices for two programs will include additional charges: Coventry participants may also be charged the UW activity fee and Santiago participants will also be charged the UW language and orientation course fee.
When are these payments due?
Summer and Fall participants: Payment is due 15 April
Spring participants: Payment is due 15 November
Checks should be made payable to UW-Madison and delivered to:
International Programs
3121 Grainger Hall
975 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706
Stage three: Tuition Paid to UW's Bursar's Office
All participants will receive a bill from the Bursar's office at the beginning of the UW term they are abroad. Your child must make sure that his or her mailing and billing addresses are updated on MyUW. All bills must be paid on time, or your child will be assessed a late fee from the UW Bursar's office.
There are two types of study abroad programs, affiliated and exchange.
Dublin, London and five programs through the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) Seville are affiliated programs. Students who participate in an affiliated program will receive a bill of $0 from UW's Bursar's office, as they will be billed directly by the host university. Students on the London program will be billed by International Programs.
All other programs are exchange programs. Students who participate in an exchange program will be billed for 12 UW credits (semester) or 6-9 UW credits (summer). The tuition your child pays to UW will allow a student from his or her host university to study at UW. Conversely, that student will pay tuition at his or her university, which allows your child to study there. Hence, the term 'exchange program.'
Stage four: Additional Fees Due to the Host University
Many overseas universities require that your child pay additional fees, such as an activity or enrollment fee, housing fee, a fee for an enhanced orientation program, at some schools a local mandatory insurance, or (for students attending affiliated programs) tuition. If this is the case for your child's program, he or she can expect to receive a bill directly from the host university, along with payment procedures and a payment deadline.
Other costs
Your child will incur 'out-of-pocket' expenses before departing and while abroad. Your child will need to purchase airfare to arrive in the host country. Some destinations require a visa and accompanying fee. This is also his or her responsibility. Once overseas, he or she will need money for entertainment, personal items (like toiletries) and vacation travel. Just like in Madison, your child may need to buy groceries, pay rent, or purchase a bus/subway pass (some host universities include housing, meals and local transportation costs in their fees). Out-of-pocket costs are necessary to consider as part of the total costs of studying abroad.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is applicable to
all UW-Madison degree-seeking students on study abroad programs.
Students who already receive aid may qualify for additional funding to
offset the extra costs sometimes associated with study abroad expenses.
Additional aid often comes in the form of loans, although there are a small number of
need-based study abroad grants available annually.
Likewise, if the anticipated study abroad costs are less than the
on-campus budget, the aid package could be reduced.
Even students who have not received financial aid in the past may be eligible for a loan to help with additional study abroad expenses.
For more information, contact:
Heidi Johnson
Office of Student Financial Aid
333 East Campus Mall #9701
Phone: 608-262-3060,
E-mail:
heidi.johnson@finaid.wisc.edu
Disbursement of financial aid
The process for receiving financial aid remains the same as when students are on the UW-Madison campus. Financial aid funds will be electronically transferred to pay your child's tuition bill. Any surplus will be mailed to the mailing address your child has input into MyUW (this must be a U.S. mailing address). For students participating in programs with a UW tuition bill of $0 (Dublin, London and through CIEE), the full amount of aid will be mailed to your child as a refund check. That check may be used to pay the tuition due.
Your child should be sure to apply for a loan from a bank that will transfer financial aid electronically. If your child's financial aid is disbursed as a paper check, the Bursar's office will email him or her once the check is ready and will require your child to come to the Peterson Building to sign the financial aid check. If your child leaves the UW-Madison campus before financial aid is disbursed, he or she should make arrangements with a financial representative (e.g., a parent) to handle financial aid.
Scholarships
The School of Business awards some scholarships.
- A limited amount is available to students qualifying for a need-based scholarship. These scholarships are awarded as part of the student's financial aid package.
- Students on certain programs are eligible for a CIBER scholarship. These awards change annually.
Students who receive scholarships from other sources, such as the School of Business, private foundations or the Wisconsin Academic Excellence program, should still be eligible to receive them, as they are enrolled as UW students while abroad. Some, such as the WAEA require extra steps for the money to reach your studnet. Have him or her contact the International Programs office. Your child should contact the UW Registrar's office to obtain proof of enrollment.
Additional information about funding is available here. Contact civic organizations in your hometown; many such as Rotary or Lions clubs have awarded students scholarships in exchange for a talk or slide show upon return from studying abroad.
Accessing money abroad
We offer your students these tips on accessing and managing my money abroad:
- Know the currency in the country where you will participate. Arrive in the country with some of the currency to take a taxi or bus to your program site, buy food for the first few days, etc.
- Take some start-up and emergency money in a safe way, such as traveler's checks. Unfortunately, traveler's checks are difficult to cash abroad nad iin some countries only international banks will do it.
- Watch exchange rates while abroad and consider any impact fluctuations have on funds.
- Notify all banks and credit cards of your travel plans to avoid rejection and cancellation.
- Bring a major credit card for emergencies. Interest rates on credit cards are up to 10 times higher than the interest rate on student loans, so it may be better to take out a loan for estimated expenses rather than using a credit card to cover costs.
- Bring an ATM card to access your U.S. account(s) and set up online banking if possible. Contact your financial institution to make sure your Personal Identification Number (PIN) can be used internationally, and find out what the daily withdrawal limit is. Request that it be increased if you plan on withdrawing large sums of money to pay rent, for example.
- NEVER carry any PINs in a wallet or bag along with debit or credit cards. If pick-pocketed, your account can be drained of funds quickly.
- Get a phone or 'calling' card when overseas. Your family/parents may want to consider an international calling plan with their long-distance carrier if they plan on contacting you while you are abroad. All the major carriers offer such plans that can save hundreds of dollars off of regular international phone rates. Consider a SKYPE program for computer/phone communication.
Withdrawing from a program
Official cancellation or withdrawal from a program requires a written notification from the participant either by email, fax or post. Cancellation/withdrawal becomes effective on the date the withdrawal notice is received by International Programs, by email or postmark. Financial implications depend on the withdrawal notification date and expenses incurred by the program on your child's behalf.
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