Costs Before You Go
- If you are studying abroad, budget and apply for a passport (first-time passports currently cost $130 plus $30 Execution Fee) and a student visa if required by the host country (costs vary by country from no fee to $500).
- Prepare for program commitment fees. For short-term study abroad programs, the current fee is $60; for Florence semesters, the cost is $200. These payments confirm that you will be participating in the program and are non-refundable.
- For CCI short-term study abroad programs, we will arrange payment plans to allow students to pay for the program over a period of time. These plans will be fully explained to you. The plans are phased to allow you to earn money between payments. But all payments must be made before a student departs for the host location.
- If you are arranging your own flights (for example, when you are studying abroad alone in an international immersion program), look for the best student rates using sites like Student Universe. You can also use Kayak to find favorable rates.
- If you are arranging your own housing (for example, if you are studying abroad alone in an international immersion program), be prepared to start early (you may not be able to get a visa until you have confirmed housing) and expect some up-front costs. Most universities post housing options on their websites, so that’s a good place to start. Be sure to ask about all costs and amenities. Some leasing companies require application fees or security deposits. Consider that you may need to purchase things like utensils, dishes, and linens. You may reduce your costs by having a roommate; most universities offer roommate referral services.
- While all Office of Global Education (OGE) study-abroad programs include international health insurance as part of the program fee, if you are studying abroad as part of a non-OGE program, check with your existing insurance covers international health insurance.
- Check with your bank or credit card company before you go abroad to be sure that you'll be able to use your U.S. debit or credit card in the host country. Be sure to explain if you will be traveling to more than one country while abroad. We recommend using a credit card and not your debit card while traveling out of the country.
- Notify your bank or credit card company about your upcoming international travel so that they won't assume someone is fraudulently using your card.
- As your travel date approaches, try hard to avoid excessive charges on your credit card and/or resolve all unpaid charges. You want to travel with the maximum credit limit available to you. If your credit card entitles you to a $2,500 card credit limit but you have $2,000 in unpaid charges, you’ll only leave yourself a $500 credit cushion for unexpected or emergency situations.
- A few days before you leave, go to your bank to convert U.S. dollars into the local currency of your host country. We recommend converting at least $200. This will be helpful if you have taxi or gratuity costs as soon as you arrive in your host country.
- Finally, talk to a student who has studied at the same/similar location to get a better understanding of local costs and budgeting advice. Don’t leave home without a basic budget for yourself!