FINANCES

Program Pricing Guides

Billing, Fees, and Expenses

Program fees: For full semesters, the program fee is $8,250. Semester program fees include airfare, local and international group excursions, overseas medical insurance, some meals, and other student support services. Summer fees in hub site locations are $6,700. This includes airfare, local group excursions, overseas medical insurance, and housing. Costs vary for non-hub site locations. Your account will be charged at the same time as regular tuition billing for that semester. Fall charges are usually posted the first week of June, spring charges are posted the first week of December, and summer charges are posted in the first week of May.

Deviation fees: Any student wishing to stay abroad after the scheduled return date may do so for a deviation fee. For more information, please see the Flight Information section of our website.

Personal expenses: You will incur additional expenses for personal travel, souvenirs, toiletries, laundry, or local events. Based on our student feedback, most spend between $2,000 and $4,000 on personal expenses. Depending on students’ independent travel habits, some spend more.

How billing operates: All billing is charged to student accounts as any other semester. Block tuition is still in effect, your financial aid/scholarships are applied the same way, and payment plans can be selected. We encourage all students and their parents to discuss financial planning with your financial counselor.

Scholarships

There are a number of different ways that a student can receive funding for study abroad through scholarship opportunities.

  1. Study Abroad Scholarships: Study Abroad is sometimes awarded special scholarship funds to offer through generous donors who believe in the power of international education. For academic year 2024-2025, Study Abroad will award a minimum of $15,000 to students which may be apportioned based on students’ needs. To apply for a Study Abroad scholarship, click the “Apply for Scholarships” button below.

  2. Special Student Positions: ACU offers special scholarships for semester student RAs who receive $4,500 for their unique peer leadership role and responsibilities. For more information about this position, please see the “Student Employment” section of our website.

  3. Presidential or LYNAY Scholarship: If you are a Presidential Scholar or a member of LYNAY, ACU automatically gives you a financial voucher for a study abroad program (the amount depends on your classification and program). Please keep in mind that these two vouchers do not stack. Be sure to contact your financial aid counselor for specific information.

  4. Honors College: If you are a part of the Honors College, you can apply for a Travel Grant. Refer to the Honors College Canvas page for more information on how to apply for this scholarship.

  5. Departmental Scholarships: Some departments offer scholarships for studying abroad. Check with your department chair to talk about what options might be available.

  6. Outside Scholarships: We encourage you to apply for scholarships outside of ACU. A PDF guide to ACU and third-party study abroad scholarships can be found below. There are scholarships, such as the Gilman, that are specifically for studying abroad, but any additional scholarship can go toward your program fee. We also advise you to talk to your financial counselor, who is an excellent resource for researching and applying for scholarships.

Insurance

All students are provided a global health insurance policy through Geoblue. For information about the policy, terms of coverage, and helpful mobile applications, please see the Emergency and Medical section of our website.

Common Finance FAQs

When is the last day to withdraw without being charged the program fee? The final withdrawal day without being charged the program fee is 120 days before departure. Please see our Withdrawal Ineligibility Policy for more details. Please note that the application fee is non-refundable.

How will I access money overseas? You will use an ATM card to access money. We recommend having two cards in case one is destroyed or lost. Mobile payment options are also becoming increasingly more supported across European countries, which can serve as an additional backup card if needed. Please be aware that your bank will often charge an additional "International Transaction Fee" for using your credit card abroad. These fees vary from card provider to provider, so we recommend exploring your financial options and finding a bank with low or no international fees.

How will I exchange money overseas? Please do not bring cash to exchange due to the poor cash exchange rates abroad. Instead, if you need cash, we encourage you to withdraw currency locally through local ATMs once you arrive at your program site.

How does my ACU meal plan work at the ACU Study Abroad sites? For all semester programs, your meal plan charge acts as a deposit, and you will receive your meal plan money reimbursed in four (4) installments throughout the semester. You can use this money to buy groceries or eat at restaurants. Meals funds not included at any of our locations during summer programs, so please plan to provide your own meals.