Study Abroad

How much do study abroad programs cost?

The cost of a study abroad program varies depending on many factors.

• Location: Your destination will greatly impact your overall cost. Major international cities like London and Sydney have a very high cost of living. The cost of living in a bigger city (like Madrid) is higher than in a smaller city (such as Granada, Spain). Here are some rough numbers on semester-long costs including living expenses and airfare:

Note: these numbers are estimates only. Many students pay significantly less through scholarships and other assistance.

• Airfare: Getting to your destination will impact your budget. e.g., it is more expensive to fly to Australia than western Europe.
• Currency Exchange Rate: The exchange rate influences how far your U.S. dollars will go while you are abroad. See an online currency converter to find the current currency conversion rate for countries you are considering.
• Duration: The length of the program will impact the cost. Semester programs may appear more expensive than summer programs, but financial aid and SIUE scholarships apply, often making semester programs the better option.  And, the longer the program, the less it costs per day, because fixed costs like airfare are spread over a longer period of time.
• Types of Program and SIUE Tuition

• • A) Students participating in SIUE faculty led short term programs and exchange programs also pay SIUE tuition. Through these two program types, there is no tuition paid to a foreign institution. There is a $75 Study Abroad Opportunities Fee for participation in these programs.
  • B) Students in an affiliate program or a direct enrollment program pay the tuition to the affiliate or to the host institution. These students are NOT assessed SIUE tuition; there is a $150 SIUE Study Abroad Opportunities Fee for participation in these programs.
  • When you compare the cost of Study Abroad to costs at SIUE, recognize that the tuition you pay abroad is money you would have paid at SIUE if you had not studied abroad.
• Living Options: Some housing options are less expensive, depending on the program. While not in every location or program, homestay options usually include meals. Some programs offer budget friendly meal plans; others a monthly meal stipend in the program fee to help students stay on budget while covering meal costs.
  
  
• Financial Aid: What financial aid is available for study abroad?
  
• Scholarships: What Scholarships are available for study abroad?

When do I need to pay the cost of study abroad programs?

Often money is due for passport fee, application fees, airfare, deposit, etc. several months before your program starts and before the release of financial aid or scholarships. CEA and AIFS programs as well as John Cabot University allow financial aid students to postpone final payment until after the SIUE disbursement date with proof of an accepted financial aid award.

Up-Front Costs for SIUE Faculty-Led Short-Term Programs

Program fees (covering airfare, housing, etc) for faculty-led Programs are usually spread out in payments in the term before the program, e.g. programs during the summer have payments due in spring semester. You cannot defer these payments until financial aid is released. Financial aid awards will first apply toward your SIUE bursar bill for tuition for the classes associated with your program (and any other outstanding charges you may have). Any remaining balance will be disbursed in the form of a check.

Academic /Financial Hold on your SIUE Account

Any outstanding holds on your SIUE account will delay your participation. The Study Abroad Office cannot register you for your term abroad until all holds are clear. To receive SIUE financial aid for approved study abroad, you must be registered at SIUE for the term abroad.

Who buys the airfare for my program?

• Faculty-led programs usually include airfare and airfare is purchased by the university.
• One affiliate, AIFS, offers an air package as an addition to their price. Students can opt to buy that air package or do their own arrangements. Either way, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure air arrangements are made for the program, arriving and departing on the correct dates.
• When shopping for an airline ticket, consult airfare websites, a travel agency or the airline. Sometimes student travel agencies like StudentUniverse.com can get special student-rate ticket prices. If you plan to fly to a different country and travel overland to your host country – before you buy the ticket – check with your study abroad provider to make sure this is permitted by your student visa. In most cases, your round-trip airline ticket is needed to prove that you are leaving the country at the end of your program.

Is insurance available for study abroad students?

• With several types of insurance, what a student chooses is an individual decision.
• Students on SIUE faculty-led programs are provided with basic health and evacuation coverage through Gallagher Student Services.
• Students on affiliate programs (AIFS, CEA, ISA, USAC) are provided with insurance through the program.
• Students on other programs should check whether their own health insurance will provide coverage in the foreign location.
• Students may also consider trip cancellation or trip delay insurance, or higher limits of health coverage. None of these is required, but are at the option of the student.

What happens to my SIUE housing when I go abroad?

If you will be studying abroad during spring or fall semester and live in SIUE housing, you must cancel your housing contract. On the Forms page of the Housing website, you will find the form required to cancel housing due to study abroad.