You might be surprised to learn that tuition and housing on a BU Study Abroad program are generally comparable to on-campus costs for many students, and you can also apply most of your financial aid to any fall or spring program. In addition, there are a number of grants and scholarships available for the fall, spring and summer, specifically for studying abroad.
FEDERAL & INSTITUTIONAL FINANCIAL AID
BU Students
Many students use federal student aid and BU financial aid to fund part of their educational expenses. Most of your financial aid, with the exception of Federal Work-Study, may also be applied toward funding a study abroad program offered through BU during the fall and spring terms. See Study Abroad Grants & Scholarships for summer term information. If you currently receive financial aid, you should seek information and apply as you normally do, through the BU Office of Financial Assistance.
Flight Loan
BU Study Abroad offers students the option to have the flight for their program charged to their BU Student Account. Rather than paying up front, out of pocket, this loan allows students additional time to pay for the flight and for financial aid to potentially cover the cost of the flight, if applicable. This is not a scholarship.
Please keep in mind, most students do not receive financial aid for the summer term. Information on eligibility for financial aid during the summer can be found on the BU Financial Assistance website.
Students will work with BU Study Abroad’s travel agency, Advantage Travel, to book travel to and from their program. Students are responsible for the cost of the full itinerary booked through Advantage Travel, including connecting flights. To receive a flight loan, students must book all flights through Advantage Travel. Once our office receives an invoice from Advantage Travel, we will apply the total cost of travel to the student’s BU Student Account and let you know when the charge has been posted.
If you would like to receive a flight loan for your term abroad, please contact your Program Manager.
Visa Loan
BU Study Abroad also offers students the option to have the cost of a visa required for the program charged to their BU Student Account, depending on the program. This loan allows students additional time to pay for the visa and for financial aid to potentially cover the cost of the visa if applicable, rather than pay up front out of pocket. The loan can include the costs of shipping and expediting the visa. Students are responsible for the full cost of the visa, including the cost of shipping and expedition.
If you would like to receive a visa fee loan for your term abroad, please contact your Program Manager.
Visiting Students
We encourage all students to continue working with their study abroad office and their college’s financial aid office when planning for their participation in a BU Study Abroad program.
Non-Boston University students wishing to use their federal aid toward a Boston University study abroad program should contact the financial aid office of their home institution. If your institution chooses not to process your federal financial aid, Boston University can process a Federal Direct Stafford student loan, PLUS (parent) loan, and Pell Grant for eligible students, provided that your home institution completes a Boston University Consortium Agreement.
All financial aid inquiries and materials for study abroad participants should be submitted to Boston University Study Abroad. If you plan to apply for federal loans through Boston University, please contact us for instructions and forms at 617-353-9888, or by email at abroad@bu.edu.
STUDY ABROAD GRANTS & SCHOLARSHIPS
In addition to financial aid there are numerous scholarships and grant programs available to BU and visiting students through BU, nonprofits, governments and private companies.
Learn More
STUDENT ACCOUNTS
BU Students
Invoices for study abroad costs are issued by Boston University Student Accounting Services and reflect the program fee in the form of two charges, a “Program Tuition” charge and a “Study Abroad Program Fee.” The invoice may reflect other account adjustments, such as a medical insurance charge and/or waiver.
Student Accounting Services sends an e-bill invoice for applicable charges to the student directly. Billing occurs in July for fall programs, in late November for spring programs, and in May for summer programs.
Boston University students follow their normal schedule and procedures for billing and account settlement.
Visiting Students
Invoices are issued by Boston University Student Accounting Services and reflect the program fee in the form of two charges, a “Program Tuition” charge and a “Study Abroad Program Fee.” The invoice may reflect other account adjustments, such as a medical insurance charge and/or waiver.
You are expected to settle your student account in full by early August for fall programs, mid-January for spring programs, and early May for summer programs. A specific settlement date is provided on the e-bill. Official documentation of pending loans, grants, etc., may be submitted toward account settlement.
Certain colleges request special billing arrangements in which their students make payments to the home institution, which in turn pays some or all the Boston University Study Abroad fees directly. You should check with your home institution study abroad office or financial aid office to determine whether a special billing arrangement applies.
BUDGETING
It is smart to plan a budget in advance of program departure. You may find our budget worksheet to be a helpful planning tool. You should plan to bring money to cover personal expenses and any other costs not included in the program fee. Expenses will vary depending on the currency exchange rate and how much traveling, shopping, and dining out you plan to do.
PROGRAM WITHDRAWAL
It is important that you familiarize yourself with the Boston University Study Abroad Policy on Refunds.
Students who decide to withdraw from a program after confirming their acceptance must notify Boston University Study Abroad in writing immediately. (This includes students who decide to withdraw before the program start date.) Any adjustment of charges will be made in accordance with the Boston University Study Abroad Policy on Refunds. The program deposit is nonrefundable.
For personal or academic reasons, a student may decide to withdraw from the program after the term has started. If the student expresses a desire to return home, we urge them to get in touch with on-site staff. Difficulties in cultural adjustment often can be resolved without resorting to returning to the US. Although withdrawal may be, in rare cases, the best alternative for a student, the student should carefully consider all aspects of the situation (personal, academic, and financial) before deciding to return home.
For Boston University students, withdrawal from a program does not constitute withdrawal from Boston University. Boston University students who wish to withdraw from the University or take a Leave of Absence must make arrangements through the University Service Center in addition to withdrawing from the program.
