A Guide to Paying for
Study Abroad
CONTENTS 2
Introduction
3
Determining the Total Cost of Study Abroad What’s Included in Our Program Fees Dates of Service Expenses Not Included in the Program Fee IFSA-Butler Program Fees
Money Matters
IFSA-Butler Budget Resources Additional Expenses in Study Abroad Cost of Living 8
Using Financial Aid to Pay for Study Abroad Getting Started Meeting with your Financial Aid Advisor Financial Aid Details and Reminders
10 Making Payments Checks and Credit Cards Monthly Payment Option Deferred Payments Direct Billing Delinquent Payments Bills from Host Universities Refund Policy 12 Scholarships IFSA-Butler Scholarships Scholarship Application Deadlines Scholarships from Other Sources Crediting and Reporting Scholarships 14 Working Abroad 14 Additional Resources for Study Abroad Financial Aid 14 Quick Reference Contact IFSA-Butler Program Fee Deadlines TuitionPay Payment Deadlines 15 Budget Tips from Alumni 16 Financial Checklist
A Guide to Paying for
Study Abroad
Introduction The Institute for Study Abroad, Butler University (IFSA-Butler) believes that study abroad should be within the financial reach of every student. From financial aid to scholarships to special billing and funding opportunities, IFSA-Butler is committed to helping students and their parents understand all of their financial options for study abroad. This booklet includes valuable information about paying your IFSA-Butler fees, determining how much uch to budget for your country and program of choice, e, transferring financial aid for study abroad, and sources of scholarships and grants. Our finance office processes all payments and invoices, and our experienced staff are also available to help answer questions about financial aid,, scholarships and payment arrangements. You can n reach our finance office Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time. Thank you for choosing IFSA-Butler! We wish you an enriching experience abroad. Institute for Study Abroad, Butler University U.S. Office 800-858-0229
2
w w w.ifsa -b u t le r. o rg
Dates of Service In-country services are provided between the program start and end dates. Full-year programs are treated as two semesters, and services are not provided between semesters.
Expenses Not Included in Our Program Fees IFSA-Butler’s program fee does not include: • Tuition supplementals • Tuition overload fees • Meals (unless otherwise noted) • Housing supplemental fees • Passport, visa or entry clearance fees • International or domestic airfare • Textbooks and supplies • Personal expenses • Commuting costs • Vacation expenses • Housing between semesters, before the program starts or after the program ends
3
w w w.ifsa -b utl e r. o rg
24/7 emergency assistance
Academic support services
Pre-arrival support and planning
Medical insurance and assistance plan
IFSA-Butler excursions, events and activities
Transportation from orientation to host city
IFSA-Butler orientation upon arrival
IFSA-Butler’s program fees includes the following: • Tuition • Guaranteed housing • Utilities except for telephones • Meals for some programs (see chart at right) • Comprehensive medical insurance • Pre-arrival preparation • Personalized advising from an IFSA-Butler program advisor • Student visa assistance • Airport pickup for students who arrive within the stated arrival window • Orientation in host country • Welcome and farewell events • Special student co-curricular activities and events organized by our resident staff • Butler University transcript with grade and credit conversions
At least one meal per day
What’s Included in Our Program Fees
Guaranteed housing with host family
This section outlines what’s included in our program fees and will also help you determine other expenses associated with study abroad.
Program Fee Coverage by Country
Tuition
Determining the Total Cost of Study Abroad
Guaranteed dorm or apartment housing
COST OF STUDY ABROAD
ARGENTINA
AUSTRALIA
CHILE
CHINA
COSTA RICA
CUBA
CZECH REPUBLIC
ENGLAND
INDIA
IRELAND
ISRAEL
MEXICO
NEW ZEALAND
PERU
SCOTLAND
SPAIN
WALES
Indicates an IFSA-Butler service that does not apply to all programs within a country
A Note About Our Program Fees We quote our program fees in U.S. dollars to protect our students and their parents from fluctuations in the currency market. Our fees are set and are not affected by changes in exchange rates. We use forward contracts to balance out the exchange rate fluctuations and to protect our fees. Using forward contracts can result in an average exchange rate that may vary significantly from the daily rates quoted by the banks.
IFSA-Butler Program Fees
Additional Expenses in Study Abroad
Our program fees are clearly outlined on our website. You can view the fees for a program by going to the country page, selecting the program and clicking on the More Information link .
In addition to our program fee, students and their parents should consider some of the additional expenses associated with study abroad. This section outlines some of the costs you may incur before or during your time abroad. Note that these expenses may vary by program and courseload.
IFSA-Butler Budget Resources We attempt to provide accurate, overall cost projections for each country and program by gathering information from our resident offices, partner universities abroad and recent alumni. We share this information with our current applicants and their parents through the following resources: • Supplemental charge listings Some of our host universities abroad charge tuition differentials and/or supplemental housing fees, and these charges are outlined on the fee section of each program page our website. See page 5 for more information about these supplemental charges. • Personal cost estimates Each program page on our website features an estimate of the personal costs for that program and host city. Personal costs include meals, commuting costs, student visa, books and personal expenses such as toiletries, snacks, entertainment, personal travel, haircuts, course supplies, etc. Break downs of the personal costs estimates are available in the My Resources section of the student portal. • Budget planners The country budget planners are intended to provide an overall picture of a country’s cost of living and the cost for items such as food, public transportation and entertainment.
4
w w w.ifsa -b u t le r. o rg
Books and School Supplies Be sure to budget for these items. Your expenses may vary depending on the courses you take. Meals For some IFSA-Butler programs, the program fee includes meals. Remember that even those programs that include meals do not always cover three meals per day or take into account special dietary needs. Meal Plans in English-Speaking Programs Many residence halls abroad have mandatory meal plans. If you are assigned a room in a residence hall where meal plans are compulsory, we will send a supplemental housing cost bill to your designated billing address near the end of your time abroad. The program fee page on our website outlines the range of costs for each program’s mandatory meal plans, if any. Additional Insurance IFSA-Butler’s program fee includes a comprehensive medical insurance and assistance plan, but be sure to review the plan to determine whether you need additional insurance. In addition, we recommend securing travel and personal property insurance.
Home University Enrollment Fees Some U.S. universities charge a fee to keep students enrolled during study abroad. This fee can range from $500 to $2,500 or more. Check with your home college’s study abroad office to see if this applies to you.
If you enroll in a department that has a tuition differential, we will send an invoice to your billing address once you are abroad and your enrollment is confirmed. Be sure to investigate the possibility of a tuition differential, as this fee may be as high as $3,000 or more.
Host University Penalties and Deposits Some universities abroad have begun requiring large housing deposits or instituting very strict withdraw penalties. These policies vary by university but generally require students to pay a large penalty for dropping out of the program after a specified date.
Overload Fee Some universities abroad charge a fee for overloads (taking more than the required credit). These universities do not always tell IFSA-Butler about the overload fee in advance. If you plan to take an overload abroad, investigate the possibility of additional fees, as you are responsible for overload fees if they occur. The Student Handbook you will receive during orientation also discusses a full course load to help students avoid overloads and their related fees.
Although IFSA-Butler students pay their fees to us instead of to the universities abroad, IFSA-Butler is contractually responsible for any fees incurred on behalf of our students. Therefore, we are obligated to follow these universities’ refund policies and to pass penalties along to our students. These policies are outlined on our housing forms (in cases where penalties are tied to housing fees) and are also detailed in prearrival emails from our program advisors. Tuition Differential Fees All IFSA-Butler fees are based on an arts and humanities fee structure. Universities abroad often charge higher fees for courses in science, engineering, psychology, music and fine arts.
The tuition differential fee reflects the cost of equipment the university has to provide for certain degree programs. If you are admitted to a department that imposes a tuition differential fee, the university may charge you that fee even if you do not take any courses in that department.
5
4w w w.ifsa w w w.ifsa - be u e r. o rg -b utl-b r. tolle rg
Supplemental Housing Fees The housing portion of our program fee is based on the average cost of self-catered (no meal plan) accommodation, usually a shared room in a regular dormitory, apartment or house without any extra features.
Many housing providers abroad charge supplemental fees to students. These supplemental fees may cover any or all of the following: • Mandatory meal plans • Single rooms • Student activity fees • Linen rentals • Gown rental Supplemental housing bills will be sent to your billing address near the end of your time abroad.
Flights Domestic and international flights are not included in the IFSA-Butler program fee. IFSA-Butler partners with STA Travel to offer travel booking assistance for our students. There are several advantages to booking your flight reservations through STA:
• Work with an experienced travel agent • Lock in the price of your international ticket with a deposit and pay the rest later • Reduce or eliminate change fees with the option of a Multiflex Pass for flexible travel dates • Compare airfare prices between airlines so you book a ticket that works for your budget and travel time • International Student Identity Card (ISIC) is included Any program student who arrives on their program date within the published arrival window will be provided with ground transportation from the airport to IFSA-Butler orientation. Additional Flight Costs If you choose to book your own flights, carefully review your airline’s change fees and cancellation policies. If you have to change your flight date or route for any reason, you may be hit with fees and penalties costing hundreds of dollars. Passport Fees All of our programs require a passport for participation. If you need to apply for a new passport or renew an old one, check the U.S. State Department website for the latest requirements and fees. If you are not a U.S. citizen, check with your country’s embassy or passport granting authority. Visas and Exit Fees Some of our program countries require students to obtain a visa or entry clearance, or to pay an exit fee before departure. Some countries require a visa for all students, while in others only students undertaking internships or volunteer work must have a visa.
The visa application process and cost vary considerably from country to country, but fees can be as high as $600. Note that your visa requirements may be different if you are not a U.S. citizen. Commuting Costs Student housing may be located a considerable distance from classes. This is particularly true in large cities such as Buenos Aires, Dublin, London and Sydney. Commuting expenses may involve bus or subway tickets and/or passes, or a bicycle purchase or rental.
6
w w w.ifsa -b u t le r. o rg
Independent Housing Although IFSA-Butler guarantees and arranges housing for students on our programs, students studying in the U.K., Ireland, Spain, Australia and New Zealand may choose to arrange housing independently. If you choose to arrange your own housing, we will not charge you the housing component of your program fee. Students who choose independent housing must make all housing arrangements, including deposits, damage costs and payment of utilities.
Independent housing is not an option for students in Latin America, Middle East or Asia. On-Site Housing Fees Some universities require small out-of-pocket costs related to housing, such as key deposits. If required, students pay these fees directly to the host university or housing provider. Health and Wellness IFSA-Butler works to ensure that each student is able to accurately anticipate their health and wellness needs and the associated costs while abroad. As each program location varies in the amount and level of support available, we encourage you and your family to consider this when determining the most suitable program for you.
IFSA-Butler program advisors, and our health and safety team can work with each student to review our CISI insurance coverages, and any health and wellness related costs that may be incurred while abroad. Potential health and wellness costs may include the following: • Appointment fees when direct billing with a medical provider is not available. Most costs are reimbursable once a claim is submitted to the insurance company. • Treatment or medications considered “elective” or otherwise excluded from the insurance plan, such as birth control, hormone treatments and allergy shots, as well as treatment for congenital conditions. • Purchasing a full supply of current medication(s) before departure (highly recommended). • Visit to a family physician, specialist, mental health provider or travel doctor for recommended checkup. • Routine vaccinations and other destination-specific vaccinations recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov). • Supplemental insurance such as additional medical insurance, personal property insurance or travel insurance.
• Transportation to and from appointments while abroad. • Specific toiletry and feminine products (may be more expensive or unavailable depending on the location). • Some visa applications for certain countries may require a chest x-ray or physical examination performed by a pre-approved doctor that may or may not be in a nearby location. • Additional housing costs for single bedroom or apartment requests; and personal cooking utensils and cookware for students with food allergies. • Purchasing a mini-fridge for students who need to store food separately or refrigerate medications. • Shipment of large medical equipment. • Alternate meals for students with dietary or religious requirements. • Routine dental care. Visit the Health and Safety section of the IFSA-Butler website for more information.
Cost of Living Students and parents should note that large cities such as London, Dublin, Barcelona, Buenos Aires and Sydney have a high cost of living, much higher than most cities in the U.S. Choosing a less expensive host country or city may offer large savings.
7
w w w.ifsa -b utle r. o rg
FINANCIAL AID
Using Financial Aid to Pay for Study Abroad If you are already receiving financial aid to help pay for college, chances are that some or all of that aid can be transferred to an IFSA-Butler program abroad. In fact, more than 70 percent of our students use financial aid to pay for some portion of their IFSA-Butler program fees. Below are details about the process and legalities of using financial aid for study abroad. Getting Started Make a Financial Aid Appointment Make an appointment with your home college financial aid office as early as possible to discuss financial aid for study abroad. The office can help walk you through your home college’s policies and paperwork requirements. Your financial aid office can also explain the amount and types of aid that can be used for an IFSA-Butler study abroad program. See page 8 for more details. Financial Aid Transfers IFSA-Butler accepts any transfer of financial aid that a U.S. college or university is willing to process for study abroad. However, please note that only your home college or university can transfer federal financial aid. Because IFSA-Butler is not a degree-granting institution and therefore cannot process aid of any kind, your home college or university must process your financial aid and transfer it to IFSAButler for payment of your study abroad program. Butler University Butler University cannot process financial aid for any students except those who expect to receive an undergraduate degree from Butler University. Please do not send financial aid correspondence to Butler University unless you are a degree student at Butler. Contractual/Consortium Agreements IFSA-Butler has contractual or consortium agreements with U.S. colleges or universities whose students participate on our programs. With a contractual or consortium agreement, IFSA-Butler attests to your status as a fulltime student, and your home institution approves your attendance on an IFSA-Butler program for study abroad. Most importantly, a contractual or consortium agreement allows for certain types of federal and state aid to be applied to your study abroad program (see page 8).
Be aware that although many universities participate in a contractual agreement with IFSA-Butler, no university is legally required to do so. Leave of Absence Some colleges and universities require students to withdraw in order to participate on a study abroad program. If you are required to take a leave of absence for study abroad, your home college is under no obligation to process any financial aid, including federal aid. Unfortunately, IFSA-Butler cannot process aid for students, so if your home university refuses to transfer your aid, you will have to make alternate payment arrangements. 8
w w w.ifsa - b u t le r. o rg
Meeting With Your Financial Aid Advisor
Financial Aid Details and Reminders
Make a List of Your Current Aid Make a list of the types of financial aid you have previously received or for which you have been eligible. Consult your most recent award letter.
Send a Payment Deferral Form to IFSA-Butler With the help of your home institution’s financial aid office, send us written notification of your financial aid, how much financial aid will transfer to your study abroad program and the date the funds will be transferred to IFSA-Butler. Often financial aid funds are not released until after a study abroad program begins, so we need to know your financial aid plans in advance.
Items to Bring With You When meeting with your financial aid advisor, take the following information with you: • Previous financial aid package information (your award letter, if applicable) • Current fee information from www.ifsa-butler.org • A checklist of costs not covered by our fees (see page 3) • IFSA-Butler personal cost estimates for your specific program, located on our website and in the My Resources section of the student portal • This booklet, which includes information about direct billing and contractual agreements Eligible Aid Below are different types of aid and their eligibility for use in study abroad. Transferable for Study Abroad in Most Cases • Pell grant • Stafford loans • PLUS loans Nontransferable for Study Abroad • College work study According to Home College Policy • College grants • College scholarships • Perkins loans • State grants, loans and 529 plans Adjusting Aid for Study Abroad Ask your financial aid office about the higher cost of living abroad. Some institutions will recalculate financial aid based on the cost of living abroad, as well as the cost of the program itself. This recalculation can be to your advantage if our programs are more expensive than the cost of your home institution, and if your study abroad location is more expensive than the city where your home college is located. Home Institution Policies When you meet with the financial aid advisor, ask about your college or university’s policy on the transfer of federal, state and college aid. This information will give you a foundation for your preliminary budget.
9
w w w.ifsa -b utle r. o rg
Student Status For financial aid and certification purposes of U.S. agencies, you are studying on an Institute for Study Abroad, Butler University program. If you are completing documents that request enrollment verification for your time abroad, be sure to give “Institute for Study Abroad, Butler University,” not your IFSA-Butler program or host university name. Completing the Transfer of Financial Aid If your home institution is unclear about the arrangements for billing or a contractual/consortium agreement, please have a staff member contact IFSA-Butler’s finance office at 800-858-0229. Consortium Agreement Copy Get a copy of the contractual or consortium agreement from your university’s financial aid advisor and be sure the advisor has sent a copy to IFSA-Butler’s finance office. This agreement is the only guarantee that your financial aid will transfer to your IFSA-Butler program.
PAY M E N T S
Making Payments IFSA-Butler offers numerous choices for program fee payments. Below are some of the payment options available to students, parents and U.S. colleges. Checks IFSA-Butler accepts personal checks and money orders for payments: • Make checks payable to Institute for Study Abroad. • Checks should indicate on the memo section the student’s full name and the name of the program abroad (e.g., University of York). • Send checks to: Institute for Study Abroad 6201 Corporate Drive, Suite 200 Indianapolis, IN 46278 See page 14 for payment deadlines.
ACH Payments IFSA-Butler accepts ACH transactions paid from a checking or savings account. These payments can be made online through CashNet. CashNet provides a secure website which can be accessed through the student portal at https://students.ifsa-butler.org/studentportal/SP_Select. In the student portal, click “My Account” at the top right, enter the amount you wish to pay and select your method of payment. There are no fees associated with payments made via ACH from a checking or savings account.
Credit Cards IFSA-Butler accepts Visa and MasterCard payments. Credit card payments also can be made online through CashNet, which can be accessed through the student portal at https://students.ifsa-butler.org/studentportal/ SP_Select or at https://vpspay.com/ifsa. In the student portal, click “My Account” at the top right, enter the amount you wish to pay and select your method of payment. For each online credit card payment, the payee will incur a service charge from CashNet. For credit cards issued by a U.S. bank, the service charge is 2.75%; for internationally issued cards, the fee is 4.25%. See page 14 for payment deadlines.
10
w w w.ifsa -bu t l e r. o rg
Monthly Payment Option IFSA-Butler offers a monthly payment option through Higher One (TuitionPay). TuitionPay allows you to spread the payment of IFSA-Butler fees over several months. TuitionPay is for semester (five payments) and year programs (10 payments) only. TuitionPay Information We automatically send TuitionPay information to all parents, unless a student attends a direct bill institution (see page 11), or has requested in writing that we not contact his or her parents. We will send TuitionPay information to any student upon request. Signing up for TuitionPay Use the Higher One website (tuitionpay.higherone.com) to sign up for the TuitionPay plan. We will review your registration to verify that you are eligible to participate in the program. Expenses Eligible for TuitionPay Parents and students may use TuitionPay to pay for the following expenses and types of programs: • IFSA-Butler semester or year program fees • Housing fees for direct bill students whose home colleges cover tuition only (see page 11) • Tuition differentials (see page 5) • Meal plans • Housing supplemental fees (see page 5) Using TuitionPay for Supplemental Costs As noted above, you may use TuitionPay to cover the cost of meal plans, supplemental housing fees and tuition differentials. However, because these additional invoices are not sent until after a student’s arrival and enrollment abroad, you will need to estimate the amount of the supplemental costs for your program and build that amount into your TuitionPay monthly payment. Expenses Not Eligible for TuitionPay The following expenses and types of programs are not eligible for TuitionPay payments: • Summer programs • IFSA-Butler custom programs • Tuition for students from direct bill institutions (see page 11) • IFSA-Butler’s $500 program deposit • Host university penalties or deposits (see page 5)
Parents with Existing TuitionPay Accounts If you already use TuitionPay for your home college tuition, you must create a separate account in order to use TuitionPay for IFSA-Butler’s fees.
bills directly from the host university. If you receive a bill from your host university or housing office, forward it to the IFSA-Butler office immediately. Do not pay the university or housing agent directly.
Deferred Payments
The only exception are small expenses such as linen and key deposits. These are listed on page 6 as part of the expenses that some students pay directly to their host university or housing provider abroad.
IFSA-Butler allows deferred payments in cases when financial aid will not be disbursed until after our payment due date. In these cases, we include a payment deferral form in our invoice packet and on our website. Please have your financial aid office complete the form and return it to IFSA-Butler, or submit a copy of your updated financial aid award letter for the time you will be abroad. Financial aid verification forms and letters should include the anticipated amount of your financial aid and the disbursement dates of these funds. All fees not covered by financial aid or other sources are due in full by the stated due date on page 14.
Direct Billing Many colleges and universities in the U.S. have a direct billing arrangement with IFSA-Butler. With direct billing, you pay your study abroad fees to your home college, and your college pays IFSA-Butler on your behalf. Expenses Covered Through Direct Bill Arrangements Some direct billing arrangements cover tuition or housing only, while others cover all IFSA-Butler fees. To find out your home college’s direct billing agreement with IFSAButler, if any, contact your home college study abroad office. Direct Bill Agreements Direct billing arrangements change frequently. Please confirm your home college’s status and details with your home campus study abroad advisor.
Delinquent Payments If we do not receive financial aid documentation or your full payment by the payment deadline, you will be withdrawn from the program, with no refund of your $500 program deposit or the cost of your airline ticket. Please make arrangements to pay your fee by the payment deadline.
Bills from Host Universities IFSA-Butler acts on our students’ behalf in dealing with host universities and housing offices abroad. You should not receive tuition, accommodation, utility or board
11
w w w.ifsa -b ut le r. o rg
Refund Policy IFSA-Butler reserves the right to refund only those funds which have not been expended on the student’s behalf. The non-refundable $500 program commitment deposit will be forfeited if a student withdraws at any point after signing the Student Acceptance Agreement. If cases of late withdrawal (after IFSA-Butler has committed on a student’s behalf to the host institution), we reserve the right to assess late withdrawal fees and to refund only those funds which have not already been committed for participation. After Signing the Student Acceptance Agreement
Refunds are considered in the event of a medical professional’s diagnosis of a serious physical or mental illness, or an emergency that requires a student to return to the United States or country of origin. In such an event, the $500 commitment deposit is forfeited to IFSA-Butler for the cost of application submission and acceptance into the host university program. If the withdrawal occurs after the program fee due date but prior to the first day of the IFSA-Butler in-country orientation, a $1,500 late withdrawal fee will be assessed. If the withdrawal occurs after IFSA-Butler orientation, a $2,000 late withdrawal fee will be assessed. Should a student withdraw after the first day of IFSAButler in-country orientation, they will only be eligible for a refund if the host institution approves one. Any refund will be restricted to amounts not already expended by IFSA-Butler to the host university of tuition or housing services. A housing refund is only available if the space can be filled or your housing request may be cancelled by the host university before the term begins. No housing refund is available if a student withdraws after the term begins.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships Scholarships can be a tremendous help in offsetting the cost of study abroad. This section covers IFSA-Butler’s scholarship opportunities and other options for study abroad scholarships. IFSA-Butler Scholarships Requirements Unless noted, IFSA-Butler scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need. All applicants must submit financial documentation, including a financial aid award letter, along with their scholarship application.
Eligibility Any student applying for an IFSA-Butler program may apply for a scholarship. Some scholarships are awarded for certain programs or countries only, or for students of specific backgrounds.
Scholarship Availability IFSA-Butler scholarship awards are limited and very competitive. Scholarships are not transferable between students or from one semester to another.
General Scholarships IFSA-Butler’s general scholarships may be applied toward any program and term. Awards are: • Summer programs: $500 • Semester programs: $1,500 • Full year programs: $2,500
Guaranteed Scholarships Argentina: $2,000 for summer 2018 students enrolled in the Summer Psychology in English program, and $2,000 for fall 2018 and spring 2019 students enrolled in the Business and Economics in English or the Psychology in English program. China: $2,000 for summer 2018 students attending the Summer in Shanghai Public Health Policy and Practice track, and $2,000 for fall 2018 and spring 2019 students on the Public Health Policy and Practice program.
Czech Republic: $1,000 for summer 2018 students attending Summer in Prague Session I and $2,000 for summer 2018 students attending Summer in Prague Session I and II. $2,000 for fall 2018 or spring 2019 students attending the Reimagining Europe program. England: $2,000 for fall 2018 and spring 2019 students enrolled in the Career Accelerator or the Urban Research Lab programs. Israel: $2,000 for summer 2018 students attending the Summer in Jerusalem Diversity & Coexistence track, and $2,000 for fall 2018 and spring 2019 students attending the Diversity & Coexistence program.
Program and Country Scholarships England: Queen Mary, University of London: £1,500 stipend for two International Correspondents, available through the IFSAButler Work-to-Study grant.
Ireland: Trinity College Dublin: Travel grants and scholarships between €1,500 and €3,000. Awards available include the Study Abroad STEM Scholarship, the Global Study Abroad Excellence Scholarships and the Trinity College Dublin Generation Study Abroad Travel Grant. University College Dublin: Available for students studying abroad in the UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business. Two €1000 scholarships are awarded during the semester and two €500 scholarships are awarded for the Summer Internships in Dublin program.
Israel: Hebrew University: Numerous scholarships are available for study at Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Government of Israel Scholarships: The Israeli government provides special scholarships for students of Hispanic backgrounds. Visit www.becaisrael.com for details.
New Zealand: UpFront Auckland: The University of Auckland offers several $5,000-7,500 scholarships exclusively for IFSA-Butler students to help cover up-front costs of studying abroad. University of Canterbury: Multiple scholarships exclusively for IFSA-Butler students. Awards range from NZ$1,500 to NZ$2,500. The university also gives “general awards” to select students upon arrival. Massey University: Massey gives study awards of NZ$1,000. University of Otago: IFSA-Butler first generation college students have the exclusive opportunity to apply for one of two housing awards for NZ$4,555 for semester 2 (U.S. fall) 2018. Apply by March 1, 2018.
12
w w w.ifsa -b u t l e r. o rg
IFSA-Butler Scholarship Application Deadlines Fall semester, semester 2 and academic year programs: • March 1 (priority deadline) • April 1 (final deadline) Spring semester, semester 1 and calendar year programs: • October 1 (priority deadline) • November 1 (final deadline) Summer programs: • February 1 (priority deadline) • April 1 (final deadline)
Education New Zealand: Offers US$2,000 Travel Awards to fund air travel to New Zealand. Excellence Awards give US$500 toward the cost of study abroad at any New Zealand university.
Education New Zealand also offers a full-tuition scholarship up to US$15,000 for any semester program in New Zealand. Please see www.ifsa-butler.org for the most up-to-date scholarship information.
IFSA-Butler Special Scholarship Opportunities Fill the GAP: Fill the GAP (Global Account Program) allows students to create a savings account as early as their freshman year in college and use the money later to pay for an IFSA-Butler program. Participants receive a matching scholarship up to $1,000. Summer students may participate, but no matching scholarship is available. First Generation Scholars Program: This program awards up to $2,500 for study abroad-related expenses for students who are first generation college students. Support services are also part of this great program. IFSA Diversity Scholarship: Administered by the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA), this scholarship is intended for students with substantial financial need and/or students from traditionally underrepresented groups. The scholarship is valued at $10,000 for a year, $5,000 for a semester and $1,250 for summer. To apply, visit fundforeducationabroad.org/apply. Work-to-Study Grant: This grant awards $3,000-$1,000 depending on the scope and involvement of the project completed, and is available to all students, with special consideration to those already on federal work study at their home campus. Grant money is distributed via PayPal or direct deposit throughout the term abroad as projects are completed. IFSA State School Grant: A guaranteed $2,000 grant for IFSA students enrolled in a state institution. This grant is 13
w w w.ifsa -b ut le r. o rg
available for semester programs only and may be combined with other IFSA scholarships (except others that are guaranteed).
How to Apply for A Scholarship Download a scholarship application from our website. Please note that some scholarships have special requirements such as essays.
Scholarships from Other Sources Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship This program awards scholarships up to $5,000, depending on the length of study. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, it is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE). For more information, visit www.iie.org/programs/gilman. The BUTEX Scholarship The British Universities Transatlantic Exchange Association offers £500 scholarships to students studying abroad at a U.K. university that is a member of BUTEX. More information is available at www.butex.ac.uk. Boren Awards for International Study These scholarships give generous awards for study in Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Middle East. Awards are up to $20,000. Other Scholarships Many other study abroad scholarships are available through government programs, community groups and international organizations. Our website lists many of these opportunities.
Crediting and Reporting Scholarships If you receive an IFSA scholarship, the award will be credited to your portion of the bill once your program begins. You are responsible for reporting any awards to your home university financial aid office. Be aware that receiving any study abroad scholarship may result in changes or reductions to scholarship and loan funds that you receive from your home university.
RESOURCES
Working Abroad Research your host country’s work requirements before leaving the U.S. You may need to secure a visa, entry clearance or work permit. Below is a list of our program countries’ work abroad regulations, accurate as of January 2018.
• Israel • Spain
www.finaid.org International Education Finance Corporation
National Security Education Program (NSEP)
Paid work not allowed, but internships or volunteer positions available:
• Argentina • Chile • Czech Republic
FinAid! The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid
www.college-degrees.com international-education-finance.html
Unpaid internships only:
• China • India
Additional Resources for Financial Aid
www.iie.org/nsep Rotary Scholarship
• Costa Rica • Mexico • Peru
www.rotary.org Studyabroad.com
Paid work allowed with visa or work permit:
www.studyabroad.com
• Australia: Department of Immigration and Citizenship (www.immi.gov.au) • Republic of Ireland: Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (www.enterprise.gov.ie) • United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales): U.K. Border Agency (www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk)
Learning Abroad Center, University of Minnesota
www.umabroad.umn.edu Scholarships.com
www.scholarships.com
Quick Reference Contact IFSA-Butler Institute for Study Abroad 6201 Corporate Drive, Suite 200 Indianapolis, IN 46278 www.ifsa-butler.org
Important Contact Details: studyabroad@ifsa-butler.org Toll free: 800-858-0229 Finance office fax: 317-940-9762 Program office fax: 317-940-9704
Program Fee Deadlines China, Cuba, Czech Republic, England, India, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Scotland, Spain, Wales
July 1—fall semester and academic year November 15—spring semester
Argentina, Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Peru
May 15—fall (semester 2) and academic year December 15—spring (semester 1) and calendar year
Summer programs
May 15
TuitionPay Payment Deadlines China, Cuba, Czech Republic, England India, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Scotland, Spain, Wales
June 1—fall semester and academic year November 1—spring semester
Argentina, Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Peru
May 1—fall (semester 2) and academic year December 1—spring (semester 1) and calendar year
14
w w w.ifsa - b u t l e r. o rg
Business Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ET
BUDGET TIPS FROM ALUMNI
As a rule of thumb, everything is pretty much double the price of the U.S.! Watch your expenses and figure out what is important to spend your money on. At the end of the day you’re paying for the once-in-a-lifetime experience of being in England, so pick and choose what will be memorable for you! – Yasemin Erkan, Saint Joseph’s University Birkbeck, University of London (England)
Get to know the “locals.” Making new friends is all part of the experience, and other students often know the best (and cheapest) places to go out to eat, drink, etc. – Hannah Borge, Drake University University of Bristol (England)
Planning wisely and setting a budget can save you a lot of money – stay at a cheap hostel, grocery shop for food rather than eating out, and find local cheap activities rather than defaulting to the tourist traps. – Brandon Berry, Brown University University of Auckland (New Zealand)
Budgeting is so important! You probably will blow a lot of money your first month, but use that as a learning experience. What did you spend money on that you don’t need? Did you eat out when you have meals provided? Did you buy American food instead of local food? Thinking about ways to minimize these costs will assure that you save money. – Rebekah Coble, DePauw University Chilean Universities Program, Santiago (Chile)
Don’t constantly transfer costs to dollars. Get used to the foreign currency system and stick to it. This makes living on a budget easier. Also, get some activities out of your system early on and then concentrate on school. Then if you have money left in your budget, you can have a lot of fun before you return home. – Isaiah Prater, University of Kentucky University of Westminster (England)
15
w w w.ifsa -b ut le r. o rg
Financial Checklist Make an appointment with your home university financial aid officer immediately. Financial aid can be processed only by your home university. IFSA-Butler cannot process aid, nor can we force the home university to do so. However, by law, federal financial aid is transferrable to overseas study.
Get a contractual/consortium agreement from your home university financial aid officer. It is the only guarantee that your financial aid will be transferred to your study abroad program.
Ask your financial aid officer to complete and send the contractual/consortium agreement to IFSA-Butler. Some universities require the student to take care of this.
If your financial aid will not be released until after the IFSA-Butler due date, you must complete and return our payment deferral form, which is included with all IFSA-Butler invoices and also available for download from our website at www.ifsa-butler.org. In lieu of our payment deferral form, you may submit a copy of your updated financial aid award letter for the time you will be abroad. Financial aid verification letters should include the anticipated amount of your aid and its disbursement date.
Download a scholarship application from www.ifsa-butler.org or complete the application in the IFSAButler student portal.
Contact your home campus study abroad office or log in to the IFSA-Butler student portal to find out if your college has a direct billing agreement with IFSA-Butler. See page 11 for more about direct billing.
Review the TuitionPay payment plan information included in the invoice packet sent to your home address. See page 14 for deadlines.
If you wish to use the TuitionPay payment plan, sign up online at tuitionpay.higherone.com. See page 14 for deadlines.
Review the personal cost estimates for your program on our website and the My Resources tab of the student portal.
Compile the name, email, telephone number and fax number of the financial aid officer at your home college and place this information with the other documents you plan to take abroad with you.
If you have taken a leave of absence from your home university and have taken out a student loan, you might be classified as “unregistered” and may be asked to start paying on your loan. Ask your lender to send IFSA-Butler a deferment form so that we can certify your enrollment in our program. 16
w w w.ifsa -bu t le r. o rg
Money Matters: A Guide to Paying for Study Abroad Š Institute for Study Abroad, Butler University, 2018 Printed on recycled paper