Studying abroad does not have to break your budget. With advance planning, financial aid and scholarships, most students can afford to incorporate an international experience into their university education.
"The end of August was the first time that I had travelled back to France, but the planning began two Novembers ago, at the beginning of my sophomore year... After being accepted to the program, one large challenge arose: how to finance studying in Paris. While tuition remains the same [for a direct exchange program], Paris is one of the most expensive cities in the world to live. After some thought, I had an idea: I knew of some friends who had “au paired” before – essentially, being a live-in nanny in a foreign country. Typically, Au Pairs receive full room and board, and often a small stipend. I posted my profile on aupair-world.net and took it from there. After interviewing with several families via Skype, I came upon the perfect situation: a family looking for a part-time, live-in au pair who would also be studying.”
-- Chelsea Boren, Class of 2013, Junior year abroad in France
Costs
The cost of studying abroad varies greatly depending on the type and location of the program you choose. In general, study abroad costs include:
- UW study abroad fee
- Program tuition and fees
- International living expenses
- Airfare
- Passport and visa costs
- Required HTH Worldwide travel insurance and health costs
Here is a sample cost comparison of studying abroad vs. studying at UWB during Winter Quarter 2013.
If you are getting financial aid, it’s possible to apply it to your study abroad experience. Once you successfully complete the IPE registration process, any federal, state, or institutional aid can support your study abroad costs. However, tuition waivers or work-study awards do not apply.
There are many scholarships to support students in studying abroad. Securing external funding for a study abroad experience requires good planning. It is recommended that you think at least two quarters in advance. For example, if you want to study abroad in the fall, you must apply for study abroad scholarships during Winter and Spring Quarters.
To increase your chances of qualifying for a scholarship, consider study abroad programs that are at least a month long and in non-traditional locations, i.e. outside of Western Europe.