Financing Study Abroad—Other Costs

The Center for Study Abroad can provide you with a chart that indicates the estimated educational costs to participate for each of the University of Rochester study abroad programs. These estimates are intended as a guide to assist in planning. Actual costs depend heavily on your style of living and will vary with individual habits, preferences, travel choices, and currency exchange rates. The billing structures for study abroad are subject to change. Check with an adviser in the Center for Study Abroad for up-to-date information about the anticipated costs for your overseas studies.

While planning for your semester or year of study abroad, it is important to know that there may be additional costs involved, and you need to keep track of them.

Application fee
Most programs charge between $30 and $75.
Transcript
Official copies of University of Rochester transcripts are free of charge. Request them from the Registrar's Office in Lattimore 312 or by using ACCESSplus. If you have taken courses at other colleges or universities, you will need to request official copies of your transcript for your study abroad application. Many institutions charge a nominal fee to issue a transcript.
Photocopying
Keep a photocopy of all completed application materials, essays, important papers, passport, etc.
International Student Identity Card/American Youth Hostel Card
Many students obtain these cards before going abroad because they provide substantial savings on entrance fees to museums and cultural events as well as reduced rates in youth hostels. The International Student Identity Card (ISIC) costs $22; the Youth Hostel Card is $25. An application for the ISIC is included in this guide.
Passport/passport photos
You must have a valid passport to travel overseas. The current application fee for a U.S. passport is $45-$60. There may be an additional county fee ($10 in Monroe County). Visit http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html for full details. You will need to submit two photos with your application. These can be taken in a number of places, such as copy centers, American Automobile Association, and the University of Rochester Medical Center Photography Office. Costs vary, but expect to pay at around $10 for two photos. Some study abroad programs may require you to submit a number of passport-sized photos along with the application, or bring some with you.
Visas
A visa is official permission, granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or visit, that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a period of time. Some countries require you to obtain a visa either in the United States or at a consulate abroad. Costs and entrance requirements vary, but expect to pay between $75 and several hundred dollars. Find out before you leave the United States what visas, if any, you will need for places where you will either live or visit. Some Consulates require that you appear in person to apply for your visa. This means that you may have to drive, fly, or take a bus or train to the city where the consulate is located, such as New York, Boston, or Chicago.The Center for Study Abroad does not process visa applications. For details about how to apply for a visa, contact the consulate or embassy of the country where you will study.
Traveler's checks
Some banks and financial institutions (Thomas Cook, for example) charge a fee when you purchase traveler's checks. Banks overseas normally charge a fee to cash the checks. Fees vary from bank to bank, so it is important to determine the going rates.
ATM fees
Most students find that the easiest way to access money while overseas is by using an automated teller machine (ATM). Many of the largest banks overseas will allow you to get local currency from the funds in your U.S. account. However, just as in the U.S., the banks often assess a fee when you withdraw money. The fee varies from bank to bank, but it is usually a flat rate, so that it is advantageous to make withdrawals less often. Check with your bank to be sure that you PIN will work overseas.
Health insurance
The University of Rochester requires all students to be covered by health insurance while abroad. Check whether your current policy will cover you while you're overseas. You may also subscribe to the UHS plan while you are away. Some programs/foreign universities require you to subscribe to their health plan as well.
Vaccinations/AIDS tests
Some countries require entering travelers to be vaccinated against certain diseases. Not all physicians' offices have these vaccinations available, so check with your personal physician or UHS. Strong Memorial Hospital has a travel health office called "Passport Health," an excellent source of information and can administer necessary vaccinations. Costs range from $30 to $150.
Proof of a negative AIDS test is required before entering certain countries. Some countries will not accept proof from a U.S. physician and require the test to be performed overseas. The latest information on vaccines and AIDS testing may be obtained from embassies or consulates, or from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov.
Airfare
Most study abroad programs do not include airfare in the program fee. Nevertheless, the Office of Student Financial Assistance considers the cost of getting to your destination to be part of the cost of your semester(s) abroad. So your financial aid may cover the cost of your airfare. However, you are responsible for purchasing your own ticket, and this usually must be done several months before any financial aid is disbursed. In other words, you may have to cover the cost of your ticket up front, then wait to be reimbursed by financial aid.
Deposits
When you accept an offer of admission to a study abroad program, you will be expected to submit a (usually nonrefundable) deposit. Expect to submit a deposit of between $300 and $1000. Deposits are normally part of a program's fee, not an additional fee. You are responsible for paying the deposit; the Office of Student Financial Assistance cannot pay a deposit for you.
Housing/damage deposits
Whether you will be living in an apartment, a residence hall, or a homestay while abroad, be prepared to pay a housing or security deposit. Deposits typically are around $300. You may be billed for this ahead of time by your program, or you may be expected to pay it, in cash, when you arrive abroad.
Postage/fax/telephone calls
These costs increase with the number of programs to which you apply. Fax machines are available for student use at the following locations on campus: the Campus Post Office, the Student Activities Office, and the Career Center. Once you are abroad, plan ahead to keep faxes and telephone calls to a minimum, since they can be very expensive.
Email
Students overseas increasingly find Internet access at cafés. Remember, however, that this service is not free: email conversations can add up.
Course fees
If you choose to take courses with experiential components (field trips, laboratory, etc.), there may be additional charges levied for labs, tickets and entrance fees. This is almost always the case for courses involving performances (for example, theater and concerts). Expect to have $50 to $100 to cover these courses. On some programs, a course overload will incur additional expenses.
Work permits
The Council on International Educational Exchange and BUNAC can help students obtain short-term work permits for overseas jobs in certain countries. There is an application fee for these work permits. The Center for Study Abroad can provide you with an application for the work permit, but does not process work permits. Keep in mind that, in many countries, entry requirements prevent you from working while you are studying there.
Study abroad fee
All students studying on non-UR programs who wish to receive credit for their work must be on Study Abroad Status, which carries an administrative fee of $1394 per semester. This fee is charged to the term bill. The study abroad fee covers services rendered by The College in connection with study abroad. Though not on campus in Rochester, students abroad continue to be fully matriculated toward their degree. Study Abroad Status ensures that students have a smooth transition overseas and then back to Rochester. Students are placed on Study Abroad Status through electronic registration. Students on Study Abroad Status are eligible for continuation of University of Rochester health insurance while abroad.
Your term bill
If you are participating in a UR-sponsored program, you will be charged UR tuition and room costs for your semester(s) away. If you are participating in a non-UR program, you will be billed by the University of Rochester only for the Study Abroad Fee, and you will be billed for your study abroad program directly by the sponsoring institution.