Important Considerations

Home School Tuition and Program Costs

Provide College has a Home School Tuition Policy for study abroad, and all students, parents, and families are required to agree to this policy as part of the Providence College study abroad application. For further information about the Home School Tuition model and other aspects of billing, please refer to our Study Abroad Costs page and sub pages.

In terms of the costs due to program providers, students will receive a bill from their respective study abroad program for housing, onsite services, international health insurance, etc. This bill is paid directly to students’ study abroad programs instead of PC. Students will receive this bill via email or their programs student portal.

Please be in communication with your student regarding their program’s bill. This needs to be paid by the deadline set by the program. Unpaid bills could result in a student being dismissed from a program early or their transcript being withheld until all outstanding fees are paid in full. 

Banking, Spending, and Budgeting

Students should notify their banks and credit card companies that they will be out of the country for an extended period of time. In addition, students should ask their banks and credit card companies about any foreign transaction fees. Some research might be beneficial here in determining banks and credit cards that charge lesser or no fees than students’ current bank and credit card. 

Students should be mindful of their spending, and it is recommended that they develop a budget for their time abroad.  Students’ study abroad programs have some guidance for students on budgeting, and we also suggest that students talk to previous study abroad students about money management while abroad. 

An additional resource to use for help with developing a budget plan is our Estimated Study Abroad Budget Worksheet.

Flights

Students will receive guidance regarding booking their flights from their respective study abroad program. Please refrain from arranging flights until your student’s program confirms the program dates. It is best to purchase roundtrip airfare, and proof of return flight may be required for the visa process of some countries.

Visas

If applicable, students will need to apply for a study abroad student visa. Their program will provide them with visa guidance. The visa application process is the student’s responsibility, and it is essential that students submit their visa materials to their program and/or consulate in a timely manner. In some instances, students will need to submit their physical passport for the visa process, which can take several weeks. Students will not be able to travel internationally during this time. Neither PC nor your student’s program will be able to provide assistance if this advice is not followed. 

Cell Phones 

We recommend that students consult with their cell phone service carriers, study abroad program staff, and former study abroad students about managing their cell phones while abroad.