Finances and Scholarships

Now that you’ve decided to study abroad, you may be wondering about the cost.

To get started, visit the Study Abroad Costs tab on the left. We also encourage you to view this video info session about Financing Study Abroad.

Be sure to read Providence College’s Home School Tuition Policy (below) and reach out to the CGE team if you have any questions.

All study abroad applicants and parents are required to sign the “Providence College (PC) Study Abroad Home School Tuition Policy & Acknowledgment” for applications to be complete.

• PC is committed to making study abroad a more integral and viable educational opportunity for all our undergraduates.
  • This means, in order for study abroad to be equally accessible to all students, the College must be able to provide institutional financial aid to students who receive this aid when they study abroad.
  • To accomplish the portability of institutional aid, the College relies mainly on tuition revenue, since institutional merit and need-based financial aid comes from this revenue.
  • Before, during, and after their time abroad, study abroad students continue to receive campus wide support and services from advisors, faculty, the Office of the Registrar, the Office of Financial Aid, Student Affairs, and Residence Life.
  • In addition, academic credits and grades earned on semester study abroad are treated as Providence College credits and grades as opposed to transfer credit, as is often the case at other colleges.
    • The courses, credits, and grades are reviewed, approved, and then posted on the academic transcript.
    • Course grades are calculated into the student’s Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). In sum, PC charges PC tuition for awarding PC academic credit.
• Study abroad students receive two invoices for study abroad.
  • Providence College
    • PC tuition as normal with scholarships/financial aid applied.
    • $1000 PC Study Abroad Fee
    • Student Health Insurance (applicable only to students enrolled in the PC student health insurance plan)
  • Study Abroad Program/Host Institution
    • A non-refundable deposit to secure student’s place in the program (The deposit is deducted from the student’s total non-tuition costs or is returned at the end of the semester less any housing damages.)
    • All non-tuition program fees (e.g., housing, orientation, insurance, etc.)
  • Students are responsible for paying all other expenses out-of-pocket. These expenses may include, but are not limited to, roundtrip airfare, passport and/or visa fees, required immunizations (if applicable), meals (in most cases), textbooks, independent travel, and daily living expenses.
  • Please note: in order to balance the number of students intending to study abroad across the academic year, the College reserves the right to restrict the numbers of students approved to study abroad in any one semester.

FAQs

What if the program’s tuition is more than PC’s?
Students pay the difference directly to the program if the program’s tuition costs more and will be contacted by the Center for Global Education if this is the case.

What if the program costs less than PC tuition — where does that money go?
Programs are chosen first for academic quality and student support services, then for cost (aiming to stay at or below PC tuition). Students’ PC tuition covers the program’s academic costs (tuition); any surplus tuition supports the College’s ongoing operations. Study abroad costs PC more than $10M per academic year. This model keeps the program sustainable.

What is the $1,000 PC Study Abroad Fee for?
This fee covers operating expenses for the Center for Global Education such as the study abroad application management system, staff professional development, student support, travel costs for periodic site visits, etc.

How does my financial aid apply abroad?
The Office of Financial Aid reviews and may adjust your aid package for the semester/year you are abroad. Federal Work-Study wages are not portable by law, but these funds may be replaced with loan/grant aid to keep your total aid the same. Athletic scholarships are not portable because this funding requires on-campus enrollment.

Can I just take a leave of absence and transfer credit back?
Leaves of absence are not permitted for study abroad.

Revised October 2026