Study Abroad Costs
Center for Global Education
Office Hours: Open Mondays-Fridays, 8:30am-4:30pm
Harkins Hall, Room 215
401.865.2114
pcabroad@providence.edu
The cost of study abroad varies based on program fees, location, and each student’s individual financial aid package as well as lifestyle. Therefore, it’s hard to give you a number on what your experience might cost but you can find more in depth information for different program types on the left side navigation as well as tools to help you budget out your experience below.
Here are important things to keep in mind:
Home School Tuition Policy
Providence College uses a Home School Tuition Policy for Fall/Spring and Academic Year students. This means that students receive two (2) invoices for the study abroad semester or year:
- Invoice 1: Students pay regular PC tuition and the $1,000 PC Study Abroad Fee to Providence College.
- Invoice 2: Students pay all non-tuition program costs, including a non-refundable deposit, directly to the program provider or host institution. Non-tuition costs may include, but are not limited to, housing, health insurance, orientation, meals, and excursions.
Once the student pays the first invoice to Providence College, PC will then pay the program for tuition costs only, up to the PC tuition rate.
Please view the Home School Tuition Policy FAQ for more information.
Create a Budget
The CGE team has created an Estimated Study Abroad Budget Worksheet for students interested in narrowing down a realistic cost for their semester abroad. This is not a requirement but the CGE team does encourage students to work through this worksheet with their families to set realistic expectations.
Apply Early
Apply to your program of choice and scholarships as early as possible. If you aren’t set on your program before the scholarship application is due, that is okay! Apply anyway and if you receive the award, you can let the scholarship committee know you are switching your program choice. Scholarships tend to open early the semester prior to the semester you wish to go abroad. For example, if you are planning to study abroad fall semester, you should start applying to scholarships in December/January. If you are planning to go abroad spring semester, you should start applying to scholarships in August/September.
Work and Save Ahead of Time
It is illegal for U.S. citizens to work abroad while on a student visa. Therefore, we suggest planning ahead and working before departing the U.S. to save money for your time abroad. You will have more time to work and save by starting as soon as you have made the decision to study abroad. The funds you earn can be saved in a bank account that would be used during your time abroad. Even if you know how to pay for your study abroad program, you still need to pay for food, living costs, and experiences.
Another way to raise money would be considering crowd source funding. Your friends and family might be willing to chip in a few bucks to help you meet your goals. You can start a campaign at Fund My Travel.com
Want additional details about financing a semester or academic year study abroad experience? We encourage you to view this video presentation for a recorded info session about study abroad finances.
