Cost of Study Abroad

Upon acceptance, students wishing to reserve a spot in a program must include the initial non-refundable acceptance deposit of $100 with their acceptance form as indicated on the program cost sheet. The deposit will be applied to the student's program fee. Students who do not make this initial deposit within the time specified in their acceptance email will not be considered program participants.

Students need to make all necessary financial arrangements before leaving the country. This includes changing their mailing address on the My UW Website, to that of the person that the student chooses to be his or her financial representative, so that any bills and/or financial aid refunds the student receives will be sent to the correct address by the Bursar's Office.

For questions about program payments, students should contact:
Judy Humphrey, IAP Financial Specialist
259 Bascom Hall
Phone: 608-262-6785
E-mail: payments@bascom.wisc.edu

Recommendations for facilitating payments:

• Pay for all program costs by check so there is a record for your files.

• Checks are payable to the order of "UW-Madison."

• Use the student's full name, student ID number, and program on all documents and checks (e.g., James Paul Brown/Seville/9011234567).

• Payments received after the due date indicated on the bill for the Bursar's office will be assessed a $100 late fee. The approximate due dates are listed in the program cost sheet your student received when he or she was accepted to the program.

• Check My UW website for university fines or holds due on campus. Students should take care of this before leaving the country, otherwise they will not be able to register or receive financial aid.

• Students will not receive an invoice for the May 15th payment, students will receive a reminder e-mail around May 1, concerning $400 deposit.

• Look at program cost sheet for program specific information.

Please see the deadlines chart for approximate dates the student's appointed Financial Representative will receive invoices for program payments and payment due dates. Participants in summer programs will receive an invoice and are responsible for following the payment schedule listed on the program cost sheet received in their acceptance email.

In addition, please note the following:

• Study abroad program fees will be billed through the UW-Madison Bursar's Office. The student will receive a study abroad statement, separate from the on-campus bill. The Bursar may send two bills -one for study abroad charges and one for on-campus activity (tuition, fees, late charges, fines, etc.) Be sure to pay all outstanding on-campus charges before departure.

• If payments will be partially financed by THIRD PARTIES (e.g. ROTC, Academic Excellence, music scholarships, Chancellor's Scholarship, etc.), please e-mail the International Academic Programs' Financial Specialist at payments@bascom.wisc.edu or contact Room 259 Bascom Hall, 262-6785, before payment due dates. It is crucial to inquire at the appropriate office whether or not this support can be applied to off-campus study.

• FINANCIAL AID RECIPIENTS' anticipated award will be noted on their statements from the Bursar. If the amount of your student's award is less than the amount due, the difference or outstanding balance must be paid prior to the due date to avoid a late fee. If the amount of financial aid your student will receive exceeds the program fee, a refund check will be sent to the mailing address on file in My UW.

• Failure to pay the study abroad program fee in full by scheduled or deferred due dates will result in a late fee and/or a hold indicator on your student's UW-Madison records/transcripts. A "hold" means students will not be able to register, receive study abroad grades, or receive financial aid.

• Section 20.905(2) of State statutes requires the addition of a $20 Non Sufficient Funds check charge for checks that are not honored by your bank. In addition to the $20 charge, a fee of $100 will be assessed if your account if overdue.

• UW-Madison does not accept credit cards in payment of fees and tuition; only checks or cash are accepted.

• An additional statement may be received during or after the study abroad program for extra charges incurred (i.e. an optional housing supplement, damages to housing abroad, failing to pay a required fee to the program site, etc.)

• Any changes in the duration of a student's program will affect the student's financial obligations with respect to the program. See our Changing the Length of stay page for more information.

back to top

Financial Aid

Financial aid is applicable to all UW-Madison degree-seeking students on study abroad programs. Some aid is also available to "Special Students" (non-Madison students participating on IAP programs).

Students who already receive aid may qualify for additional funding to offset the extra costs sometimes associated with study abroad expenses. Additional aid often comes in the form of loans, although there are some need-based study abroad grants available annually through the Office of Student Services. Likewise, if the anticipated study abroad costs are less than the on-campus budget, the aid package could be reduced.

Even students who have not received financial aid in the past may be eligible for a loan to help with additional study abroad expenses.
For more information, contact:

Heidi Johnson
Office of Student Financial Services
432 N. Murray, Room 228
Phone: 608-262-3060
E-mail: Heidi.Johnson@finaid.wisc.edu

Please consider the following additional details:

• Students' financial aid will be automatically applied to their study abroad bill.

• The student or the Financial Representative will receive a "refund" check from the Bursar's Office if the amount of aid exceeds the program fee. If the financial aid is less, your student must pay the balance due to the Bursar in the form of a check or money order.

• Financial aid "refund" checks will be sent to the student's mailing address in My UW. Please be sure to change this to the address of the Financial Representative.

• Recipients of IAP need-based travel awards will have these funds applied toward their study abroad bill as part of their financial aid package.

• Recipients of IAP merit based awards will see a credit on their bill from the Bursar. The sum of the travel award is considered a form of aid and, therefore, is reported to the Office of Student Financial Services. Note: In most cases, students' financial aid packages may be adjusted if they receive a need or merit-based travel award.

• If your student leaves the UW-Madison campus before financial aid is disbursed for the term of the study abroad program, the Financial Representative should handle the student's financial aid and/or scholarship checks coming through the Bursar's Office.

• Once financial aid checks are released, the check(s) can be deposited to a bank account with the student's name on it. Your student should leave the bank account information including bank deposit slips, with the person who will be depositing the financial aid.

• Some students maintain a joint checking account with their financial representative; others leave their financial representative an estimated amount of pre-signed personal checks, payable to the UW-Madison with amount due for each payment schedule.

back to top

Scholarships

Numerous merit-based and need-based scholarships are available to UW students who study abroad. Students are encouraged to apply for these scholarships. Information about general scholarships and program specific scholarships is available on our Financial Information Website.

Recipients of the Wisconsin Academic Excellence Award should please meet with Judy Humphrey, IAP Financial Specialist, in 259 Bascom Hall to make the necessary arrangements for the transfer of this award.

For scholarships that do not come through the Bursar's Office:

• Contact the granting agency or department to find out what kinds of identification documents they require in order to disburse the check for the student.

• Inquire whether or not the scholarship money can be applied toward the IAP program fee during the period of attendance as an off-campus UW student.

• Be sure the scholarship is backed by actual funds, and is not only a fee remission. Fee remission awards may be applied only in a limited number of special cases; please contact Judy Humphrey in 259 Bascom Hall, or e-mail payments@bascom.wisc.edu, to see if this situation applies.

• As stated above, recipients of the IAP need-based travel awards will receive the funds of their travel awards as part of their financial aid payments.

back to top

Next Section: Payment Schedules and Policies

Previous Section: Academics

Parents Handbook Home Page