Financial Considerations

Cost is an important factor when deciding to study abroad. You may be surprised to learn that in many cases, the cost of going abroad is comparable to staying at Columbia. The majority of students receive financial assistance when studying abroad, though the amount or type of support depends on a variety of factors. With careful planning and research into opportunities, you should be able to afford a study abroad experience while at Columbia.

See below for further financial guidance and information. At any point, please feel free to reach out to your study abroad adviser for general guidance as well as the Columbia Financial Aid and Education Financing (CC/SEAS) or the General Studies (GS) Office of Educational Financing for more detailed information.

Please also make sure to review the relevant Withdrawal and Refund Policies for your program. If studying abroad on a Columbia-Approved program, these will be available through the program itself. If you are studying on a Columbia-Led program, please review the policies as follows:

Columbia College and Columbia Engineering

The costs for studying abroad vary based on whether you attend a semester, academic year, or summer program. Financial Aid, similar to what you may receive at Columbia, is applicable to semester and academic year programs. Summer programs are generally funded individually or with the help of competitive scholarships.

Fall, Spring, or Academic Year

YOUR COLUMBIA BILL

When you are enrolled in a Columbia-Led or Columbia-Approved program, you remain a full-time Columbia student and pay Columbia tuition directly to Columbia University. You are billed by Columbia for tuition in exactly the same way you would be if you were staying on campus. Columbia then pays academic fees (i.e., program's tuition, transcript fee) to the program or provider on your behalf.

You will continue to pay the Columbia Health and Related Services Fee while studying abroad. If you are on Columbia's Student Health Insurance, you will continue to be billed for your insurance cost.

Non-academic fees, such as housing and insurance, will likely be paid directly to your program. For Columbia-Led programs, you may be billed for these costs via SSOL. For Columbia-Approved programs, you will typically be billed by your program. Other fees, such as living and travel expenses, will likely be paid out of pocket.

If your Financial Aid normally covers these categories, you may receive a refund from Columbia University to use for these expenses after your aid has been disbursed. If your Financial Aid is normally applied only towards tuition costs, then you will pay these non-academic fees directly to your program.

FINANCIAL AID

If you are a Columbia College or Columbia Engineering student and receive financial aid at Columbia University, you will remain eligible for financial aid when you study abroad during the fall, spring, or academic year as long as you successfully complete the clearance process. You should also consult with Columbia's Financial Aid and Educational Financing. You must speak with a financial aid office as soon as you have budget information for your study abroad program, and well before you commit to going abroad.

WHO IS PAID WHAT?

Columbia College and Columbia Engineering students who are studying abroad during the fall, spring, or academic year are responsible for the following payments:

TO COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

  • Columbia University tuition at the regular Columbia University rate, excluding room, board, books, living, or travel costs.

  • Columbia Health and Related Services Fee (mandatory) and Columbia Student Health Insurance Plan, if applicable.

  • If on a Columbia-Led program, you may pay non-academic fees (e.g., housing) via SSOL

TO THE PROGRAM PROVIDER OR EXCHANGE PROGRAM (in most cases for students participating in Columbia-Approved programs)

  • ​Room, board, and overseas travel (including flights), if billed by the program.

    • NOTE: If you receive a comprehensive bill (i.e., including tuition* and all non-incidental fees), you are responsible for paying the non-academic costs directly to the program.

For Columbia-Approved programs, the following fees are to some Third-Party Providers or Exchange Programs:

  • A deposit (usually between $200 and $500) is required to hold your place in the program once you have been accepted. You should pay the deposit and ask the program to credit it towards your non-academic fees, such as room and board. If you are on extensive financial aid, please discuss with your program representative and study abroad adviser to explore potential alternative payment options.

  • Some programs require you to pay for a School of Record transcript (CIEE is one of the providers that does t this). This is an academic cost, so Columbia University pays it on your behalf. Please ask your program provider to send an invoice directly to the Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement at the address below.

*If you receive a bill for tuition from your program, please notify the program to have the tuition bill sent to the address below, as Columbia University will pay all academic fees (i.e., tuition) on your behalf:

Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement

Columbia University

490 Riverside Drive

4th FL, Room 417

New York, NY 10027

HOME SCHOOL TUITION MODEL

Columbia College and Columbia Engineering follow a Home School Tuition model where students are charged Columbia tuition for study abroad on Columbia-Approved programs. This allows students to retain 100% of their federal and NY state financial aid and remain eligible for Columbia institutional aid. Columbia students studying abroad for a semester or academic year on Columbia-Approved programs will continue to be registered on campus (with a study abroad course number).

As part of the Home School Tuition model, Columbia students retain access to the Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement, International SOS support, advising, and other Columbia services before, during, and after their time abroad.

Summer

If you are attending a Columbia-Led or Columbia-Approved program: You pay most costs (i.e., tuition, room, board, etc.) to the program directly, whether attending a Columbia-Led or Columbia-Approved program. Some costs you will have to pay to a vendor directly (i.e., an airline, housing placement organization).

Contact the CC/SEAS Financial Aid & Educational Planning to understand if any of your federal financial aid may cover enrollment costs for a summer program. Please note the Columbia Grant is not available for summer studies.

Students studying abroad on a SUMMER Petition | Columbia-Approved program will be registered for a "Summer Study Abroad" placeholder course in SSOL and charged an administrative fee of $750.

School of General Studies

Costs for School of General Studies students are based on the type of program you attend (Columbia-Led or Columbia-Approved), not the term in which you go abroad.

FINANCIAL AID

It is important to note that your financial aid package being made available to you during a semester abroad depends on the type of program you attend (Columbia-Led or Columbia-Approved) and the type of aid you receive (e.g., Columbia institutional grant, federal funding).

If you are a General Studies student and receive institutional aid at Columbia University (e.g., Columbia Grant), please note that it does not apply to Columbia-Approved programs. However, in most cases, it does apply to Columbia-Led programs. Whereas, federal aid (e.g., Pell Grant) may be eligible for both Columbia-Led and Columbia-Approved programs. You should consult with the School of General Studies’ Office of Educational Financing for more information.

If you plan to utilize VA Benefits (e.g., Post-9/11 GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon, Veteran Readiness and Employment), you may still utilize these benefits on Columbia-Led programs; however, you will only be eligible for select Columbia-Approved programs. Third-party providers, who are non-degree-granting study abroad organizations (e.g., CIEE, CET, DIS, IFSA), do not have a School Certifying Official (SCO) and cannot receive payments directly from the VA. Therefore, we strongly encourage you to consider Columbia-Led opportunities or find a program offered by another U.S.-based degree-granting institution that may fall under our Columbia-Approved category. You should consult with the School of General Studies’ VA Veterans Support Team and a UGE Adviser for more information.

Columbia-Led | Semester or Academic Year

You are responsible for the following payments:

  • Columbia tuition at the regular Columbia rate per point (billed through SSOL).

  • Columbia Student Health Insurance, if applicable, and the Columbia Health Services Fee.

  • Any program-specific fees, such as housing or miscellaneous fees, may be due to the Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement or a third-party housing provider.

Columbia-Led | Summer

You are responsible for the following payments:

  • Program tuition and fees that cover housing and other expenses.. Please check the specific Columbia-Led program budget sheets to confirm. The summer cost breakdowns are generally updated by the end of the fall semester prior to the spring semester application deadlines for the summer programs.

If you receive financial aid at Columbia University, you may remain eligible for financial aid when you attend a Columbia-Led program as long as you take a minimum of 6 points. Please speak with your financial aid adviser once you decide on a program and note that some costs (i.e., tuition, housing) are billed via SSOL.

Columbia-Approved | Semester or Summer

You are responsible for the following payments:

  • To the School of General Studies: an administrative fee of $750 per semester. Summer study counts as one semester. You will also continue to pay the Columbia Health Services Fee during the semester.

  • To the third-party program provider or exchange program: All academic and non-academic fees. Speak directly to the GS Office of Educational Financing to determine if and how your financial aid may be applicable to study abroad.

Budgeting for Study Abroad

Studying abroad is an exciting time. As you approach your study abroad experience, it’s important to plan ahead and make a budget for your experience. This helps create realistic financial expectations and allows you to check in with important parties prior to departure.

Financial aid

If you are a Columbia College or Columbia Engineering student and receive financial aid at Columbia University, you will remain eligible for financial aid when you study abroad during the Fall, Spring, or Academic Year as long as you successfully complete the clearance process. You should also consult with Columbia's Financial Aid and Educational Financing (CC/SEAS). You must speak with a financial aid office as soon as you have budget information for your study abroad program, and well before you commit to going abroad. Financial aid does not transfer over to a summer study abroad experience.

School of General Studies students should speak with the GS Office of Educational Financing to discuss study abroad plans, as your financial aid package being made available to you during a semester abroad depends on the type of program you attend (Columbia-Led or Columbia-Approved) and the type of aid you receive (e.g., Columbia institutional grant, federal funding).

Preparing your budget

When budgeting for your study abroad experiences, you should consider:

  1. Does your program offer an estimated budget on their website?
  2. Try talking to former study abroad students, who can help estimate costs and provide cost-saving tips for students.
  3. Be realistic and even generous with your estimates. Use your current spending habits to estimate your future needs. When you are abroad, there will most likely be more things you will want to do and more things you will want to buy than you originally anticipated (travel!)
  4. Remember that exchange rates fluctuate. To find out an exchange rate, visit the Xe Currency Converter or search on any major search engine.

ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS

  • What is the local currency and current exchange rate in your host country?
  • What are the program dates (your anticipated arrival date, last day of exams)?
  • Is there a program fee for your program? (This usually includes non-academic fees such as housing, board, and other required fees). If yes, how much is it, and what does it include?
  • If there is no program fee, how much will your housing cost? Is it paid by the term or monthly?
  • Do you have to put down a housing deposit?
  • Are you responsible for utilities, and if so, what is the average monthly cost?
  • If not included in your program fee, what does your program estimate as the average cost for food per month?
  • How much is the average airline ticket to your host country (use appropriate dates-you might consult STA Travel, Student Universe, as well as search sites like Kayak, Sidestep, Travelocity, etc.)
  • Do you need a student visa? How much are the visa or permit fees?
  • Will you use Columbia Student Health Insurance Plan while you are abroad? If not, what other payments may you incur for your global health insurance coverage for your term abroad?
  • If you will be abroad for a year, what costs will you have between terms?
  • Does your program have a break? If so, what costs may you incur during that time?
  • Students often use the term abroad as an opportunity for personal travel once school obligations are met. How much do you anticipate spending on travel?

Fellowships and Scholarships for Studying Abroad

The resources below are primarily directed to students looking for scholarships to fund summer study abroad opportunities because Fall/Spring semester or Academic Year programs are frequently funded through financial aid; therefore, comparable to staying at Columbia University. For more information about financial aid, please contact the Financial Aid & Educational Financing (CC/SEAS) or the GS Office of Educational Financing.

However, if you still require additional funding, we encourage you to explore the resources below. Some opportunities may be available to you during a Fall/Spring semester or an Academic Year abroad.

It will be important to begin your research early! Many opportunities will have deadlines in the Fall or early Winter.

Most scholarships available for study abroad are competitive, and it is important for you to plan in advance how you will pay for your semester abroad. Many programs require substantial deposits to reserve your place, so while you may be applying for a scholarship, it is important to have an alternative in mind.

Global Learning Scholarship (GLS)

The Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement (UGE) is pleased to announce the Global Learning Scholarships (GLS) to help students fund their participation in a global learning opportunity for the summer term. These scholarships will be applied toward partial tuition charges for individual programs offered through UGE.

For more information, please visit the Global Learning Scholarship (GLS) page.

Finding Funding Opportunities

There are a few places that you can look to fund summer study abroad. While location- or program-specific opportunities are listed on individual program pages, there are some scholarships that are more generally applicable to study abroad:

WITH PROGRAM PROVIDERS

OUTSIDE ORGANIZATIONS / GOVERNMENT FUNDED

GENERAL RESOURCES

Undergraduate Research and Fellowships

Columbia College, Columbia Engineering, and the School of General Studies students and recent alumni can reach out to the Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (URF) team for support in identifying and applying to internal, national, and international fellowship opportunities that may assist in funding your experience abroad.

There are a variety of opportunities that support Columbia-Led and Columbia-Approved study abroad in fields as varied as the arts, social sciences, and natural and applied sciences. Your Columbia fellowship advisers are dedicated to working with you throughout your entire application process, from researching and identifying funding opportunities of interest to the final stages of submitting your fellowship application.

Please feel free to reach out to a URF Adviser for more information and to explore the possibilities.

International Students

Often, scholarship eligibility is determined by citizenship or nationality. If you are an international student, read the eligibility criteria carefully, as you may not be eligible for certain scholarships due to your student visa. Program-specific scholarships (noted on the program pages) and Columbia-specific fellowships are more likely to be open to international students. You should also research funding opportunities offered by your home country's government, consulate, and embassy in the U.S., and organizations that support education in your home country. For more information, please plan to talk with fellowship advisers.