Studying abroad will be one of the most important and memorable adventures of your undergraduate career. Planning and financing your program adequately will ensure a successful experience. We recommend that you start planning and saving early. Our helpful tips will get you started.
Advising
Choosing a study abroad, field school or internship program does not have to be an overwhelming process. We provide experienced staff members and open information sessions to guide you through the process and to support decisions that will advance your specific academic goals.
Academic advisors
While the Study Abroad program coordinator can provide information on what classes are offered, we also recommended that you speak with an academic advisor from your school or college to figure out which courses will best fulfill your academic needs. Any student can make an appointment to see an advisor regarding study abroad here.
If you need help getting equivalencies for your unit or university, contact our undergraduate advisors so we can assist you with course descriptions and syllabi.
Information sessions
During the fall and spring semesters we offer in-person information sessions about our programs. Please keep checking here and our calendar for the dates, locations and times.
Please note that all students are required to attend a Study Abroad 101 session before traveling abroad.
Planning your program
Steps to studying abroad:
- Identify a program you would like to attend and research the dates, courses, itinerary, syllabus and most importantly, the costs.
- Attend a Study Abroad 101 session (all students who wish to travel abroad are required to complete this session).
- Apply for the study abroad program (see program page for specifics on how to apply).
- Research financing your program, and start saving early.
- Once accepted, you must confirm your participation and turn in any necessary paperwork.
- Purchase your airline ticket.
- Register for the appropriate classes and pay the required tuition and program fees.
- Attend in-person orientation.
- Complete all pre-departure homework.
- Pack and leave.
Financing your program
Steps to financing your study abroad program:
- Calculate your total program costs, which includes program fees, airfare, tuition, passport/visa and money for incidentals, such as food, entertainment, extra excursions, etc. (be sure to over-budget, as students tend to spend more money on social outings and on incidentals than they expect). The ASU Study Abroad Office also provides online cost sheets (please see your specific program's e-brochure for that link), with program cost information that will help you budget.
- Once you have estimated your costs, you should start saving money. Here are some tips to finance your program:
- Put any extra student loan money from your fall and spring semesters into savings.
- Make sure that you have applied for financial aid by filing your FAFSA. Approximately 1-2 weeks after beginning your study abroad program, you will receive an e-mail from Financial Aid and Scholarship Services with financial information designed to help you plan and make your decision to study abroad. Once you confirm your participation in your study abroad program, you will receive an additional e-mail from Financial Aid and Scholarship Services outlining your current aid package and listing any additional loans for which you may be eligible to apply.
- Search for scholarships, and apply early.
- Consult the Financing your Study Abroad Program handbook offered by the Study Abroad Office. This handbook offers many tips for saving and fundraising for your study abroad experience. You will also find helpful information on how to use financial aid and scholarships. Please note: the School of Human Evolution and Social Change programs are "faculty-directed" programs, so make sure to pay attention to that information.
- Visit the ASU Study Abroad Office's Financing Your Study Abroad Program website.
- Attend one of the Study Abroad Office's Financing Your Study Abroad Program Workshops.
Financial aid
Students must fill out the Free Application for Federal Financial Aid in order to be eligible for student loans and/or grants. Students who qualify for financial aid are eligible to use their awarded funds toward paying program tuition and/or program fees. The study abroad coordinator and international coordinator in the Study Abroad Office will assist you in obtaining the necessary information, such as the cost sheet, to take to ASU's Financial Aid Office.
Scholarships
- Study Abroad Office Grant: There are multiple awards of $1,000 (semester/summer) or $750 (Global Intensive Experience program) based on both need and academics.
- Study Abroad Office Diversity Scholarship: There are multiple $1,000 awards for diverse students based on both need and academics.
- College of Liberal Arts and Sciences scholarship: This scholarship is awarded only to students whose declared major is in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
- Gilman Scholarships: These scholarships provide U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means the ability to study abroad. Students must be Pell Grant-eligible in order to apply. (If you are unsure of your financial aid status, please check the Finances tab in your myASU account for your financial aid details, or see the ASU Student Financial Assistance Office website. The summer Gilman awards favor longer programs (5–8 weeks in length); participants on our India Internship and Guatemala Field School programs have received funding in the past.
If you qualify for the Gilman, we strongly suggest that you contact Brian Goehner with theASU Lorraine W. Frank Office of National Scholarship Advisement (LWFONSA), which offers Gilman workshops several times a year to guide students through this scholarship application process. Students should plan to complete their scholarship applications early so that LWFONSA has time to review them and provide feedback for making their application essays as competitive as possible.
Non-ASU students: You are still eligible to use financial aid to cover the costs of your program; however, you must work with your home institution's financial aid office. ASU does not offer financial aid to non-ASU students.
The Study Abroad Office also offers a list of other scholarships that are available to anyone.
In addition, there are many outside-ASU sources that may be useful in obtaining scholarships, grants or even loans for your study abroad, field school or internship program: