Studying abroad requires financial planning in advance, so you will need to know your personal and family resources as well as how studying abroad will impact your financial aid eligibility for the time that you are abroad. For information on how your financial aid package and UVM scholarships might apply to study abroad, please review the Student Financial Services website and contact them for details on your specific aid package.

You should research and confirm the applicability of the following types of financial resources to your intended study abroad program:

  • Federal aid
  • State aid
  • UVM Scholarships
  • Private Scholarships
  • College Savings Plans (ex; 529)
  • Grants
  • Pell Grants
  • Private Loans

OIE staff are not able to answer questions specific to which types of programs would or would not work for 529 funding, but can help you better understand how the finances of different programs work if you need additional clarification before talking to your plan administrator.

Type of ProgramTuitionRoom & BoardStudy Abroad FeeCan UVM Scholarships apply?Can Federal Financial Aid apply?
UVM In programsregular UVM tuitionroom paid to UVM, board paid by student abroad$500yesyes
UVM Field Studies in Costa Ricaregular UVM tuitionprogram fee paid to UVM includes room and board$500yesyes
UVM ExchangesUVM tuition (in-state or "exchange rate" depending on residency)paid to host university, varies by location$500yes (adjusted for "exchange rate" of tuition if applicable)yes
UVM Travel Studyregular UVM course tuitionprogram fee paid to UVM includes room and boardnonecheck with UVM Student Financial Servicescheck with UVM Student Financial Services
ISEP ExchangesUVM tuition (in-state or "exchange rate" depending on residency)room and board paid to UVM$500yes (adjusted for "exchange rate" of tuition if applicable)yes
External Provider Programs, ISEP Direct, Direct-Enrollspaid directly to providerpaid directly to provider$500 for semester, $250 for summernoyes

 

Finances of Different Program Types

Finances of UVM In programs

Students on UVM In programs pay their usual UVM tuition and fees, plus the UVM traditional double room rate. There is no meal plan on UVM In programs; students on these programs purchase groceries for themselves while abroad. UVM grants and scholarships are eligible for use on these programs, as is federal financial aid. Once accepted, there is a $300 non-refundable deposit to secure a space in these programs.

Finances of UVM Field Studies in Costa Rica

Students participating in the UVM Field Studies in Costa Rica semester program semester programs pay their usual tuition to UVM, plus a program fee. UVM grants and scholarships are eligible for use on these programs, as is federal financial aid. Once accepted, there is a non-refundable deposit to secure a space in this program.

Finances of Exchange Programs

Currently, Vermont resident students pay the UVM in-state tuition rate, and out-of-state students pay tuition at the “exchange rate” which is equivalent to a 40% reduction on out-of-state tuition. Financial aid, including UVM grants and scholarships, can apply to exchange programs.  UVM grants and scholarships are reduced for out-of-state students to account for the reduction in tuition. For more information, please see the Student Financial Services website.

Finances of ISEP Exchanges

ISEP Exchange students pay tuition, room (at the traditional double room rate), and board to UVM. Currently, Vermont resident students pay the UVM in-state tuition rate, and out-of-state students pay tuition at the “exchange rate” which is equivalent to a 40% reduction on out-of-state tuition. Financial aid, including UVM grants and scholarships, can apply to exchange programs.  UVM grants and scholarships are reduced for out-of-state students to account for the reduction in tuition. For more information, please see the Student Financial Services website. ISEP also charges ISEP Exchange students an application fee and a placement fee, see ISEP's website for current costs.

Finances of External, ISEP Direct, and Direct-Enroll Programs

Students participating in approved programs sponsored by other organizations or institutions will not qualify for UVM grants and scholarships during their time abroad, but may continue to use federal and state aid to assist in financing their study abroad programs. Additional information is available from Student Financial Services. Outside of the UVM study abroad fee, bills are paid directly to the outside organization or institution. Financial aid packages will be recalculated to reflect the costs of the study abroad program. Parent PLUS and alternative loans are available through federal and private loan providers to help finance external programs. Your financial aid eligibility will be reduced if your total program cost is less than the standard cost of enrolling for the same period at UVM. Notify Student Financial Services promptly of any changes to the costs or course load associated with your program. If you receive outside grants or scholarships, be sure to check with the sponsoring organization about how these benefits or scholarships might be applied to costs for your study abroad program. Federal financial aid will disburse to UVM ten days before the UVM semester begins or your study abroad program starts (whichever is later). That means that you may have already started classes before you receive your federal financial aid. Some external/direct enroll programs will require you to pay for tuition and/or housing upfront, before you receive your financial aid. There may be steps you can take to alleviate this to an extent (like completing payment deferral paperwork, or supplying a letter from SFS that details your financial aid), but not all programs may allow this. Make sure you know ahead of time what your program/host university requires.

Finances of UVM Short-Term Travel Study

Travel Study and UVM Field Studies programs are regarded as normal UVM courses and as such, normal tuition and fees apply. Winter break and spring break course charges are applied to the Spring semester bill. For example, if your total number of credits for winter break + spring break + spring semester = 19 or fewer credits, there are no additional tuition and comprehensive fees charged for the travel study course. There is an exception to this: if you are enrolled in a spring semester-long study abroad program, you will be charged additionally for the credits from a winter break or spring break course, see the details here on Student Financial Services' website under "Taking Additional UVM Courses While on a Semester Study Abroad Program".​ Summer course charges are applied to the Summer term bill. The program fee could include costs for room and board, in-country transportation, entrance fees and other fees attached to the course curriculum. Refer to the specific program’s GoAbroad brochure page to identify what is or is not included in the program fee for your program of interest. The cost of airfare is not included.

Budget Sheets

If you receive financial aid and want to take eligible aid with you when you go abroad, you are required to complete a Budget Sheet.

  • Students going on exchange and direct enroll programs will have their budget sheets completed for them by their study abroad advisor.
  • Students going on external programs may need to complete a budget sheet themselves, depending on whether they receive an email from Student Financial Services requesting one.
    • Templates for budget sheets are found on the Study Abroad Forms page.
    • If you are required to complete a budget sheet, you should fill out the appropriate template according to the costs of your program and required additional costs like airfare, visas, etc. All costs should be documented, you can find guidance on creating your external program budget sheet here. If you find you have further questions after consulting that page, you can ask your program provider and/or Study Abroad Advisor for assistance. Attach any and all cost documentation to your completed budget sheet and bring it to Student Financial Services.
    • If you need assistance filling out your budget sheet after reading through the budget sheet guidance page, look at our Calendar of Events to see if there are any upcoming Budget Sheet Help Sessions.

Study Abroad Fee

Students who study abroad for a semester or any non-UVM summer program pay a study abroad fee. The fee is $500 for a semester or full-year program and $250 for summer programs not run by UVM. Students pay the fee through their myUVM billing account, payment is due on standard UVM billing dates. Students will receive their billing notifications by email when they are ready. The fee primarily covers the expenses associated with having personnel available to provide study abroad advising services up to and beyond the point of departure. When the fee is paid, these additional items are triggered administratively:

  • Allows you to remain enrolled as a full-time UVM student, ensuring continued student status for health insurance coverage and, when applicable, financial aid.
  • Allows you to register for the following semester's classes at UVM at the same time as on-campus students.
  • Facilitates your credits to transfer back to UVM upon successful completion and review of course material.
  • Provides UVM administrative support services while abroad including access to Study Abroad Advisors, Transfer Affairs advisors, and Student Financial Services advisors, as well as access to the UVM library.
  • Enrolls you with International SOS, UVM's health and safety emergency services provider.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES

To assist you in funding your study abroad experience, OIE has compiled a list of scholarships and grants available for study abroad. This list is meant to be a starting point for you and is not comprehensive. Check with individual organizations and programs to find the most up-to-date, complete, and accurate information.

UVM Funding:

  • Buckham Overseas Program Travel Scholarship
    • Contact the English department for more information.

Government and Non-Profit Funding:

Visit the UVM National Scholarships & Fellowships Advising website for additional guidance regarding the government and non-profit scholarships above.

External Funding:

Many of our approved external study abroad programs offer scholarships to their participants. Be sure to research scholarship opportunities available through the programs you are considering.

Shanghai, China

“There is very little holding you back from making a study abroad trip a reality. This as an excellent opportunity to enjoy a uniquely rich and fulfilling experience and it should not be let go of lightly.”

--Daniel Gehan, Brno, Czech Republic