Center for Global Education

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

A Study Abroad experience accessible to all

At UW-Whitewater, we pride ourselves on being an inclusive, welcoming place. The Center for Global Education will work on your behalf to offer high-quality, high-value programs and advising to make study abroad accessible to you and as many students as possible.

When you’re researching the study abroad opportunities available, we encourage you to consider program costs, which can vary widely across different programs. Research and apply for a variety of funding sources to help support your experience.


How can I offset the costs of studying abroad?

Icon of a dollar sign with a graduation cap on top of it. Financial aid
Icon of a piece of paper with a ribbon on it. Scholarships and grants
Icon of a shield with a star on it. Veterans benefits

Financial Aid

The Center for Global Education encourages all study abroad applicants to take the following steps to earn financial aid:

  • File a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for the academic year you plan to study abroad, even if you do not normally receive financial aid at UW-Whitewater. Complete your FAFSA as normal – there is no need to indicate you are studying abroad.
  • After you receive your initial Financial Aid award notification, submit a copy of your program budget to the Financial Aid office. We will distribute this to you via e-mail and/or post it to the Documents section of your online application portal.

The Financial Aid office will review your student financial aid package based on the costs of your program. These additional study abroad expenses may qualify you for an increased financial aid award.

Your UW-Whitewater financial aid, grants, and scholarships will be applied to your UW-Whitewater student account for the term you are studying abroad. Your student account will reflect the balance owed after your financial aid and scholarships are applied.

If you have aid or scholarship funds left over after paying all the “billable costs,” you will receive a refund, which you will use to assist with the “non-billable costs” of your study abroad program. Study abroad participants are highly encouraged to sign up for e-Refund so the refund can be direct-deposited into the student’s bank account.

For more information on studying abroad and financial aid, visit the Financial Aid office.

 

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Scholarships and grants

Students are encouraged to research and apply for scholarships and grants to help support their study abroad experience. Both UW-Whitewater and external funding opportunities are available. Early research and application is encouraged since scholarship and application deadlines often fall prior to program application deadlines and may be as early as a full year prior to the program start date.

This grant provides some funding for study abroad programs for undergraduate participants who are Wisconsin residents, have demonstrated financial need, and meet certain other criteria. Students can find full information and the online application for this grant on the Wisconsin Grant for Study Abroad application page.

UW-Whitewater is proud to support participation in study abroad through a variety of scholarships. Students can find information about and apply to the following UW-Whitewater study abroad scholarships through a common application:

  • API/UW-Whitewater Study Abroad Scholarship
  • Burton Heldt Study Abroad Scholarship
  • Michael D. Butler Sr. Travel Abroad Scholarship
  • Ludeman Study Abroad Scholarship
  • Charles E. Cottle International Studies Scholarship
  • College of Arts and Communication Study Abroad Scholarship
  • College of Business and Economics Study Abroad Scholarship
  • College of Education Study Abroad Scholarship
  • College of Letters and Sciences Study Abroad Scholarship
  • Dean Goza International Travel Scholarship
  • International Studies Scholarships
  • Kerry College of Business and Economics International Studies Fund
  • Student Diversity, Engagement and Success Scholarship
  • Norman and Kathleen Wood International Education Scholarship
  • Peter Hoff Study Abroad Scholarship
  • Rama K. Bharadwaj Scholarship
  • Weiler and Company Scholarship

The Donald L. and Allene L. Graham “Study in Britain” Award has a separate application process. This scholarship is available to a student enrolled in any major at the university who enrolls for a period of one semester or longer in a university at the United Kingdom. The recipient must have attained at least junior standing at the beginning of the award and have an overall GPA of 3.0 or above. The applicant is expected to present evidence that they will gain admission to a university program in the United Kingdom.

Several organizations outside of UW-Whitewater offer scholarships for study abroad:

  • AASAP/UK Lord Acton Memorial Scholarship: For students with a 3.0 GPA or higher studying abroad for a semester (£500) or year (£1000) in the UK on a program that is a full or associate member of the Association of American Study Abroad Programmes United Kingdom (AASAP/UK). (Includes AIFS, API, CEA, ISA, USAC, and Wisconsin in Scotland programs.) 
  • Boren: Scholarships of up to $20,000 for students studying languages, cultures, and fields of study critical to U.S. national security.
  • BUTEX: £500 scholarship for students studying in the UK at a BUTEX-affiliated university for a semester or year.
  • DAAD: Scholarships for students studying or interning abroad in Germany.
  • Freeman-ASIA Awards: Scholarships for students studying abroad in East Asia (China, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and more) for a year (up to $7,000), semester (up to $5,000), or summer programs 8 weeks or longer (up to $3,000). Applicants must have a GPA of 2.8 and demonstrated financial need (by completing the FAFSA). 
  • Fund for Education Abroad: Scholarships of up to $10,000 for undergraduate students studying abroad for four weeks or more. Includes one dedicated “Rainbow Scholarship” for LGBTQ+ students.
  • Gilman: Scholarships of up to $5,000 (or $8,000 for students studying critical need languages) for undergraduate Pell Grant recipients studying or interning abroad for four weeks or more.
  • Go Overseas: Information clearinghouse with study abroad information and links to scholarships.
  • Golden Key: Study abroad scholarships of $5,000 for Golden Key members.
  • Phi Kappa Phi: Study abroad grants of $1,000 for undergraduate students with a 3.75 GPA or higher. Applicants need not be members of Phi Kappa Phi.
  • SAIIE Scholarship: Scholarships worth up to $1,500 for a semester abroad, $300 per summer session, $500 for both summer sessions, and $300 for the winterim term for UW-Whitewater students in the SAAIE program.
  • U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation: Scholarships of $2,500-$4,000 for undergraduates studying abroad in Japan for one semester or one year.
  • IIEPassport Study Abroad Funding: Database of hundreds of study abroad scholarships, fellowships, grants, and paid internships.

Many study abroad providers offer scholarships to students participating in their programs. Additionally, many providers offer students from affiliated universities discounts or additional scholarship opportunities. See below for information on scholarships and other financial benefits for study abroad providers with which UW-Whitewater has an affiliation.

  • AIFS: Automatic Affiliate Grant for UW-Whitewater students - $400 for semester programs, $200 for summer programs
  • API:
    • Consideration for UW-Whitewater/API Affiliate Scholarships – apply using the university’s common scholarship application.
    • Student-athlete scholarship welcomes students across all divisions who have a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Distributes awards from $250 to $750. Apply through the API Scholarship Application.
  • CEA: Automatic Student Travel Grant for UW-Whitewater students - $2,000 for yearlong programs, $1,000 for semester programs, $500 for short-term and summer programs
    • Note: UW-Whitewater students are not eligible to apply for additional CEA travel grants/vouchers. Students can still apply for CEA scholarships.
  • CISabroad: Automatic Affiliate discount - $250 for semester, $100 for short-term/internship programs
  • ISA: Automatic $200 discount for UW-Whitewater students
  • USAC

 

Veterans benefits

Students receiving veterans benefits may be able to use their benefits to help fund their study abroad experience. Since the ability to use these benefits toward study abroad programs depends on a variety of complex factors, the Center for Global Education works closely with Veterans Services to coordinate veterans benefits for students participating in study abroad programs.

Students planning to use their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits or Wisconsin GI Bill benefits to assist in funding a study abroad program must meet with the Center for Global Education and Veterans Services early on the study abroad planning process, before applying to a program, to identify a program that meets the requirements of the VA and the student’s study abroad goals.

 

Additional resources

Program costs

 

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The cost of a study abroad program depends on many factors.

  • Location: Program fees and cost of living can vary greatly from location to location. Developed countries (e.g., Western Europe, Australia/New Zealand) and larger cities (e.g., London, Tokyo, Sydney) tend to have the highest program fees and cost of living, so you can save money by narrowing your search to smaller cities or countries with a lower cost of living (e.g., Dalkeith, Scotland instead of London, England; Fiji instead of Australia). You’ll also see variation in international airfare – airfare to Costa Rica will generally be less expensive than to Spain.
  • Duration: Longer programs may have a higher price tag than shorter programs. However, the longer the program, the less it costs per day (and per credit!) because you spread fixed costs (e.g., airfare) over a longer period of time. In general, more financial aid and scholarship funding is available for semester and year programs than short-term programs.
  • Living options: Some housing options may be more affordable than others. For programs offering housing in residence halls, a single room may cost more than a double room. For programs offering a homestay option, meals and laundry may be included at no extra cost.
  • Co-curricular activities: Engaging in your host community is more affordable than traveling in your free time. It has the added benefit of improving your knowledge of the host culture and strengthening your relationships with community members. Look for programs offering volunteer opportunities, language exchanges, buddy programs, or on-campus student organizations.

Find specific cost information for each program by locating your program of interest in our program search. Program fees are listed on this page for all programs except programs administered by a study abroad provider or another UW campus. For program fee information on study abroad provider and Universities of Wisconsin programs, locate your program of interest in our program search, and then follow the link to program web page on the study abroad provider or other UW campus’s website. Please note that the following fees will also be billed to your account by the Office of Global Experiences:

  • $225 application/administration fee
  • $50 contingency fee (mandated by Universities of Wisconsin)
  • $35 per month CISI Insurance policy for the Universities of Wisconsin (unless this is billed to the student by another UW campus)

Your program costs fall into two categories:

  • Billable costs are billed by UW-Whitewater to your student account through WINS
  • Non-billable costs are paid to you directly to entities other than UW-Whitewater

The overall billable costs will vary according to your study abroad program. The list below shows the charges that could be included in this fee. For program-specific details, please refer to your program budget.

  • $225 application/administration fee: Always included, this fee covers the costs of study abroad advising, processing of applications, pre-departure guidance, orientation and workshops, program and advising materials, continued support while students are abroad, re-entry programming, and study abroad academic credit and grade articulation processing
  • $50 contingency fee: Always included, the proceeds from this fee go into a contingency fund, as mandated by Universities of Wisconsin policy. It’s used to cover costs associated with emergencies and other unforeseen challenges.
  • $35 per month CISI insurance policy for UWs: Always included unless this is billed to the student by another UW campus.
  • Tuition/instructional costs: Sometimes included or may be billed to you directly by your host university or program provider.
  • Program-specific fees: Sometimes included or may be billed directly to you by your program provider or host university.
  • Housing: Sometimes included or may be billed to you directly by your host university or program or accommodation provider.
  • Meals: Sometimes included or may be billed to you directly by your program or accommodation provider or may be paid individually “as you go.”

Non-billable costs are fees that are not billed through UW-Whitewater. You should plan to make payment directly to the organization that billed you. Your program may involve some or all of the following non-billable costs, depending on the billing arrangements of your program:

  • Costs billed directly to you by your program provider or host university (e.g., application fee, tuition/program fee)
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • Books and supplies
  • Round-trip flight
  • Local transportation
  • Passport, visa application, and supporting documents (e.g., photos)
  • Immunizations
  • Additional required health insurance (e.g., as required by the Australian, French, and German governments)
  • Additional personal expenses

Please note that you may need to pay for many of these charges well in advance of your program start date, while others may be due upon arrival. In many of these instances, the payment deadline may fall before financial aid and scholarships are dispersed. In other words, if you are utilizing financial aid or scholarships to pay for these items, you will need to use other funding sources until your financial aid or scholarships are disbursed to you. Keep this in mind as you budget and save for your study abroad experience. Consider options such as saving up for these expenses, borrowing money from parents or other family members, or taking out a loan.

Refund policy

Students are responsible for the following non-refundable fees if they have an active online application as part of the application deadline:

  • Application/Administration Fee: $225
  • Contingency Fee: $50 (if this fee applies to your program type)

These fees will be billed to your UW-Whitewater account even if you subsequently withdraw your application. You are therefore encouraged to make a final decision regarding your participation in a program prior to the application deadline, as applications may be withdrawn without penalty up until the application deadline (unless otherwise noted).

You will also be responsible for any non-recoverable costs resulting from payments that the Center for Global Education has made on your behalf prior to your withdrawal (e.g., any non-refundable portions of airfare, administrative fees, accommodation, or host university tuition).

Once you’ve arrived at the program site and have begun the program, you will not be eligible for a refund of any kind, except in extraordinary circumstances beyond students’ control, such as a serious injury or illness, natural disaster, or political instability at the program site that necessitates early departure. In these cases, any recoverable costs may be refunded, and the Ceneter for Global Education  will also advise students on the possibility of making insurance claims through our insurance provider, CISI.

UW-Whitewater publishes withdrawal deadlines for tuition refunds that apply to students who withdraw from study abroad programs that charge UW-Whitewater tuition. This list can be found by visiting UW-Whitewater's schedule of classes and clicking on the relevant term.

If you complete the program, you are not eligible for a refund.

The refund policies of study abroad providers, host universities, and other UW campuses may differ from those at UW-Whitewater. For more information on refund policies of external organizations, please contact them directly or visit their website.

Need more financial information about studying abroad?
262-472-5759 | studyabroad@uww.edu

More to explore

Center for Global Education

McCutchan Hall
239 Prince Street
Whitewater, WI 53190

Study Abroad

McCutchan Hall, room 204
262-472-5759
studyabroad@uww.edu

International Student and Scholar Services

McCutchan Hall, room 220
262-472-4992
international@uww.edu

International Admissions

McCutchan Hall, room 208
262-472-3223
intladmission@uww.edu