Understanding How Much Study Abroad Will Cost for You

This is an important question, as we know that finances and budgeting play a large role in your study abroad decision. The answer will depend on a few factors, such as your college or university’s (what we call “home school”) policies on billing, financial aid, and scholarships.

Some universities charge their tuition for students who study abroad. Others will have you pay IES Abroad tuition. The best place to find this information is on your school’s study abroad website, as most have a section dedicated to helping you understand study abroad costs and fee structures. If you cannot find this information online, request a meeting with a study abroad advisor on your campus. And remember, you can start exploring options any time—it’s never too early to start planning and budgeting for study abroad.

To find the cost of your IES Abroad program:

• Navigate to your program on the IES Abroad website and click on “Cost” in the dropdown at the top of the page.

• Under the “Program Cost” section, you can find cost cards detailing the itemized costs for tuition, housing, health insurance, and the total Program Cost. If full fees are available, which include things like estimated transportation costs and supplemental tuition fees, clicking the "View All Fees" button will open a pop-up window that shows you line-by-line fees you might incur during your program.

• Click on the "View All Fees" button to access a table of the line-by-line costs. This table is a great tool to help you understand the required program costs, additional fees* incurred on the program, and other guidelines to help you create a budget for your program.  

*NOTE: Your school may charge an application fee or a study abroad fee in addition to the costs you will pay to IES Abroad. Many universities’ study abroad websites have cost breakdowns and budgeting tools, so be sure to check there, too!   

IES Abroad will bill either you or your school for your program's tuition, housing, and health insurance. These costs also include predeparture support from your IES Abroad Program Advisor, visa application assistance (if applicable), on-site health and safety support, course-related excursions, access to the IES Abroad alumni network, and more!

Great question! Look back at the "Where can I find the cost breakdown?" question above to see how to navigate to the cost-breakdown table on your program page. Once you're there, scroll down to the third section that says “Additional Estimated Expenses for Student Budgeting Purposes.” In this section, you'll find a list of expenses associated with your study abroad program that will not be billed to you directly by IES Abroad or your school. We’ve provided an estimate of what you can expect to pay for each category so you can budget accordingly.

For example, you’ll arrange and pay for your flight to your IES Abroad program independently. That way, you can search to find the best deal and flight pattern to your destination. You will also need to budget for meals during your program. Certain housing options include some meals while others do not, so we have outlined an estimated meal cost based on the different housing options. Additionally, you’ll want to have some funds available for on-site transportation (such as a metro pass), course materials, and personal expenses (like toiletries, sightseeing, etc). 

By now, you won’t be surprised to hear that it depends on a few factors, such as your school’s policies and the type of scholarship(s) and aid you receive.  Your school will have specific guidelines for whether they can transfer your existing scholarships and aid to your IES Abroad program. Be sure to discuss this with your campus study abroad office and financial aid team. If your school needs documentation from IES Abroad about our program costs, email your IES Abroad Program Advisor, and they will help you obtain that information.  

Yes! In fact, we offer millions of dollars in scholarships and aid to students. If you attend a private school in our Consortium, you may be eligible for need-based aid from IES Abroad. If you attend a public university in our Consortium and participate in a semester length academic program with us, you will automatically receive the $2,000 Public University Grant from IES Abroad. 

Students (whether attending a public or private school) participating in an IES Abroad program can also apply to be considered for our study abroad scholarships and grants. The best part is that you only need to submit one online application with your information, which can even happen before you apply to a specific IES Abroad program. We will review it and notify you of all scholarships and aid we determine that you are eligible for. Any funding you receive from IES Abroad will be issued as a credit towards your bill, so it will lower the total cost for your program.

If you’ve talked to your school and applied for IES Abroad scholarships and aid and are still looking for funding options, explore Additional Resources.