Funding Study Abroad

If a student chooses to study on a Wake Forest semester abroad/away program, then they will be billed for

• Standard Wake Forest tuition.
• A housing fee
• A meal fee (if applicable)
• Program Fees (summer programs only)

These charges will appear directly on the student’s WFU account. Each program page will have specific information about indirect expenses and anticipated costs.

Short-Term programs include an additional fee for the travel expense of the program which is charged to the WFU student account but there is no additional charge for tuition.

If a student chooses an Affiliate (non-WFU) semester abroad/away program, then they will be billed for

• WFU standard tuition which is paid to WFU directly. The Wake Forest tuition rate can be found on the WFU’s cost of attendance website.
  • NOTE: WFU will pay the Affiliate program’s tuition up to the WFU tuition rate amount. Students who elect to go on approved Affiliate programs with a higher tuition cost will be charged the tuition differential between the program rate and the WFU rate.
• Non-tuition fees such as housing which are billed directly by the affiliate program provider. Estimates for fees to be paid to the affiliate provider can be found on the program provider’s website.

This Home School Tuition for Affiliate Programs FAQ covers additional information about the home school tuition model used for affiliate semester study abroad programs.

Students who chose an affiliate summer study abroad programs pay all tuition, housing, and program fees directly to the affiliate program.

All programs typically have indirect costs which are non-billable expenses associated with a program. Indirect costs can include:

• Flights/Transportation
• Visa Fees
• Groceries and Meals – Most programs do not include a meal plan
• Personal Expenses
• Book/Supplies

There are cost of living calculators such as Numbeo that can help you research approximate costs for personal expenses and meals. Additionally, most programs offer itemized cost information with estimated expenses.

Most programs will require a deposit to confirm the student’s participation on the program. Deposits paid to WFU are applied to the tuition cost of the program.

• Deposits are non-refundable
• Deposits are due 2 weeks after acceptance to a study away program.
• Forfeiture: If a student withdraws from a program, the deposit is forfeited and cannot be applied toward Reynolda Campus tuition or fees.
• Summer Programs: Many summer programs require a non-refundable deposit.
• Additional Fees: Program directors may require supplemental deposits or fees. For specific details, please contact the Center for Global Programs and Studies.

Deadlines: Study Away billing for semester programs follows the regular Wake Forest University billing cycle for semester programs. Summer tuition charges are added to student accounts on May 1st and are due on June 1st. Summer and Short-Term program fees may be due before tuition charges. More information on tuition and billing can be found on the Student Financial Services webpage.

Financial Responsibility: Students are responsible for all charges posted to their account. Accounts must be paid in full prior to departure for any Wake Forest or Affiliate program. Students with outstanding account balances may experience certain consequences, including, but not limited to, not being allowed to register for the study away classes in question or administrative withdrawal from the study away program.

Study Abroad/Away Refunds and Disruption Policy

Circumstances may arise during a semester/term that cause significant disruptions to study abroad/away program operations. The Study Abroad/Away Disruption Refund Policy outlines the applicable refunds and the associated refund schedule.

Refund Policies: For information regarding the refund of charges and the return of financial aid funds, please visit the Financial Aid Withdrawal Policy.

Disruption Schedule: Disruptions on the Reynolda Campus do not automatically indicate a disruption of study abroad operations. If a program is significantly impacted by unforeseen circumstances, it may be subject to the Disruption Refund Policy. Please consult the Center for Global Programs to verify if a specific program is under a disruption status.Circumstances may arise during a semester/term that cause significant disruptions to study abroad/away program operations. The Study Abroad/Away Disruption Refund Policy outlines the applicable refunds and the associated refund schedule.

Participation and Withdrawal Policy for Study Abroad/Away

The WFU Participation and Withdrawal Policy for Study Abroad/Away applies to both Wake Forest-sponsored and Affiliate programs.

Students participating on Wake Forest study abroad/away programs follow the same financial aid application process as they would for a semester on the Reynolda Campus.

• Students enrolled in WFU Study Abroad Programs are directly billed for tuition and room charges.
• Indirect costs such as personal expenses, transportation, and books/supplies are added to the direct billable charges to determine the total cost of attendance. Housing and some indirect expenses will vary depending on the specific program.
• Financial aid and scholarships will be applied toward any direct charges billed to the student account. Should a credit remain on the account after all direct charges have been covered, students may request a refund and those funds can be used to assist with any program-associated indirect costs such as food, transportation, and personal expenses.
• Optional/incremental costs including non-standard housing charges are considered discretionary and are not considered in determining need-based financial aid eligibility.

Students can learn more about additional scholarship opportunities by visiting the Scholarships page.

Students participating on an Affiliate program will complete the same financial aid application process as they would for a semester on-campus.

• Affiliate program costs will vary depending on the program. The Student Financial Aid Office calculates the cost of attendance for a specific program by including the direct costs of Wake Forest tuition and Affiliate room & board, as well as the indirect costs of personal expenses, transportation, and books/supplies.
• Financial aid and scholarships will be applied toward any direct charges billed to the Wake Forest student account. Should a credit remain on the account after all direct charges have been covered, students may request a refund and those funds can be used to pay pending Affiliate program charges or to assist with any program-associated indirect costs such as food, transportation, and personal expenses.
• Optional/incremental costs including non-standard housing charges are considered discretionary and are not considered in determining need-based financial aid eligibility.

Students can learn more about additional scholarship opportunities by visiting the Scholarships page.

Any external scholarships received must be reported to the Financial Aid Office and the Center for Global Programs and Studies. External scholarships are considered resources and will be included as part of your financial aid package.

Refund Request: Students who receive Wake Forest financial aid funds and have a credit on their student account after WFU direct charges have been covered can request a refund by submitting the WFU Student Refund Request Form. The refund will be made payable to the student. Refund checks will not be sent to affiliate study abroad institutions on the student’s behalf. For further explanation of the student refund process and the ways in which the refund can be released to the student, please visit the Student Financial Services website. Direct deposit is the best option to secure a faster refund.

Account Clearance: All account charges must be paid in full, and all financial aid must be officially disbursed to the student account before a refund is processed.

Documentation: It is the student’s responsibility to submit all financial aid paperwork by the established deadlines to ensure timely processing.

Monitoring: Students should regularly monitor their account status and disbursements via Workday Student Financials.

Depending on your Affilliate program, you may request one of the following. Students should speak with the Affiliate program’s billing office to determine their preferred process.

• a payment deferral form
• a financial aid assessment form from the host institution
• you may provide the host institution’s Bursar’s Office or Billing Specialist with direct contact information for the WFU Student Financial Aid Office’s Study Abroad Coordinator.

529 College Savings Plans vary from state to state. You should consult with your individual plan before you decide on your study abroad program. As a general rule, money from a 529 plan can be used for tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for study at any accredited college or university in the United States and at some foreign universities.

Your parent must contact the Human Resources Benefits Specialist at their employer for approval and to coordinate the payment of the benefit to the host institution.

Please check with your Wake Forest VA education benefits certifying official to determine whether or not VA education benefits may be used for study abroad.