Wondering how much it costs to study abroad? Learn more about our tuition, fees, and what financial resources are available to you.
When you study abroad at Tulane, you will be charged your normal Tulane tuition along with the academic support fee. Students are enrolled full-time at Tulane University while abroad via placeholder course. This ensures a continuity of care for students. All credits return as general elective credit*, Tulane continues to offer support while abroad, and Tulane approved programs offer a robust, pre-vetted academic experience for students. The tuition payment does not cover additional costs such as housing, flights, food, passport/visa fees, course fees beyond tuition (ex. studio fee), or incidentals.
While students may see quoted prices for "educational costs" or "tuition and fees" on the website of their provider or host university, this does not mean that they are responsible for payment of both Tulane tuition and program tuition. Under the home school tuition model, the NTC Office of Study Abroad pays the program tuition and fee cost to the provider or host university on behalf of the student while students pay tuition and fees at the full-time Tulane rate via Accounts Receivable.
We use this model because it allows students to utilize their institutional scholarships and federal loans, both of which are tied to full-time enrollment at Tulane University.
All financial aid and scholarships - including the Dean's Honor Scholarship, Presidential Scholarships, Posse Scholarships, etc. - are applicable toward tuition while abroad. In the semester prior to departure, students are asked to register in a 12-credit hour placeholder course in Gibson. As such, they remain registered as full-time Tulane students while abroad. This placeholder course triggers disbursement of financial aid through Accounts Receivable.
Students who have tuition waivers should check with the awarding office or entity (for example, H.R. for employee tuition waivers) regarding eligibility. Most tuition waivers are applicable on approved Tulane study abroad programs. Waivers specific to housing will likely not transfer over but students should contact the awarding office for further information.
With the exception of a few select programs* students can expect to be billed for and pay housing costs directly to their study abroad provider or host university. Housing is not included in the tuition and fee cost billed via Tulane Accounts Receivable. Students are responsible for being aware of housing bills, due dates, and policies as outlined by their program.
*Note that some Tulane-run programs will bill you directly to your Tulane accounts receivable for program housing and/or insurance (EDUCO/Sciences Po, Reunidas WIP Madrid, Bologna BCSP, Semester in Havana)
Students should make a financial plan for their study abroad semester or year in consultation with their Financial Aid Counselor if necessary. Details about meeting with your counselor are available on the Tulane Financial Aid website.
When studying abroad on an approved program, students remain classified with their class year and semester cohort, and are thereby able to preregister for courses, participate in on-campus housing selection from abroad, and otherwise prepare for the upcoming academic year at the same time as their cohort. Course titles taken abroad, in all cases, are reflected on their transcripts.
All students, regardless of when they enter Tulane or which approved program they attend, receive administrative support throughout the study abroad cycle. This support includes:
- Faculty review and approval of study abroad programs
- Advising on approved study abroad options
- Assistance with applications and study proposals
- Pre-departure orientation
- Continued access to advising while abroad
- Verification of status with the Tulane Financial Aid Office and the Registrar
- Assistance with major/minor credit approval and credit/grade transfer
- Workshops surrounding re-entry and adjustment to Tulane
Additional activities for students include grant workshops and presentations throughout the year from program representatives and former study abroad participants.
In addition to Tulane tuition and fees, students are responsible for the cost of room and board, flights, insurance, and personal expenses abroad. OSA recommends that students prepare budgets based on cost of living in the host city along with student habits and lifestyles. Our staff has created a spreadsheet to assist students based on feedback from study abroad alumni.
The NTC Office of Study Abroad recognizes that planning financially for a semester abroad can be stressful, and that many students may need to identify additional funding options to cover the cost of flights, excursions, and other expenses abroad. Below are some scholarship options to help you as you begin your search. Need help finding funding opportunities? Contact an OSA advisor or peer advisor!
NTC's Office of Study Abroad offers several donor-funded awards to students studying abroad on approved programs during the semester, academic year, and on Tulane-run summer programs. In order to be considered for internal OSA scholarship funding, students need only complete a Tulane study abroad application for an approved program by the deadline and complete the Need-Based Scholarship questionnaire within their application portal. Students interested in being considered for funding should answer "YES" to the following questions:
Due to the generosity of donors, a limited number of need-based scholarships are available to defray the cost of this program. If you would like to be considered for a need-based scholarship, please check yes or no.
I do hereby authorize the Tulane University Financial Aid Office to disclose and discuss my financial aid information (including aid application data as well as award details) with authorized members of the Tulane Office of Study Abroad to assist with and as it pertains to the scholarship awardee selection process.
In addition to scholarship-specific eligibility requirements, all scholarship applications will be considered based upon the strength of personal statement, academic performance, appropriateness of the student's chosen study abroad program to the student's course of study at Tulane University, and demonstrated financial need.
Students should also research funding opportunities available through their program or host university abroad. Many program providers (CIEE, CET, IFSA, SIT, IES, Middlebury, Temple, DIS, etc.) may offer internal scholarships, flight grants, or Federal Pell grant matching to qualified applicants. You can research available funding options on the website of your program or host university.
The Gilman and Boren awards offer funding for study abroad programs. GoAbroad also offers a comprehensive study abroad scholarship search engine you can use to find funding relevant to your chosen program.
Tortuga Scholarship Fund - $1,000 toward study abroad and a travel backpack
Scholarships for Diversity Abroad (Identity-Based Scholarships) - Private/external organizations offering scholarships to support diversity abroad
Nationally Competitive Scholarships - You can meet with the Fellowships Office at Tulane for assistance with your application for these national scholarships.
Tulane departments on campus may also offer grants or scholarships for study abroad programs or research abroad. This is by no means a conclusive list, but here are some ideas of departments to check with regarding potential funding for study abroad:
The NTC Office of Study Abroad does not pay application fees or program deposits on behalf of the student, nor are they covered by your Tulane tuition. The deposit is paid to the provider or university abroad and essentially acts as a guarantee that you will attend the program while ensuring that the program will hold your space once you have been admitted. If you do not attend the program, the deposit will generally not be refunded, although this depends on the provider. In most cases, this deposit will ultimately be applied to your study abroad housing fee. Check with your provider or host university directly regarding deposit refund policies.
The Tulane study abroad application fee is non-refundable but may be transferrable to subsequent semesters should a student opt to defer or reapply. In cases of demonstrated financial hardship, the NTC OSA may choose to waive the application fee or a Tulane summer program deposit. Such requests should be directed to a Study Abroad Advisor and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Students should contact their provider or host university directly regarding policies on secondary application fees.
