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Interested in Study Away?
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
APU partners with Au Sable Institute (Au Sable), who hosts the Costa Rica Summer Program. Au Sable is an educational institute that offers 22 field-based summer courses in the environmental sciences over 3 or 5 weeks of study in Northern Michigan, Pacific Rim or Costa Rica and an additional three online courses. Through hands-on learning in the outdoors, engaging professors who integrate faith into their instruction, and a supportive community of friends, Au Sable inspires and educates students to serve, protect and restore God’s earth.
The 3-week Costa Rica Summer Program is located in the city of Vara Blanca, one hour north from the Juan Santamaría International Airport. Vara Blanca is 6,000 feet (1830 meters) above sea level in the beautiful cloud forests of Costa Rica! This program is hosted in partnership with the Association for Development through Education.
SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS
Field-based environmental sciences courses
Hands-on learning in the outdoors
Faith integration and engaging professors
Beautiful location in the cloud forests of Costa Rica
Several field trips to different farms in the region, including a strawberry farm and coffee farm
Two longer field trips to the lowlands of Costa Rica, including a trip to the coast
Delicious Costa Rica cuisine in dining hall that resembles a big family table
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner food service
AU SABLE COURSES
Costa Rica courses only offered during May Session
Courses are short, intensive field-based courses.
Students only take one course during the May Session.
Au Sable can accommodate many types of learning accommodations and needs, but Au Sable cannot change the nature of the field-based courses.
MAY SESSION
Sustainability, Tropical Agriculture & Development
APU REQUIREMENTS
APU prerequisites are mandatory.
Registration is all through your APU Account. Upon acceptance, students will be granted access to register for study away sections of the courses.
TRANSFER CREDIT & COURSE SUBSTITUTION
Students will need to complete a Transfer Credit & Course Substitution (TCCS) Form to transfer course credit to APU credits.
A TCCS Form will be required for courses not already approved by APU. Submitted forms go through all academic required departments and results (approvals or denials) are emailed back to students. Results from the TCCS process must be obtained prior to departure so you only take courses that count towards your degree. Keep the results so you have proof of how your program courses will count once you complete them.
PROGRAM COSTS: 2025 - 2026
Program Costs Charged to Student's APU Account
TBD - Au Sable Tuition (Per Course)
TBD - Au Sable Program Costs (Housing & Meals Per Week)
$50 - (Required) International Insurance Cost
$100 - APU UG University Service Fee
$50 - APU Study Away Fee
$755* - (Optional) APU Health Fee/Medical Insurance
Out-of-Pocket Expenses (Students Pay Directly)
Airfare, some meals, optional excursions, souvenirs, etc.
$200 tuition deposit
$30 application fee
*Regular APU student health insurance & waiving options apply.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Charges - See above.
Financial Aid - Financial aid (Federal, State, APU Institutional) is not able to be applied to your account unless you already have remaining unused aid on your account from a previous semester.
*APU Catalog Financial Aid Policy for the Costa Rica Summer Program. Access all related policies here.
Payment Due Dates - Same as regular APU summer payment due dates.
ADVISING ROLES & RESOURCES
Program - Consult with Au Sable Institute for all questions about the program and items they need from you.
APU Study Away - Consult with APU CCEL Study Away to explore which program is the best fit for you. Accepted students are provided a canvas site that will have all preparation materials including information on how to register, program charges, etc.
APU Academic Advising - Make an appointment with Academic Advising (APU Academic Success Center or Faculty Advisor) to make sure the program you are interested in has the courses to keep you on track to graduate on time. Reference the course information on this site.
APU Student Services Center - Consult your account specialist with any financial aid questions. Reference the program costs, charges & financial aid information on this site.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Program Application - Complete the Costa Rica Summer Application with Au Sable Institute.
Advisor Form - Part of the Au Sable application includes a form you will need to have processed by APU Study Away. Please allow up to 2 weeks.
For any forms your program needs you to get APU Study Away signatures, send them to studyaway@apu.edu.
Application Response - The program will communicate if they accept you as a participant. However, before committing to the program, we advise confirming APU program advising, APU academic advising and APU financial advising.
Study Away 101 Completion - If accepted, you will be sent a link to self-enroll in the APU Study Away Canvas course to complete all APU forms/preparation.
PROGRAM TYPE - Type #5, APU Approved Summer Program
PROGRAM & TERM STATUS - The Costa Rica Summer Program is offered during the summer term. Check with Au Sable Institute for program status.
“I think the best components of my study away program was expanding my lens of the world. I have grown so much in my global knowledge and love for people all over the world.”
- Kate, Nursing Major
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