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Q: Who do I contact regarding Off-Campus Study financial policy questions?
A: Please contact ocsfinance@denison.edu.
Q: How do I pay for off-campus study?
A: Denison has a home-school tuition system for students participating in an approved semester-long off-campus program. Students pay Denison tuition, housing & meals, plus an OCS Administrative Fee, and are awarded regular Denison merit and need-based aid, except for work-study. Denison pays all program fees and charges directly to the program with a few exceptions, such as program application fees and program deposits. In the instance that a student pursues a second semester of off-campus study, merit and institutional need-based aid will be applied if they meet the following exceptions:
language majors and minors participating in language intensive programs;
non-language majors where two semesters are mandatory parts of the program.
Please note that these policies do not apply to summer or January term off-campus programs. Summer and J-term students will need to pay their program provider directly for their billed costs.
Q: What is the OCS Administrative Fee?
A: The OCS Administrative Fee- currently $1,340 for a semester or $355 for summer but subject to change- covers the administrative support associated with off-campus study as provided by various campus offices, as well as supplemental emergency insurance coverage. The administrative support makes it possible for students to take all of their need- and merit-based financial aid with them.
Q: Why does Denison charge an OCS Administrative Fee and (for semester students) tuition, housing, and meals?
A: This system is used to facilitate the packaging of applicable financial aid, to make billing clearer, and to make budgeting easier for students and their families. This system also strives to make off-campus academic programs as financially accessible as possible to the widest range of students.
In exchange for paying Denison tuition, room and meal plan, and the OCS Administrative fee, students will:
Retain course registration priority, as established for their class year
Retain housing priority status for housing selection
Receive faculty pre-approval for proposed coursework
Have access to their academic advisor, class dean, Academic Resource Center (ARC), and the services offered by the Center for Global Programs, Knowlton Center, and Lisska Center
Receive credit and grades for off-campus coursework, which will be posted to student’s official Denison transcript by the Office of the Registrar.
Q: Does Denison pay for my program deposit?
A: No, that is your responsibility.
Q: Are my passport and/or visa fees covered by Denison?
A: The Center for Global Programs does have funding for eligible students to help cover passport and visa costs (including visa-related travel) up to $250. If you would like to request assistance for passport fees, please complete this form and our office will follow up with you. If you would like to request assistance for visa and visa-related fees, please complete this form and our office will follow up with you. Please note that you must be approved by Denison for off-campus study prior to completing either form. If you receive funds and then later withdraw from off-campus study, you are required to repay any and all supplemental funds you received back to Denison (check or cash) within 14 business days of notifying the Center for Global Programs of your official withdrawal from the program.
Q: Does Denison pay for flights to the program?
A: No. It is the financial responsibility of the student to purchase flights.
Q: What other expenses am I responsible for while off campus for a semester?
A: Please see our financial policy for full details. Examples of expenses not covered by Denison include, but are not limited to, personal expenses, local travel, flights, optional course fees, supplies and books, immunizations, passports, visa and visa-related travel, and eating out.
Q: What insurance will I have while I am abroad?
A: If your program includes insurance, it is part of the standard program fees which Denison pays. For students whose chosen off-campus study program does not provide health insurance, Denison will automatically cover the cost of an insurance policy through a third party vendor selected by Denison. Note, this policy will be limited to the duration of the off-campus study program. Even in cases where insurance is included, you must verify with your provider exactly what that insurance covers and what it does not cover (e.g., some insurances exclude pre-existing conditions, dental care, vision care). All students have EIIA insurance through Denison, which covers major emergency events (see the information in your Via Global application for more details), but not routine medical care while abroad.
Denison's student insurance plan is an annual plan, so you must either opt in or opt out for the whole year. You can only opt out if you will have other coverage while on campus at Denison. If you find that the coverage you have is not sufficient to fulfill your needs, you should purchase your own travel insurance. In the past students have used options such as GeoBlue or CISI to meet their coverage needs. You should shop around and consult with your family to find the best option for your health and travel needs.
Once your insurance is set, it is also important to understand whether the insurance you have requires you to pay upfront and be reimbursed afterwards, or whether your costs will be billed directly to your insurance company. This is an important piece to consider as part of your budgeting and planning for your time away.
Q: My program doesn’t have a meal plan. Why was I charged for Denison’s Housing and Meals Fee?
A: Denison is trying to keep charges consistent from semester to semester and across students. For programs where meals are not included, we use the specific program's guidance for the meal allowance and disburse this amount directly to students. Students are responsible for managing this meal budget over the course of the semester.
Q: Is the meal allowance a one time payment?
A: The meal allowance is estimated by your program and is a one time payment sent via direct deposit prior to your program start date.
Q: How should students access money while abroad?
A: It’s important that students develop a plan before departing for their program by consulting with their OCS provider and their bank. Most students bring a debit card linked to their home bank account to withdraw cash and a credit card in case of emergencies. Contact your bank and program advisor for specific questions about what works well in your host country.
Q: I have a foreign bank account. How do I receive direct deposit since it is not a US bank account?
A: We require all OCS students to open a US bank account in order to receive allowances via direct deposit. As part of our application process you will be asked to establish a direct deposit bank account with Denison. You will receive information about this in your Via Global application once you have been approved by Denison for off-campus study.
Q: Can I arrive earlier than my program start date or leave later than my program end date? Can I come late or leave early?
A: Students are required to complete the program according to the program provider’s program start and end dates, irrespective of the host institution’s calendar. For students in direct enrollment programs, students are required to complete the program according to the official university calendar denoting the start and end date of the semester. This includes adhering to the move-in schedule and attending the on-site orientation. Otherwise, you can plan to arrive before the program or leave after if that is permitted by your program and by your visa requirements (check this carefully – you usually cannot enter the host country before the official start date on your visa or may be limited to stay only 90 days).
Q: Can I come home during Spring Break, vacation periods, etc.?
A: You can, at your provider’s discretion, but it will be at your own expense. You are required to arrive by the designated move-in/orientation date and stay until the program provider's end date.
Q: Do I need a valid passport before booking an international flight?
A: Yes, you must have a valid passport with an expiration date of at least six months after your program end date. Some countries require that the passport is valid for even longer! Be sure to verify that all information on your passport (e.g., name, birthday) is correct.
Q: Do I need a valid visa before booking a flight?
A: You should check with your program to determine whether you need a visa. If so, you should begin the visa application process as soon as you are eligible. Some Consulates will suggest you do not book a flight before obtaining your visa. Please see our Visa FAQs for more information about visas.
Q: My program offers a group flight. Can I take that?
A: Yes, that is a great idea.
Q: My program offers a scholarship, should I apply for it?
A: We recommend students consult with the Office of Financial Aid before applying for scholarships for semester-length programs, as these can impact students’ Denison financial aid package. Generally, national scholarships, such as ones we have listed here, have a positive net effect, while program scholarships typically do not benefit the student directly.
Q: What if I need a School of Record Transcript (SOR) for a future graduate school application?
A: Denison typically accepts the grade record from our partner programs, which means you are not charged an additional fee for a SOR transcript. However, certain graduate programs may ultimately require that you submit a SOR transcript as part of your application. Be aware that these come with a fee (prices range from $100 - $500 in most cases). If you need this in the future, you would work with your program provider to request the SOR transcript.
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