Finances and Scholarships

General Information

Global experiences are integral to a Denison education. The Center for Global Programs provides individualized advising to help students explore and plan for various types of off-campus experiences to cultivate and strengthen global competencies essential in today’s world. With a list of more than 200 Denison-approved off-campus study programs, both domestic and foreign, students have many opportunities to learn or hone a foreign language, participate in a domestic or international internship tied to an academic program, conduct independent research, and more. Approved programs are carefully vetted for safety and academic rigor associated with a Denison liberal arts education. The current list is located on the OCS website.

To pursue off-campus study for academic credit, students must select an approved program listed on the OCS Website, develop an academic plan around the program, and obtain approval for the program. Once approved by the Center for Global Programs, the student is then responsible for completing an application with the program provider. Students approved for off-campus study must complete an online mandatory orientation session. Failure to do so may result in revocation of approval.

Eligibility Guidelines

The opportunity to apply for an off-campus program is available to all Denison students who are in good standing with the university. However, participation is not guaranteed. An application process, prerequisites and minimum requirements are in place for each approved Denison program. Denison approval hinges on students successfully completing all parts of the application process and meeting all deadlines. Eligibility guidelines for off-campus study are reviewed annually and subject to change. They can be found here.

Costs, Financial Aid, Billing, and Fees General Guidelines

• All students participating in an approved off-campus program remain registered at Denison. They are charged Denison tuition, housing, and meal plan for the semester abroad. This applies to students living on campus as well as commuter students.

• Tuition will be equal to Denison’s full-time tuition charges which covers up to 18 credits. Each credit over 18 will generate an additional fee at the current excess hour/hourly tuition rate. The housing and meals costs will be equivalent to the current Denison Housing & Meals fee. Students are also charged a non-refundable off-campus program administrative fee.

• Students may apply all awarded financial aid [merit and need-based aid] for one semester to the cost of the off-campus study program, except work-study.

• 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:

  • 1. language majors and minors participating in language intensive programs;

    2. non-language majors where two semesters are mandatory parts of the program

  • Students who meet these qualifications must pay the Off-Campus Study Administrative Fee for both semesters. Merit and institutional need based aid will not be applied to a second semester of off-campus study for students who do not meet the aforementioned exceptions. In these instances, students are charged Denison's full tuition, plus the housing and meal plan for each semester of off-campus study, including the Off-Campus Study Administrative Fee.

• Students are billed according to the regular billing cycle.

• Denison pays the program providers’ standard expenses, minus program deposits, application fees, commitment fees, or a combination thereof [see below]. This includes tuition and other costs that are mandatory parts of the program (e.g. housing and meals, mandatory excursion fees, health insurance).

• In instances where the off-campus program does not provide meals and/or housing, students will receive an allowance to cover those expenses according to estimates from the provider.

• Denison does not pay for any program provider or University non-refundable deposits, application fees, commitment fees, or combination thereof.

• Denison does not pay for excursions that are not required by the program or course of study while the student participates in the program. This includes extra-curricular activities such as optional tours and field trips. Students will pay these fees on their own, from their personal funds.

• Denison pays for supplemental emergency insurance coverage [EIIA]. 

• Most off-campus study providers build health insurance into the program and Denison pays it when it is invoiced for it. 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 and the program location.

• The Denison tuition benefit and GLCA tuition remission may be applied to off-campus programs as applicable.

• Outside and program awards: Awards offered directly from the program provider do not provide any additional financial assistance and will not reduce the amount a student will be required to pay, or will it result in a surplus of funds. Students are advised not to apply for them. In some cases these additional awards can decrease aid awarded by Denison.

• Students should inform the Office of Financial Aid and the Center for Global Programs if they plan to apply for outside scholarships, e.g. Gilman Scholarships. The student's financial aid package may be adjusted according to the amount received. Some outside scholarships are present exceptions to the general policy, e.g. Boren Fellowship. These will be managed separately and on a case-by-case basis.

• To receive Denison University credit for any off-campus study, students must complete Denison's Off-Campus Study (OCS) application and obtain formal approval from the Center for Global Programs before participating. Students who take a leave of absence, withdraw, or otherwise separate from Denison University to attend an off-campus study program without prior approval through this process are not eligible for Denison transfer credit. Retroactive approval will not be granted. This policy applies to all off-campus study academic programs, regardless of location or institutional affiliation.

Student Responsibilities

• Students are responsible for paying Denison tuition, housing & meals, Denison health insurance fee, the non-refundable Off-Campus Program Administrative Fee and any other charges on their student account in full by Denison’s due date. Failure to pay the student account will result in suspension of study abroad eligibility and the assessment of applicable penalties as outlined in the Student Financial Responsibility Policy.

• Students are required to establish ACH/wire transfer payment for meal allowances and any other funds provided by Denison.

• Denison's health insurance is an annual plan that covers both semesters. Students may waive the health insurance if they are covered by another plan, but that waiver will cover both semesters. If students are not covered by another plan, they must purchase the Denison insurance plan.

• Students are responsible for paying Program Provider upfront charges, e.g, deposits, tuition deposits, housing deposits, education abroad fees, application fees, commitment fees, or combinations thereof.

• Unless otherwise noted on the OCS website, Denison will only pay for the least expensive housing option, often referred to as a "standard option" by the program/host institution. Students selecting housing that includes a supplemental fee for enhanced accommodation, including catering, are subject to additional charges and will be billed separately by the provider or host institution for those charges.

• Specific housing (usually a homestay) is required on some programs.

• Students are responsible for any penalties or cancellation fees associated with changes to airline travel arrangements.

• 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.

• The student is responsible for extra student fees/items included on the program and billed to Denison. These include, among other things, books, art course fees, lab fees, course supplies, music lesson fees, athletic fees, and other expenses that are not the standard costs of the program [tuition, meals, housing, health insurance].

• The student is responsible for any expenses that are not part of program costs billed by the provider to Denison. These expenses may include:

  • personal travel and sojourns

  • personal expenses

  • food costs above those budgeted by the program

  • personal meals/snacks during personal sojourns

  • lodging during travel to and from the host city

  • passport, visa fees, residency permits

  • local transportation

  • equipment, gear, supplies required for courses taken off-campus

  • immunizations

  • security fees

  • cell phones, extra cell-phone data, additional WiFi data

This list is not exhaustive. It is important for students to remember that incidental and personal expenses are, in almost all cases, significantly higher for off-campus programs because of personal travel and other activities undertaken on a voluntary basis.

• Students with demonstrated financial need may make a request for up to $250 for funds to cover visas and visa-related travel, and immunizations, related directly to the study abroad program, subject to review by the Center for Global Programs.

  • Students may make more than one request, but that assistance is capped at $250 per student across all programs/terms. Students may not receive more than $250 in off-campus supplemental funds while they are a student at Denison.

  • Supplemental funds will be transferred via ACH after students are approved by Denison for an off-campus study program. If students withdraw from their intended program, they arre responsible for apying the funds back to Denison (check or cash) within 14 business days of notifying the Center for Global Programs of the official withdrawal from the program. If this presents a hardship, the amount will be added to the student's account.

  • In accordance with federal guidelines, this additional funding will be appended to the student's financial aid package documentation. The financial aid office will notify students by email when the update has been made.

• Students with demonstrated need may request funds for US passports and passport renewals. The amount awarded will be based on the current rate as determined by the Department of State.

• Denison requires that students participate fully and responsibly in all academic aspects of the proposed off-campus study program, including required language and area studies courses, and/or a homestay stipulation. Failure to complete the academic aspects of the program will result in a grade of “TF” for the off-campus study placeholder course listed on the Denison academic record for the term abroad. There are no refunds if students fail courses and/or fail to fulfill all academic aspects of the program.

• Students are enrolled for a holding place registration of 12 credits for each term of off-campus study in order to report full-time study to the Federal Clearinghouse to facilitate the portability of financial aid and/or to use 529 college funds. Students are, therefore, required to enroll for at least 12 transferable U.S. semester credits for each semester of off-campus study, but may choose to enroll for up to 18 U.S. semester credits per semester. Additional charges may be assessed for each registered hour in excess of 18 hours [see above]. Students should consider these costs at the time they apply to the program and consult the Denison Catalog and the Office of the Registrar for advice and further details. A student may request twice during their Denison career to take up to 20 hours and request to waive the excess credit hours fee. Any such request should be submitted with this form to the Registrar's Office prior to the beginning of the semester in question. Any hours over 18 will be billed to the student account. Excess hour fees that are not waived will remain on the student’s account.

• The University is under no obligation to transfer coursework or apply transferred coursework toward specific degree requirements unless that coursework has been approved in advance. Students wishing to apply a course toward a GE, major, minor, or concentration requirements must receive approval directly from the relevant department/program. Other coursework for transfer credit will be evaluated through the combined efforts of the Registrar, the Center for Global Programs, and, as necessary, specific departments/programs.

• It is not possible for Denison to predict world events or assure that a study abroad experience is entirely risk-free. Rarely, but occasionally in the past, emergencies (dangerous conflicts, natural disasters, COVID-19 pandemic etc.) have resulted in alteration or cancellation of an off-campus study program for which a student has been approved. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of all program policies regarding suspension/cancellation and implications for their academic program.

Withdrawal Policies

• Students are responsible for knowing, in advance, a program’s withdrawal policy. If a student officially withdraws from a program after confirming participation, the student is responsible for any unpaid program deposits, as well as any late withdrawal charges assessed by the program provider. These charges will be placed on the student’s Denison account. If a student intends to dispute these charges, they must work with the program provider.

• In the event of an official withdrawal from the program after the first day of Denison’s classes, a student may receive a partial refund of tuition and housing & meals. The withdrawal process begins once the student notifies the Center for Global Programs. The student will not be considered withdrawn until the intent to withdraw is communicated to and confirmed by the Center for Global Programs.

• If a student withdraws from a program before the program ends, the student is required to reimburse all allowances provided by Denison. Meal and/or housing allowances shall be reimbursed on a prorated basis according to Denison's withdrawal schedule.

• If a student withdraws from a program and they receive OCS supplemental funds, they are responsible for paying the funds back to Denison (check or cash) within 14 business days of notifying the Center for Global Programs of official withdrawal from the program. If the student cannot pay up front, the amount will be added to the student's account.

• Upon withdrawal, any adjustments to the student’s account are automatically made in accordance with Denison University's refund policies. Questions regarding the amount of refund or forfeiture of charges should be directed to the office of Student Accounts. Additional information can be found at the university website.

Student Impacts of a Withdrawal

Program Provider Costs and Fees: Based on the provider’s withdrawal policy

Denison Costs: 

Tuition: Prorated per Denison’s withdrawal schedule.

Housing & Meals: Prorated per Denison’s withdrawal schedule.

Off-Campus Study Administrative Fee: Billable. Not refundable, non-reversible, non-transferrable to a different term of study.

Allowances

Housing & Meals: Student is responsible for reimbursing Denison based on the Denison withdrawal schedule.

Note: For Fall 2025-Spring 2026 students with demonstrated financial need, Denison will provide a flight allowance to assist with the cost of travel to their host city ($500 for US programs, $1,000 for international programs). 

Costs, Financial Aid, Billing and Fees General Guidelines (effective Summer 2025)

• All students participating in an approved off-campus program remain registered at Denison. They are charged Denison tuition, housing, and meal plan for the semester abroad. This applies to students living on campus as well as commuter students. 

• Tuition will be equal to Denison’s full-time tuition charges which covers up to 18 credits.  Each credit over 18 will generate an additional fee at the current excess hour/hourly tuition rate.  The housing and meals costs will be equivalent to the current Denison Housing & Meals fee. Students are also charged a non-refundable off-campus program administrative fee.

• Students may apply all awarded financial aid [merit and need-based aid] for one semester to the cost of the off-campus study program, except work-study. 

• 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:

1. language majors and minors participating in language intensive programs; 

2. non-language majors where two semesters are mandatory parts of the program.

Merit and institutional need-based aid will not be applied to a second semester of off-campus study for students who do not meet the aforementioned exceptions. In these instances, students are charged Denison’s full tuition, plus the housing and meal plan for each semester of off-campus study, including the Off Campus Program Administrative Fee. There is no flight allowance provided for the second semester. 

• Students are billed according to the regular billing cycle.

• Denison pays the program providers’ standard expenses, minus program deposits, application fees, commitment fees, or a combination thereof [see below]. This includes tuition and other costs that are mandatory parts of the program (e.g. housing and meals, mandatory excursion fees, health insurance). 

• In instances where the off-campus program does not provide meals and/or housing, students will receive an allowance to cover those expenses according to estimates from the provider. 

• Denison does not pay for any program provider or host institution non-refundable deposits, application fees, commitment fees, or combination thereof.  

• Denison does not pay for excursions that are not required by the program or course of study while the student participates in the program. This includes extra-curricular activities such as optional tours and field trips. Students will pay these fees on their own, from their personal funds.

• For students with any level of demonstrated need, Denison will provide a one-time travel allowance of $1000 for foreign destinations, and $500 for domestic (US) destinations. Included in the allowance is a $100 provision for baggage. Denison will not provide additional funds for oversized/excess baggage, seat reservation fees, extra legroom or additional add-ons charged by the airline.

  • Students with demonstrated need will receive direct communication from the Center for Global Programs when the allowance is distributed. 

  • Funds are disbursed after students are approved by the Center for Global Programs and after they are accepted into the program. Students must have ACH/wire transfer setup with the University to receive the funds.

• Denison pays for supplemental emergency insurance coverage [EIIA]. 

• Most off-campus study providers build health insurance into the program and Denison pays when it is invoiced for it. 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 and the program location. 

• The Denison tuition benefit and GLCA tuition remission may be applied to off-campus programs as applicable.

• Outside and program awards: Awards offered directly from the program provider do not provide any additional financial assistance and will not reduce the amount a student will be required to pay, nor will it result in a surplus of funds. Students are advised not to apply for them. In some cases these additional awards can decrease aid awarded by Denison.

• Students should inform the Office of Financial Aid and the Center for Global Programs if they plan to apply for outside scholarships, e.g. Gilman Scholarships. The student’s financial aid package may be adjusted according to the amount received. Some outside scholarships present exceptions to the general policy, e.g. Boren Fellowship. These will be managed separately and on a case-by-case basis.

• Students who withdraw from the university to attend any off-campus program are not eligible to receive transfer credit. 

Student Responsibilities

• Students are responsible for paying Denison tuition, housing and meals, Denison health insurance fee, the non-refundable Off-Campus Program Administrative Fee and any other charges on their student account in full by Denison’s due date. Failure to pay the student account will result in suspension of study abroad eligibility and the assessment of applicable penalties as outlined in the Student Financial Responsibility Policy. 

• Students are required to establish ACH/wire transfer payment for meal allowances and any other funds provided by Denison. 

• Denison's health insurance is an annual plan that covers both semesters. Students may waive the health insurance if they are covered by another plan, but that waiver will cover both semesters. If students are not covered by another plan, they must purchase the Denison insurance plan.

• Students are responsible for paying Program Provider upfront charges, e.g, deposits, tuition deposits, housing deposits, education abroad fees, application fees, commitment fees, or combinations thereof. 

• Unless otherwise noted in Global Tools, Denison will only pay for the least expensive housing option, often referred to as a “standard option” by the program/host institution. Students selecting housing that includes a supplemental fee for enhanced accommodation, including catering, are subject to additional charges and will be billed separately by the provider or host institution for those charges.

• Specific housing (usually a homestay) is required on some programs.

• Students are required to arrive by the designated move-in/orientation date and stay until all examinations and any other program requirements are completed. Denison does not pay for travel other than to and from the study abroad site. Denison does not pay for flights during vacation or break periods.

• Students are responsible for any penalties or cancellation fees associated with changes to airline travel arrangements. 

• The student is responsible for extra student fees/items included on the program and billed to Denison. These include, among other things, tutorials, books, art course fees, lab fees, course supplies, music lesson fees, athletic fees, and other expenses that are not the standard costs of the program [tuition, meals, housing, health insurance].

• The student is responsible for any expenses that are not part of program costs billed by the provider to Denison. These expenses may include: 

  • personal travel and sojourns

  • personal expenses

  • food costs above those budgeted by the program

  • personal meals/snacks during personal sojourns/discretionary travel

  • lodging during travel to and from the host city

  • passport, visa fees, residency permits 

  • local transportation 

  • equipment, gear, supplies required for courses taken off-campus

  • immunizations

  • security fees

  • cell phones, extra cell-phone data, additional WiFi data

This list is not exhaustive. It is important for students to remember that incidental and personal expenses are, in almost all cases, significantly higher for off-campus programs because of personal travel and other activities undertaken on a voluntary basis.

• Students with demonstrated financial need may make a one-time request up to $250 for funds to cover visas and visa-related travel, and immunizations, related directly to the study abroad program, subject to review by the Center for Global Programs.

• Students may make more than one request, but that assistance is capped at $250 per student across all programs/terms. Students may not receive more than $250 in off-campus supplemental funds while they are a student at Denison.

• Students with demonstrated need may request funds for US passports and passport renewals. The amount awarded will be based on the current rate as determined by the Department of State.

• In accordance with federal guidelines this additional funding will be appended to the student’s financial aid package. The financial aid office will notify students by email when the update has been made.

• Supplemental funds will be transferred via ACH after students are approved by Denison for an off- campus program. If students withdraw  from their intended program they are responsible for paying the funds back to Denison (check or cash) within 14 business days of notifying the Center for Global Programs of the official withdrawal from the program. If this presents a hardship, the amount will be added to the student’s account. 

• Denison requires that students participate fully and responsibly in all academic aspects of the proposed off-campus study program, including required language and area studies courses, and/or a homestay stipulation. Failure to complete the academic aspects of the program will result in a grade of “TF” for the off-campus study placeholder course listed on the Denison academic record for the term abroad. There are no refunds if students fail courses and/or fail to fulfill all academic aspects of the program. 

• Students are enrolled for a holding place registration of 12 credits for each term of off-campus study in order to report full-time study to the Federal Clearinghouse to facilitate the portability of financial aid and/or to use 529 college funds.  Students are, therefore, required to enroll for at least 12 transferable U.S. semester credits for each semester of off-campus study, but may choose to enroll for up to 18 U.S. semester credits per semester. Additional charges may be assessed for each registered hour in excess of 18 hours [see above]. Students should consider these costs at the time they apply to the program and consult the Denison Catalog and the Office of the Registrar for advice and further details. A student may request twice during their Denison career to take up to 20 hours and request to waive the excess credit hours fee. Any such request should be submitted with this form to the Registrar's Office prior to the beginning of the semester in question. Any hours over 18 will be billed to the student account. Excess hour fees that are not waived will remain on the student’s account. 

• The University is under no obligation to transfer coursework or apply transferred coursework toward specific degree requirements unless that coursework has been approved in advance. Students wishing to apply a course toward a GE, major, minor, or concentration requirements must receive approval directly from the relevant department/program.  Other coursework for transfer credit will be evaluated through the combined efforts of the Registrar, the Center for Global Programs, and, as necessary, specific departments/programs.

• It is not possible for Denison to predict world events or assure that a study abroad experience is entirely risk-free. Rarely, but occasionally in the past, emergencies (dangerous conflicts, natural disasters, COVID-19 pandemic etc.) have resulted in alteration or cancellation of an off-campus study program for which a student has been approved. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of all program policies regarding suspension/cancellation and implications for their academic program.

Withdrawal Policies

• Students are responsible for knowing, in advance, a program’s withdrawal policy. If a student officially withdraws from a program after confirming participation, the student is responsible for any unpaid program deposits, as well as any late withdrawal charges assessed by the program provider. These charges will be placed on the student’s Denison account. If a student intends to dispute these charges, they must work with the program provider. 

• In the event of an official withdrawal from the program after the first day of Denison’s classes, a student may receive a partial refund of tuition and housing & meals. The withdrawal process begins once the student notifies the Center for Global Programs. The student will not be considered withdrawn until the intent to withdraw is communicated to and confirmed by the Center for Global Programs. 

• If a student withdraws from a program before the program ends the student is required to reimburse all allowances provided by Denison. Travel allowances must be reimbursed at 100%. Meal and/or housing allowances shall be reimbursed on a prorated basis according to Denison's withdrawal schedule.  

• If a student withdraws from a program and they receive OCS supplemental funds [see p. 4], they are responsible for paying the funds back to Denison (check or cash) within 14 business days of notifying the Center for Global Programs of official withdrawal from the program. If the student cannot pay up front, the amount will be added to the student’s account. 

• Upon withdrawal, any adjustments to the student’s account are automatically made in accordance with Denison University refund policies. Questions regarding the amount of refund or forfeiture of charges should be directed to the office of Student Accounts. Additional information can be found at the university website.

Deferment Policy

If a student defers participation to a different term of study, the Off-Campus Study Administrative fee must be paid again. 

STUDENT IMPACTS OF A WITHDRAWAL

PROGRAM PROVIDER COSTS AND FEES
Based on the provider’s withdrawal policy. 

DENISON COSTS
Tuition: Prorated per Denison’s withdrawal schedule.
Housing & Meals: Prorated per Denison’s withdrawal schedule.
Off-Campus Study Administrative Fee: Billable. Not refundable, non-reversible, non-transferable to a different term of study

ALLOWANCES
Airfare: Student is responsible for reimbursing Denison 100% of the airfare cost.
Housing & Meals: Student is responsible for reimbursing Denison based on the Denison withdrawal schedule. 

The OCS Administrative Fee (currently $335 for summer 2025; $355 for summer 2026) will be billed on student accounts for off-campus study. 

Because Denison does not offer a summer or winter term, there is no financial aid available from Denison for these programs. Many providers offer need-based scholarships and there are a small number of outside organizational scholarships students can apply for (see below). We recommend that students look carefully at the costs listed on provider websites. When doing so, consider not just the program fee, but also other estimated fees (e.g., housing, food budget, local transportation, transportation to your host site). Note that typically the more credits a program offers, the higher the cost, so if you want to keep costs lower look at programs where you can earn 3-4 credits in the summer. You can read more about applying to J-Term and Summer programs here.

Scholarships

• Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship  **Pell Grant recipients strongly encouraged to apply. Deadlines in October and March.

• Boren Scholarships for U.S. citizens studying a critical language

• Critical Language Scholarship Program An intensive summer language program funded by the U.S. government

• Gilman-McCain for dependent children of active duty U.S. military members

• Fund for Education Abroad One application for several scholarships, many targeted to underrepresented minority students or LGBTQ+ students. Deadlines in September and January.

• Going.com Abroad Scholarship

• Hostelling International Explore the World Scholarship

• Diversity Abroad and BeGlobalii Global Ambassadors Correspondent Program

• beGirl.World Global Scholars for Black women from the US

• The Voyager Scholarship for Public Service (for rising juniors)

• Lisa and Josh World Scholarship

• Study Abroad Scholarships for LGBT students

• Diverse International Women of Color Scholarship

• Freeman Asia For students approved to study in East or Southeast Asia.

• German Academic Exchange Service Undergraduate Summer Study, Summer Research Internships in Science & Engineering) 

• American Association of Teachers of Japanese Bridging Scholarships for study in Japan

• Japanese Government Scholarship for U.S. Citizens for study or research in Japan

• Tortuga Backpacks Scholarship

• Joy Worldwide Scholarship for African-American Students

More databases and resources

• Go Overseas: Study Abroad Grants and Scholarships

• How to Land the Study Abroad of Your Dreams

• Carnegie Mellon University: Private & Government Grants & Scholarships 

• Study Abroad Scholarships