Finances

Credit cards are widely used in South Africa. The best known are Visa, MasterCard, and to a lesser extent, American Express. Be prepared to show identification in order to use the card (this rarely happens but you should always have your ID with you anyways!)

Be sure to notify your bank and credit card companies that you will be traveling so they do not freeze your account and to ensure that your PIN will work while you are abroad.  

Have a 4-digit pin number for ATMs. While 6-digit pins are increasingly common in the US, you'll need a 4-digit pin in South Africa! Check with your bank to make sure your card is activated for overseas use and that your PIN will work overseas.

 ATM/debit cards can be used to obtain cash if they have a major credit card logo (Visa, MasterCard) on them.  There are numerous ATMs in South Africa, including Standard Bank and FirstRand. The exchange rate for ATM withdrawals is usually the best available since it is the bank’s own bulk rate plus a 1-2 percent charge. Keep in mind that when you change cash abroad at an exchange business, they may have what appear to be low exchange rates, but they frequently also charge a commission

It is recommended that you carry the phone number of your local bank in case you misplace your ATM card. It's highly recommended that you chat with your local bank before traveling!

The CIEE South Africa Flight Credit is TBA.

Students are responsible for making their own flight arrangements. Students will receive a travel credit on their HC study abroad tuition bill. The amount of credit is a good faith estimate based on an average round trip flight from Boston to Capte Town, including any bus/taxi fees once on the ground. The travel credit is NOT a reimbursement. It’s a credit (discount) that gets posted to your Holy Cross tuition bill. The travel credit reduces what you owe to Holy Cross by the amount of the credit. If you have still have a credit on your account AFTER you have paid your tuition and all your financial aid, loans, scholarships etc. have been disbursed, the Bursar's Office will be able to return excess funds upon completion of the "Refund Request Form." The Refund Request Form must be completed and signed by the student. 

We strongly advise students to purchase airline tickets that permit a change of date. We strongly recommend purchasing tickets directly from the airline rather than a third-party vendor (like Expedia or Travelocity). Making changes or cancellations is generally easier to do directly with the airline.  Students should purchase a flexible flight. Research many different airlines. Some will waive change fees, regardless of fare type. For other airlines it depends on the fare you purchase. Be sure to read all of the rules associated with any airline ticket before purchasing.  As indicated in the Study Abroad Acknowledgement and Release Form, Holy Cross is not responsible for travel expenses, including but not limited to, airline tickets and transportation to and from airports, which result from program suspension or termination, schedule changes, flight changes, emergency evacuation, or any other exigency.  Such expenses are the sole responsibility of the student.

The CIEE South Africa Flight Credit is TBA.

Once you are accepted into the study abroad program, you can look out for an email from our office informing you of the flight credit. You can expect to receive an email about the credit amount by mid-April. 

• All students will be charged Holy Cross home tuition and the standard room charge. Financial aid "travels"! Students will not be charged for a meal plan at CIEE Cape Town.

• All students will receive a travel credit. The credit is a good faith estimated based on the cost of a round-trip flight from Boston to travel to Cape Town, including any busses/taxis/transfers once you're on the ground. Once you are accepted into by your host institution you will receive an email with the amount of the travel credit.  

• All students will be billed a mandatory $210 per semester for GLOBAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE AND international MEDICAL/TRAVEL INSURANCE  provided by International SOS (ISOS) and Cigna Global health/Lloyd’s insurance (students are NOT charged the Health Service fee)

• All students are allowed to submit activity/club receipts for reimbursement: $200 max. for academic year, $175 for semester only.  The reimbursement is for cultural and group activities that get you involved with your host community. Eligible fees for reimbursement include:

• Fees for joining a club/society/sports team on campus

• Fees for participating in a local cultural event or organization (upon approval from SA Office).

• Note:  Gym fees are NOT refundable and reimbursement for travel outside of your host city is NOT refundable.

Photograph/scan your receipts and email them to Tammi Valeri at: tvaleri@holycross.edu. 

Reimbursements will be in the form of a bank transfer. You must fill out the ACH Student Request form in order to receive your reimbursement. This process can take up to 2 to 3 weeks to process.

The College of the Holy Cross Study Abroad Program operates on a home tuition policy. Students on Holy Cross approved study abroad programs will remain continuously enrolled at Holy Cross while studying abroad.  This allows for students to receive Holy Cross credits for their courses abroad and grades will be on their Holy Cross transcript.  The College of the Holy Cross is committed to making study abroad an opportunity for all our students.  In order to do this, the College must be able to provide need based financial aid for students when they study abroad. To accomplish that, the College relies on tuition revenue in order to give need-based aid. In addition, using the home tuition policy allows for federal financial aid to be applied to the student’s bill.  The College also provides additional services such as cultural programming, onsite advisors, tutors, and travel allowance. Finally, as an enrolled Holy Cross student, the Study Abroad Office provides a full range of support services and programming from initial inquiry through pre-departure support while abroad and when they return to campus.

The determination of financial aid eligibility for studying abroad via a Holy Cross approved program is calculated just as it is for students who are living on campus. Financial aid is based on the standard cost of attendance. The College considers the standard cost of board when determining your financial aid award even if you are not directly billed for it on your student account.  If you and/or your family are financing your education with loans, you should consider the total cost of attendance when determining the amount of loans you are requesting.  The cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies and personal expenses. To review the specific costs, please go to:  https://www.holycross.edu/bursars-office/tuition-fees

If you are awarded scholarships from sources external to Holy Cross, for example, a study abroad partner University, you must report the scholarship to the Financial Aid Office.  Financial Aid will then determine how the scholarship is applied to your HC bill. Should you have specific questions regarding your financial aid award, please contact them at 508-793-2265 or via email at financialaid@holycross.edu 

Students are responsible for:

• Refundable deposits (ie housing deposits)

• Any fees related to obtaining a visa

• Transportation to and from the airport on both ends of their trip 

• Meals (you will NOT be charged the HC meal plan

• Books

• Personal expenses (including bedding, toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc)

• Personal travel

• Laundry 

*subject to change 

Here's a helpful guide to average prices in Cape Town

All students are allowed to submit activity/club receipts for reimbursement: $200 max. for academic year, $175 for semester only.  The reimbursement is for cultural and group activities that get you involved with your host community. Eligible fees for reimbursement include:

• Fees for joining a club/society/sports team on campus

• Fees for participating in a local cultural event or organization (upon approval from SA Office).

• Note:  Gym fees are NOT refundable and reimbursement for travel outside of your host city is NOT refundable.

Photograph/scan your receipts and email them to Tammi Valeri at: tvaleri@holycross.edu. The reimbursement will be processed via ACH bank transfer, so be sure to add you bank details here.