Finances

Arcadia posts excellent information regarding all three of these sources of money while you study in New Zealand. Read their recommendations carefully.

All students are responsible for making their own flight arrangements. Tickets are an out-of-pocket expense.

When you book your flights, we strongly recommend you purchase your tickets directly from the airline rather than a third-party vendor (like Expedia or Travelocity). Why? Making changes or cancellations is generally easier to do directly with the airline. 

We also strongly advise students to purchase airline tickets that permit a change of date. You should therefore purchase a flexible flight, researching many different airlines to see what they offer. 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 / from airports, in addition to expenses resulting from program suspension or termination, schedule changes, flight changes, emergency evacuation, or any other exigency. Such expenses are the sole responsibility of the student.

• All students will be charged Holy Cross home tuition and the standard room charge. There will be no charge for a meal plan since student housing in New Zealand is self-catering. 

Note: Financial aid "travels." This means that your sources of aid will cover the cost of HC tuition and housing for the period time you study abroad. (Read the subsection below for more information). 

• All students will be billed a $225 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.) This coverage is mandatory.

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.

When you study abroad, your financial aid travels with you. 

This said, it is your responsibility to apply for aid for the period of time you plan to study abroad, as you normally would were you to not study abroad at all and instead stay on campus for the year/semester. But since you are planning to study abroad...

Whether you receive 100% aid or 20% aid, you can expect to be awarded the same amount for the semester/year you are away from Holy Cross. This is because determination of financial aid eligibility for studying abroad via a College-approved program is calculated just as it is for students who are living on campus, and financial aid is based on the standard cost of attendance. 

If you and/or your family are financing your education with loans, you should consider the total cost of attendance at Holy Cross when determining the amount of loans you are requesting for the period of time you will study abroad. (Note: the total cost of attendance at Holy Cross includes not only tuition, fees, room & board (your meal plan, if applicable, which it is NOT for NZ programs), but also books, supplies and personal expenses. To review the specific costs, 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. They will then determine how that external scholarship is applied to your HC bill. 

Should you have specific questions regarding your financial aid award or how billing and disbursements work as you plan to study abroad, please contact the Holy Cross Financial Aid Office at 508-793-2265 or financialaid@holycross.edu They are well informed and incredibly supportive, and they will both guide you and answer any/all of your questions! 

The Study Abroad Billing FAQ page will also serve as a helpful resource as you plan. 

Students are responsible for:

• Refundable deposits (i.e., housing deposits if applicable)

• Visa fees

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

• Public transit fees within Wellington

• Meals not provided by a meal plan (if applicable)

• Books

• Personal expenses (including bedding and travel)

• Laundry