Billing & Finance: Semester & Academic-Year Study Abroad

The College of the Holy Cross Study Abroad Program operates on a Holy School Tuition Model. Students on Holy Cross approved programs will remain continuously enrolled at Holy Cross while studying abroad. This allows students to receive Holy Cross credit for their courses abroad and for grades to be posted on their Holy Cross transcript. 

The College is committed to making study abroad accessible for all qualified students. To honor this commitment, the College offers need-based financial aid for students studying abroad and, accordingly, relies on tuition revenue to provide this need-based financial aid. Additionally, using the Home School Tuition Model allows for federal financial aid to be applied to a student’s bill. To help make studying abroad as cost-neutral as possible, the College provides a travel credit to all students, and additional services at no extra charge. These services may include cultural programming, on-site advisors and tutors. 

Finally, for enrolled Holy Cross students, the Office of Study Abroad provides a full range of student support services and programming - from initial inquiry through pre-departure support while abroad and when they return to campus.  In other words, tuition dollars also cover the operating costs of the Office of Study Abroad.

• All students will be charged Holy Cross tuition and the Holy Cross standard room charge. Board/meal plan will vary depending on program.  Students will be charged anywhere from zero to full board in quarter increments depending on how many meals are included in their program. 

• All students receive a travel credit (discount) that is designed to help subsidize the cost of transportation to the host destination. The credit is a good-faith estimate based on the cost of a round-trip flight from Boston to the host institution/program. This is a one-time credit. We do not account for travel home during the holidays or winter break. Once a student is accepted by their host institution, they will receive an email with the amount of the travel credit. (Be advised-this is not a reimbursement; it is a credit applied to your Holy Cross bill).

• All students will be billed a mandatory $225 fee per semester for Global Security Assistance and international Medical/Travel Insurance provided by International SOS (ISOS) and Cigna Global Health/Lloyd’s Insurance (students will NOT be charged the Health Service fee). This fee is considerably less than the cost of the policy and is subsidized by Holy Cross. 

• If a student is on campus at Holy Cross for one semester, they will be charged the Student Activity Fee. If a student is abroad for the academic year, they will not be charged this fee.​

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 financial aid awards even if they are not directly billed for it on their student account. Students and/or families who are financing their education with loans should consider the total cost of attendance when determining the amount of loans requested. The cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies and personal expenses. To review the specific costs, please view the Bursar's Office page on tuition and fees. 

Students who are awarded scholarships from sources external to Holy Cross (for example, a study abroad partner University) must report the scholarship to the Financial Aid Office.  Financial Aid will then determine how the scholarship is applied to the HC bill. Specific questions regarding your financial aid award should be directed to financialaid@holycross.edu.

The travel credit is a credit (discount) that gets posted to the Holy Cross tuition bill. The travel credit (discount) is designed to help subsidize the cost of transportation to the host destination. The credit is a good-faith estimate based on the cost of a round-trip flight from Boston to the host institution/program. This is a one-time credit. We do not account for travel home during the holidays or winter break. Once a student is accepted by their host institution, they will receive an email with the amount of the travel credit. (Be advised-this is not a reimbursement; it is a credit applied to your Holy Cross bill).

Students who still have a credit on their account after tuition has been paid and all financial aid, loans, scholarships etc. have been disbursed should contact the Bursar's Office, who 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. 

The travel credit is re-calculated every year based on average costs of travel from Boston to each study abroad Program. Students will receive an email from the Office of Study Abroad with the amount of the travel credit after they have been accepted by their host institution/program. 

Students should expect some additional expenses related to studying abroad. The following list may not be comprehensive and is subject to change. Additionally, students should not expect to have the same amenities abroad as they have at Holy Cross. Each program has different components unique to each location: 

•  REFUNDABLE deposits (security/bond; this can be as high as $1,500 plus) Students receive this money back from the host institution as long as they keep their room in good order, return their key, etc.

•  STUDENT VISA/RESIDENCY FEES including translations and health fees, if applicable

•  AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION this varies by location, but generally, students can expect to cover the cost of moving from the airport to their host institution/program

•  LOCAL TRANSPORTATION

•  MEALS (varies by program)

•  BOOKS

•  PERSONAL EXPENSES (including bedding and kitchen supplies)

•  ENTERTAINMENT

•  LAUNDRY

•  PRINTING FEES

•  PACKING EXPENSES or storage fees for personal belongings 

•  COVID-19 TESTING

Students should consider individual lifestyles and the types of experiences they'd like to have while studying abroad when considering their budget. Consider the following:

• Will you eat at fancy restaurants often or do you prefer cheap and cheerful cafes? 

• Will you go out to nightclubs or bars frequently? 

• Do you plan to do a lot of travel in your host city or outside of it? 

To start, it's a great idea to research average cost of everyday items in your host destination. To do this, go to numbeo cost of living calculator  and enter your host city! You'll get an idea of the average cost of everything from coffee and bread to public transportation and beyond.