Finances 

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 may need a 4-digit pin in your study-abroad country! Check with your bank to make sure your card is activated for overseas use and that your PIN will work overseas.

It is recommended that you carry the phone number of your local bank in case you misplace your ATM card. 

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. 

TBA. 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. 

The College of the Holy Cross Study Abroad Program operates on a Home 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.

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.

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