Contact your bank and credit card companies about your semester abroad. Give them the exact dates and countries you plan to visit. If they do not know that you are traveling internationally, they may freeze your card for fear of fraudulent charges.

• ATMs are widely accessible but cash withdrawal fees vary.

• Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted but other cards maybe not as much. We highly recommend that you do not use American Express as it is not acceptable in many parts of the world.

• Be aware of international transaction fees. These can add up quickly. Contact your bank to learn more about the fees.

• Use cash as often as possible to avoid international transaction fees on debit/credit cards.

• Do not carry large amounts of cash with you.

• Make sure you know the correct PIN #’s for your credit and debit cards. Signing for a transaction is uncommon in most parts of the world. 

• Routinely watch the exchange rate of U.S. dollar (USD) to your host country's currency.

• We recommend not using exchange Kiosks. They charge high conversion fees and commission. 

• Make a copy of the front and back of your credit and debit cards in case they are lost or stolen.

• Have a backup credit/debit card that you keep in your room for emergencies.

Financial Aid Process for Study Away 

Study Away FAQ – Financial Aid

Financial Aid Website

The main contact in the Financial Aid Office for study away students is Morgan Pohorylo.

Below is the Study Away Agreement from for Financial Aid. All students who receive Financial Aid must complete this form and submit it to Morgan Pohorylo. Morgan will also send this form directly to you in April.

You will find that there are many things you will want to do and see while abroad so its important to create a budget for yourself to ensure that you will be able to do everything that you want. 

Research the cost of daily living expenses in your host country. How much does it cost to get a pizza? What about a glass of wine? Or an Uber ride? 

Be aware of exchange rates when budgeting. These rates fluctuate on a daily basis.

Things you may need to budget for:

• • Program Deposits: Most programs have deposits to secure a spot in the program. This is separate from program tuition and fees and may not be covered by financial aid. 

  • Visa fees: Many international programs require students to get a visa. Visa fees are typically not included in the cost of the program. 

  • Cost of living: Be aware that the cost of living in your country may be more than it is in Hartford. This may make housing and meals more expensive than they are at Trinity. 

  • Food: Most programs don't have meal plans so you will have to buy groceries to cook or eat out a lot.

  • Public transportation: It doesn't matter where you are studying abroad, chances are you will need to take transportation to class, to the airport, or just around town. 

  • Personal travel: Study abroad comes with the wonderful opportunity to travel and see the world, but this can come with a hefty price tag. Prioritize your travels and research ways to stay on budget. There are great budget airlines and hostels for students. Also, museums and attractions sometimes have student discounts. Take advantage! 

  • Entertainment/going out: We all like to have a good time and know that enjoying the local culture is a wonderful part of studying abroad. Just keep in mind that if you are out every night, your bank account will shrink very quickly. Also, you may want to find more local restaurants and bars. That is where you will meet local people and the prices won't be jacked up for the tourists.