Financial Planning
Study abroad is an investment in your future!
OVERVIEW
With proper preparation, you can plan a viable study abroad experience that fits your financial needs. Cal Poly offers a wide array of study abroad programs in a variety of different locations. Each program has different costs associated with it, and some programs are more affordable than others. Your first step is to explore different programs and identify one that is financially a good fit for you. See the section below on how Program Choice can affect your costs.
As you explore programs, keep in mind that the actual cost of studying abroad will depend on the location and on the program you select. There are some fixed or billed costs, however, that you can readily compare. Foremost among these will be the costs for tuition (your courses), the required Cal Poly International Center Fee, and other mandatory Program Fees. These will be billed to you by Cal Poly and/or your study abroad program. Click Cost & Billing to learn more.
You also need to consider anticipated expenses (sometimes called expected costs). These will not be billed to you by Cal Poly or your program but are items that you will need to cover on your own, either before you depart or as you are living abroad – things like the cost of a passport, airfare, books and supplies. See Cost & Billing for more examples and explore Budget & Money Management Tips.
Finally, you’ll also want to make sure you understand how any financial aid you receive can be applied toward your study abroad costs. You may also want to apply for additional scholarships to offset your expenses. See Financial Aid and Scholarships for more details.
You also need to consider anticipated expenses (sometimes called expected costs). These will not be billed to you by Cal Poly or your program but are items that you will need to cover on your own, either before you depart or as you are living abroad – things like the cost of a passport, airfare, books and supplies. See Cost & Billing for more examples and explore Budget & Money Management Tips.
Finally, you’ll also want to make sure you understand how any financial aid you receive can be applied toward your study abroad costs. You may also want to apply for additional scholarships to offset your expenses. See Financial Aid and Scholarships for more details.
Cost & Billing Budgeting & Money Management Financial Aid & Scholarships
PROGRAM CHOICE & THE COST OF STUDYING ABROAD
There are a variety of other factors you might explore to manage the costs.
Program Type: There are several different types of Cal Poly approved program: Cal Poly Global Programs, Cal Poly International Exchanges, CSU International Programs, Partner Programs, and National Student Exchange. The type of program you select can affect the cost. For example, CSU International Programs charge CSU base tuition, but some can only be done for a full year, which might increase some of the other costs. Partner Programs might have a higher tuition fee than Cal Poly’s in-state tuition, but that fee may include extras, like housing, excursions and cultural activities.
Program Location: Where you study abroad can have a huge impact on the cost of your time away, not only due to general cost of living, but also because location can affect other expenses—like the cost of airfare, whether you need to budget for public transportation, the cost of a student visa, and so forth.
Programs in Europe and Oceania (Australia/New Zealand) tend to be more expensive than those in Latin America and Africa. Programs in Southeast Asia are often more affordable that those in East Asia (Japan, South Korea, China).
Location can impact your transportation costs. Major cities, like London, Tokyo, or Paris, will require you to use public transportation, so you may need to add that into your budget. Flight costs vary depending on location: you’ll pay more to fly to Australia or Asia than to Dublin or Costa Rica.
No matter where you study abroad, you’ll want to spend more than you normally do—buying souvenirs, trying new foods, and exploring. But students who study in Europe or Asia are also tempted to travel a lot during their free time (all those other countries that are so close!). This means added transportation costs (flight, train, bus), plus additional housing costs.
Timing: When is the best time to study abroad? That depends on you, your needs, and your interests. Studying abroad during the academic year (for a quarter, semester, or the full year) will allow you to use your financial aid; summer financial aid is limited to your remaining eligibility from the prior year, which means that you may only qualify for a summer financial aid award if you have any unused grant or loan amounts from the previous academic year. Check with a Financial Aid advisor and visit our Financial Aid & Scholarship page.
If you are looking at a fall semester option, the tuition cost may be higher because the program is longer than the Cal Poly quarter, but you will also generally earn more academic credit. Tuition for a spring semester program can cost less than the combined Cal Poly tuition for winter and spring quarters, but you will likely earn fewer credits. Be careful to look at actual program dates! Programs in some parts of the world (like Japan and Germany) run on a very different academic calendar, so a spring semester program might run from late March into July, allowing you to take courses at Cal Poly in the winter quarter.
In general, studying abroad for a longer time will be more cost effective: short programs may have a smaller price tag, but you end up paying more per day.
Housing: If your program provides housing, consider the options offered and the associated costs. Living in a homestay is often one of the most affordable options and also has the benefit of providing home-cooked meals and a connection to the culture. Apartments can be more expensive, but you can save money if you commit to cooking – more so if you share food costs and cooking responsibilities with your roommates. Living in a residence hall, while maybe not the most affordable option, does give you access to local and other international students.