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General Information on Funding a Study Abroad Experience

Studying abroad is affordable! The majority of UC study abroad programs are comparable in cost to staying at Davis for a similar time period. In some cases, due to the cost of living, it can actually cost less to study abroad than stay "home."

If you study abroad on a UC-administered program or attend a third-party provider's program through the "NUCSA leave", you are eligible for all financial aid (grants, loans, scholarships) that you would receive if you were staying on campus; your financial aid for the time you are studying abroad is based on the budget of the program, not the regular UC Davis term.

  • Financial Aid - UC Davis students who receive or are eligible for financial aid during the academic year are eligible to use their funding for UC administered study abroad programs.
  • Scholarships / Funding Opportunities - Many UCD students receive scholarships to study abroad. You can too! Check out our scholarships for award listings and scholarship search engines.
Budgeting For Your Program
Looking for tips on how to create a budget for your study abroad program? Look no further! The way to get the most out of your study abroad experience is to plan carefully, and this is especially important with your finances. Use the sample information below to learn how to review program costs and your assets so that you are clear on exactly how much your program will cost and how you will cover these costs.

The following is a sample program budget for you to consider. Please keep in mind that this is an example. You will need to consult the program's website for your exact program costs.

Sample Budget for Study Abroad Program

$5407.00Program Fees
$1000.00Meals
$700.00Incidentals/ Books / Etc.
$1400.00Roundtrip Airfare to Italy
$11,415.16Total Estimated Program Cost

Things to Consider
Please be aware that the budgeted costs, except for the program fees, are estimated amounts. These amounts will vary depending on your individual spending habits. Program budgets generally include an average amount spent on airfare, personal expenses, local transportation, books, etc. The budget does not cover travel that students do independently of the program, souvenirs, phones, money for doctor's visits, etc. So, as you do your budget planning, be sure to consider your own spending habits and the amount of personal travel you plan to do, and adjust your budget accordingly.

Reviewing Your Resources
The next step in planning for your time abroad is to determine how you will cover the program costs. Below is a list of possible sources for funding. Fill in the amounts for each category, and then check to make sure that the total amount is equal to the amount of your program costs.

___________ Scholarships
___________ Financial Aid
___________ Savings
___________ Work
___________ Funds from outside source
___________ Other
___________ Total Funds Available (should be equal to Total Program Cost)

Next Steps!
Once you are clear on the costs of your program and you have totaled up the amount of funds you have to cover the costs, you're close to having a clear picture of your finances for study abroad. If you find you need additional funds, review your plans to see where you can get the additional funding needed.

Some things you can do to get additional funds include:

  • Apply for scholarships. Click here for more information
  • Visit the Financial Aid Office or check out their website to explore the possibility of increasing your financial aid.
  • We hope this planning form has helped you clarify your financial resources and needs related to study abroad. Please feel free to ask us if you have additional questions!
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