Study Abroad Fees

Student Exchanges

Program fee

There are two types of exchange programs: ‘university-wide exchanges’ (any student can apply) and ‘departmental exchanges’ (only students in specific departments can apply). In both types of exchanges you pay a program fee that is equal to the tuition you normally pay to UW. Like your tuition, this program fee depends on your Washington State residency status. The program fee covers the cost of instruction at the foreign university.

Administrative fees

The Study Abroad Fee is an administrative fee that supports all the operations of UW Study Abroad including staff salaries, communications, advising, applications, student enrollment, support of students abroad, and credit transfer. The fee amount depends on the length of your exchange. 

An additional administrative fee is charged when you participate in an exchange through the Foster School of Business. You will see this additional fee listed on your payment contract. You can contact the Foster School if you have any questions about their administrative fees.

Faculty-led Programs

Program fee

The program fee is calculated as the sum of program expenses, plus any fees charged by UW centers abroad (if applicable), plus a contribution to the Study Abroad Program Assistance Fund. 

Program expenses

The program fee for faculty-led programs depends on program expenses. Program expenses include housing, excursions, field trips, and any other activities or events provided to all students on the program. It also includes the cost of instruction: instructor salaries and instructor housing & travel. 

Fees charged by UW centers abroad

If you are participating in a program at the UW Rome Center (UWRC) or UW Leon Center (UWLC) you will be charged a fee to cover the Center’s operations and staff. The UWRC and UWLC staff arrange housing, book field trips, and maintain the facilities in which you take your classes abroad. 

The Study Abroad Program Assistance Fund

Also included in the program fee is a contribution to the Study Abroad Program Assistance Fund (SAPAF), calculated as 7.5% of total program expenses. The SAPAF is an insurance fund for all our faculty-led programs (around a hundred per year) and is used to refund students in the event of program cancellation and other emergencies, or if participants withdraw from the program leading to a budget shortfall. If the SAPAF reaches a UW-permitted maximum amount, additional contributions may be used for study abroad scholarships, the seeding of new study abroad programs, and emergency expenses related to UW Study Abroad operations.

Administrative fee

The UW Study Abroad fee is an administrative fee that supports all the operations of UW Study Abroad including staff salaries, communications, advising, applications, student enrollment, support of students abroad, and credit transfer. 

An additional administrative fee is charged when you participate in a faculty-led program through the Comparative History of Ideas (CHID) department or the Foster School of Business. You will see this additional fee listed on your payment contract. You can contact CHID or the Foster School if you have any questions about their administrative fees.

Partner Programs

Program fee

Students participating in partner programs pay a program fee that is determined by the partner organization (e.g. CIEE, IES, CET). These fees include instruction, housing, and some in-country field trips. Program fees are published on the partner organization’s website and you pay the fees directly to them. 

Administrative fees

The UW Study Abroad fee is an administrative fee that supports all the operations of UW Study Abroad including staff salaries, communications, advising, applications, student enrollment, support of students abroad, and credit transfer. 

An additional administrative fee is charged when you participate in a partner program through the Foster School of Business. You will see this additional fee listed on your payment contract. You can contact the Foster School if you have any questions about their administrative fees.

Independent Learning (FRILA)

Program fee 

There is no program fee for Independent Learning. Independent Learning is an option for qualified graduate and advanced undergraduate students participating in some types of global internships and in international activities that do not align with other study abroad program models. These activities include independent research and fieldwork for theses or dissertations, internships, practicums, clinical electives, government or department-sponsored fellowship programs (e.g. FLAS, Fulbright), or participation in programs not affiliated with the UW, or employment as a TA on a UW Faculty-led Program. By enrolling in Independent Learning students maintain their UW students status and enrollment during the period of study abroad but do not pay tuition or program fees for credits earned.

Administrative fee 

Independent Learning fees depend on whether you are enrolling for credits, or for zero credit. See table below for administrative fees associated with participation in Independent Learning. The UW Study Abroad administrative fee supports all the operations of UW Study Abroad including staff salaries, communications, advising, applications, student enrollment, support of students abroad, and credit transfer.