Funding

Students are eligible to receive financial aid towards the cost of any study abroad program if the courses fulfill degree requirements and the student is taking a full course load. To learn more about how financial aid can be used for studying abroad, please visit the Study Abroad Office’s Financial Aid webpage. In addition, specific questions about how financial aid can be used should be directed to Tommy Bilbo (tommy_bilbo@ncsu.edu) in the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

There are many opportunities for students to apply to both NC State and non-NC State Scholarships. NC State scholarships for study abroad are managed by the Study Abroad Office. To learn more about NC State scholarships and how to apply, please click here. Students must complete a separate application apart from the program application to be considered for the scholarships. The scholarship application cycles are:

• Spring Cycle: Application opens July 23 and closes September 15
• Summer Cycle: Application opens September 25 and closes November 15
• Fall Cycle: Application opens December 1 and closes February 15

In addition to NC State scholarships, students can also apply to scholarships provided by other organizations such as companies, religious organizations, and the like. The Study Abroad Office has compiled a list of common non-NC State scholarships which can be found here.

The Fellowship Advising Office (FAO) at NC State helps undergraduate students, graduate students, and alums learn about and apply for awards that can fund opportunities overseas.  The office helps students identify potential awards, review applications, practice interviews and much more.

When considering and planning your study abroad experience it’s important to consider budgeting. Every program page has a budget sheet which provides estimates for costs such as tuition, housing, application charge, airfare, and personal expenses. The estimated costs may vary depending on the current exchange rate as well as personal spending. All of the budget sheets can be found in the specific program brochure pages.

Remember to think about differences in cost of living in Raleigh versus your study abroad city. Remember that if you work here in Raleigh, you will not be working during your time abroad.

Other financial items to consider:

• It is a good idea to utilize an international cost of living calculator to compare the cost of necessities in your host country to your current costs in Raleigh. Websites like Expatistan can be great aids when budgeting for your program abroad.
• When you are abroad, you won’t have to pay certain costs in Raleigh that you do during a regular semester. For example, if your rent in Raleigh is $4,000 per semester and your rent abroad is $4,500, the true “cost” of studying abroad as it relates to housing is $500. This may be true for several of your living costs including rent, food, tuition, and more.
• If you are a student who works part- or full-time, you likely will not have this income while studying abroad. Make sure to account for the cost of the program, but also the funds you will not be making while you are abroad that you are currently used to having.

For more information about financing for summer study abroad programs, click here.