Study Abroad Aid

Your financial aid may initially be based on the program’s estimated total cost of attendance. Once we receive the program’s confirmed invoice, your aid may be adjusted to reflect finalized costs, fees, enrollment changes, or any outside funding you receive.

Financial aid and billing timelines may differ. For information about study abroad billing or account update timelines, please contact the Global Learning Office (GLO).

International students receiving financial aid are not eligible to use their Northwestern aid to study in their home country or country of residence. Exceptions will only be granted upon receipt of a written appeal, which must include an academic rationale and a letter of support from an academic advisor. Exclusions apply. Visit the Global Learning Office (GLO) website for more information.

Studying abroad will not change your family contribution. This amount is always calculated based on your family's financial circumstances, as reported on your aid application materials. Most students initially receive a financial aid notice based on the cost of a full year of on-campus study. If you decide to study abroad, your aid will be updated later in the year - once program costs for your quarter abroad become available.

For programs that cost more than Northwestern, your Northwestern Scholarship assistance will be increased to cover your higher financial need. Because you cannot participate in Federal Work-Study while abroad, your work-study allotment (if any) will be offered as a subsidized loan for your quarter(s) abroad.

For programs that cost less than Northwestern, your financial need will be lower than usual, so your aid will be reduced: work-study will be reduced first, and Northwestern Scholarship may be reduced if necessary. In rare cases, some students who receive financial aid for on-campus study may not be financially eligible for need-based aid on programs whose total cost of attendance is lower than at Northwestern.

For programs that span more than one quarter, your program charges and financial aid will generally be divided evenly across the applicable quarters. You will receive a separate bill for each quarter, and your financial aid will be disbursed evenly across those quarters.

Any outside scholarship or funding you receive may affect your financial aid. Students must notify our office of all outside awards, including those paid directly to you.

Some expenses—such as housing, health insurance, or other program fees—may be billed separately by the study abroad program, depending on the program’s billing arrangement. Your Northwestern bill may not include all costs associated with your study abroad program. Be sure to review your program’s billing information and budget for any additional expenses.

Students are responsible for carefully reviewing all billing information provided by their study abroad program and/or consulting with their Global Learning Office (GLO) adviser to understand:

• What will be billed through Northwestern University
• What will be billed directly by the study abroad program
• Payment schedules and due dates (for both Northwestern University and/or the study abroad program)
• Deposit requirements
• Refund and withdrawal policies
• Any available deferral or payment options offered by the program

For more information on billing and budgeting, visit the Program Costs and Financial Aid or the GLO portal. If you have further questions about your program's billing arrangement, please contact the Global Learning Office (GLO) and/or your study abroad program, as applicable.

Financial aid cannot cover the cost of housing in Evanston while you are studying abroad. You are responsible for either canceling your on-campus housing contract or making arrangements to sublet your off-campus apartment.

• Application Fees
• Bank, currency exchange, or international transaction fees
• Passport or student visa related expenses (shipping, expediting, travel, parking, etc.)
• Shipping, storage, or refundable security/damage deposits
• Flight-related costs, including change fees, missed connections, or additional flight seats/upgrades
• Luggage, baggage fees, lost luggage, or plug/power adapters
• Personal travel, vacation, or optional exclusions
• Optional program fees, such as supplemental or course-specific fees, housing upgrades, orientations, pre-sessions, or pre-program language courses
• Expenses related to optional internships
• Cancellation fees or other costs associated with program withdrawal or dismissal

If you receive financial aid for study abroad, you are required to transfer your credits back to Northwestern, regardless of whether you "need" the credits to graduate or intend to petition for specific departmental credit. Failure to do so may result in cancellation of aid.

Study abroad costs, billing arrangements, and payment requirements vary by program. Please review the information below to determine the appropriate office or resource for assistance.

Questions about:

• Program billing, payments, invoices, or payment deadlines → Contact your study abroad program directly and/or the Global Learning Office (GLO), as applicable.
• Program specific costs, fees, or other program details → Review your program information in the GLO portal and/or contact the Global Learning Office (GLO) for additional details.
• Study abroad health insurance → Contact the Global Learning Office (GLO) or review Study Abroad Health Insurance information.

Financial aid disbursement follows the Northwestern academic calendar and may not align with your study abroad program’s start date.

If your program requires payment before your financial aid is disbursed, or if your program begins significantly before the Northwestern quarter, the following options may be available:

• Payment required before financial aid is disbursed → Contact your study abroad program directly to ask about available payment deferral options, eligibility requirements, and deadlines.
• Programs that begin significantly before the Northwestern quarter → You may be eligible to request an early release of financial aid funds by uploading the Study Abroad Release of Funds form.

To receive an estimated cost breakdown for your study abroad program, complete the Study Abroad Estimate Request Form. Our office will review your request and provide an estimate tailored to your program.

study abroad estimate request form

Summer Study Abroad: Summer estimates are not currently available. Please revisit this page toward the end of winter quarter.

For questions about your specific study abroad program, including program cost breakdown, program requirements, application deadlines, program dates, housing, billing arrangements, or other program details, contact Global Learning Office (GLO).

Your study abroad estimate includes live links and guidance to help you identify the appropriate resource for your questions.

Estimate requests for the 2026–27 academic year are based on your current financial aid eligibility and the most up-to-date program information available at the time of review. Final aid amounts may change after your 2026–27 financial aid application has been reviewed and/or program costs are finalized.

Your estimate may change if your program costs or billing arrangements are revised, you receive outside scholarships or other funding, your family or financial circumstances change, financial aid policies change, or our office determines that the program takes place during your final quarter of enrollment.

Northwestern financial aid is limited to one aided summer study abroad experience, if eligible. Students who have already used 12 quarters of financial aid are not eligible for additional Northwestern financial aid for a summer study abroad program.

Your summer financial aid eligibility is reviewed based on your maximum eligibility. Aid adjustments or appeals are not available during the summer quarter.

If you are considering a summer study abroad program, we strongly encourage you to work closely with your program’s GLO adviser to understand your program costs and possible scholarship opportunities.

Summer study abroad programs generally have lower costs than a standard academic quarter. As a result, the amount of financial aid a student may receive for a summer program is typically lower than the aid they receive during the academic year.

Receiving financial aid during the academic year does not guarantee that you will qualify for need-based aid for a summer study abroad program.

For example, a student may receive need-based financial aid during the academic year but not qualify for need-based aid for a summer program because of the program's lower overall cost.

See the example below to understand how summer program costs can affect potential financial aid.

If you are planning to participate in a Northwestern study abroad program during the summer quarter, we will automatically provide an estimated cost of attendance and financial aid estimate to students receiving need-based financial aid after they are admitted to the program. 

If you are waitlisted or added to a program after the initial estimates are provided, please contact our office to request an estimate.