Study Abroad Finances
Although ECU does its best to make studying abroad as affordable as possible, we understand that there are additional inherent costs associated with participating on a study abroad program; i.e. passport, visa, airfare, personal travel and fluctuating exchange rates.
This page contains resources for using Financial Aid, applying for ECU and national scholarships, and how programs differ in pricing/billing.
ECU Financial Aid
ECU students participating in most study abroad programs will have access to his/her/their financial aid as long as financial aid guidelines are being followed. Since financial aid is personalized to the individual needs of each student, it is recommended to speak with the Office of Financial Aid during the application phase of the study abroad process to get a better understanding of how you can utilize or access your financial aid to support participating in a study abroad program.
The Office of Financial Aid has a dedicated Financial Aid Counselor who understands the relationship between financial aid and study abroad. Schedule an appointment on Mr. Jeff Evans’ Booking page, or please email him at evansje@ecu.edu.
ECU Scholarships
In addition to utilizing your regular ECU financial aid package, you can apply for additional scholarships. Below is a link to the ECUAward Portal, which hosts dozens of scholarship opportunities for study abroad. Some scholarships may be based on your academic department, others on the county you live in.
Please keep in mind the individual deadlines and contact the Education Abroad Office if you have questions or would like a staff member to review your materials before the submission date.
The East Carolina Alumni Association annually awards scholarships funded by alumni contributions. These scholarships will be awarded to deserving East Carolina University full-time undergraduate students for the following academic year. Scholarship and application information can be found on the website ECU Alumni Association scholarships website.
National Scholarships
There are dozens of national scholarships for studying abroad. Please use the following link to explore the national scholarships for study abroad that our office works with regularly.
Program Fees and Costs
ECU Bilateral Exchange and NC Exchange Programs
Application fee due when the application is turned in:
- ECU Bilateral Exchange: $100
- NC Exchange: $150
*Checks and money orders are the only accepted methods of payment.
The tuition for participating on an ECU Bilateral exchange program or NC exchange program costs the same as if you were at ECU that semester (main campus tuition and fees at your normal in- or out-of-state rate). You will be billed the normal ECU tuition and fees for that semester that you incur any other semester. You will be responsible for paying the host university directly for housing and/or meals.
International Student Exchange Program (ISEP) Exchange:
Students participating on ISEP exchange will be charged ECU tuition, fees, housing, and meals all at the ECU main campus rate (in- or out-of-state depending on the student’s designation) for that semester.
- ISEP Exchange: $100 Application fee, $395 placement fee upon acceptance
To find current ECU tuition and fees rate, please visit the Financial Services Tuition and Fees website
ISEP Direct:
- ISEP Direct: $100 Application, $395 program deposit upon acceptance
Direct programs will have a set program fee listed on the program webpage within ISEP’s website. Students will be responsible for paying the fee directly to ISEP. Students will still have access to their ECU financial aid if applicable. Direct programs can sometimes be less than out of state tuition at ECU.
**Application fee due when submitting the ISEP application.
Consortium Programs:
Students participating in consortium programs will pay the application fee and program costs directly to the university with whom we are allowed to send students on their programs. For more information, please contact the ECU study abroad office.
Faculty-led Study Abroad Programs
Each faculty-led program has its own associated fees. On the program’s brochure page, there is a breakdown of what the fee includes. Once accepted, students will follow the payment deadlines as listed in their program application. In general, these are the payment deadlines for summer:
- Upon Acceptance to Program: $575 ($75 administrative fee + $500 deposit)
- February 28th: Half of remaining program balance
- March 31st: Full program balance
Financial Aid may be used to defer the February 28th and March 31st payments until aid is released.
Other Program Related Expenses:
- Health Insurance – Students participating in ECU Bilateral programs and UNCEP programs are required to purchase the study abroad health insurance provided by the UNC system. Students will be notified of these charges after being accepted into the study abroad program as rates change each year.
- Students can also purchase insurance for up to two weeks prior and after their intended program.
- Airfare – Students are eligible for student discounts on certain flights. It is recommended that students shop around for the best deals. One thing to consider is if a student may want to extend their time abroad at the end of the program and extending a ticket bought online can sometimes be difficult. It may be easier to work with a travel agent or airline directly. Some recommended sites/companies to compare prices with are:
- StudentUniverse.com
- Student Visas – Depending on where students go, they may need to get a visa. To find out more about costs, please visit the regional consulate website for the country where you will study. You can find a list of consulates on the Department of State Travel.State.Gov website.