Financial & Billing

+ Is my application fee refundable?

Please click here for this information.

+ when is payment due, and how much is the deposit?

To secure your space, all programs require a non-refundable Confirmation Deposit within 1 week of acceptance. This cannot be deferred with financial aid. See below for deposit amount.

Full payment or verification of financial aid is due by the Payment Deadline listed on your program’s Cost and Dates chart. To find the chart, use the Program Locations menu at the top right to navigate to your city, and then click Cost and Dates.

The Confirmation Deposit is applied toward your balance due – it is not an additional fee. The Confirmation Deposit is $500 for all programs EXCEPT:

• University of the Arts London & London College of Fashion: $1,000
• Aix-en-Provence, France: $1,000
• Sorrento, Italy: $1,000
• Griffith College Dublin: $1,000
• January Term Traveling Seminars: $1,500
• UK programs for which a Tier 4 visa is required: $5,000

After you’re accepted, you’ll receive a Billing Statement from ASA, which will show your balance due and payment due date(s).

+ what payment methods does ASA accept?

• For the Confirmation Deposit, you can pay online by credit card or E-Check from a US bank account. We also accept personal check, cashier’s check, or money order made payable to Academic Studies Abroad and mailed to the address found here. If you have an international bank account, we accept bank wire transfers.

• For all other payments, we only accept E-Check from a US bank account, personal check, cashier’s check, or money order made payable to Academic Studies Abroad and mailed to the address found here. If you have an international bank account, we accept bank wire transfers.

+ what is included with my ASA program fees?

All programs include tuition, housing, medical insurance, on-site support, visa advising, orientation, at least one excursion, and official transcript. Many programs include meals as well. Inclusions vary by program/housing type. To find out what’s included with your program, use the Program Locations menu at the top right of our website to navigate to your city, and then click What’s Included. Credits are transferable to your home institution as long as you get your home institution’s approval.

+ how do i know if asa programs are affordable?

If you compare programs and what's included, you'll find that ours are some of the most affordable. Be sure to compare what's included and not just the price itself. A list of what is and is not included can be found by using the Program Locations menu at the top right of our website, click on your city, and then click What’s Included.

+ What additional expenses do I need to budget for besides ASA’s program price?

Airfare, books, passport, and spending money/personal travel are things you should budget for, in addition to your ASA program price. Depending on your program selection, you may also need to pay for meals and a visa. You can find a helpful chart of estimated expenses here.

+ can my financial aid pay for this program?

A majority of ASA students use financial aid to pay for their ASA program! However, there are steps that must be taken several weeks before our payment deadline. For full details about how to apply your financial aid to ASA, please click here.

+ does asa offer payment plans?

We can work with you one-on-one if you're not receiving financial aid and additional time is needed beyond our Payment Deadline, or if your out-of-pocket payment after applying financial aid is significant. The payment plan balance must be paid in full before the program starts. We try to be as flexible as possible! If you're interested in a payment plan, please call us at 617-327-9388 and we'll be happy to talk to you!

+ if studying abroad is more expensive than my current institution, Can I get additional financial aid to cover the difference?

Yes, if the Estimated Costs of Attendance of your study abroad program are more than the Cost of Attendance for your home institution, you may be eligible to apply for additional Student Loans or Parent Plus loans through your home institution’s Financial Aid Office. You’ll need to ask your Financial Aid Office to recalculate your eligibility using the estimated total costs of your ASA program. You should also see if there are any scholarships you can apply for through your school or ASA's website.

+ are there any scholarships?

Yes! Please click here for scholarship opportunities.

+ Does ASA charge late fees or interest for late payments?

A $200 late fee may be assessed for late payments, as well as a 2% monthly surcharge until ASA is paid in full. ASA reserves the right to take action if payment is not received on time, such as: dismissal from the program, removal from housing and program activities, notification to your home institution, and final transcript hold.

+ how do i get a copy of my asa billing statement?

Students can download their ASA Billing Statement from their Embark account. If students have any difficulty with this, they can email hello@academicstudies.com to request that a copy be emailed to them.

+ What is the cancellation policy?

Our cancellation policies can be found here.

+ Can I use a 529 plan toward this program?

Yes, but you will need to contact your 529 administrator and ask whether payments can be issued to a third party provider of study abroad programs such as ASA and whether your funds are eligible for use through a study abroad provider. If you plan to use 529 funds to pay for your program, be sure to look into this at least several weeks before ASA’s payment deadline, because it can take time to get the answers you need or make alternate payment arrangements if the 529 funds are not eligible. Here are the questions you should ask your 529 administrator:

• Are my 529 funds eligible for use for a study abroad program through a third party provider?
• Do the funds need to be certified by a Title IV institution before I can use them?
• Where will the funds be sent: to me, ASA, or my home institution? When and how will the funds be sent?
• Are there any additional steps I need to take to ensure I can use these funds for my study abroad program through a third party provider?

+ Should I insure my program costs?

Yes, you should insure your program costs against losses, in case you need to withdraw from the program after fees are non-refundable. As shown in our Cancellation Policies, program fees become non-refundable before the program starts. ASA is not responsible for losses should you not attend the program for any reason after unrecoverable program costs apply. Click here to learn about Trip Cancellation insurance options!

+ I need documentation for my taxes. How do I get that?

Although ASA can't issue a 1098-T because we’re not a Title IV institution, we are happy to email you a statement upon request, showing amounts paid to ASA. Please email hello@academicstudies.com to request this.