Financial Aid and Study Abroad: How To Make It Work!

When it comes to studying abroad, you don’t have to fret over finances.  You have incredible resources at your disposal, including Abroad101!  Before getting carried away with scholarship essays and fundraising events, take a look at the hard numbers.  How much will this really cost you?  The first step to answering that question is looking at your Financial Aid package.  Here’s a few tips to get the green:

Determine how your University deals with study abroad tuition.  Many schools will have students pay their regular college tuition, which will cover study abroad tuition and (usually) accommodation while overseas.  The benefit of this system is that all of your financial aid will transfer and apply to your time abroad.

Some schools will have you pay tuition directly to the study abroad program you are participating in, and may or may not have a “study abroad” fee to be paid to your home institution. If you pay your program directly, any financial aid from your home institution may not be applicable. However, most federal aid is eligible for use on semester study abroad programs.

Navigating the Financial Aid piece can be the trickiest part.  That’s why we strongly recommend you meet with the Study Abroad or Financial Aid Advisors at your school.  With their guidance and expertise,  you can specifically discuss how your financial aid package may be affected by studying abroad and what your best options are.

After you have a better idea about your Financial Aid package, you can begin to look at other sources of funding.  IEFA provides a comprehensive college scholarship search and grant listings, plus international student loan programs and other financial aid information to promote study abroad.  Check  The Scholarship Coach once a week for updated scholarship opportunities and tips.  Additionally, the  IIE Passport is a directory with detailed descriptions of hundreds of study abroad scholarships, fellowships, grants, and paid internships for U.S. undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate students, and professionals.

Armed with this newfound knowledge,  you can get back to writing those scholarship winning essays, and baking brownies for your semester in Belize Bake Sale.

Want to read insider reviews from fellow study abroad students? Click here to find your perfect study abroad program!

How Much to Tip While Studying Abroad? A User’s Guide

photo credit:
hollywoodsmile78

A great way to experience your new country is to check out the local restaurants and cafe’s. Experience the food, practice your language skills and absorb the new culture. It’s important however, to know the tipping etiquette. Not all countries are created equal in this manner so it’s important to know the individual customs.

Here’s the first piece of insight. America is the only country where people tip as much as 20% of the bill. This is extremely high compared to many countries who tip 10% at the most, if at all.

Below see more of what is customary around the world. If you find yourself unsure, just play it safe and follow what the locals are doing. Also, don’t be afraid to ask locals!

Anyone have any funny (or not so funny) stories of tipping gone wrong? Tell us about them in the comments!

photo credit:
Mr. Mystery

Most European Countries: Look on the bill to see if a “service charge” has been added. This often can replace the need for a tip, but typically it’s courtesy to tip 5-10% in addition to the charge. This ends up being a very small amount and many people simply leave extra change as the tip. (As is the case in France) The exception is the UK where tipping in addition to the service charge isn’t necessary.  Many Eastern European countries don’t include service charges, so tip 10-15%. When in doubt, leave 10%. You won’t risk insulting anyone, and they’ll likely be happy to make extra money off tourists who don’t understand the local culture.

Latin America: The rules for this continent align closely with Europe, although everywhere has exceptions. Many restaurants will include a “service charge” in which case, it’s a safe bet to tip an additional 10% just in case. There may be places where it’s not necessary, but you won’t risk insulting anyone if you do leave a tip.

photo credit: 
eugene

Asia: Here’s where things get complicated, so pay attention. There’s no cut and dry answer as each country varies dramatically. Sometimes if the location is very westernized, it will be better to leave a tip as they will expect the western customs.

Hong Kong: Leave a tip of 10% for good service. Everywhere else in China? Don’t tip. If you want to read more about Hong Kong and its currency, read our Global Ambassador, Zac’s post on Hong Kong currency.

Singapore: It’s not necessary to tip in Singapore. Some luxury hotels or restaurants may accept a small tip, but that’s it. Note: Don’t tip at the airport as it’s actually outlawed. Want to read more about Singapore? Our Global Ambassador, Theresa, wrote about her trip to Singapore.

Japan: Don’t tip, ever.  Wait staff won’t know what to do with the extra money and may even be insulted.

Thailand: It’s not necessary, yet it may be a good idea to leave a little extra for exceptional service. You may also be expected to tip a small amount if you’re at a luxury hotel or restaurant.

South Korea: Tipping is not expected and some nicer restaurants or hotels will add a service charge. No need to tip anything extra.

Taiwan: Restaurants will likely add a small service charge and tipping extra is not necessary. Want to know more about living in Taiwan? Our Global Ambassador, Jake, writes all about it in his post about cultural differences between Taiwan and America.

Cambodia: Like the rest of Southeast Asia, most establishments don’t require a tip, but leaving extra change on the table is ok. Nicer restaurants will include a service charge.

photo credit:
veer66

India: There’s no concept of tipping, yet it’s ok to leave extra change at nicer restaurants.

New Zealand: Servers at restaurants make a decent wage, so there’s no need to tip on top of the bill.

Australia: Like New Zealand, servers are paid well so there isn’t a need to tip, yet it is expected at very nice restaurants. There is some debate about tipping in this country. What do you think? Ever been? Read more about Australia’s local currency from our Global Ambassador, Mia.

Did we leave anything off? Let us know your experience in the comments and we’ll update the post!

Want to read insider reviews from fellow study abroad students? Click here to find your perfect program!

Fluctuating Economy Brings a Wealth of Information

Just like many other institutions, the world of higher education is not immune to the negative impact of the financial crisis. The Forum on Education Abroad recently released a report that shows fewer students may be studying abroad. 165 American schools, program providers, and international universities participated in the survey. Of them, 66% noticed a marked negative impact in their programs as a result of the economy. Read more →

Which Study Abroad Scholarship is Right for You?

Sure, studying abroad is expensive. But with the wealth of abroad scholarships available to today’s undergrad, you really can’t afford to not study abroad. There is funding for everyone: from need- and academic-based scholarships to grants in Egyptology and tropical topiary design, there is truly a scholarship for everyone. With a little determination and a few Google searches, you’ll find a scholarship that suits you. Here are some tips to get you started: Read more →