Around 30% of Chapman’s undergraduate population takes part in studying abroad internationally. A common fear that many students have is that studying abroad is expensive and inaccessible. However, the university and some programs on campus offer different aid to help students.

Henry Carey, the host and producer of the Chapman Study Abroad Podcast, is also a global education advisor at the Center for Global Education (CGE) for Argyros College of Business and Economics students. Carey shared some advice he would give students who are wary of going abroad due to financial reasons. 

“One common myth concerning studying abroad is that it is expensive,” Carey said. “I frequently run into students who write off this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity before they even meet with an advisor to discuss their options.”

It is recommended that students start their search for financial aid from their assigned global education advisor, which vary based on major. From there, students can narrow down the list of scholarships they are eligible to apply for while also considering the award amount and due date.

The CGE also has a categorized list of scholarships based on different programs, identities and locations. Some notable scholarships in the list include the Gilman Scholarship, available to students who receive the federal Pell Grant, and the Promising Futures Program, which has funding available for first-generation students.

Every semester, the CGE hosts a study abroad scholarship workshop. This provides students with information on how to apply for scholarships and tips on how to fund and budget their trip abroad.

However, it is suggested that students apply early when looking into and applying for study abroad scholarships. Many of the scholarships are due early in the semester before a global education program begins, requiring students to plan in advance. 

Another option for students is studying abroad during interterm or summer. These travel courses last around a week or two and are the equivalent to one class. The courses allow students to have the opportunity to travel without having to take the entire semester abroad, resulting in a more financially accessible option for students. 

Junior psychology major Ari Raphael recently traveled to Italy for the course this past summer. Raphael stated that she decided to take the course because it aligned with her minor, and she had heard positive things about the course from friends. She also explained how the cost was more manageable during the summer.

“I received no financial aid for the trip, but I imagine the cost was significantly less than a semester-long program,” Raphael said. “Waiving tuition for the summer was an option, which made the cost more manageable.”

In addition to travel courses, travel internships are also available to Chapman students as an alternative to entire semesters abroad.

Brianna Hester, a junior psychology and business administration double major, completed a summer international internship in Dublin.

“I cannot recommend this experience enough to other students because it gave me an incredible chance to see another culture as well as make lifelong friends,” Hester said. “I was able to see a different job market because I worked as an intern in a recruitment company and compared the differences as well as the similarities between the job market in the United States and Ireland.” 

Aside from travel courses and international internships, Carey explained how studying abroad has a similar cost to the tuition students pay to attend Chapman.

“All existing financial aid that a student receives at Chapman (including Chapman-provided aid) will apply towards their total bill due to Chapman for tuition and housing (on the vast majority of our programs), so students typically end up owing what they normally pay for a semester on Chapman's campus,” Carey told The Panther. 

Junior Serena Park is a double major in political science and strategic and corporate communication who studied abroad last semester in Prague. Her scholarship that she receives every year was transferred for the program, making the cost to go abroad identical to her regular tuition payment at Chapman. 

“For students that are thinking about going abroad, I would highly recommend it if you get the chance,” Park said. “While it definitely still is a huge financial commitment in terms of paying for flights, food and any trips that you might go on, it actually ended up being a lot less expensive than I was expecting.”