Financing your Summer Studies

Spending a summer studying in North America can be one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of your life. Much is to be gained from the people you meet, the events you experience, and the lessons you learn. You can experience U.S. and Canadian education in very different ways than you would during the regular academic year.

If you carefully choose a location and school, you can combine the best features of a foreign holiday with actual study. You can improve your English language fluency, gain new professional skills and deepen your understanding of life in the U.S.A. and Canada.

You can do all this for a modest price. The cost of attending summer school in the U.S.A. and Canada is low compared with the cost of studying for a full year. Besides, your U.S. or Canadian education, even if it is for just a summer, is an investment that will reward you all your life.

Cost of Summer Programs

How much you spend will depend upon how long you study in the U.S.A. or Canada. Summer sessions can be for four, six, eight, or ten weeks.

You can find updated information on the cost and length of summer courses on the program’s website and in the catalog. Go to the “Request Information” link on our website to complete an online request form. You may link directly to the admissions office by clicking the “Apply Now” button on the school’s page at StudyUSA.com. If you write directly to the Summer Session Office or English Language Program of each school that interests you, please mention Study in the U.S.A. when you write.

It is difficult to estimate average total expenses for summer study in the U.S.A. because the cost of tuition and fees varies greatly from school to school. One program may include total care from start to finish, while another has a lower fee but charges separately for meals, accommodations etc. To do your own comparison, here are some of the costs to expect.

1. Application fee: When you apply to study in a summer program, you will send a check or money order along with your application. This application fee can range from $25 to $75. It will not be refunded to you if you do not attend the program.

Admission to some summer programs is selective. You may be asked to send copies of your grades at school or university. If your native language is not English, you also may be asked to supply your score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). If your TOEFL score is below 450 or 500, the school may refer you to the English language program or you may have to take an English placement test when you arrive.

2. Tuition: Costs of summer programs cover such a wide range that any average price would be misleading. Tuition for one three-credit course may range from $450 to $1,500. The quality of a program does not depend upon its cost. Quality depends upon other factors, of course. You will consider cost in choosing a program, but the education and experience you will receive are the factors that should determine your final decision.

Similarly, there is no typical or average price for English language programs. Tuition at intensive English institutes will be as low as $200 or as high as $300 per week. One eight-week program at a major university costs $850; another may cost $4,000. Important questions to consider are class size, hours of instruction, and what workshops, activities or services are included with the tuition.

3. Health service and insurance: Most summer programs charge a health service fee of about $50 to $80. For this fee, students can use the school clinic for treatment of minor injuries and illnesses.

Because U.S. medical costs are extremely high, you should also purchase health and accident insurance if the program does not offer an insurance plan to their students. This insurance will cover hospitalization and other expensive treatment.

Basic student insurance costs from $100 to $150 for three months. Write the school’s foreign student advisor or ask the academic counselor in your country about these plans before you go to the U.S.A.

4.Other fees: You will pay special fees if you use a science laboratory, fine arts studio or athletic facilities. Fees for using a computer center can be as high as $400.

5. Room and Board: You can live in a residence hall during the summer at most colleges and universities. Rooms on campus usually are available for any summer program students who want them.

Most residence hall rooms are single rooms. There usually are some double rooms and suites for more than one person, too. Single rooms at a large university may rent for $20 to $30 a day. Double rooms cost slightly less per person and may offer the opportunity to live with a student from another country. At some universities, you can rent an air-conditioned room for a slightly higher price; at others, all rooms are air-conditioned.

Most schools offer a room and board payment plan. In this case, you would pay for both your room and your cafeteria or dining hall meals. These plans cost about $150 to $250 a week. You may also buy food at the school’s “snack bar” or campus center.

If you prefer to live off-campus in an apartment, be aware that costs, furnishings, and availability will vary greatly.

The cost of renting an apartment off campus varies widely depending upon the type of housing you find and the city you select.

6. Books and supplies: Students in the U.S.A. and Canada buy their own textbooks, notebooks, and other supplies. These may cost from $50 to $200 for a summer course. You can save money by buying used books.

7 Personal expenses: You will pay up to several hundred dollars a month for transportation, entertainment, and necessities like soap, toothpaste, and stamps. You will also pay for laundry and dry-cleaning. You can often find a self-service laundromat (coin-operated washers and dryers) in your residence hall or near the campus.

Payment

Students are not always required to register in advance for summer programs. At many schools, you can register and pay your tuition during the first week of classes. However, you should reserve space in the course you want to attend by writing to the program office well in advance.

U.S. banks often delay payment of money that is transferred from foreign banks. Students should bring debit cards or have their money in the form of travelers checks or available in a checking account. Most programs accept credit cards.

Financial Aid and Work

Financial aid is almost never available for summer study, even for U.S. and Canadian students. Therefore, do not plan to finance even part of your summer experience through university scholarships or loans.

The U.S. Government regulates international student employment. International students are not allowed to work during the first academic year in the U.S.A. Also, spouses of students on F visas (most students) may not work while they are in the U.S.A. If you hold a job illegally, you could be ordered to leave the country.

Summer is a wonderful time to further your studies and explore the United States. With the proper planning, you will have an exciting and rewarding experience!

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