Policies and Forms
Pricing and Billing for Traditional Study Abroad Programs
To view which traditional study abroad costs will be covered by Northeastern and which are the responsibility of the student, please click here.
Withdrawal and Charging Policies
When you decide to enroll in a study abroad program, you commit yourself not only to the thorough preparation necessary for you to experience the program’s full benefits, but also to a significant investment of money. Before applying to any program, you are urged to plan carefully and be completely familiar with the withdrawal policies and charges, which supersede Northeastern University’s policies for withdrawal from on-campus courses. If you later decide to withdraw from either a traditional summer or semester study abroad program or a Dialogue of Civilizations program, you may incur significant fees for your withdrawal after your acceptance into the program.
Withdrawal fees are charged for study abroad programs because these sorts of programs require a significant amount of advanced planning and costs on the part of the University. For example, well before a program's start date, the University and/or host institution must pay substantial sums of money to pay for the instruction, housing, board, excursions and other costs of all its accepted students. Thus, if a student accepted to any study abroad program later decides not to participate in the program, most such costs, depending on the date, are non-recoverable by the University and/or the host institution and the student will be charged for them in accordance with this policy.
For traditional summer or semester study abroad programs, an expense is defined as non-recoverable when it has already been paid out to a vendor or Northeastern is obligated to pay the expense. In the case of traditional summer or semester study abroad programs, Northeastern will return all expenses that can be recovered from a program to a student.
If you decide to withdraw from either a traditional summer or semester study abroad program or a Dialogues of Civilizations (DOC) program, you must complete the withdrawal/deferral form and return to OISP in 403 Richards Hall. Please note that your withdrawal takes effect on the first business day after your signed withdrawal form is provided to OISP.
Unless a Travel Warning or Travel Alert has been issued (see Program Cancellation/Suspension section below), all students are responsible for and will be charged the full amount of the applicable program. A student’s account will be charged in accordance with this policy if a student later withdraws from a program after acceptance to that program. No waivers will be given for such reasons for withdrawal as adjustment issues, homesickness, or language difficulty. Requests for withdrawal made on the grounds of health must be supported by a qualified medical opinion, confirming that your participation would be strongly inadvisable for a substantial duration of the program.
Withdrawal Fees for Traditional Summer/Semester Programs, 8-20 credits
If a student withdraws from a traditional summer/semester study abroad program, the student is responsible for all non-recoverable expenses.
Withdrawal Fees for Short Term, Faculty Led and Dialogue of Civilizations Programs, 8 credits (SUMMER 2013)
If an accepted student withdraws from a 2013 Dialogue of Civilizations (DOC) program, the student will be charged according to the following schedule:
|
Date Signed Withdrawal Form is Provided to OISP |
Amount Charged |
| Before 2/1 | $365 administrative fee |
| On or after 2/1 and before 2/15 | 25% of tuition and DOC fee for student's specific DOC program plus $365 administrative fee |
| On or after 2/15 and before 3/1 | 50% of tuition and DOC fee for student's specific DOC program plus $365 administrative fee |
| On or after 3/1 and before 3/15 | 75% of tuition and DOC fee for student's specific DOC program plus $365 administrative fee |
| On or after 3/15 | 100% of tuition and DOC fee for student's specific DOC program plus $365 administrative fee |
How to Withdraw from a Traditional Summer/Semester or Short-Term Faculty-Led Dialogue of Civilizations Program:
Students must submit a Withdrawal/Deferral Request Form to the Office of International Study Programs in 403 Richards Hall.
The form can be found here:
- Adobe Acrobat: Withdrawal Deferral
- Microsoft Word: Withdrawal Deferral
Medical Leave of Absence
Due to the non‐recoverable costs associated with studying abroad, the University's medical and non‐medical leaves of absence policies do not apply to students participating in International Study Programs.
Program Cancellation/Suspension Policies
Unless a Travel Warning or Travel Alert has been issued (see section below), after the start date of a Dialogue of Civilizations and/or traditional study abroad program all students are responsible and will be charged the full amount of the applicable Dialogue and/or traditional study abroad program in all cases regardless of any of the following situations/reasons:
- Illness or accident
- Homesickness
- Family emergency
- Language difficulties
- Adjustment issues due to climate, geography, cultural differences, etc.
- Any other reason (except a Travel Warning or Travel Alert).
Travel Alerts and Travel Warnings
If the U.S. State Department issues a Travel Alert or Travel Warning or if the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issues a Travel Health Warning in a country in which Northeastern University offers a program, Northeastern may suspend or cancel the program in that country at the recommendation of the Risk Assessment Committee for International Programs for Students and by order of the Provost. If a Travel Alert or Travel Warning, including a Travel Health Warning, is issued prior to the start of the program, students who do not participate in a substitute program will be entitled to a full refund of any amounts paid to the University by the student for such program. In the event such a warning is issued thereafter:
- All students are required to return immediately to the U.S;
- Students will be evacuated by International S.O.S.;
- All transportation and housing costs not covered by S.O.S. will be covered by OISP;
- OISP will make every effort to assist students to find an alternative program for the semester if possible; and.
- If it is not possible to find an alternative program, participants and accepted applicants are entitled to a refund or credit on a pro-rata basis.
Additional Forms
All students studying abroad on traditional summer, semester and year long programs must complete the OISP Course Approval Form.
- Adobe Acrobat: Course Approval Form
- Microsoft Word: Course Approval Form
- Adobe Acrobat: GE3 Course Form
- Microsoft Word: GE3 Course Form
Students participating on an internship abroad but complete the Internship Credit Form.
- Adobe Acrobat: Internship Credit Form
- Microsoft Word: Internship Credit Form
Although not required, students are also encouraged to complete a Contact Information Form to leave with emergency contacts while abroad.
- Adobe Acrobat: Contact Information Form
- Microsoft Word: Contact Information Form
Forms can be submitted in person to 403 Richards, via email: studyabroad@neu.edu or by fax at 617-373-5702.
Courses
Traditional Semester Programs
- Students are required to enroll in four courses to receive full credit and maintain full Northeastern student status.
Traditional Summer Programs
- Students are required to enroll in two courses per summer session to receive full credit and maintain full Northeastern student status.
Dialogue of Civilizations
- Students are required to enroll in the two specific courses outlined in each Dialogue of Civilizations program. Faculty cannot make exceptions to this policy.