Getting Started With Your Study Abroad
Meet an SRAS Advisor
Choosing Your Program and Location
Am I Eligible To Apply?
Each program page lists applicable eligibility requirements.
Most programs require you to be over 18 years of age and to have earned a high school diploma. Youth programs are open to applicants still in high school, however.
You do NOT need to be a current student at a university or college. You need NOT be a US citizen or resident. Previous foreign language study is NOT required for most programs. SRAS does not discriminate based on age, sex, race, or any other factor.
For any eligibility questions, including questions about accommodating disabilities or special circumstances, please contact us.
Passports and (Possible) Visas
Visa requirements can vary by country and program length. Sometimes it is required and sometimes not. SRAS will provide visa guidance for any program that requires a visa.
I Have Concerns About...
Studying abroad is a big decision. The most common concerns that people have include:
If the pages above don’t answer your questions, please contact us! We are always happy to talk about your options.
If your participation in the program is dependent on receiving a specific scholarship (or other funding source), you can indicate that in your application.
Apply For Your Program
The SRAS application is pretty straight-forward (see our Program Finder and click on the program to access the application).
If you are currently enrolled in a university, you will also need to contact your Study Abroad Office (or similar) and will usually need to complete an application for your home university as well (and some require you to complete their application first). Your university can advise you on credit transfer, let you know about any university deadlines for study abroad, and advise you regarding your financial aid and scholarship opportunities.
A complete SRAS application includes the following components:
- Completed base application, including your academic history, personal information, etc.
- Personal statement, outlining why you want to study abroad and why study abroad will be important to your professional, personal, or academic plans.
- Copy of your unofficial transcript, showing your current GPA as well as all courses you will have taken prior to the start of your program.
- A copy of your passport data page. If you do not yet have a passport you can indicate that in the application and we will ask you to upload it when received; it will not hinder the acceptance process.
- One academic reference. If applying to a program with a language component, ideally the reference is from your language professor. You will enter the name and email of your reference in the SRAS application, and the form will be emailed to that individual.
- One study abroad reference. This must be received from your home university’s study abroad office. You will enter the name and email of your reference in the SRAS application, and the form will be emailed to that individual. This requirement can be waived if you are not currently enrolled anywhere OR you do not intend to transfer credit.
- $50 application fee (non-refundable)
A second academic reference, a phone interview, and/or other requirements may be added at the discretion of SRAS. We will contact you if these are needed.
If space is available, SRAS will consider late applications. Applications submitted more than 7 days after an application deadline are subject to a $150 late fee, in addition to the $50 application fee, which should be submitted at time of application to be considered. The fee is not intended to punish, but to accommodate the additional administrative burden necessary when processing applications outside of a regular cycle. If you receive an offer into the program, the non-refundable deposit ($500) is due within 7 days. If applying within 30 days of the program start, full program payment is due immediately.
When Will I Get My Acceptance and When Do I Pay?
SRAS can generally review and process applications within 5 business days after they are received. If any components are missing, we will alert you via email and/or new task(s) in your SRAS portal (created when you applied).
Conditional offers may be issued if your application is missing required components. SRAS reserves the right to rescind conditional offers at its discretion. Priority for housing choices and other program options are given to students with unconditional offer status.
Once you accept an unconditional offer into the program, and your deposit is paid, your spot on the program is secured. This must occur before the program deadline or within one week after.
The application fee of $50 is due at time of application and is non-refundable. In limited cases, where you are nominated by your home university as part of a sponsored program in partnership with SRAS, this may be waived.
Once you accept your offer you will need to confirm your place in the program by paying a deposit of $500 toward your online invoice. This deposit may be refunded or deferred only in specific situations related to scholarship applications and/or funding release dates and should be cleared and confirmed in writing by SRAS. If SRAS has a direct billing arrangement with your university and your university will pay your bill in full, then we will bill the university. If your university pays for part of the bill (most commonly, tuition), but you are responsible for part (most commonly, housing), you are responsible for paying the deposit and we will make sure that it gets applied toward your part of the program cost.
Additional deposits. Certain programs may necessitate additional non-refundable deposits. This happens primarily with complex programs involving internal flights and/or hotels with stricter requirements during high season.
Full program payment is due 45 days prior to the program start. The only exception is if you are dependent on receiving financial aid processed through a U.S. college or university, or other sources of loans or grants. In this case you will need to ask your funding source to complete the Payment Deferment Form, confirming the funding amount and date of release of funds. If this funding completely covers the cost of your program, SRAS will adjust your payment due date accordingly. If the funds only partially cover the program cost, then the balance not covered is due 45 days prior to the program start, and the remainder is due when the funds are disbursed by the funding source.
Full refunds, less deposit and/or any expenses incurred, will be made only if SRAS receives written notice of cancellation at least forty-five (45) days before the start date of the program. After that date, SRAS’ refund policy is as follows:
If SRAS receives written notice of cancellation 30-45 days prior to the program start, the student will receive a refund of 50% of the program cost, less deposit(s).
If SRAS receives written notice of cancellation less than 30 days prior to program start, or notice of withdrawal once the program has commenced, the student will not receive any refund.
A student dismissed from the program will not receive any refund.
SRAS, at its own discretion, may consider partial refunds if the student can demonstrate, with proof, death in the immediate family or medical reasons for cancellation or withdrawal.
Students who have not paid the program price in full at time of cancellation, withdrawal, or dismissal, are responsible for full payment within 30 days of notification.
Late payments, unless a payment plan is approved and adhered to, are subject to 2% interest per month.
What Are The Next Steps?
Once you are accepted into your program, you will need to check your SRAS user account periodically. Over time, you will have some new enrollment tasks there to complete (e-signing contracts, purchasing flights, etc.). Make sure to check your email from us and stay in touch with your home university (if you currently have one) as well to make sure you are all set for credit transfer and, if applicable, financial aid transfer.