Changes in Washington University’s study abroad program require students to pay WU tuition for all overseas schools, which often have significantly lower tuition costs.
Robert Booker, head of the Overseas Study Office, said that in the past, fewer students studied abroad. When larger numbers of students went abroad, however, the university began to lose money. About three years ago, the school decided to charge the WU tuition fee for all study abroad
participants, regardless of location or program.
Booker cited several reasons for the change.
First, WU’s financial aid comes out of the same pool of tuition money; if students are not charged WU tuition when studying abroad, money
would have to be paid out for students who were not paying into the
tuition pool.
“This just wasn’t fair to the other students; it would take out of their share,” Booker said. “In addition, students who receive WU credits should have to pay WU tuition regardless of where they are studying.”
Scholarships and financial aid are applied to the tuition as if the student were attending WU.
In addition, a universal charge for all study abroad programs allows students to go wherever they choose without cost factoring in their decisions. Booked said that prior to the standardization of fees, some students opted for certain programs because they were cheaper. Now students can attend all programs-regardless of price differentials-at the same cost.
With the increasing popularity of study abroad, more staff members have been hired at the Styx International House, which used to house only one employee. Due to the greater interest, the university hired three more.
“We don’t make money at this.We lose money,” said Booker.
Booker also said that WU is not alone in its efforts; Duke and Stanford charge their tuition or a standard fee for going overseas.
Not all study abroad programs cost less than WU tuition, including
programs in Japan and the United Kingdom. In contrast, programs in Germany, Russia, and Israel cost a fraction of WU tuition prior to the
standardized charges.
Professor Lutz Koepnick, head of the German program in Teubingen, said that his program cost about $16,000 for a year prior to the changes. The cost included $500 per month given to the student as spending money.
“I do not believe that the added cost to students will discourage them from going to Germany,” said Koepnick.
“Students who really want to go to the country to learn will go regardless of what it costs them. I don’t know of anyone not going because of the added cost.”
Tubingen, as well as the programs in Israel and Russia, will have merit-based fellowships offered for the next three years.
Students have found ways to avoid paying WU tuition for their time spent abroad, however. Those taking leaves of absence are not required to pay WU tuition, though credits received at other universities won’t necessarily transfer to WU.
Mona Vespa, a French major, is taking a leave of absence to study in France.
“The program in Toulouse didn’t seem like a good fit for me, and I won’t have a problem graduating in four years even though I won’t get WU credit while in France,” said Vespa.
Isabel Suchaneck is opting for another method to study abroad. Suchaneck is petitioning to go to Paris on a non-WU program and to receive credit. According to Booker, only a few such petitions are approved each year. Students must have sound academic reasons, as well as heavy backing from their major department, to even be considered.
“We prefer WU programs because we know exactly what to expect with them,” Booker said. “It is also easier to handle transferring credits if we know the program.”
Although paying WU tuition instead of program-specific costs is far from desirable for most students, Booker is confident that the actual costs of the Study Abroad program will be better met this way.
Booker said that the cost of living abroad is considered when evaluating financial aid packages for the year and that loan and scholarship increases are common.
Booker also recommended applying for local Rotary Club scholarships, specifically for college students to study abroad, and NSEP scholarships, which are affiliated with the Department of Defense.
Each year approximately 200 WU students study overseas.

Contact Christine Morrison at
[email protected]

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