Study Abroad Financial Aid

Also note that if you are attending an externally sponsored (non-Middlebury) study abroad program, you’re required to submit a Consortium Agreement. Check the Approved Programs list to see what is required for each program. 

Important: If your program requires a Consortium Agreement, be sure to have it completed early by your host university or program sponsor. The agreement must be completed by the host program/university abroad; International Programs and Off-Campus Study is not able to sign these forms. It is essential that everything is in order before you leave for your off-campus program.

Study Abroad Costs

If you are studying abroad, your program costs are generally similar to or somewhat less than your U.S. college costs. In general, most study abroad experiences can be achieved well within the total cost of a term or year at Middlebury. Refer to Study Abroad for specifics as well as cost estimates by country for the Middlebury C.V. Starr Schools Abroad. Students studying abroad in 2023-2024 (except those on official exchange programs) are charged an administrative fee of $1,900 per semester to help offset the cost of the services provided by International Programs and Off-Campus Study.

Determining Eligibility

The total cost of study abroad is included in determining your cost of attendance and eligibility for financial aid. This includes the study abroad administrative fee. If the cost of the study abroad program exceeds Middlebury costs, aid from the College will be capped at Middlebury costs.

For Middlebury College students currently receiving financial aid, those funds (other than Middlebury Grants, Middlebury College Loan and student employment) can usually be applied to student abroad expenses for any approved program.  

Middlebury Grant and Middlebury College Loan awards are available for: 

• Students who study at Middlebury C.V. Starr Schools Abroad
• Students who are pre-approved International and Global Studies majors with a focus in South Asian Studies who study abroad outside of India (IGS/South Asia majors with a focus on India are normally expected to study at the Middlebury School in India)
• Students who are pre-approved International and Global Studies majors with a focus in African Studies (with a language focus other than French) who study abroad in Africa (IGS/AS majors with a French language focus are normally expected to study at the Middlebury School in Cameroon)
• IP&E majors with a focus on Africa and a language focus other than French, studying abroad in Africa (IP&E majors with a French language focus are normally expected to study at the Middlebury School in Cameroon)
• Students on official exchange programs (East Anglia and Nottingham)
• Classics and Classical Studies majors on approved programs in Greece or Italy
• Students who have taken at least three semesters of Hebrew language who study at pre-approved programs in Israel.

Middlebury Grants and Middlebury College Loans are not available for the following:

• Study in countries/programs where English is the official language or lingua franca (this includes Middlebury’s affiliation with Lincoln College/Oxford University), except at a Middlebury School Abroad or when a student is part of an official exchange program (East Anglia and Nottingham)
• Externally sponsored programs, unless a student is studying on an official exchange program or is studying in Africa or South Asia as a pre-approved IGS or IP&E major, according to the policies above (scholarships may be available directly from programs)
• International students who seek to study on an externally- sponsored program in their home country

If you need to consider additional sources of funding for your Study Abroad, please review these scholarship opportunities and consider the Federal Direct Loan, Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan or private loans. Visit Loans for more information on these financing options.

Expenses Abroad and Refunds

We strongly recommend that you take enough funds with you to cover a month or two of living expenses, regardless of how much financial aid you may be due to receive. If you are eligible for a refund, there may be unavoidable delays in getting financial aid monies credited to your student account and refunded to you.

Full payment or confirmation of financial aid may be required at the time of registration at the host institution. You should contact the sponsoring institution to work out arrangements. If you are studying at a Middlebury School abroad, you will be billed by Middlebury College; payment is due on August 15 for fall semester and December 15 for spring semester.

All financial aid will be applied to your Middlebury student account. If there is a credit balance after your funds have been applied, the refund will be sent to you. Then, you are responsible for making any payments owed to your non-Middlebury study abroad provider or institution. We recommend that you set up your refund information in Nelnet Campus Commerce to receive your refund electronically. Otherwise, your refund will be delayed while we determine if you want to enroll in direct deposit or confirm the mailing address for your paper check. Please plan an additional 2-3 weeks for processing/delivery of a paper check to a domestic address.  

Important Tip: Consider giving power of attorney to a parent or guardian to assist with any financial matters that may arise while you are abroad.