Cost
The cost of study abroad varies, and is for the most part determined by the kind of study abroad program the student chooses. International roundtrip airfare is always a separate expense and is not included in the program cost. Students are responsible for obtaining their own international airfare to and from the program location on the arrival and departure dates specified by their study abroad advisor and/or program contact. Program costs are included in the individual program descriptions as listed on this website under Programs Abroad. Costs typically include tuition and fees, room and board, personal expenses, passport and visa fees.
There are many different program models for study abroad. Here at the University of Oklahoma, most students will study abroad on a program that corresponds to one of the following models:
Reciprocal Exchange with OU Partner University Abroad: Most OU students who study abroad for one semester or year participate in reciprocal exchange with a partner university abroad. OU partner universities are foreign institutions of higher learning with which the University of Oklahoma has signed an exchange agreement. Many of these partner universities offer programs of reciprocal exchange currently available to OU students. For a complete list of these programs, please click here.
Students on reciprocal exchange pay full tuition and fees to the University of Oklahoma as if they were right on campus for the period of study abroad. (In turn, foreign exchange students from the partner university pay full tuition and fees at their home institution in coming to study at the University of Oklahoma). Room and board for the duration of the program abroad are charged separately. The student is responsible for his or her own personal expenses, roundtrip airfare, passport and any applicable visa fees.
In general, OU students on reciprocal exchange programs for one or two semesters may apply most financial aid to their study abroad experience. Certain situations, such as progress toward graduation, may affect eligibility. Please review the financial aid section for more information on the applicability of financial aid toward reciprocal exchange study abroad programs.
Direct Enrollment at a Host University: With direct enrollment at a university abroad (also known as the “host university”), OU students pay tuition and fees to the foreign institution directly for the duration of their academic program abroad. Room, board, personal expenses, roundtrip airfare, passport and applicable visa fees are separate. The host university is often also an OU partner university, but not always.
A majority of summer programs function under the “direct enrollment at a host university” model. Students going abroad for one or two semesters may also enroll directly at a host university, either because the host university is not a partner university with whom the terms of reciprocal exchange apply, or because the student desires to study at a partner university where there are not enough reciprocal exchange slots open to fill student demand.
It is often not possible to use financial aid toward the cost of a study abroad program under the direct enrollment model. Please review the financial aid section for more information on the applicability of financial aid to direct enrollment at host university programs abroad. For more information specifically about financial aid for summer programs, please click here.
Other (“non-EA”) OU programs abroad: Students participating on reciprocal enrollment and direct enrollment at host universities generally work with a study abroad advisor in our office here in Education Abroad. However, there are a number of faculty members and individual colleges that run their own study abroad programs independent of our office. (When we refer to “non-EA” we mean “non-Education Abroad” or programs that are not administered through our office.) For more information, please see Other OU Programs.
The Honors College, College of Education, College of Business, College of Engineering and College of Continuing Education all run their own programs abroad. For questions about the cost of these OU non-EA programs, please consult directly with the designated faculty or staff member responsible for the program. Contact Financial Aid Services directly for aid information about these programs.
Third Party Study Abroad Provider: There are hundreds of different providers that offer study abroad, internship, volunteer or other international experiences to students. Studyabroad.com is one website that will give you an idea of just how many different options are available to today’s student interested in foreign study.
Our office is affiliated with three program providers (see Affiliate Programs) that may offer discounts or scholarships to OU participants. In general, third party study abroad providers are the most expensive option for a student wanting to study abroad. Financial aid may not be available for programs through third party providers. Please review the financial aid section of our website for more information.
Please note that not all third party study abroad providers are created equal! There are many reputable programs with a consistent track record of providing high quality, rigorously academic and safe experiences for students around the world. OU’s affiliate programs fall into this category. However, there are also programs that may not meet the criteria we feel are essential to a successful study abroad experience. Therefore, students are responsible for carefully researching the quality of the study abroad provider they choose. Our office does not advise OU students who choose to participate in third party study abroad programs. Those programs will provide students with their own program advisor.
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Financial Aid and Scholarships
It is the responsibility of each student to check whether any existing financial aid and scholarships may be used on study abroad. In general, OU students on reciprocal exchange programs of one or two semesters may use financial aid and scholarships for their programs.
Summer programs usually do not require enrollment at OU. For that reason, using scholarships and financial aid may not be possible. Please be sure to confer with the Financial Aid Office and use the helpful “Ask the Sooners” part of the web site for more information.
Scholarships
Adell & Hancock
Open to international students currently studying at a U.S. university or U.S. students engaging in a study abroad program during the next academic year.
International Program Center’s Board of Visitors Scholarship
Supports student travel to underrepresented overseas destinations. Awards will be given on a competitive basis to qualified undergraduate and graduate students participating in OU study abroad programs. Click here for more information and application.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
The Gilman International Scholarship Program offers a competition for awards for undergraduate study abroad. This scholarship provides awards for US undergraduate students at a 2-year or 4-year college or university to participate in study abroad programs worldwide. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, this program requires both US citizenship as well as being a current recipient of a Federal Pell Grant. If you are eligible and interested in this program, please contact your respective Study Abroad Advisor in the Office of Education Abroad.
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program is the largest U.S. international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide. Managed by the US Department of State, only US citizens are eligible for application. Please contact the University of Oklahoma, Fulbright Coordinator, Dr. Karl Rambo in the Department of Anthropology for more information.
JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization)
This program is designed by the government of Japan to provide funding specifically for U.S. students going abroad to partner institutes in Japan. If you are eligible, have been accepted into an OU exchange program in Japan and are interested in this program, please contact the Office of Education Abroad at ea@ou.edu regarding this opportunity.
NSEP (National Security Education Program)
The National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Graduate/Undergraduate Fellowships enables U.S. students to pursue specialization in area and language study and to add an international dimension to their education. Boren Fellowships support students pursuing the study of languages, cultures, and world regions that are critical to U.S. national security but are less frequently studied by U.S. students, i.e., areas of the world other than Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Undergraduate or graduate students must be concurrently participating in an academic program at the time of participation as an NSEP scholar. Limited to U.S. citizens, this program has a federal government service agreement attached to the award and would require work by the recipient at an approved site after completion. Please contact Jack Hobson in the Office of Education Abroad regarding this opportunity.
Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan
The Association of Teachers of Japanese (ATJ) Bridging Project offers scholarships to American undergraduate students participating in study-abroad programs in Japan. Funding from private foundations and major U.S. corporations has made it possible for ATJ to award 100 scholarships annually to assist students with the travel and living expenses they will incur while studying abroad in Japan for a semester or an academic year. Undergraduate students majoring in any field of study are eligible to apply for these scholarships. Please contact the Office of Education Abroad at ea@ou.edu regarding this opportunity.
BUTEX (British Universities Transatlantic Exchange Association) Scholarships for North American Students
BUTEX is offering eight scholarships for undergraduate students currently registered at an institution in the USA or Canada. To be eligible to apply you must have been offered a place as a study abroad or exchange student in a UK university which is a member of BUTEX. The value of each scholarship is US$1000 and will be paid to the winners once they have arrived and registered at their host university. Please contact the Office of Education Abroad at ea@ou.edu regarding this opportunity.
PITF (Presidential International Travel Fellowship)
These fellowships were initially funded from an endowment established with the proceeds from the sale of the University's Hacienda "El Cobano" in Colima, Mexico. President David L. Boren has increased these fellowships by allocating more funds in support of international travel for study abroad. The title of the fellowships recognizes the historical and continuing role of the Office of the President in promoting the internationalization of the University of Oklahoma. This fund provides money specifically to help with the travel portions of OU students’ experiences abroad.
Undergraduate student awards will be given on a competitive basis to qualified students whose financial needs are not being met by other channels. Priority will be given to applicants on semester or yearlong programs at The University of Oklahoma's partner universities. Fellowships will be awarded on the basis of financial need, participation at an OU partner university, overall strength of application, and the academic record. Students with international internships approved by their OU College may submit applications as well. This award has a required service component. Upon returning to OU, PITF recipients need to participate in one of the following: 1) recruiting for and promoting study abroad in classroom presentations, study abroad fairs or information sessions, 2) assisting OU students in their consideration of and preparation for study abroad , 3) participating in programs that demonstrate OU's support of international students on campus, such as OU Cousins, International Awareness Month, assistance to new exchange students, etc. The application deadline for the Spring 2010 PITF awards is October 16, 2009. The application deadline for Summer 2010 PITF awards is March 12, 2010. Click here for the undergraduate PITF application in Word or PDF format.
Graduate student awards will be given on a competitive basis to qualified graduate students whose financial needs are not being met by other channels. Graduate student PITF recipients, upon returning to OU, are obligated to promote the PITF fellowship on campus and to participate in activities that support OU international students and their organizations.Deadlines for the 2009/2010 academic year are October 16, 2009, and March 12, 2010. Click here for the undergraduate PITF application in Word or PDF format.
The Sidney DeVere Brown Award for History Majors, A Fellowship to Study in Asia
The Department of History is pleased to announce a new award for undergraduate history majors. This award is possible thanks to a generous gift from Dr. Sidney DeVere Brown, OU Emeritus Professor of Japanese history. One award of up to $2000 will be made annually to a history major for the purpose of participating in an OU exchange program or an approved non-OU exchange program to East Asia. The areas that will be considered for the purposes of the award are China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia.
Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants
Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants are designed to help support undergraduates as they seek knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad. Fifty $1,000 grants are awarded each year.
