Finances & Scholarships

One of the first questions students ask us is: I want to study abroad, but how can I afford it? Study abroad is more accessible to students now than it has ever been. On this page, you can learn more about financial aid, information on scholarships and links to program costs for both semester and short-term programs. 

There are several options for how you can pay for your trip abroad, but all start with a better understanding of what your program cost will be. 

Spring Break, Maymester or Summer Short-Term Programs all have unique fees that are outlined on the e-brochure for each program. To find an individual program e-brochure, look here. 

Charges to Belmont Account & Withdrawal Deadlines

By committing to participating in a study abroad program, you recognize that upon the receipt of your committed application Belmont has in good faith begun to make program arrangements and incurred expenses on your behalf. Consequently, you authorize the Office of Study Abroad to charge your student account for the balance of the total program fee (after the deposit has been applied) and the tuition fee.

All program fees, student fees and tuition will be billed through the Belmont billing portal and will be due before the start of the program. Students who withdraw from a program after committing to participate (for any reason, including involuntary termination due to failure to remain eligible) will owe the withdrawal fees posted below, depending on the withdrawal date:

Withdraw Fees Owed

Spring Break Programs:

  • Withdrawal before December 15, 2024: $500 non-refundable deposit and non-recoverable costs
  • Withdrawal on or after December 15, 2024: $500 program and 25% of the program fee
  • Withdrawal on or after January 5, 2025: $500 program deposit and 100% of the program fee

Maymester/Summer Programs:

  • Withdrawal before March 1, 2025: $500 non-refundable deposit and all non-recoverable costs
  • Withdrawal on March 1 through March 7, 2025: $500 program deposit and 25% of the total program fee
  • Withdrawal on March 8 through March 14, 2025: $500 program deposit and 50% of the total program fee
  • Withdrawal on March 15 through March 21, 2025: $500 deposit and 75% of the total program fee
  • Withdrawal on or after March 22, 2025: $500 deposit and 100% of the total program fee

Please note:

  • In the event of emergency or illness, Belmont will make every effort necessary to recover program expenses as fully as possible. Nevertheless, at least some of the program costs may be non-recoverable, and these will remain charged to the Belmont account.

Many students use federal student aid and Belmont institutional aid to fund part of their educational expenses. If you currently receive financial aid, learn more here about how your aid can be applied to study abroad.

Belmont students participating in study abroad programs have the opportunity to receive additional financial aid through needs-based scholarships offered both internally through Belmont and externally through study abroad providers, grants, and organizations.

Belmont University Study Abroad Scholarship Fund

Belmont has a limited amount of funding available to assist with travel through the Belmont Study Abroad Scholarship Fund, which includes the following scholarships:

  • Harold James Ingham Travel Endowed Scholarship
  • Harrington Scholarship for International Studies and Student Missions
  • Rasmussen Studies Abroad Endowed Fund
  • Robert E. Simmons Studies Abroad Endowed Scholarship

To be eligible for one of these scholarships:

  1. Students must meet the requirements and be accepted to a semester or short-term study abroad program by the Office of Study Abroad.
  2. Students must demonstrate financial need and have a FAFSA on file with Student Financial Services. The Study Abroad Scholarship Fund Committee will verify financial need with Student Financial Services before awarding scholarship funds.
  3. Students must have a 3.0 GPA or higher.

Deadlines:   

    • Maymester/Summer 2025:
      • Applications open: February 15, 2025
      • Application deadline: March 1, 2025
      • Scholarships awarded: Late March
    • Fall Semester 2025:
      • Applications Open: March 1, 2025
      • Application deadline: March 15, 2025
      • Scholarships awarded: Mid April
    • Spring Semester 2026:
      • Applications open: September 15, 2025
      • Application deadline: October 1, 2025
      • Scholarships awarded: Late October

Apply Here for the Belmont Study Abroad Scholarship 

Benjamin A. Gilman and Other External Study Abroad Scholarships

See Student Financial Services' General Scholarship Search - International Scholarships to apply for external scholarships related to short- and long-term study abroad.