Borders are starting to open and USAC students are slowly returning to a traditional study abroad. We know that studying abroad during COVID-19 comes with a variety of questions, se we’ve put together the most common questions we hear from students regarding our programs, COVID-19, refund policies, health and safety and more.
Where can I find the most recent information regarding COVID-19 and the status of your future programs?
The easiest place to find information regarding current program status as it relates to COVID-19 is on our website. You can read our Coronavirus Updates and find current program status updates on the Can I Still Apply page.
Are you planning on running in-person study abroad programs in the future?
Yes! We currently have students in select locations who successfully are studying abroad this Fall and we plan to continue this trend. We are hopeful and planning to run in-person programs for Spring 2021 including new Spring Accelerated programs. You can see a status update of programs on our website.
It is important to understand that the situation is evolving every day and is largely out of USAC’s control. With that said, there is always the possibility that outside factors could cause our programs to cancel or change the mode of instruction at any point in time. As borders open up and we feel it is safe to send students abroad we will continue to reopen programs.
What factors contribute to USAC deciding not to run in-person programs?
USAC’s Crisis Management Team, comprised of health and safety managers and senior leadership, continue to monitor COVID-19 and communicate with local and national health authorities, to determine our ability to run a successful study abroad program.
Our Crisis Management Team bases decisions on multiple criteria including, but not limited to:
- Advisory Levels and Advice (CDC, U.S. State Department, WHO)
- Host university closures or campus access restrictions
- Travel restrictions (airline, train, quarantines)
- Limited local resources, e.g., business closures/restricted hours
- University policies and decisions (U.S. and overseas)
- Technology resources / limitations for academic continuity
- International higher education resources (Pulse, Forum, NAFSA, OSAC)
Will COVID-19 impact my ability to apply for a passport, visa, or other travel-related documents?
We are currently noticing a delay in processing visas and passports, so we recommend that any student planning to study abroad apply for a passport and visa as soon as possible.
Will host families be available for future study abroad?
Host family availability is dependent upon location. For housing information regarding a specific program location you can reach out to studyabroad@usac.edu or speak with your program advisor.
Will USAC continue to offer field trips/tours with study abroad programs?
Yes. We are still committed to offering as much immersion as possible on-site. You should be flexible and understand that field trips may change or be confirmed with short notice due to changing on-site restrictions. USAC or your Resident Director will communicate with you in advance about these opportunities.
Paying for Study Abroad
What scholarship opportunities are available for studying abroad with USAC?
USAC awards scholarships and discounts twice a year to assist students with their study abroad expenses. We have a variety of funding opportunities available for students enrolled in USAC programs. You can see all scholarship opportunities on our Scholarships and Discounts page.
We also encourage students to research online for other financial aid and scholarships resources that are available to students studying abroad. If you have questions regarding scholarships, feel free to contact the USAC Scholarship Team at scholarships@usac.edu.
Cancellations & Refunds
What are USAC’s refund policies?
The following outlines refund policies in the event that you or your home university cancels participation in your USAC program.
| Date of Cancellation | Refund Policy |
| On or before the Early Admissions deadline | $100 application deposit is non-refundable $500 confirmation deposit is refundable |
| After Early Admissions and on or before the Balance Due deadline | Student (or home university in the case of a school-bill agreement) is liable for unrecoverable costs including, but not limited to, accommodation deposits, special course fees, tour reservations, and other unrecoverable program expenses in excess of the $500 non-refundable confirmation deposit and $100 non-refundable application deposit. |
| After the Tuition Refund Deadline | No Refunds |
USAC Cancellation
The following outlines refund policies in the event USAC cancels the program.
| Date of Cancellation | Refund Policy |
| Prior to program start date | Full refund of the USAC Program Fee for students who are enrolled in the program at the time of USAC cancellation. Beyond the Program Fee, USAC cannot guarantee a full refund of unrecoverable expenses, such as housing, optional tours, and travel, etc.; for this reason, we strongly advise participants to consider purchasing trip insurance at the time of application to mitigate potential loss. |
| On or after program start date | USAC may, in its sole discretion, change the location or format of the Program as circumstances warrant. Under such circumstances, no refunds will be given. In the event that continuing a program in a different location or by using a different format, such as on-line instruction, is not feasible, USAC may terminate the program. In that event, a refund will be provided in an amount to be determined by USAC. |
Can I change my program or term that I will be abroad?
Yes, you can email your Enrollment Specialist to defer to a new term, cancel, switch locations, or look at other options USAC is offering, including online options through our Global Perspectives program. Depending on the timing of your request to defer, you may or may not be required to submit a new application fee and deposit. Refer to the chart below to understand how deposits and payments will be applied to the new term.
If I’m registered for a study abroad and term is canceled for any reason before departure and I want to defer my studies, what portion of my fees will transfer to the new term?
Fees paid to USAC may be transferred to a future term. Depending on your situation and the timing of your decision to defer, you may be responsible for unrecoverable fees related to your original term. If this is the case, these will be deducted from what you have paid USAC and any remaining credit balance will be transferred to the future term. USAC will do its best to keep unrecoverable charges to a minimum.
Following is a chart that outlines how deposits and account balances will be applied to the new term.
| When the Deferral Occurs | Deposit Transfers & Refunds |
| Prior to end of early admissions deadline | $100 non-refundable application deposit transfers to future term. $500 confirmation deposit (if paid) transfers to the future term. The $500 deposit is refundable until the end of the original early admission period. Program Payments (in excess of the deposits): Payments made transfer to the new term and are refundable until the original program Tuition Refund deadline. If the new term deadlines are earlier than the original program, the earlier Tuition Refund deadline will apply. |
| After Early Admission deadline and on or prior to the Balance Due deadline | $100 non-refundable application deposit transfers to future term. Deposit remains non-refundable if student later cancels. (Ignore if app fee has been waived). $500 confirmation deposit (if paid) transfers to the future term and remains non-refundable. Program Payments (in excess of the deposits): Payments made transfer to the new term and are refundable until the original program Tuition Refund deadline. If the new term deadlines are earlier than the original program, the earlier Tuition Refund deadline will apply |
| After Balance Due deadline and on or before Tuition Refund deadline | $100 application deposit does not transfer; it is non-refundable. If additional payments have been made, the deposit will be deducted from any refund generated or credit transferred to the new term balance due. $500 confirmation deposit does not transfer; it is non-refundable. If additional payments have been made, the deposit will be deducted from any refund generated or credit transferred to the new term balance due. Program Payments (in excess of the deposits): Any credit remaining on the student’s account after non-recoverable expenses have been deducted will be transferred to new term. |
| After Tuition Refund deadline and prior to program start date | $100 application deposit does not transfer; it is non-refundable and applied to the original program balance. $500 confirmation deposit does not transfer; it is non-refundable and applied to the original program balance. Program Payments: No refunds. The transferability of program payments to the new term is not guaranteed and will be limited to an amount determined by USAC. |
Health & Safety Abroad
How is USAC enhancing safety factors abroad?
In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, USAC staff and students will adhere to all local social distancing guidelines in classrooms, USAC housing, and during all activities. This means we’re making efforts to place students in single rooms whenever possible and minimizing homestays for the upcoming semester. We’ll also be implementing strict disinfection and cleaning recommendations in USAC common areas and program housing. We’re working hard to improve the safety of our programs without sacrificing any of the study abroad experience you’re after.
What resources does USAC provide pre-departure?
Before you take off, you’ll be participating in a new pre-departure health and safety webinar that will focus on COVID-19 prevention measures to ensure you feel comfortable when you touch down in your host country.
The USAC Health & Safety team has created additional materials to keep you healthy, safe, and informed, including revamped health and safety pages on the USAC website, an updated Wellness Guide, and a virtual pre-departure orientation.
Once on site, program staff will host a comprehensive orientation that focuses on USAC and host country guidelines and restrictions for each program site, program activities, type of housing, and host university. Our experienced program and host university staff are available 24/7 to assist and guide students through any study abroad challenges, including issues surrounding COVID-19.
Will I be able to travel during my semester?
While we do not intend to restrict or limit personal travel, independent travel will likely be limited due to local regulations or current practices. Countries can change their entrance and exit guidelines with very little notice, which can impact the ability to travel to other countries during breaks. To avoid unexpected travel restrictions, we strongly advise students to make travel plans in the country where they are studying.
Will I have to quarantine in my host country?
Specialty Programs: Should your program require a quarantine upon arrival in the host country, you will be notified in advance of your departure. Your program dates will not be affected if a quarantine requirement is enacted.
Partnership Programs: Should your program require a quarantine, you will be notified in advance of your departure. Your program may require that you arrive up to two weeks prior to the start of your program to quarantine. This could affect your program dates.
What happens if I or someone on my program gets ill with COVID-19?
USAC has emergency plans and protocols in place for each program site. If a student becomes ill, we will follow these plans along with expert advice – from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health officials – to determine the best course of action to keep students safe. Necessary measures might include quarantine on-site with online classes or a return to the U.S. and a move to online classes.
What will happen if USAC cancels my program midway through the semester?
Our goal is to offer courses in person on-site. However, in urgent cases, it may be possible that some courses will move online at some point during the semester. USAC will do our best to keep students on-site and taking courses online while also considering local regulations. Our goal is to help you achieve your academic goals and credits as best as possible. Our staff on-site and professors are ready to move instruction online should this be necessary. In this case, we would be in communication with students.
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