Semester Affiliated Programs
Overview
By working with partnering affiliated programs, Lafayette is able to offer students over 200 semester programs in over 57 different countries. Students may choose the fall or spring semester to study abroad, or an entire academic year, depending on major, course requirements, course sequencing, class year, interests, destination, etc. Affiliated programs available to Lafayette students can be found on our Program Search tool. The Lafayette application deadlines for semester-long affiliated programs are March 1 for the Fall Semester and October 1 for the Spring Semester (NOTE: affiliated partners will have their own applications to complete, which may have earlier deadlines; deadlines to petition for eligibility or for temporary affiliation of a program not affiliated through Lafayette is one month earlier).
Please note all students wishing to study abroad on a semester affiliated program must first attend a Get Started Session and then meet with an advisor in IOCE.
Cost
There are several categories of costs students should consider when planning their semester study abroad experience. These costs are reviewed in detail at the Get Started Session and students are encouraged to share all information with whoever is responsible for paying their educational bills.
Tuition
Lafayette students studying abroad with an affiliated program (e.g., Boston University, Temple University, Syracuse University, IES, CIEE, SIT, etc.) must pay Lafayette College’s tuition (or higher, if the program’s tuition exceeds Lafayette’s). Students will be charged the tuition through the Lafayette billing system. Students may not pay the program tuition directly, except for the application fee, the required deposit, and any other fees not collected via Lafayette.
Room/Board
Lafayette students studying abroad with an affiliated program pay the program’s room/board fees. Students do not pay Lafayette room/board during the semester they are abroad. When applicable, students will be charged for the program’s room/board fees through the Lafayette billing system. This allows students to keep maximum financial aid and to retain any payment plans that are in place. Please note that room/board fees are set by individual programs and students are responsible for understanding what those fees amount to and to share that information with their parent/guardian before applying to an affiliated program. Also note board fees may vary as access to meal plans will vary by program and location.
Application Fees and Program Deposits
Some programs require an application fee in order to submit a program application. Application fees are the responsibility of the student and are typically non-refundable. Students should carefully consider which program best suits their academic, professional, and personal needs before applying to a program to avoid paying multiple application fees.
Once accepted into a program, most programs require a student to commit to a program by submitting a non-refundable deposit. The program deposit is the responsibility of the student. This deposit is credited to the student’s Lafayette account when IOCE receives the program invoice reflecting the deposit paid. Should a student withdraw from a program after paying the deposit, he/she will be responsible for the deposit amount and any non-recoverable expenses incurred by the program on the student’s behalf. These expenses can include (but are not limited to) airfare, housing fees, and partial or full tuition.
Other Program Fees
Some programs may have additional program fees outside of those listed above. These can include (but are not limited to) excursion fees, health insurance fees, lab fees, etc. These fees are the responsibility of the student. Please note these fees are set by individual programs and students are responsible for understanding what these fees amount to and to share that information with their parent/guardian before applying to an affiliated program.
Out of Pocket Expenses
Students will encounter some expenses that they will need to pay for directly (they will not pay Lafayette or the affiliated program). These expenses can include (but are not limited to) airfare/baggage fees, visa application fees, meals outside of the program’s designated meal plan, books and supplies, personal travel, etc. These expenses are the responsibility of the student.
Financial Aid
All academic year financial aid travels with a student when they study abroad on an affiliated program, with the exception of work-study hours and RA benefits. Please see the Financial Planning page for more detailed information on financial aid and scholarships.
Academics
For more information on academics as related to semester affiliated programs, please see the Academics page as well as the specific program websites, found via the Program Search tool.