Frequently Asked Questions

Charges for Panther, Partner, Exchange or Study Away Programs are posted to your student account in PittPAY and are due according to the standard Due Date Schedule. If you expect to aid disbursements that will create a credit balance on your student account, BE SURE you sign up for eRefunds in PittPAY so you get your money in 2-3 business days. Without eRefunds, you will have to wait 10-14 days for a paper check mailed to your home address.

Beyond the Global Experience Fee, you will not pay anything to the University of Pittsburgh if you participate in a Pitt-Recognized Program with the global experiences office.  Your program provider will bill you directly.

Yes.  See our Scholarships page for a list of available scholarships and applications. Keep in mind that scholarships for global experiences are competitive and will not cover the entire cost of the program.  You should make alternate plans for paying for your program in case you are not awarded a scholarship. 

Generally, you will be able to use financial aid toward the cost of your global experience program.  You need to speak with the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, Financial Aid Wellness Center (or similar office on your campus) to verify how much of your aid will be applicable to the program.

International students may be eligible to apply for private loans or scholarships on PittFund$Me that are open to all students. However, international students that are not eligible to complete the FAFSA cannot be considered for federal financial aid.

The cost depends on the program you choose. For Panther Programs, the program fee typically includes tuition, housing, travel insurance, and some course-related excursions. Inclusions may vary; please visit the program brochure page for pricing details. Inclusions for Pitt-Recognized programs vary by provider; please visit the provider’s website for pricing information. You will not be responsible for paying Pitt tuition in addition to the provider’s tuition. For Exchange Programs, you are responsible for paying normal Pitt tuition and fees directly to the University of Pittsburgh. Other fees and pricing details vary by program; please visit the program brochure page for details. 

• Financial Aid will be disbursed through PittPay just like a standard, on-campus semester. In order for financial aid to disburse, you must be enrolled in credits and meeting the requirements for each individual award you wish to use.
• For Panther Programs, you will be billed for all charges on PittPay. Your financial aid will disburse and pay towards those charges. If your financial aid exceeds what you owe the University, the overpayment will be refunded to you via PittPay eRefunds.
• For Pitt Recognized Programs, you will be billed for all charges by your third party program provider. Once you are enrolled for credits, you will be billed on PittPay for a Global Experience fee. Your financial aid will disburse and pay off this fee first. Any additional aid that exceeds what you owe Pitt will be refunded to you via PittPay eRefunds. You should use this refund to pay your program provider.
• We encourage all students to enroll a bank account number through PittPay eRefunds so that your refund can be deposited directly into your bank account. If you do not register a bank account on PittPay, a check will be mailed to your address of record. Especially while traveling around the world, a mailed check will significantly delay your ability to access your refund.

• To use your university awarded merit scholarship, you must be enrolled full time (12 or more credits for an undergraduate), meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress, and have term of usage remaining. You may receive a scholarship for a maximum of 8 terms and the Study Abroad usage will count towards the 8 terms.
• Other scholarships may be usable on study abroad but could vary by the department that awarded you the scholarship. We recommend contacting the area that notified you of the award to verify your eligibility for specific scholarships.
• Scholarships awarded by the Global Experience Office for the purpose of study abroad can be used during your program.

Your program manager, host university, or program provider will give you specific information on booking flights after you have been accepted to the program.  You should not book flights before then.

Packing for a global experience program can be daunting.  Check out our First Time Traveler’s page for more information. 

We’ve all been a "first time traveler," so we’ve put together a guide to help you get ready for your first trip abroad.  From airports and baggage to money and cell phones, find everything you need to know in the link below.  If you would like to attend a live presentation, sign up below. Still have questions?  Get in touch with your program manager or advisor.

It is your responsibility to determine what vaccines you may or may not need based on where you will be studying and traveling.  Keep in mind that some countries may even require proof of vaccination before allowing entry or issuing visas.  Most of our providers require full vaccination of the Covid-19 vaccine, medical exemptions may not carry over to other countries.
The Global Experience Office cannot give you advice on vaccines, so you must check with the Centers for Disease Control, Allegheny County Health Department (or your home county’s health department), or your family doctor.

As a Pitt student participating in a global experience, you are required to maintain international health insurance, which must include: Health, accident, and hospitalization coverage Medical evacuation coverage Repatriation of remains coverage Students who are participating on approved programs and who follow Pitt Global Experience procedures are covered under the University's International SOS Policy.  For more information, contact globalexperiences@pitt.edu.

It is your responsibility to determine what vaccines you may or may not need based on where you will be studying and traveling.  Keep in mind that some countries may even require proof of vaccination before allowing entry or issuing visas.  Most of our providers require full vaccination of the Covid-19 vaccine, medical exemptions may not carry over to other countries.
The Global Experience Office cannot give you advice on vaccines, so you must check with the Centers for Disease Control, Allegheny County Health Department (or your home county’s health department), or your family doctor.

You should speak with your doctor or health care provider and insurance company as soon as possible.  Given that many medications available in the U.S. are not available overseas or only available in different dosages, you should plan on taking a sufficient medication supply to last you the entire duration of your program.

The US Department of State maintains a comprehensive list of travel alerts and warnings for American citizens overseas.  The Global Experiences Office has different policies for undergraduates, graduate students, staff, and faculty traveling to countries with active travel warnings. Email us at globalexperiences@pitt.edu for more information.

Your program manager, host university, or program provider will give you specific information on booking flights after you have been accepted to the program.  You should not book flights before then.

Yes.  Remember that personal travel must not conflict with classes, internships, and mandatory excursions.  Travel or travel-related delays are never an acceptable reason for missing part of your program.

The US Department of State maintains a comprehensive list of travel alerts and warnings for American citizens overseas.  The Global Experiences Office has different policies for undergraduates, graduate students, staff, and faculty traveling to countries with active travel warnings. Email us at globalexperiences@pitt.edu for more information.

Yes, our office can provide you with a letter to release you from your housing contract after you return your Global Experience Agreement.