Students applying to a GVSU faculty-led study abroad program are responsible for understanding the financial commitments associated with applying, committing to, and withdrawing from a program.

Financial responsibility increases as the program approaches departure and GVSU makes financial commitments on behalf of participants. Review the information and deadlines below carefully before committing to a faculty-led program.

On this page:

• Application Fee & Required Forms Deposit
• Application and Commitment Deadlines
• Program Commitment Deposit
• Financial Responsibility After Commitment
• Financial Responsibility Schedules
• Exceptions
• Student Billing

When submitting a faculty-led program application, students are required to pay:

$55 Application Fee

The Application Fee is non-refundable.

$100 Required Forms Deposit

The Required Forms Deposit encourages students to complete required forms, orientations, and pre-departure requirements.

Students who are not admitted to the program will receive a refund of the $100 Required Forms Deposit.

Students who are admitted and successfully complete all required forms, orientations, and program requirements by established deadlines will receive the $100 Required Forms Deposit back to their GVSU student account prior to departure.

Students who withdraw from the program, decline participation after acceptance, or fail to complete required program requirements by established deadlines will forfeit the $100 Required Forms Deposit.

Faculty-led program applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Students may receive an admission decision at any point during the application period.

Applications remain open until the program reaches capacity or the final application deadline, whichever occurs first.

Students admitted before the commitment deadline may accept their offer and submit the Program Commitment Deposit early but are not required to commit until the applicable deadline.

By the commitment deadline, accepted students must:

• Accept participation
• Submit the $300 Program Commitment Deposit
• Sign the Program Commitment Agreement

Students who do not complete the commitment requirements by the applicable deadline may forfeit their place in the program.

The $300 Program Commitment Deposit is due no later than the applicable commitment deadline.

The deposit:

• Confirms the student's intention to participate in the program.
• Is applied toward the student's total program cost.
• Becomes non-refundable after the applicable commitment deadline except in approved exception circumstances.

A student's place in the program is not reserved until the $300 Program Commitment Deposit is paid.

Faculty-led programs require GVSU to make advance financial commitments on behalf of participants. These may include lodging, transportation, excursions, event tickets, airfare, third-party provider services, and other program-related expenses.

Beginning with the applicable commitment deadline, students who commit to participate assume financial responsibility for unrecoverable program expenses incurred on their behalf.

If a student withdraws after the commitment deadline, the student is responsible for the greater of:

• Unrecoverable program expenses incurred on the student's behalf; or
• The minimum financial responsibility amount established by the applicable schedule below.

The Padnos Center for Global Experiences (PCGE) will make reasonable efforts to avoid or recover expenses when possible. Students remain responsible for unrecoverable costs associated with their participation.

These schedules apply regardless of the amount a student has paid at the time of withdrawal. Any outstanding balance remains the responsibility of the student and will be billed through university processes.

Exceptions may be considered for:

• Program cancellation.
• University action preventing participation.
• Other circumstances approved by the Padnos Center for Global Experiences.

Program charges are billed through existing university billing processes. Students may use payment plans or other payment options available through Student Accounts.