Dickinson Programs and Partner Programs

Why does Dickinson charge its comprehensive fee for study abroad programs when the tuition charged by foreign institutions is usually less than Dickinson tuition?
The study abroad program fees pay for more than the tuition charges of the host institution. The academic program on the Carlisle campus obviously continues when students are abroad, and it costs to keep the campus in operation. Students abroad may still avail themselves of services such as information technology, the library and the registrar, to name a few. Program fees also finance any on-site enhancements that might be added to a program, such as homestays, internships, special courses and on-site staff. Program fees also help to support all of the substantial college-wide administrative and academic tasks associated with study abroad, such as the process by which abroad courses are validated as Dickinson courses for the purposes of issuing a Dickinson transcript, which requires regular institutional review of abroad courses and faculty.

Unlike many other colleges, Dickinson makes institutional financial aid portable to Dickinson Programs and Partner Programs, and the program fee supports this significant cost.

Program fees also support a significant number of global education initiatives that encourage international learning on the Carlisle campus. These include:

• an active program of visiting international students and scholars from abroad who are active participants in the campus community. Their presence on campus helps students and faculty to learn about other cultures and societies while here in Carlisle;
• familiarization trips to abroad sites for Dickinson faculty that help our faculty to become knowledgeable about the College’s study abroad programs in order to better advise students about study abroad, and to monitor the quality of courses and the programs