Billing & Payments
When you study abroad, you will pay your program's costs, not Northwestern costs. You will receive an invoice from Northwestern each quarter you are abroad, and your program sponsor or host university may bill you directly for other charges. Visit your program page for specific billing arrangements and details.
Payment MethodsAcademic Year BillingAcademic Year InvoiceSummer Billing
Your Northwestern invoice will be issued on the regular quarterly schedule and is subject to the same University due dates:
|
Northwestern Term Abroad |
Invoice Issued |
Payment Due |
|---|---|---|
|
Fall Quarter |
August 10th |
September 1st |
|
Winter Quarter |
December 10th |
January 1st |
|
Spring Quarter |
March 10th |
April 1st |
|
May 10th or June 10th |
June 1st or July 1st |
Payment Methods
You may pay your invoice through the regular CAESAR ePay service, or via check or money order.
For study abroad during the academic year, you may also use the Northwestern Prepayment Plan for partner, exchange, global practicum, and Northwestern programs, but the amount you owe may be different; request a study abroad prepay estimate to have your plan set up appropriately. The prepayment plan is not available for independent programs or summer programs.
Visit the Student Finance page for more information on payment methods.
Academic Year Billing
Partner Programs
Your Northwestern invoice will include at least your study abroad program's tuition and the Study Abroad Administrative Fee (SAAF). Some programs also have room, board, and other charges billed through NU, while other programs will invoice you directly for these charges. Specific charges will vary by program sponsor; visit your program page to review your program-specific financial details.
Northwestern Study Abroad & Global Practicum Programs
Your Northwestern invoice will include your program fee, which covers at least your tuition and housing. Review your program materials for details. Northwestern and Global Practicum programs are exempt from the study abroad fee.
Northwestern Exchange Programs
Your Northwestern invoice will include your program fee, which covers your tuition and GeoBlue insurance. Review your program materials for details. Northwestern exchange programs are exempt from the study abroad fee.
Independent Programs
Northwestern will only bill you for the SAAF for the quarter(s) you are abroad. All other charges (including tuition, room/board, etc.) should be paid directly to your study abroad program sponsor or host university.
Understanding Your Academic Year NU Invoice
Your Northwestern invoice each quarter will display the regular full-time Northwestern tuition charge of $22,386, along along with a study abroad differential charge or credit, increasing or decreasing your total Northwestern-billed charges to make your Northwestern invoice equal your study abroad program's tuition or program fee.
If applicable, your invoice will also include the Study Abroad Administrative Fee (SAAF) for your quarter(s) abroad. If you will be abroad for more than one quarter, your charges will be split across both/all quarters abroad.
If your Northwestern invoice will include your program's comprehensive fee, your total charges will still appear as tuition and a study abroad differential on your Northwestern invoice; you will not see an itemized breakdown of the individual charges included in your program fee (e.g., tuition, housing, meals, etc.) in CAESAR. You can find the estimated costs on your program page. You can also find the exact program fee and cost breakdown in your program's materials.
- If your program costs $25,000 for the quarter (higher than Northwestern tuition), you would see a study abroad differential charge of $2,614 to increase your total charges to the cost of your study abroad program.
- If your program costs $18,000 for the quarter (lower than Northwestern tuition), you would see a study abroad differential credit to reduce your charges by $4,386.
- You will be charged the one-quarter Study Abroad Administrative Fee ($2,850), if applicable, during the quarter in which you are abroad.
* One Program (Fall-Winter or Winter-Spring)
- Your total program costs will be split evenly between the two quarters you are abroad. For example, if your program's total billed cost is $25,000, the amount on your Northwestern invoice would be $12,500 each quarter, and the study abroad differentials (e.g., $9,886 credit) on your invoices each quarter would reflect this amount.
- The Study Abroad Administrative Fee for two quarters is $2,850. You will be billed for half of the SAAF ($1,425) each quarter you are abroad.
*One Program (Fall, Winter, & Spring)
- Northwestern will bill you for one-third of your program's full-year cost each quarter (fall, winter, and spring), and you will receive a differential charge or a differential credit on each invoice to make your charges equal one-third of your program’s cost. For example, if your program's full-year cost is $36,000, your Northwestern invoice each quarter would be $12,000, and your study abroad differential would reflect that total.
- The full year Study Abroad Administrative Fee is $4,200. You will be billed for one-third of the SAAF ($1,400) each quarter.