The plane tickets cost hundreds of dollars and the food even more, but the study abroad experience really is priceless, students who have done it said.
Although the majority of Dukies who study abroad choose to attend programs not administered by Duke, they said the choice is often based on available locations and academic preferences rather than costs-even though Duke-administered programs are sometimes the more expensive option.
"If cost was an issue, some people might not go abroad [at all]," said junior Bryant Moquist, who participated in New York University in Paris in Fall 2007. "The costs of Duke and non-Duke programs in Paris are relatively similar, so your budget really affects how much you travel."
Students in Duke programs pay Duke tuition and the program's fee, but for programs organized through other universities, students pay the host institution's tuition and a separate Duke study abroad fee, Associate Dean Margaret Riley, director of the Office of Study Abroad, wrote in an e-mail.
The study-abroad fee paid by students for Duke-approved programs-offered in 14 international cities-is currently $2,350, which covers services like program and course evaluation and approval, advising, orientation, emergency repatriation and evacuation insurance.
The program fee for Duke-administered study abroad programs, although varying, is similar in cost, with projected program fees for Fall 2008 set at $2,000 for Duke in Florence, $3,800 for Duke in France and $3,025 for Duke in Madrid.
"The fee offsets the costs of maintaining a student's enrollment while they are abroad and transferring full credit for the work that they successfully complete while they're abroad," Riley explained.
If the tuition at other universities is less expensive than Duke's tuition, the extra money may be allocated toward expenses such as room and board, airfare, books, passport and visa fees and immunizations, she said.
But if the tuition costs of a Duke-approved program exceed the estimated $18,033 Duke charges for tuition for a semester, students are responsible for covering the additional expenses, according to the Web site of the Office of Study Abroad.
"Some of the most popular approved programs utilized by Duke students-NYU in Florence and NYU in Paris-actually cost more than Duke-administered programs," Riley said. "Many of our peer institutions charge 'home school' fees to students rather than a study-abroad fee, regardless of where the student studies, which often results in much higher costs for the student."
Financial aid packages are also designed to allow students to make their program choices without the fear of losing the financial support Duke allots them.
"I get amazing financial aid from Duke so cost isn't an issue for me," sophomore Johnny Lai said. "Instead, I look at program locations, what courses are offered and how everything fits with my major."
As for future expansion of Duke's study abroad programs, Riley said the Study Abroad Committee recently approved a new Duke in Arabia program for Spring 2009. She added that discussions are underway for programs in Singapore, Belgium, India, Costa Rica and Vietnam.
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