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Extending or Shortening Your Stay - Things to Consider

Extending your Stay

Are you thinking of staying on your DU study abroad program longer than you originally planned? Here are some things to think about to help you decide!

Understanding what this means…

…academically:

  • Be in touch with your academic advisor to figure out how to stay on track for graduation with your extended time abroad.
  • You will need to get additional course approvals for the classes you take in the next term abroad.
  • Be sure to ask your host institution how to go about registering for classes for the next term.

…financially:

  • A year abroad means you’ll be charged for a year at DU (3 quarters). Billing for the rest of the year will happen exactly as it has for your first quarter abroad, so take a look at your current billing to understand what this means for you for the rest of the year.
  • Cherrington Global Scholars: DU will reimburse your visa extension cost and your change fee for changing your plane ticket return date.
    • If you plan to visit home in the middle of your year abroad, this will be your own personal cost.
    • If your host country requires travel to an Embassy or a physical exam for your visa extension, this will be your own personal cost.
  • Make sure you have worked out a personal budget for the rest of the year!

…personally:

  • Be sure you’re planning for your health. Plan ahead on any scheduled doctor’s visits, medication needs, etc.
  • If you’re studying in the southern hemisphere, make sure you understand the dates of the academic terms – you may have to plan around their summer break (November – February) and housing/living costs would be yours during break.

If you decide to extend your program abroad:

  1. Contact your OIE advisor. The Office of International Education (OIE) will register you for Study Abroad for the rest of the year.
  2. Do you need to extend your visa?
    • Work with your host program to figure out how/when/where to do this. If you are a Cherrington Global Scholar, you may submit a receipt of your visa extension fee for reimbursement.
  3. Do you need to change your housing situation?
  4. Contact your host program advisor, and follow the appropriate registration steps.
  5. Change your return flight home ASAP. If you are a Cherrington Global Scholar, you must work with your travel agent to have DU cover the cost of the change fee. Your return ticket must be less than 365 days after your departure, or it will require you to buy a whole new ticket.
  6. Don’t forget to tell your parents about your plans to stay longer!

Shortening Your Stay

If you had originally planned to study abroad for a year, but you decide to shorten your study abroad program to one quarter or one semester, you should think about the following topics.

Understanding what this means…

…financially:

  • You may be charged a withdrawal fee from the program
  • You will pay the fee to change your airline ticket

…academically:

  • You will need to register for the next term at DU.

….personally:

  • Have you accomplished the goals you set for yourself before you left the States?

Withdrawal

If you withdraw from your program while abroad, there is a lot to consider.  Please be sure that you fully understand the consequences of this decision by reading the DU Study Abroad Policies document!  You will be required to submit the Withdrawal Form to the OIE.

Understanding what this means…

….financially:

  • You will be billed any non-recoverable costs as determined by the reimbursement policies of DU's partner institutions and other agencies.  Typically, non-recoverable costs include tuition an dhousing fees for the term.  If these non-recoverable costs are less than $1,000, you will be billed the DU $1,000 withdrawal fee.
  • If you withdraw from your program while abroad, you will be charged the total cost of all Cherrington benefits including airfare, student visa application fees, any mandatory health insurance, application fees, and program fee.
  • If you wanted to return to DU for that same term, you would have to pay tuition again.
  • You would be responsible for your airline ticket change fee.
  • You will not be able to be a Cherrington Global Scholar for any future study abroad program.

…academically:

  • You will lose the academic credits that you would have earned on the program. If you are far enough in to the term that you are unable to withdraw, you will likely fail your courses abroad.

…personally:

  • Why are you returning?
    • If you are homesick, have you tried everything in your power to feel better? Visit our section on homesickness to double check.
    • Are you only experiencing severe culture shock that might diminish within a few weeks?
    • Do you need to return home for a family emergency?
    • Are you returning due to health issues? If so, are they not manageable while abroad?
  • How much will it cost?
  • Will you lose any financial aid?
  • Who will pay for the flight home?
  • Will you lose credits and therefore graduate late if you do not finish your term abroad?
  • Have you accomplished the goals you set for yourself before you left the States?
  • Remember, this is a permanent decision. Once you return home, you will no longer be eligible to receive the Cherrington benefit if you decide to study abroad at a later time.

Steps to shortening your stay:

  1. Notify your OIE advisor
  2. Notify your host program
  3. Notify your parents
  4. Change your return flight ASAP to minimize the extra costs (which you will be responsible for)