Study Abroad FAQs
At BCA, we welcome questions from students and college faculty and administrators. Don't see your question here? Check Academic FAQs or contact us.
Who can study abroad with BCA?
Every year, hundreds of college students study abroad with BCA. You needn't have international experience and you don't need to be fluent in a foreign language, but you should have completed at least one year of college.
How do I find out if I am accepted to BCA?
We'll send you an e-mail within three weeks of receiving a completed application that lets you know when you are accpeted. You'll also receive information about your study center through your online BCA account. To reserve a place in your program of choice, send in the confirmation fee as requested.
How much does it cost to study with BCA?
Most students are billed by their U.S. college or university for study abroad. Some students are billed directly by BCA. In most cases, study through BCA costs about the same as tuition, room, and board in the United States.
Questions? Check with your college's business office or study abroad office, or feel free to contact BCA's chief financial officer.
What if I enroll and then decide later that I don't want to study abroad after all?
After you have been accepted to study abroad through BCA and have paid your confirmation fee, a place will be reserved for you. If you need to withdraw from the program before departure from the U.S. for any reason, BCA will issue a full refund minus the application fee, confirmation fee, and any non-refundable on-site costs incurred. If you withdraw, you can always decide to defer your application to a later semester. To do this, just call the BCA Central Office and talk to one of our program staff.
If you withdraw from the program after arrival abroad, you will be refunded a percentage of your fee, after non-refundable in-country expenses and the administrative fee are subtracted:
If you withdraw during:
- Week one: 80 percent refund minus in-country costs
- Week two: 60 percent refund minus in-country costs
- Week three: 40 percent refund minus in-country costs
- Week four: 20 percent refund minus in-country costs
- Week 5 and after: No refund
If you are dismissed from the program, no refund will be issued.
What kind of health insurance will I need to study abroad?
You must maintain your own major medical insurance coverage from the United States while abroad. You should check with your insurance provider to learn how to file claims while abroad and if there are any restrictions on overseas coverage.
Where will I stay and eat while abroad?
Housing and meal arrangements, which vary from one study center to another, are included in the BCA comprehensive fee. At study centers where meals are not provided through a meal plan, students will receive a food allowance to purchase meals at the university dining hall or to buy groceries and cook for themselves if they have kitchen facilities.
Housing is arranged to help students be immersed in the communities where they are studying. In some locations you will stay with a host family; in other locations you will stay in a university dorm or apartment with local students or other international students. In a few locations BCA students are housed together in housing arranged by BCA.
E-mail us with your questions
Questions? Please call:
1-866-222-6188
