Off-Campus Study Programs FAQ

The information offered here is also covered in the publications distributed by the Office of Off-Campus Study, or at academic.bowdoin.edu/ocs.

How will I be billed for my Off-Campus Study program?
The program bills the student directly and the student pays the program. Bowdoin bills for the ISLE and SITA programs only, in July for fall semester and in December for spring semester.  Bowdoin charges an OCS fee of $1,000 per program. Students attending the ISLE Program are exempt. The fee is considered in calculating Bowdoin and federal student aid awards for programs. Revenue from the fee is used to subsidize some of the cost of maintaining and enhancing off-campus study as an option for Bowdoin students.

Can I use a payment plan to pay my program bill?
The program may offer a payment plan of its own.  It is more typical for programs to expect payment in advance, however. 

What if I receive student aid? How does it reach my program?
Student aid awards for OCS programs are based on information submitted by the program on the OCS Budget form, available at Bowdoin's Student Aid Office or the student's web aid portal. Please contact that office [207.725.3144 or studentaid@bowdoin.edu] for assistance if needed.  An aid award package cannot be determined until this step has been completed. Fall semester student aid sources are paid to the programs about September 15 and spring semester sources about February 15.   This schedule of payment is usually acceptable to programs if students communicate their aid awards to the program business office.  A snapshot of the aid web portal sent with payment of the balance of the program bill is generally acceptable.  For specific information about bills and payment deadlines, please contact the program's business office directly.

Is billing and payment handled differently by direct enrollment programs abroad?
If a student enrolls directly in a university abroad, he or she should expect to handle the logistical and financial arrangements that would ordinarily be carried out by a sponsoring institution. Invoices for universities abroad are typically delivered after the student enrolls and immediate payment is often expected before enrollment.

OCS Disbursement Worksheet [pdf]. This is an important document for students expecting aid funds to come through Bowdoin for payment of an OCS program. Please complete the appropriate sections of the Worksheet and return it to our office address on the form by September 1 for fall programs or February 1 for spring programs.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Information about OCS programs: Office of Off-Campus Study, 207.725.3473, offcamp@bowdoin.edu, http://academic.bowdoin.edu/ocs/

Student Aid applications, OCS budget forms, awards: Student Aid Office 207.725.3144, studentaid@bowdoin.edu, www.bowdoin.edu/studentaid/

Billing questions for programs billed by Bowdoin and student aid transfer for other programs: Bursar's Office, 207.725.3249, bursar@bowdoin.edu