FAQ's and Myths

Housing will vary depending on which program you choose. For some short-term programs, you will stay in hotels, while others may provide hostels or homestays. Longer programs, like exchanges, could place you in an apartment or a residence hall. Please keep in mind that accommodations in your host country may not be as luxurious as you are accustomed to at home, so keep an open mind. For example, electricity, heat, and water usage are often limited or more expensive than in the U.S., so conservation is important. You may also find different styles of toilets, different mattresses, community spaces, etc.

If you’re leaning toward traveling abroad, you will need a passport. You must apply in person for first-time passports at an official acceptance facility. Appointments at our local acceptance facility at the Muncie Post Office can be made online. We’ll take your passport pictures for free in the Study Abroad Office and can assist in ensuring your application is filled out correctly with all the documents you need. The current cost of a U.S. Passport is $165 for routine service. If you need financial assistance to secure a passport, please visit our Costs, Billing, and Cancellations page for more information about the Study Abroad Start Up Fund.

We understand that safety is a top priority for you and your family. Rest assured, at Ball State, your well-being is our utmost concern. We take proactive steps to ensure your safety throughout your study abroad journey. Our programs are carefully selected in collaboration with trusted partners and institutions that maintain high safety standards. Before you depart, we provide comprehensive pre-departure orientations that cover safety protocols, cultural awareness, and local customs. We can guide you through any concerns you may have before, during, and after your time abroad. In addition, most of our programs offer on-site support teams to assist you in your host country. Your safety is our commitment, and we’re here to ensure that your study abroad journey is as enriching as it is secure.

There is almost always a way to balance your major with studying abroad. Discuss any concerns with your academic advisor to identify the best timing and program options. Short-term, relevant programs can align with your major’s demands. Sometimes studying abroad earlier in your college career can be advantageous, before your major has sequenced high-level required courses. If studying abroad is a priority for you, let’s find a way to make it work without delaying graduation. You can browse our program catalog by Academic Area to find a program with coursework that fits your degree plan.

It’s always possible to apply with a friend. If not, going with a group could be a great option. Ball State has several group programs. We have faculty-led programs (including our signature program BSU-in!), which are groups of Ball State students with Ball State faculty, and provider programs, which are groups of students from many different universities around the U.S. that meet up in locations abroad. Even if you choose a program like an exchange or direct enroll— without a designated study abroad group—you almost certainly wouldn’t be the only international student on campus. You might find that your new campus abroad has the fastest friends you’ve ever made.

After committing to a program, students must provide written notice of intent to withdraw to the Rinker Center for Global Affairs (email studyabroad@bsu.edu). For more information on program withdrawals, visit our Costs, Billing, and Cancellations page. 

Program Withdrawal prior to commitment deadline

Participants will not incur any direct costs from BSU for withdrawal. If the BSU deadline is later than your program provider’s deadline, provider procedures and policies supersede those of BSU.

Program withdrawal after Application Deadline

Participant will forfeit the study abroad fee and assume responsibility for any non-recoverable expenses incurred or committed by BSU and its affiliates on participant’s behalf at the time of withdrawal, up to the entire program cost.

Study Abroad Office Travel Policy

This policy supplements the University’s International Travel Policy. The Study Abroad Office reserves the right to amend, suspend or cancel a program or other travel (prior to departure or in progress) if facts and circumstances are such that the Study Abroad Office concludes that the traveler’s health, safety and well-being may be jeopardized or would be inconsistent with applicable U.S. government sanctions or export control laws. Key indicators for evaluation include Department of State Travel Advisory level, CDC guidance, entry or re-entry restrictions, and restrictions on traveler mobility (e.g., quarantine, lockdown, flight restrictions, among others).

Financial loss resulting from such cancellation is primarily the responsibility of the program participants, but the Study Abroad office will make every effort to make decisions about amendment, suspension or cancellation in a time frame that minimizes financial loss for participants.

There are all different kinds of programs, and many are much more affordable than you might think. Some of our programs cost the same or less than a semester at Ball State in Muncie. Exchanges or a BSU-in program are a couple of cost-effective examples. You can browse our semester-long programs that have been identified as Low-Cost.

Keep in mind that there are ways to help fund study abroad—scholarships are available, and you may be able to use your existing financial aid. Please see our Scholarships page to view the many options available to you, both at Ball State and externally, and take a visit to Cardinal Central to see how your financial aid package may be able to apply to study abroad.