Preparing for Departure
Once you've been accepted to your off-campus program of choice, you'll have much to do before departing from Reed. Explore this section for some helpful resources.
- Fees and Financial Aid
- Medical Considerations and Health/Travel Insurance
- Transferring Credit
- Summer Study Abroad
- Grants and Scholarships
- Useful Links
- Travel Information
- Other Programs
- Miscellaneous Links
Fees and Financial Aid
To ensure equal access to our domestic and international programs, Reed College charges the same tuition fees for a semester or year off-campus as for a semester or year spent on campus and a study abroad administrative fee of $500 (2025-2026) plus the program's actual room and board fees. Reed College encourages students to choose programs based on their academic rather than financial needs to reflect Reed's belief that all students, regardless of financial circumstances, should have the opportunity to study abroad.
Some study abroad programs may require you to purchase health insurance separate from Reed’s coverage, while others include insurance as part of the program or provide none at all. Reed will continue to bill you for the College’s health insurance, but you have the option to waive this coverage. Please see the Medical Considerations and Health Insurance section below for details.
Financial aid continues for eligible students during the off-campus program. Students should discuss with the Financial Aid Office how other outside aid may impact their existing aid package. Check out more details directly on the Reed College Financial Aid page. If students are utilizing VA benefits, they can check here to see which programs can certify their benefits. In addition, the IPO maintains a list of additional scholarships for studying abroad.
The college's standard refund policy for on-campus students will apply to students participating in a domestic exchange, international exchange, or study abroad program.
Medical Considerations and Health/Travel Insurance
All students enrolled at Reed College are required to have health insurance that meets the college’s coverage standards. Students participating in study abroad programs should carefully review both Reed’s health insurance requirements and the insurance requirements of their host program or country.
If your program abroad provides its own mandatory health insurance, you may still need to maintain Reed’s plan unless you are eligible for and complete a waiver by the published deadline. The Reed health insurance waiver process verifies that your alternate coverage meets comparable standards while you are away.
Keep in mind that insurance programs abroad may differ significantly in coverage, networks, and reimbursement processes. Students are encouraged to compare policies and ensure they have adequate coverage for medical care, prescriptions, and emergencies while outside the United States. While abroad, each country will have different laws pertaining to medications, health insurance, and disability accommodations.
Be sure to bring your active prescriptions and a letter from your doctor indicating why you are taking the prescribed medications. Some medications available in the U.S. may not be obtainable elsewhere, or may go by a different name. Students should work with their doctors to discuss specific medications and, in some cases, obtain an advanced supply for the duration of their time abroad. Check your program and destination country’s requirements for how much medication can be brought in at one time.
If you rely on cannabis for medical reasons, you should plan to be without it during your trip or consult with the embassy or consulate of your destination country to determine if there are legal alternatives or temporary access programs for patients. The potential legal consequences can be severe.
While not required, students may schedule a Study Abroad appointment with a medical provider at the Health and Counseling Center (HCC) to discuss questions or concerns about medications, immunizations, and other information regarding accessing care while studying abroad.
Disability accommodations also vary by country and institution. Students should inform their study abroad program or host school as early as possible to determine what accommodations are available. It may also be helpful to request documentation from Disability and Accessibility Resources (DAR) at Reed to share with the host institution.
For more information, visit the DAR website section on study abroad.
Transferring Credit
Credit systems vary around the world, and the number of credits assigned to a course taken via an off-campus study (OCS) program will be converted to the equivalent number of Reed units, in accordance with the College’s established standards. For this reason, it is important to submit the OCS Course Approval Form in advance of your program and for each course to be evaluated for transfer to Reed. The Registrar’s Office will evaluate courses for transferability, credit conversion, and application toward group and division requirements. If you wish the course to apply toward major or minor requirements, indicate that on the form and the Registrar’s Office will seek evaluation/approval from the appropriate department/committee on your behalf. The Registrar’s Office will notify you of how the course has been articulated to transfer to Reed. If you need to change your course selections once on-site, you must submit the OCS Course Approval Form for the new course(s). IMPORTANT: Failure to submit a form for each OCS course may prevent a course from transferring or counting toward requirements.
All the course catalogs of Reed-approved programs can be found here.
Contact the Registrar’s Office at transfercredit@reed.edu or 503-777-7793 with questions.
For Reed registration, students will select the 'course' under the subject "Study Abroad/ Away" for the semester(s) they will be abroad.
Summer Study Abroad
Students wishing to study internationally over the summer via a study abroad or off-campus study program must first consult with the Director of the International Programs Office (IPO) at Reed. Summer study abroad programs–while providing the opportunity to earn credit–are not Reed College-approved programs and therefore require special approval. Per College policy, courses taken while participating independently in a study abroad or off-campus study program over the summer are only eligible for transfer with pre-approval from Reed College.
The IPO Director will assist students in securing pre-approval from Reed for summer study abroad or off-campus study. The Director will also complete program-specific nomination forms for students who meet the program’s eligibility requirements and have support from their Reed academic adviser. Students studying Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Russian, or Spanish at Reed are advised to select a summer language acquisition from Reed’s list of existing OCS program partners, as this will expedite the program evaluation and approval process.
If approved by Reed to participate in a summer study abroad or off-campus study program, students will participate in the program independently of Reed College, but must submit the IPO Application Form. Such students will be assessed the administrative study abroad fee of $500 (2026-2027) by Reed but are responsible for submitting all program-specific application materials and fees to the provider or institution. The IPO maintains a list of scholarships for studying internationally over the summer via a study abroad or off-campus study program.
Students approved for a summer study abroad or off-campus study program must submit the Off-Campus Study Course Approval Form in advance of the program and for each course to be evaluated for transfer to Reed. The Registrar’s Office will evaluate courses for transferability, credit conversion, and application toward group and division requirements. If you wish the course to apply toward major or minor requirements, indicate that on the form and the Registrar’s Office will seek evaluation/approval from the appropriate department/committee on your behalf. The Registrar’s Office will notify you of how the course has been articulated to transfer to Reed. If you need to change your course selections once on-site, you must submit the OCS Course Approval Form for the new course(s). IMPORTANT: Failure to submit a form for each OCS course may prevent a course from transferring or counting toward requirements. Students who enroll directly at an international institution (NOT a study abroad or off-campus study program) over the summer must submit the Request for Transfer Credit form in advance of registering for the courses. Failure to submit this form may prevent the coursework from transferring to Reed or counting toward requirements. If you are not sure whether you are enrolling directly at an international institution or studying internationally via a study abroad or off-campus study program, consult with the Director of the International Programs Office.
Grants and Scholarships
As stated in the Fees and Financial Aid section earlier on this page, Reed charges the same amount for off-campus programs, and Reed financial aid applies. In addition to this, there are many grants and scholarships offered by other institutions and sometimes study abroad programs themselves, that can help Reed students. Below is a table of some of these oppertunities, and students are encoraged to look themselves at their program and beyond for other possible resources to help make studying abroad possible.
| Name/ Website Link | Description | Amount | Due Date | Who it Applies To |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IES Need-Based | The Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) Need-Based Financial Aid Scholarship consideration is given to the level of financial need, the IES program location and IES membership status of your home campus. | $2,000 | Variable | Students at institutions that are members or associate members of the IES college consortium. You must be accepted into an IES study abroad program to be eligible for this award. You also must currently be receiving financial aid at your home school, and the home school must have a policy of transferring at least 75 percent of home school aid to IES. |
| Diversity Abroad IES | The Diversity Abroad IES Diversity Scholarship is available to Under-represented students, which includes students from under-represented racial and ethnic groups, first generation to college students, students from low income families and students with a history of overcoming adversity. | Variable | Variable | Under-represented undergraduate students who have been accepted to participate in a study abroad, intern abroad, language immersion abroad, or volunteer abroad program offered through a DiversityAbroad.com partner organization. |
| IFSA | IFSA is deeply committed to making study abroad accessible to as many students as possible. We believe that cost should never be a barrier: that’s why we offer financial support to a larger proportion of IFSA students than any other organization. | Variable | Variable | Students in an IFSA program. |
| IFSA-Butler | Same as above. | Variable | Variable | Students in awn IFSA program. |
| Benajmin A. Gilman Scholarship | For Federal Pell Grant recipients to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide. | $5,000 | Variable | U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university. |
| Boren Awards | Boren Scholarships and Fellowships provide funding opportunities funded by the National Security Education Program (NSEP), which focuses on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. national security. | Variable | Variable | U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to add an important international and language component to their educations. Note that NSEP grants have a service obligation. |
| Gilman International Scholarship | Provides funds to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide. | Up to $5,000 | Variable | U.S. citizen undergraduate students receiving Federal Pell Grant funding |
| Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) | Offers general scholarships for U.S. undergraduates participating in high-quality, rigorous education abroad programs. | Up to $10,000 | Variable | U.S. citizen undergraduates studying abroad. Preference is given to students with financial need. |
| GO Overseas Study Abroad Scholarship | Scholarships are awarded based on the creativity and analytical thinking displayed through writing samples and/or video submissions. | Variable | Variable | Open to all students planning to study abroad. |
| Rotary International Scholarship | Provides funding for undergraduate and graduate students to study abroad in one of Rotary's six areas of focus, aiming to promote peace and understanding. | Variable | Variable | U.S. citizen, enrolled in a study abroad program, and sponsored by a Rotary club. |
| Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) | Fully funded summer language programs in 14 critical languages. Open to U.S. undergraduate and graduate students, with no language requirement for most programs. | Fully Funded | November (annual) | U.S. citizen, enrolled in an accredited U.S. institution, commitment to study critical languages. |
| Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship | Awarded biannually to passionate U.S. students to help them pursue study abroad programs. Applicants must demonstrate their dedication and excitement for studying abroad. | $1,000 | April & October | U.S. citizen or permanent resident, enrolled in an undergraduate program, studying abroad. |
| Freeman-ASIA Scholarship | Designed to support U.S. undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are studying abroad in East or Southeast Asia. | Up to $7,000 | Variable | U.S. citizen or permanent resident, planning to study in eligible Asian countries, demonstrated financial need. |
| DAAD Undergraduate Scholarship | Scholarships for U.S. and Canadian students to study, intern, or research in Germany for up to one year. The award focuses on fostering German-American relations and cultural exchange. | Variable | January | U.S. or Canadian citizens, planning to study or intern in Germany, with at least sophomore status at a U.S. institution. |
| Global Studies Grant for Student Travel and Study Abroad | Supports students conducting in-depth international research on global issues, providing funding for travel and program costs. | $1,000 - $2,500 | March | Undergraduate student in good academic standing, project proposal focused on global studies and research. |
| HI USA Travel Scholarships | Awards scholarships to support students who plan to study or volunteer abroad and are interested in cultural exchange. | $500 - $2,000 | Variable | Open to U.S. residents who plan to study or volunteer abroad and demonstrate financial need. |
| Gilman-McCain Scholarship | Provides awards for dependents of active military personnel to study or intern abroad. | $5,000 | October & March | Dependent of active duty military personnel, receiving any type of Title IV federal financial aid. |
|
Note: Reed does not currently have any approved off-campus programs in Japan. |
Awards scholarships for undergraduate students who will study abroad in Japan, encouraging deeper engagement with Japanese culture and society. | Up to $4,000 | April & October | Undergraduate student in a U.S. institution, planning to study abroad in Japan for at least three months. |
Currency Conversion / Cost-of-Living Estimator
Cost-of-Living Comparison Between Cities
Useful Links
Moving abroad can seem logistically daunting! The links below provide information for questions you might encounter in the pre-departure process–from shipping your clothes, to staying insured overseas.
State Department Website for Students Studying Abroad
Moving & Shipping
Insurance
Reed College students under PacificSource health insurance plan
Travel Insurance Review Tutorial
Health Issues
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Department of Health and Human Service
Travel Information
Time Zone Search
Travel Search Engines
Travel Warnings
US State Department Travel Advisories
Other Programs
If studying abroad during an academic term doesn't fit but you are still interested in going abroad, check out these programs!
Teaching Abroad
Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program
Summer Abroad Programs
Miscellaneous Links
The Electronic Embassy - A list of all of the Embassies in Washington D.C.
Working Abroad - A large collection of work-abroad related resources and information on short-term, long-term, paid, volunteer, and teaching work abroad opportunities.