Plan early if you can. Even if you're not sure where you want to study abroad yet, its never too early to start saving funds for your experience.

Pick an affordable destination. Consider the program costs, international airfare to your destination, and cost of living at your destination.

Create a budget before you leave and save up:

• Consider a part-time or seasonal job to help fund your experience
• Set up a separate bank account for your study abroad experience and contribute a little each month; one option is to have funds automatically moved to a study abroad account
• Consider cooking at home, shop secondhand, rent or buy used textbooks, avoid impulse purchases, limit subscriptions/streaming services, utilize student discounts and participate in campus activities in lieu of costly off-campus events

Ask for financial contributions or airline miles instead of gifts from family and friends for the holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions.

Crowdsource through sites like GoFundMe:

• Share your crowdsourcing links on your social media.
• Don't forget Facebook, this is what many older friends/family members engage with the most frequently, so be sure to share the link there
• Post regular updates with your crowdsourcing link
• Be specific about what the donated funds will go towards and how studying abroad will help you reach your personal, professional, and academic goals
• If your plans change and you are unable to go abroad, be sure to return the funds to your donors

Make a budget for your time abroad: Flights (if not included), passport/visa, tuition, housing, meals, in-country transportation, excursions, personal care, and safety net.

• Plan to live simply at your destination: Spend weekends and holidays in your host city, make friends with locals, cook meals at home after shopping at the local market, take advantage of free events/attractions and student discounts abroad, avoid bank fees (either use cash abroad or find a bank that does not charge fees).
• Consider apps like Splitwise, Monese, Goodbudget, or Plum to keep track of your spending abroad.

Pick up a side hustle or sell unwanted items online, putting these funds into a designated study abroad account.

Loans may also be available to help you fund your study abroad experience- but you'll want to save these as a last resort if possible.