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Withdrawal Policy

Considerations before withdrawing

When you agree to participate on a UAlbany education abroad program, which you indicate by submitting a deposit online and by agreeing to the statements that appear on the website;  you agree to pay all Program Charges, Education Abroad Differential, and Tuition charges that were specified on the estimate of costs that you received with your acceptance letter from the University at Albany.

Withdrawing Before the Program Starts

If you decide to withdraw before the start of an education abroad program, you must inform the Education Abroad office in writing as soon as possible. A parent or other person may not withdraw for you. You will be responsible for paying any part of the costs outlined in the cost estimate that cannot be recovered by UAlbany or that UAlbany may still be required to pay on your behalf. Tuition will be refunded according to a different calendar than that of UAlbany or your home SUNY campus. It is possible that even if you withdraw from study abroad prior to the start of classes or early in the semester you will still be liable for all or part of the SUNY tuition. In addition, a minimum cancellation penalty of $1,000 may be charged if you do not inform the UAlbany Education Abroad office of your withdrawal at least 30 days before the start of the term overseas.

Withdrawing After the Program Starts

If you withdraw from an education abroad program after its starting date overseas, you should not expect to receive a refund of any Program Charges or Education Abroad Differentials and you may not receive a refund of SUNY tuition. Again, note that tuition may be refunded according to a different calendar than that of UAlbany or your home SUNY campus. It is possible that even if you withdraw from study abroad prior to the start of classes at your home campus or early in the semester you will still be liable for all or part of the SUNY tuition. The exact charge will depend on whether and how much of the tuition is recoverable from the overseas institution that you were scheduled to attend. You may also be obligated to repay any financial aid awards that you have received in support of your participation in the program and therefore may be required to pay for the entire cost without financial aid. You may also lose some or all expected credits for the semester, depending on when you withdraw.

Since an education abroad program is an opportunity for profoundly enriching experiences that may not be available later in life, we hope that no student will withdraw unless it is absolutely imperative. If you are overseas and contemplating withdrawal, we strongly urge you to discuss your situation with the overseas director or responsible university official abroad. You should also contact your study abroad adviser at UAlbany. There may be moments when you may be discouraged about your academic program or your progress with a foreign language, when you experience disappointments or unexpected financial difficulties, or when you really find living in another culture difficult. We may be able to help find solutions to academic, financial, or personal problems that will enable you to continue participating in your program.

If you do have to withdraw, YOU must inform the UAlbany Education Abroad office of your decision in writing. If you are already abroad, you must also inform the overseas director or university official of your decision to withdraw. UAlbany will use the date that you have notified both offices as the actual date of withdrawal.

Your permanent record will reflect your withdrawal

If you drop out of your education abroad and cannot come back to your home campus for courses that same semester, you will probably have to withdraw from your home campus entirely and then apply to be readmitted. UAlbany students who withdraw at any time must submit a withdrawal form and an application for reentry to the Office of Undergraduate Studies. Non-UAlbany students must contact their home campus regarding withdrawal procedures.