Frequently Asked Questions

Charges for Panther, Partner, Exchange or Study Away Programs are posted to your student account in PittPAY and are due according to the standard Due Date Schedule. If you expect to aid disbursements that will create a credit balance on your student account, BE SURE you sign up for eRefunds in PittPAY so you get your money in 2-3 business days. Without eRefunds, you will have to wait 10-14 days for a paper check mailed to your home address.

We recommend using PittFund$Me to search and apply for all scholarship opportunities, including those for Global Experience programs.

• Financial Aid will be disbursed through PittPay just like a standard, on-campus semester. In order for financial aid to disburse, you must be enrolled in credits and meeting the requirements for each individual award you wish to use.
• For Panther Programs, you will be billed for all charges on PittPay. Your financial aid will disburse and pay towards those charges. If your financial aid exceeds what you owe the University, the overpayment will be refunded to you via PittPay eRefunds.
• For Pitt Recognized Programs, you will be billed for all charges by your third party program provider. Once you are enrolled for credits, you will be billed on PittPay for a Global Experience fee. Your financial aid will disburse and pay off this fee first. Any additional aid that exceeds what you owe Pitt will be refunded to you via PittPay eRefunds. You should use this refund to pay your program provider.
• We encourage all students to enroll a bank account number through PittPay eRefunds so that your refund can be deposited directly into your bank account. If you do not register a bank account on PittPay, a check will be mailed to your address of record. Especially while traveling around the world, a mailed check will significantly delay your ability to access your refund.

Beyond the Global Experience Fee, you will not pay anything to the University of Pittsburgh if you participate in a Pitt-Recognized Program with the global experiences office.  Your program provider will bill you directly.

Yes if all eligibility criteria are met. The eligible Pitt-employed parent needs verify the charges/costs and usage through Pitt’s Human Resource Benefits office.

• To use your university awarded merit scholarship, you must be enrolled full time (12 or more credits for an undergraduate), meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress, and have term of usage remaining. You may receive a scholarship for a maximum of 8 terms and the Study Abroad usage will count towards the 8 terms.
• Other scholarships may be usable on study abroad but could vary by the department that awarded you the scholarship. We recommend contacting the area that notified you of the award to verify your eligibility for specific scholarships.
• Scholarships awarded by the Global Experience Office for the purpose of study abroad can be used during your program.

The timing of Financial Aid for global experiences will be based on the Pitt academic calendar and the semesters that you are enrolled in and receiving credits for. It is possible that the aid you are receiving may disburse to PittPay prior to your Study Abroad program starting. The aid can still be used for the program costs.

• Yes, if there are charges on PittPay and you meet the requirements for the scholarship.
• Checks from outside scholarship agencies should be dropped off in person or mailed to the Student Payment Center for the quickest applying of the funds to your account. Scholarships from a Source Outside the University | Student Payment Center (pitt.edu)

Your program manager, host university, or program provider will give you specific information on booking flights after you have been accepted to the program.  You should not book flights before then.

It is your responsibility to determine what vaccines you may or may not need based on where you will be studying and traveling.  Keep in mind that some countries may even require proof of vaccination before allowing entry or issuing visas.  Most of our providers require full vaccination of the Covid-19 vaccine, medical exemptions may not carry over to other countries.
The Global Experience Office cannot give you advice on vaccines, so you must check with the Centers for Disease Control, Allegheny County Health Department (or your home county’s health department), or your family doctor.

We’ve all been a "first time traveler," so we’ve put together a guide to help you get ready for your first trip abroad.  From airports and baggage to money and cell phones, find everything you need to know in the link below.  If you would like to attend a live presentation, sign up below. Still have questions?  Get in touch with your program manager or advisor.

Packing for a global experience program can be daunting.  Check out our First Time Traveler’s page for more information. 

As a Pitt student participating in a global experience, you are required to maintain international health insurance, which must include: Health, accident, and hospitalization coverage Medical evacuation coverage Repatriation of remains coverage Students who are participating on approved programs and who follow Pitt Global Experience procedures are covered under the University's International SOS Policy.  For more information, contact globalexperiences@pitt.edu.

It is your responsibility to determine what vaccines you may or may not need based on where you will be studying and traveling.  Keep in mind that some countries may even require proof of vaccination before allowing entry or issuing visas.  Most of our providers require full vaccination of the Covid-19 vaccine, medical exemptions may not carry over to other countries.
The Global Experience Office cannot give you advice on vaccines, so you must check with the Centers for Disease Control, Allegheny County Health Department (or your home county’s health department), or your family doctor.

You should speak with your doctor or health care provider and insurance company as soon as possible.  Given that many medications available in the U.S. are not available overseas or only available in different dosages, you should plan on taking a sufficient medication supply to last you the entire duration of your program.

The US Department of State maintains a comprehensive list of travel alerts and warnings for American citizens overseas.  The Global Experiences Office has different policies for undergraduates, graduate students, staff, and faculty traveling to countries with active travel warnings. Email us at globalexperiences@pitt.edu for more information.

Your program manager, host university, or program provider will give you specific information on booking flights after you have been accepted to the program.  You should not book flights before then.

The US Department of State maintains a comprehensive list of travel alerts and warnings for American citizens overseas.  The Global Experiences Office has different policies for undergraduates, graduate students, staff, and faculty traveling to countries with active travel warnings. Email us at globalexperiences@pitt.edu for more information.

Yes.  Remember that personal travel must not conflict with classes, internships, and mandatory excursions.  Travel or travel-related delays are never an acceptable reason for missing part of your program.

Yes, our office can provide you with a letter to release you from your housing contract after you return your Global Experience Agreement.