Six easy ways to pay your overseas tuition while studying abroad, including international money transfers, bank transfers and more.
All your research into schools, programs, and financing, not to mention the actual application process, paid off! You’ve been accepted into a study abroad program. Congratulations! Now, you’re probably looking for the best approach to paying your overseas tuition confidently and conveniently.
Here are six simple, reliable approaches to paying your tuition when studying abroad. Be sure to look at fees and exchange rates no matter which method you choose.
- WU® Global Pay App
Start by checking to see if your school offers Western Union’s app WU® Global Pay. This tool helps you and your family manage tuition payments, so the school is paid on time, easily from your device. You can track payments and lock in exchange rates as well. In many countries, you have the choice of paying online, by bank transfer, or by credit card. - International Money Transfers
can be sent directly from your banking account to your school via a money transfer provider, like Western Union, for a low or no fee. With Western Union, you can send payments directly to schools throughout 200+ countries and be confident your funds will arrive in several days. - Bank Transfers
Bank transfers, where you transfer money from one bank account to another, such as one you open overseas, are another option, but more for this service, so do some comparison shopping among methods and banks. - International Bank Drafts
Bank drafts are essentially checks drawn from your account. They are good for larger amounts, and they use the exchange rate current on the day you make the withdrawal. - University Online Payment Portal
Many universities have a portal for online payments which can be convenient. Just keep these tips in mind:
–Navigate to your school’s portal only through the university site. Don’t use links in emails or click to it through Google or other searches.
–Check the exchange rates and fees to see if they are competitive or if you should choose another method such as money transfer.
–See about paying a larger amount and receiving a discount versus paying in smaller installments. Paying once for the entire year versus a series of installments may be the better course if you can manage it. - Cash
Cash should be your last option for paying tuition internationally. If you choose to pay in a foreign currency, you can exchange the cash domestically or abroad. If you exchange domestically, be aware of the limits you can bring aboard an international flight. Usually, it’s $10,000. Check airline restrictions based on your destination.To exchange cash abroad, money transfer services including Western Union let you pick up cash upon arrival either through your bank account, mobile wallet (third-party charges may apply), or in-person at a cash pick-up location.
Once you’re settled at school, if you need extra money during your time abroad, Western Union has multiple options for receiving cash from family and friends at home. With more than 600,000 agent locations worldwide*, you’ll be able to conveniently pick up cash or have money deposited to your account through the Western Union mobile app.
Our platform provides seamless cross-border money transfers, and our extensive network connects 200+ countries and territories and more than 130 currencies. With our customer-friendly app and WU.com, we provide simple and convenient ways to send and receive money reliably around the world.
* Agent location count valid as of December 31, 2021.