Program Cost
Fall and Spring Semesters*
The $12,300 program fee (Fall 2017/Spring 2018)** breaks down as follows:
$8,000 covers tuition for 16 semester credits of courses accredited at the undergraduate or masters level by the Universidad Autónomo Metropolitano (UAM-Xochimilco). (If necessary, Hampshire College issues transcripts for undergraduate students for an additional fee of $300. Students must apply for the Hampshire transcript and pay the $300 fee at least one month before program departure date. Contact AUSM for details.)
$3,000 covers room and board
$500 covers ground transportation in Mexico
$800 covers housing, food, transportation, and workshops in Chicago.
NOTE: Applicants can apply for scholarships by completing our scholarship application and demonstrating need via the Financial Aid Information form filled out by your school’s financial aid administrator. Students who are not able to pay the full program fee before the deadline must fill out the Letter of Financial Responsibility and contact us to arrange a payment schedule. IMPORTANT: Transcripts will not be issued until the balance is paid.
Chicago Re-entry Program
Your $800 program fee covers:
• instruction, de-briefing and reflection sessions
• housing with immigrant families who participate in the Centro Autónomo
• food
• class reading materials
• local city transit for program activities
Full payment is due before the program begins.
Summer Program
Your $4,100 program fee covers:
• 6 semester credits (4 week program)
• Courses accredited at the undergraduate or masters level by the Universidad Autónomo Metropolitano (UAM)
• Food, lodging and ground transportation within Mexico
• Most books and reading materials
Payment
Full program fees are due by the following dates:
Fall semester – July 15 Spring semester – December 15 Summer program – April 30
Where the Money Goes: Study Abroad Finances– read about how your tuition is spent
Fall and Spring payment deadlines Fall Spring Summer
*Early payment (Full program fee – $500) May 31 August 31 March 15
Payment deadline (Full program fee) July 15 December 15 April 30
After deadline (Full program fee + $500/mo) July 16 December 16 April 31
**program fees may be updated each semester
Payment Instructions
Checks should be made payable to AUSM and sent to AUSM, 3460 West Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625. Visa or Mastercard payments can be made here or by calling our office. Visa or Mastercard payments incur a 4% processing fee.
Insurance
Emergency Travel Insurance
All students must either purchase emergency travel insurance from AUSM’s insurance agent or provide proof of their own coverage at least one month before program start date. At a minimum, emergency travel insurance must cover “emergency hospitalization,” “emergency evacuation,” and “emergency repatriation” to the US. If you wish to use your own coverage, please send us a copy of your policy, highlighting the places where these three things are listed as covered.
AUSM’s insurance agent provides coverage through a policy written by Travel Health and Accident insurance through U.S. Fire Insurance Company, policy #US022072. The policy covers accident/emergency hospitalization coverage with a limit of $25,000 per person/per incident and has a $100 deductible per person/per incident. The additional cost is $120 per student for the Fall/Spring semesters and $35 for Summer semesters.
Participants are responsible for
~ $120 for emergency travel insurance (see above)
~ $600 – $1000 for airfare to & within Mexico, back to Chicago, then home
~ $450 – $700 for miscellaneous incidental expenses (click here for our estimated breakdown)
Financial Aid
Financial aid from home institution
If you are receiving financial aid from your home institution, the aid may be transferable to the AUSM Study Abroad program. Consult with your study abroad and/or academic advisor to arrange for this transfer. We offer basic suggestions for finding financial aid here.
Scholarship application process
In addition to scholarships offered by your home institution, the Autonomous University of Social Movements offers a small scholarship program designed to supplement grants or other financial awards. We cannot provide full scholarships, and this is not intended to be your only funding source. AUSM is a small non-profit. Instead of relying on grants and foundation money, AUSM uses the proceeds from our study abroad program to fund community organizing in immigrant communities in Chicago, and to support social movements in Mexico.
To apply for an AUSM scholarship, fill out and submit this scholarship application with your program application before the posted scholarship application deadlines. Scholarship applications will not be considered unless they are complete and accompanied by a program application. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of need, with preference given to applicants with proven grassroots organizing experience and to first or second generation immigrants.
Scholarship deadlines
Fall – April 15th
Spring – October 15th
Summer – March 15th
Withdrawal policy
Notification of withdrawal from the AUSM Study Abroad program must be received in writing. The $500 deposit is non-refundable and may not be transferred to another semester. In the event of withdrawal, refunds will be made according to the following schedule, calculated from the date AUSM is notified by the student in writing:
Fall/Spring Semesters
Before the day of departure from the U.S.:
100% refund less $500 deposit and less any scholarship awards.
By Saturday of the first week of the program:
80% of tuition and fees minus the $500 deposit and minus any scholarship awards.
By Saturday of the second week of the program:
60% of tuition and fees minus the $500 deposit and minus any scholarship awards.
No refunds are available after the second week of the program; however, in case of medical or family emergencies, AUSM will consider, on a case by case basis, application of payment to another semester program.
Summer
No refunds are available for the Summer semester after the departure date.
In the unlikely event that the program itself is canceled, all funds, including the $500 deposit, will be refunded or applied to a future program, at the discretion of the applicant.