Program Cost

Spring 2021 (March 28th – June 5th)

The $12,000 program fee breaks down as follows:

  • $8,400 covers tuition for 16 semester credits of courses accredited at the undergraduate or masters level by the Universidad Autónomo Metropolitano (UAM-Xochimilco).
  • $3,100 covers room and board
  • $500 covers ground transportation in Mexico

We will not have a Chicago re-entry program for the Spring 2021 semester.

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.

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

Withdrawal policy for Spring and Summer of 2021

Program Withdrawal
We understand the uncertainty of the current health crisis and the risk that students might take planning a study abroad program. We are offering full refunds, including the $500 deposit, for any students that withdrawals at least one day before the start date of the program. Notification of withdrawal from the AUSM Study Abroad program must be received in writing. 

After the start date of the program, refunds will be made according to the following schedule, calculated from the date AUSM is notified by the student in writing:

  • 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.

 Program Cancellation

In the event that the program itself is canceled before the start date of the program, all funds, including the $500 deposit, will be refunded or applied to a future program, at the discretion of the applicant.

 If the program is canceled after the start date of the program, AUSM will continue the program online and refunds for room & board will be made according to the following schedule:

    • If program is canceled during the first 4 weeks of the program, 2/3 of room & board will be refunded.
    • If program is canceled between the 5th and 8th week of the program, 1/3 of room & board will be refunded.
    • No refund will be made after the 8th week of the program.

      Payment

      Full program fees for Spring 2021 are due by February 25th.

      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, 3320 W Foster Ave. #135, 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 will need to purchase an emergency travel insurance.  At a minimum, the emergency travel insurance will cover “emergency hospitalization,” “emergency evacuation,”  “emergency repatriation,” to the US and COVID related medical expenses. We will provide information of the insurance at a later notice.

Participants are responsible for
~ Emergency travel insurance
~ $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

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