American Students
and their Parents.
Change Your Life,
Change the World.
Deadlines & Fees
Program Deadlines at a Glance
Summer Departure Programs
Applications deadline: April 1
Tuition Payment deadline: April 1
Year programs generally begin in July, August, or September and return home in June or July. Semester programs generally begin in July, August, or September and return in December or January. Summer programs begin in mid- to late June and end in late July or early August.
Winter Departure Programs
Applications postmarked by: October 1
Tuition Payment deadline: October 1
Year programs generally begin in January and end in December. Semester programs generally begin in January and end in July. The semester and year programs to Japan begin in March and end in August or December/January.
You may apply for a YFU program at any time during the year. Many academic year and semester programs have both summer and winter departures, depending on the country you have selected. Please refer to the individual country web pages for program departures.
Application Details
All beginning and ending dates are tentative. You will be notified of your exact travel dates after enrollment. Delays in student departures may occur due to circumstances beyond the control of YFU USA, such as changes in visa processes or other regulations.
Early application is encouraged to ensure that you receive your preference for country and program placement.
After your application has been approved, YFU will send you a monthly statement with your current balance; you may choose to pay a portion of the tuition due or pay the amount due in full. The entire tuition amount must be paid in full by April 1, or October 1 for winter departure year and semester programs, regardless of when you apply or are accepted. If you are enrolled after these payment deadlines, your tuition is due in full within 15 days after enrollment or upon application, for late submissions.
Reservation and enrollment are on a first-come, first-serve basis. Late applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Some countries or programs have earlier deadlines, please check the program pages for details or call the Admissions Office.
Many countries will accept late applications, depending on availability, please contact Admissions Office to discuss your options The $500 enrollment deposit is due and is non-refundable for late applications.
To discuss a particular program's application deadline, please call the Admissions Office at 1.800.TEENAGE to speak with your Admissions Counselor.
Program Tuition
Tuition varies depending on what program and country you choose. Please refer to the individual country web pages for program costs.
Application Fees
There are three types of applications for YFU Programs
- Regular – The student is responsible for the full tuition and upon application and your deposit, a space within the program will be reserved. Include a $75 non-refundable application fee and a $500 program deposit with your application to hold your place.
- Scholarship Only – The student wishes to be considered for all the scholarships they are eligible for. If a scholarship is not awarded, the student will not be able to study abroad. Include a $75 non-refundable scholarship application fee, if applicable (see the Scholarships (http://yfu-usa.org/ao/scholarships.htm) page for details).
- Regular and Scholarship – The student is applying for eligible scholarships, but regardless of being awarded a scholarship or not, the space within the program is reserved and the student will pay the full tuition is a scholarship is not won. Include a $75 non-refundable application fee, and a $500 program deposit.
Application fees (Regular and Scholarship) are non-refundable and separate from your tuition. It is required to process your application and must be submitted with your application. For all regular tuition applications, you must also include a $500 deposit that is applied to your tuition.
Enrollment Deposit
The $500 enrollment deposit is the first payment towards your tuition and is due with your completed American Overseas Application (for regular programs). This payment is refundable in compliance with the Withdrawals and Refunds information listed below.
Payment Deadlines
Upon your reservation, YFU will send you monthly account statements. Tuition must be paid in full by the payment deadline of April 1 for summer departures or October 1 for winter departures. Although your statement will show the full charge for your program, you may make monthly payments on your account balance as long as full payment is received by these deadlines.
Additional Costs
Though most expenses are included in your tuition, you will need to budget separately for passport fees, visa fees (which may include travel if you are required to appear in person at a consulate), insurance, personal spending money, luggage tariffs, any applicable international airport taxes, optional trips or expenses during trips, telephone calls, property damage, and some school expenses such as books or uniforms which are not included in your tuition.
Withdrawals and Refunds
If you find you cannot participate, you must notify your Admissions Counselor in writing. The amount of your refund will be based on the date YFU receives written notice of your withdrawal.
If YFU USA receives written notification of cancellation prior to April 1 (for all summer departure programs) or October 1 (for winter departure programs), all amounts paid toward the tuition, including the $500 enrollment deposit, will be refunded (but not including the non-refundable application fee).
If written notification of cancellation is received in April (for all summer departure programs) or October (for winter departure programs), all amounts paid toward the tuition EXCEPT the enrollment deposit of $500 will be refunded.
If written notification of cancellation is received after May 1 (for all summer departure programs) or November 1 (for winter departure programs), all amounts paid toward the tuition EXCEPT $2,000 will be refunded.
Students who cannot participate in the planned year, but wish to re-apply for the subsequent year program will be able to roll their $75 application fee over to the next program year.
All cancellation policies are in effect regardless of application date, acceptance status of your YFU application, or method of payment. After departure to the host country, participants are not eligible for any refund.
The admissions process is ongoing and YFU reserves the right to reassess the status of accepted students. Also note that due to foreign countries’ varying views on medication, YFU partners may have a more difficult time securing a host family in their country for students taking anti-depressant, anxiety, or attention deficit disorder medication. If a host family cannot be found, then students may be subject to cancellation and given a refund of all payments except the $75 non-refundable application fee.
