This cancellation policy encompasses both the student withdrawal policy and program cancellation policy. Please consider the following information thoroughly.
The student withdrawal policy outlined below applies to withdrawals resulting from the student’s decision to withdraw their application, failure to respond to acceptance/nomination notifications or removal from the program. Please review the entire policy. If you wish to appeal the cancellation fee, please complete the Global Education Cancellation Fee Appeal form within four weeks of your withdrawal.
The program cancellation policy applies when the program is cancelled by Ohio State, provider or host institution.
Student Withdrawal Policy
You are required to commit or decline your acceptance offer to your global education program within 10 days of receiving notification from the Office of International Affairs. Failure to respond to your acceptance offer will result in removal from the program.
- If you decide to withdraw from your global education program after you have committed, you must immediately inform both your global education specialist and third party provider coordinator (if applicable) via email. The decision not to participate after you have committed will have financial consequences as outlined below.
- In addition, if you cease to meet the conditions for participation in an Ohio State global education program after you have been notified of your acceptance, you may not be permitted to participate in your program, and will face the same financial consequences as outlined in the policy below.
You are strongly encouraged to share this policy with anyone (parents, guardians, others) who will be providing you with financial assistance during your education abroad program.
Student Withdrawal Policy for Faculty-Led In-Person Ohio State Programs
The Office of International Affairs works closely with overseas institutions, travel agencies and suppliers to provide a full array of services. These services frequently require the Office of International Affairs to make deposits and other non-refundable financial commitments on your behalf.
Remember that your application fee will be refunded only if you submit a written request to withdraw prior to the application deadline, you are not accepted to your global education program or if the program were to be cancelled.
If you decide to withdraw from your program 11 or more days after the date of your notification of acceptance, you will forfeit your application fee and be subject to the withdrawal policy outlined below. This policy applies to all withdrawals, regardless of the reason. Please use this date duration calculator to determine the number of days between when you received your acceptance notification and the start of your program.
- If you decline your acceptance (by clicking the “decline” button) or withdraw your application within 10 days from your acceptance notification date, you will not be charged a withdrawal fee.
- Failure to respond to your acceptance offer by clicking "commit" or "decline" within 10 days will result in removal from the program.
If you decide to withdraw from your program, you will be subject to the following scaled withdrawal fees.
| Timing of withdrawal prior to program start date | Withdrawal fee |
| 11 days after acceptance notification and more than 95 days prior to program start date | $200 withdrawal fee |
| 60-95 days prior to program start date | 25% of the Global Education program fee |
| 45-59 days prior to program start date | 50% of the Global Education program fee |
| 30-44 days prior to program start date | 75% of the Global Education program fee |
| Less than 30 days prior to program start date and any time after program commences | 100% of the Global Education program fee |
For example, if your acceptance notification was postmarked electronically on March 29, your program start date is October 1, and you withdraw on June 27 or earlier, you will be responsible for a $200 cancellation fee.*
Withdrawal Policy for In-Person Third Party Provider, Direct Enroll or International Exchange Programs
Your application fee will be refunded only if you submit a written request to withdraw prior to the application deadline, you are not accepted to your global education program or if the program were to be cancelled.
If you withdraw 11 days after your acceptance/nomination notification, you will forfeit your application fee, are liable for a $200 withdrawal fee and are subject to your provider’s cancellation and withdrawal policies.
Withdrawal Policy for Global Online Learning Experiences
The Office of International Affairs works closely with overseas institutions and partners to provide a full array of services for global online learning experiences. These services may require the Office of International Affairs to make deposits and other non-refundable financial commitments on your behalf.
If you decide to withdraw from your global online learning experience, you must immediately notify your Global Education Specialist and Ohio State Instructor or third-party program coordinator, as applicable.
Withdrawal from an Ohio State Faculty-Led Global Online Learning Experience with a Program Fee
Students will be charged nonrecoverable costs, if applicable, and will forfeit the $50 administrative fee if withdrawal is less than 30 days prior to the start of your program.
Withdrawal Policy for Third-Party Provider, Director Enroll or International Exchange Global Online Learning Experiences
Students participating in third party provider, direct enroll and international exchange online global programs will be assessed a $50 administrative fee as part of the program fee. This administrative fee will be forfeited as outlined below.
| Timing of withdrawal prior to program start date | Withdrawal fee |
| Less than 30 days prior to the start of your program | You will forfeit the $50 administrative fee and are subject to your provider’s cancellation and withdrawal polices |
Refund of tuition
Refund of your tuition, if applicable, will be handled via normal student refund processes. For more information, please visit the Office of Business and Finance.
Student financial aid
If you withdraw from a global education program at any time prior to departure or after the program commences, you should inform the Student Service Center of your withdrawal, so that your financial aid can be reviewed, if necessary, and will continue uninterrupted.
Academic consequences
Any withdrawal from a global education program may have academic and financial consequences, especially the nearer to departure the withdrawal occurs. Depending on the date of your withdrawal, you may receive a “W” on your Ohio State academic record and may forfeit partial or full Ohio State tuition.
You are also encouraged to contact your academic advisor to help ensure minimal interruption of your academic progress. For details on add/drop deadlines for tuition refunds, please visit the Office of the University Registrar.
Withdrawal Fee Appeal
Appeals are reviewed by the Global Education Appeal Committee and determinations are made based on reason for appeal and supporting documentation. Appeals decisions are rendered within 10 business days of appeal submission, and notification of committee decision will be sent to the student via email to their Ohio State email account.
Extenuating circumstances are defined as:
- Medical: Can be physical, mental, emotional, etc. and requires documentation from attending physician.
- Illness/Death in the Immediate Family: Family medical emergency (surgery, long-term illness diagnosed) which requires documentation from attending physician. Death of an immediate family member—parents, guardians, siblings, children, spouses, registered domestic partners—requires appropriate documentation.
- Military Activation: Requires a copy of the military activation orders showing dates that conflict with the program dates.
- Unanticipated Change in Financial Situation: Termination of main source of income, filing of bankruptcy, unforeseen financial hardship, etc. are examples of changes in financial situation and require appropriate documentation. Financial emergency does not include "did not understand what I was financially accountable for" nor does it include "not eligible for financial aid/did not receive a scholarship I was counting on."
- Other: A circumstance of other must be out of the student’s control and requires supporting documentation of situation, process and timeline.
Students sign an acknowledgement of understanding at the time of confirmation of acceptance which includes a statement that they have read and understand this Cancellation Policy in full.
If you wish to appeal the cancellation fee, please complete the Global Education Cancellation Fee Appeal form within four weeks of your withdrawal.
Program Cancellation Policy
If your program is cancelled by Ohio State, your application fee and the program fee will be refunded or removed for your student account if not already paid.
If the event of a Third-Party Provider Program, Direct Enroll, or International Exchange Program modifying method of delivery from in-person to any other format, including, but not limited to hybrid, virtual or any combination therein, application fees and program fees still apply. A change in program format is not a valid reason for a withdrawal fee appeal and does not constitute a program cancellation.
Please note that Ohio State reserves the right to cancel any program prior to departure or while in progress. Ohio State also reserves the right to change without notice any statement contained herein, concerning but not limited to rules, policies, tuition, fees, curricula and courses.