Costs & Funding

Global Citizen Year is committed to unlocking the potential of emerging leaders, regardless of background or socio-economic status.
Because we believe that the ability to pay should not be a barrier to participation, we offer generous need-based financial aid to Fellows who would not otherwise be able to participate, and work with each family to determine an appropriate aid package.

PROGRAM TUITION

The tuition for the 2012-2013 program cycle is $28,500. Our full tuition represents a percentage of the total operational cost of supporting each Fellow through the 10-month program; the remainder of this cost is borne by Global Citizen Year with generous support from our foundation partners and individual donors.

Please see below for details on financial aid.

Global Citizen Year’s program tuition includes:

  • All costs associated with travel (domestic, international, and in-country), room and board, and a monthly living stipend while in-country
  • Two-week intensive leadership training program housed at Stanford University, facilitated by experts in cultural competencies, social innovation, and international development
  • One month in-country training based in the capital city, focused on language immersion, cultural adjustment, and health and safety preparedness
  • Seven months of intensive, individualized language training
  • Monthly in-country seminars led by staff and local experts
  • Monthly one-on-one coaching sessions with experienced staff
  • Personalized service-based apprenticeships with local community partners or international NGOs
To date, over 80% of our Fellows have received some level of financial assistance, including over a third who have received fully-funded Fellowships.

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid for Global Citizen Year is determined on a sliding scale based on the ability of the Fellow and the Fellow’s family to contribute towards the total program fee of $28,500.  This sliding scale model is designed to ensure that Global Citizen Year remains accessible to all selected Fellows, regardless of their financial circumstances, and that any available aid be allocated to participants for whom the experience would not otherwise be possible.

To date, over 80% of our Fellows have taken advantage of our generous financial aid packages, including over a third who have received fully funded Fellowships. Once a financial aid award has been determined, the family is responsible only for the remaining portion of the total program fee, as well as for any costs associated with passport applications, vaccinations, or early withdrawal from the program. All other costs, including domestic and international airfare, are assumed by Global Citizen Year.

All Fellows, regardless of their financial aid awards, are required to submit a $500 deposit upon acceptance into the program to be applied towards their total contribution, and are also required to participate in a Summer Campaign in the months preceding their departure.  To read more about the Summer Campaign, please click here.

APPLYING FOR AID

To apply for aid, participants must submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to the federal government, which reviews applications and generates a SAR (Student Aid Report) in return. Using this SAR and additional information from parents or guardians – in recognition of the fact that the SAR is not always a comprehensive reflection of a family’s ability to contribute – Global Citizen Year will determine a financial aid award as applicable. Participants will be notified of financial aid packages prior to the deadline to commit to the program.

Start Your Application
Get started with Part I of your application.