Fees

Full payment of program fees for the program beginning:
-February 2015 is due by October 31, 2014
-May 2015 is due by March 30, 2015

Below you'll find information on:
-Program costs and dates
-Deadlines
-Health Insurance
-Personal Expenses
-Financial Aid
-Payment Instructions
-Withdrawal and Cancellation Policy

Program costs and dates:

Fall and Spring semesters: $11,800 ($10,400 without Chicago re-entry program)

Fall 2014: September 8 – December 4
Spring 2015: February 5 – May 4, May 4-17 in Chicago

Cuba program
$7,400 covers tuition for 16 semester credits
$3,000 covers room, board and ground transportation

Chicago Re-entry Program
Your $1400 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

NOTE: Applicants can apply for a scholarship by completing our scholarship application and demonstrating need via the Financial Aid Information form filled out by their school's financial aid administrator.

Fall and Spring payment deadlines          

                                                                                      Fall                   Spring
Early payment (Full program fee less $500)            May 31            August 31
Payment deadline (Full program fee)                       July 15             December 15
After deadline (Full program fee plus $500)            July 16             December 16

Early payment option is only available to students who are paying for the program fee out of pocket.  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.  All payments must be received before departure from the US.  Sorry, no exceptions for any reason.

Summer semester: $3,800

Summer 2015: May 25 – June 29

Your $3,800 program fee covers:
• 6 semester credits
• Food, lodging and ground transportation in Cuba
• Most books and reading materials

Summer payment deadlines
Payment deadline (Full program fee)                                   by April 30
After payment deadline (Full program fee + $500)             after April 30

All payments must be received before departure from the US.  Sorry, no exceptions for any reason.

Health insurance

Health insurance is mandatory for all visitors to Cuba and is included in the program fees.  The health system in Cuba is recognized throughout the world for its expertise, though occasionally exotic medicines are hard to find.  Your Cuban health insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions.  US health insurance is generally prevented by the US embargo from covering health expenses generated in Cuba.

Participants are responsible for:

-Airfare to and from Miami (about $560)
-Personal expenses:  This can range from $300 for a semester or $100 for a Summer for particularly frugal travelers, to $2,500 for a semester or $1,200 for a Summer for big spenders.  Items produced in Cuba are generally very inexpensive.  Nightclubs and alcohol costs are generally comparable to any large urban center in the US.

Financial aid

If you receive FAFSA financial aid from your home institution, the aid is probably transferable to the “History, culture and politics of Cuba” study abroad program. Consult with your study abroad and/or academic advisor to arrange for this transfer. Students are responsible for insuring that financial aid payments meet the payment deadlines outlined above. We offer basic suggestions for finding financial aid.

AUSM scholarship application process

In addition to scholarships offered by your home institution, the Autonomous University of Social Movements offers a modest scholarship program designed to supplement any grants or other financial awards. It is not intended to be your only funding source. To apply for an AUSM scholarship, fill out and submit this scholarship form with your program application before the scholarship application deadline of September 30 for Spring programs and March 30 for Fall programs. Scholarship applications will not be considered unless they are 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. There are also a limited amount of special scholarships specifically for first or second generation Latin@ immigrants.

Payment instructions

All payments are made to:

AUSM
3460 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago, IL 60625

We accept checks or credit cards (Visa or Mastercard, or add 3% to payments using American Express)

Withdrawal and cancellation policy

Notification of withdrawal from the AUSM study abroad program must be received in writing. The $500 deposit is non-refundable.  In the event of withdrawal before the day of departure from the US, a 100% refund, minus the $500 deposit and minus any scholarship awards made by AUSM, will be made.  No refunds are available after the first day of the program; however, in case of medical or family emergencies, the Autonomous University of Social Movements will consider, on a case by case basis, application of payment to another semester program.  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.