Withdrawal Policy

We understand that circumstances may arise that necessitate changes in your participation in a Faculty-Led Program. To facilitate this process, we have established the following withdrawal policy:

Application Phase Withdrawals:

  • Students are allowed to withdraw their application at any point during the application phase without incurring any fees.

Post-Decision Phase Withdrawals:

  • Once a student is accepted into a Faculty-Led Program, clicks the “Commitment to Participate” button in the acceptance email, they are considered committed to participating in the program.

Withdrawal Fees and Charges:

  • If a student chooses to withdraw from the program after committing, a withdrawal fee of $500 will be applied.
  • In addition to the withdrawal fee, students will be responsible for any applicable vendor fees associated with their withdrawal.
  • All charges posted to the student account by the designated due date must be paid promptly. Failure to meet payment deadlines may result in additional late payment fees.

Requesting Withdrawal:

​​​​​​​To officially withdraw from a program, you must:

  • Send an email to the Dornsife FLP Office (flp@dornsife.usc.edu) and the Faculty Director to inform them of your decision to withdraw. All costs incurred to that point will be calculated and sent to the student. The email timestamp in which this notification is received will be the official date you submit the withdrawal request. The official withdrawal date will hold you accountable for any charges incurred up to that point
  • Complete the FLP Program Withdrawal Form
    • Please log into your University of Southern California email to access the Google Form.
  • Drop the course through Web Registration​​​​​​​

After sending your withdrawal email to the Dornsife FLP Office, you can expect to receive a follow-up email once your request has been reviewed. This email will provide you with information regarding the next steps of the withdrawal process. It’s important to note that students are responsible for any cancellation fees incurred after withdrawing from the program.

In the event of your withdrawal, it is recommended that you promptly contact the Office of Financial Aid for guidance and assistance. If you have received any Financial Aid, grants, or scholarships from USC, it’s crucial to be aware that upon your withdrawal, the aid will be reversed, and you will be accountable for the entire balance of the program. Withdrawing from the program may also have an impact on your financial aid status and require the return of aid to the federal government.

For more information about the process of dropping the course through Web Registration and any potential consequences, it is advisable to consult with the USC Registrar’s Office. They will be able to provide you with detailed information and address any additional concerns you may have.

Students participating in FLP programs will notice three charges posted to their student accounts, which include:

  1. USC tuition for the program
  2. Student Overseas Health Insurance Fees, if applicable
  3. FLP program expenses

Please note that while the FLP Office oversees the administration of FLP program fees, all other fees are managed by various university central units.

Responsibilities for Late Payments:

  • Students are responsible for paying all charges posted to their student account by the designated due date.
  • Any late payment fees incurred due to delayed payment are the responsibility of the withdrawing student.

Considerations for Documented Emergencies or Extenuating Circumstances:

  • In cases of documented emergencies or extenuating circumstances, withdrawal fees may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students must provide relevant documentation to support their request.

By participating in a Faculty-Led Program, you acknowledge and agree to adhere to the terms of this withdrawal policy. We encourage all students to carefully consider their commitment to the program before submitting the “Faculty-Led Programs Student Acceptance Form.”

Program Fees

Students are responsible for:

  • Tuition
  • All lodging
  • Airfare to/from country destination(s)
  • Passports and international visas
  • Student health insurance
  • Personal meals and other incidental expenses
  • If a student drops the program after committing, they will be responsible for the $500 withdrawal fee and any program provider withdrawal fees (if applicable).

Within each program brochure is a Student Cost Sheet, a worksheet that provides a breakdown of potential student costs for attending the program. The template is used as a calculator with the fixed costs of the program and the potential costs that can be filled in by the student (i.e. personal meals).