Get Started: Tuition - GLA Makes High School Travel Abroad Easy

Where can I find the tuition amount for my program?

On the website page for your program, check the Dates & Tuition section, and you will see the tuition amount for the session dates you have chosen.

How do I save my spot on my program?

Simply head to our online application to get started.

At the time of enrollment, you will need to pay your $600 deposit to hold your spot, as well as an application fee (typically $95-$145). Both the application fee and deposit are non-refundable.

As for paying the remainder of your tuition balance, it is typically due within 45 days of your deposit; however, see the payment schedules below for complete details.

What is your refund policy?

Our refund policy is outlined below.

GLA Refund Policy Details (Terms & Conditions):

(1) All payments are subject to the conditions of our refund policy once the payment is received.
(2) If a student chooses to withdraw for any reason prior to the program start date, GLA must be notified in writing.
(3) Certain portions of the program fees are refundable depending on the date of the written cancellation request. Refunds will be calculated according to the date in which GLA receives this notification.
(4) If for some reason GLA is not able to grant acceptance into the program, everything but the application fee is refundable.
(5) The $600 deposit towards the tuition is always non-refundable, but can be transferred to another student and can be used as a lifetime deposit upon request. The application fee (typically $95) is always non-refundable & non-transferable.
(6) The non-refundable application fee amount varies depending on the date of application. Typically it is $95-$145 USD.
(7) If your full tuition balance is paid on time: If you cancel out of your programs at least 60 days prior to departure and your full tuition balance has been paid on time, your family is eligible to receive a lifetime tuition credit for all payments received (excluding the application fee), in lieu of a refund payment.
(8) We may, at any time, modify these Terms and Conditions, with or without notice. Any such modification will be effective immediately upon public posting.
- Terra reserves the right to make changes, cancellations, postponements or substitutions as a result of changing conditions, safety considerations, the interests of the group, or emergency situations.
- In the event Terra decides not to operate a program for force majeure or safety considerations, Terra reserves the right to substitute such program with another program option of the same program theme.
- In the case of COVID or similar force majeure events, should safe program delivery be possible with social distancing measures only, GLA may need to add a ‘social distancing’ surcharge to cover additional costs associated with changes to program elements such as dorming, transportation or service projects. The surcharge would be in addition to the tuition of the program and apply to all currently registered and future students. If enacted, the established surcharge must be received in full 30 days prior to the program start date. Alternatively, in order to avoid such a surcharge, GLA may reduce program duration to cover extra costs. In such an instance, GLA would liaise with families before enacting any surcharge / program duration deduction with the objective of identifying the most suitable solution for all.
- Once on a program, if a Student chooses to leave the GLA Program, there will be no refund of the program fee. If the Student leaves the GLA Program prior to the end date due to parental request, personal reasons, behavioral issues, or mental health challenges, he/she will not be permitted to re-join the program. The Student’s removal is final.
- Students must treat their surroundings and materials with care. The Participant agrees to reimburse Terra for any property of GLA Program Staff or lodging facilities that is damaged, lost, or destroyed as a result of the Student’s actions.

**Exceptions CANNOT be granted to this refund policy. Travel insurance is recommended to help provide protection for your investment beyond our cancellation policy.

Refund deadlines for summer programs:

This refund policy applies to all programs beginning in June, July and August.

Cancellation notices received by December 15th:
- 100% of tuition paid, except the $600 deposit and the application fee, is refundable.
Cancellation notices received December 16 to April 15th:
- 50% of tuition paid, except the $600 deposit and application fee, is refundable.
Cancellation notices received after April 15th:
- None of the tuition or application fees are refundable.

Refund deadlines for spring break programs:

This refund policy applies to all programs beginning in March and April.

Cancellation notices received by December 15th:
- 100% of tuition paid, except the $600 deposit and the application fee, is refundable.
Cancellation notices received December 16 to February 15th:
- 50% of tuition paid, except the $600 deposit and application fee, is refundable.
Cancellation notices received after February 15th:
- None of the tuition or application fees are refundable.

Refund deadlines for fall break programs:

This refund policy applies to all programs beginning in November.

Cancellation notices received by August 15th:
- 100% of tuition paid, except the $600 deposit and the application fee, is refundable.
Cancellation notices received August 16 to October 15th:
- 50% of tuition paid, except the $600 deposit and application fee, is refundable.
Cancellation notices received after October 15th:
- None of the tuition or application fees are refundable.

Refund deadlines for winter break programs:

This refund policy applies to all programs beginning in December.

Cancellation notices received by September 15th:
- 100% of tuition paid, except the $600 deposit and the application fee, is refundable.
Cancellation notices received September 16 to November 15th:
- 50% of tuition paid, except the $600 deposit and application fee, is refundable.
Cancellation notices received after November 15th:
- None of the tuition or application fees are refundable.

Refund deadlines for custom group programs:

This refund policy applies to all GLA Custom Group Travel.

Cancellation notices received by 5 months prior to program start date:
- 100% of tuition paid is refundable, except $95 application fee
Cancellation notices received by 4 months prior to program start date:
- 75% of tuition paid is refundable, except application fee
Cancellation notices received by 3 months prior to program start date:
- 50% of tuition paid is refundable, except application fee
Cancellation notices received by 2 months prior to program start date:
- 25% of tuition paid is refundable, except application fee
Cancellation notices received less than 2 months prior to program start date:
- None of the tuition or application fees are refundable

Refund deadlines for virtual internships:

Your internship fee is fully refundable up until 72 hours after initial registration.

Summer Session: Your internship fee is 50% refundable after the 72 hour post-registration period until June 10. After June 10 the fee is non-refundable.
Fall Session: Your internship fee is 50% refundable after the 72 hour post-registration period until September 8. After September 8 the fee is non-refundable.

Force Majeure:

Program cancellation, postponements or changes that occur due to an unexpected or uncontrollable event may be subject to Force Majeure. Such instances could be, but not limited to: acts of God, flood, drought, earthquake or other natural disaster, epidemic or pandemic, terrorist attack, civil war, civil commotion, or any law or any action taken by a government or public authority. If Force Majeure is enacted, Terra will aim to move the student to another program, if possible. If no alternative program is available, the family will be granted a credit for a future program. This credit will be transferable to any other sibling or friend. Where families demand a refund in spite of these circumstances, we will provide partial cash refunds only should our overall situation allow us to do so. The payout ratio will depend on the scale of the Force Majeure.

Are their deadlines and terms for submitting an application?

Yes. Please see below for details.

Deadlines & Terms for Submitting Your Application:

After your initial deposit payment date, your application must be submitted:
- Within 1 week for programs departing in the next 90 days.
- Within 30 days for programs departing in more than 90 days.
  - If your program is over 6 months from departure, submit your application no later than 6 months prior to departure.
If an application is not completed within the above defined deadlines, GLA reserves the right to cancel the application and retain the deposit and any additional funds paid.
Your application will be reviewed upon submission. Any follow-up questions will be directed to the parents or guardians. Any follow-up requests should be completed within the above defined deadlines, unless otherwise specified, otherwise GLA reserves the right to cancel the application and retain the deposit and any additional funds paid.
If for some reason GLA is not able to grant acceptance into the program, everything but the application fee is refundable.

Are their deadlines and terms for tuition payments?

Yes. Please see below for details.

Deadlines & Terms for Tuition Payment:

For all participants who enroll in spring and summer programs up until November 15, final tuition will be due by Dec. 31.
Beginning Nov. 16, spring and summer program final tuition is due 45 days after payment of deposit, upon acceptance into the program.
If your program departure date is closer than 60 days away, your tuition is due 1 week from payment of deposit, upon acceptance into the program.
Fall and winter program tuition is due 45 days after deposit or within 1 week if your program is closer than 60 days away.

Late Fees & Penalties:

A $100 late fee will be assessed if full payment is not received by the due date. Additionally, if your balance is overdue, GLA reserves the right to cancel the application and retain the deposit and any additional funds paid.

If your full tuition balance is paid on time: If you cancel out of your programs at least 60 days prior to departure and your full tuition balance has been paid on time, your family is eligible to receive a lifetime tuition credit for all payments received (excluding the application fee), in lieu of a refund payment. This exception to the refund policy for extenuating circumstances is only open to those who have paid the full balance on-time.

Payment Plans:

Available on a limited basis upon request.

Payment by check:

When you provide a check as payment, you authorize us either to use information from your checks to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your account or to process the payment as a check transaction (ACH transfer). A $25 fee applies to bounced checks.

What are the deadlines for completing and turning in pre-departure documents?

All of the key dates and deadlines are outlined for your reference below.

Deadlines for pre-departure documents:

Pre-departure documents are required for participation. Upon acceptance, you will receive the necessary documents and instructions via email

For all participants who enroll up until January 31st, pre-departure documents will be due by March 1st.
For all spring participants who enroll up until December 31st, pre-departure documents will be due by February 1st.
For all summer participants beginning February 1st, pre-departure documents are due 30 days after acceptance into the program. For all spring participants beginning January 1st, pre-departure documents are due 30 days after acceptance into the program.
If your program departure date is closer than 60 days away, your pre-departure documents are due 1 week from acceptance.
Late Fees & Penalties: A $50 late fee will be assessed if all pre-departure documents are not obtained and submitted by the due date.

Are their deadlines for changing programs or session dates?

Yes, there are a couple of deadlines you should take note of, outlined below.

Deadlines for changing programs:

Until April 15th, students can change to available sessions (dates, program, countries) at no additional fee.
As of April 16th, there is a $50 fee to change to an available session (date, program, countries).

Should I get travel insurance?

GLA includes secondary medical insurance and evacuation insurance during the program as part of your total program costs. However, purchasing a travel insurance policy is also recommended. See further insurance details below for guidance.

Insurance: Arch RoamRight

We highly recommend purchasing a Travel Insurance policy to help protect your investment. We suggest Arch RoamRight, a reputable provider with years of strong customer reviews and a reputation for great customer service.
Secondary medical insurance and evacuation insurance during the program is included for programs located outside of the US.
We CANNOT extend beyond our refund policy for personal injury, losses or acts of God or any other exceptions, however travel insurance may be able to provide additional coverage beyond our refund policy.
We are not responsible for any insurance premium, terms of use or otherwise for any insurance policy you choose to purchase.

What is not covered by tuition?

Below, we've outlined a list of several items that will need to be paid for separately in addition to your tuition.

Items not covered by tuition, that you will need to pay for:

International or domestic airfare to and from the destination country and/or city
Entry passport / visa to the country (if required)
Immunizations (if required)
Multi-Country Flight Connections (if applicable)
Airport taxes (if required)
US health insurance for programs within the US, if a resident of the US

Typical student expenses during the program also not covered by tuition:

Snacks and soft drinks
Souvenirs
Laundry (when available)
Public internet cafes

What do the program fees (tuition) include?

GLA programs are all-inclusive, except for airfare. We provide students housing, transportation, three full meals a day, secondary medical insurance and evacuation insurance. Students will bring their own souvenir money and extra spending money.

These items are included with your program tuition:

Secondary medical and evacuation insurance
Airport pickup by GLA staff
Phone call home upon arrival
All meals and purified water
Lodging in GLA Home-Base
All ground transportation
All excursions and activities
Experienced Program Directors
Supplies for service project
Pre-departure logistical support
24-hour emergency hotline
Emergency cash-advance service

How do I redeem any tuition credits?

We have outlined some simple steps to follow if you received any tuition credit toward future travel.

For participants redeeming tuition credit from 2020:

Please select the box above “My trip is sponsored by an organization that will pay GLA directly”. In the “Sponsoring Organization” box enter the student name and credit amount that you’d like to redeem.
Once you submit your application, your credit will be verified and discounted from your tuition balance.
Credit received during the COVID-19 outbreak does not expire and is not subject to the refund policy, nor applicable for any refund at any time. However, any additional funds paid towards your balance are subject to the refund policy in place at the time of payment.

I am traveling as part of a Custom Group Travel Program. Is there anything else I should know?

Yes, there are a few special parameters involved in traveling with GLA for custom groups.

For Custom Group Programs:

Program is reserved for the group once deposits for each participant have been received.
12 is the minimum enrollment to run a program. If under 12, we will require a surcharge.
- 10-11 students: $200 per paying participant is added
- 9-10 students: $300 per paying participant is added
Deposits due as soon as a Letter of Intent is signed or as agreed upon.
Balance of the program fee is due 90 days before the start date of the program.
A $100 late fee will be assessed if full payment is not received by the due date.
Unless otherwise agreed upon, tuition excludes international airfare or entry visas (if required), laundry, airport departure taxes, or trip cancellation insurance.
PLEASE HAVE YOUR FLIGHT ITINERARY APPROVED BY GLA CUSTOM GROUP TRAVEL BEFORE PURCHASE
GLA does not book international airfare unless we’ve made special arrangements. Please contact Student Universe for assistance.

What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept several methods of payment that you can choose from.

Payment Methods:

We accept MasterCard and Visa credit card payments.
We accept US personal checks and money orders in dollars.
Please contact us with any questions on payment or banking details.

Checks and money orders should be sent to:

Global Leadership Adventures
10509 San Diego Mission Road, Suite A-1
San Diego, CA 92108

Outside of the US and Canada: We accept the above forms of payment, except for personal checks.

When is payment due?

For all participants who enroll up until November 30, final tuition will be due by Dec. 31.

Beginning December 1, final tuition is due 45 days after payment of deposit, upon acceptance into the program.

If your program departure date is closer than 60 days away, your tuition is due 1 week from payment of deposit, upon acceptance into the program.

Note:

A $100 late fee will be assessed if full payment is not received by the due date.

Terms & Conditions for Payment:

All payments are subject to the conditions of our refund policy once the payment is received. Certain portions of the program fees are refundable depending on the date of the cancellation request. If a student chooses to withdraw for any reason prior to the program start date, GLA must be notified in writing. The refund will be calculated according to the date on which GLA receives this notification.

Is there an application fee?

Yes, there is a application fee due when you complete Page 1 of the application and save your space on a program. The application fee ranges between $95-$145 depending on time of year in which you enroll.

Do you offer any scholarships or financial aid?

Yes, GLA has set aside a finite pool of need-based scholarships under the GLA Scholarship Fund. In order to apply for a scholarship, students must submit a Financial Aid Form and copies of their parents' income tax filings from the last two years, along with their program application. Unfortunately, GLA does not directly offer any full-fee scholarships. Full-fee scholarships are distributed through selected partner organizations.

Are payment plans available?

Yes, in many cases. Please contact us at 1-858-771-0645 or info@experiencegla.com for details.