Baylor Study Abroad Guide: Programs, Costs & What Happens to Your Apartment
Studying abroad from Baylor is one of the most transformative things you can do before graduation — and one of the most poorly explained when it comes to the practical details. The official pages cover program listings and academic credit. What they rarely address is the question every Baylor student eventually asks: what happens to your Waco apartment while you're gone? This guide covers the BearsAbroad platform, the most popular programs, honest cost ranges, scholarship options, and exactly how to handle your housing before you leave and when you return.
How BearsAbroad Works
All Baylor study abroad programs run through the BearsAbroad platform at bearsabroad.baylor.edu, managed by the Center for Global Engagement (CGE). Every enrolled Baylor student — undergraduate or graduate — can browse 80+ programs across 40+ countries through this portal. Filter by destination, duration, semester, and academic discipline to find programs that fit your schedule and degree plan.
The CGE walks you through the application process from program selection to pre-departure orientation. It's more accessible than it looks, but the deadlines are strict and non-negotiable. More on that below.
Types of Baylor Study Abroad Programs
Baylor offers three main study abroad formats, each with different cost levels and time commitments.
Faculty-Led Summer Programs (4–8 Weeks)
These are the most popular option for a reason: affordable, academically focused, and you're home before fall classes start. Baylor professors lead small student cohorts through coursework in a specific city or country. You earn direct Baylor credit — no transfer approval required.
Popular faculty-led programs include:
- Baylor in London (Hankamer School of Business) — 4-week summer program, $6,000–$8,000 all-in including flights, housing, and excursions. Business courses apply directly to your degree. One of the most competitive spots at Baylor; applications fill quickly.
- Baylor in Oxford — Summer program through the Honors College. Coursework in British literature, history, and philosophy. Housing in or near Oxford.
- Baylor Italy Program (Siena) — Available as summer or semester. Covers art history, Italian culture, and architecture.
- Ecuador Medical Mission — Popular with pre-med students. Summer program combining community health work with clinical observation.
- Baylor China Program — Cultural immersion with language and regional history coursework. Available summer or semester.
Exchange Programs (Semester or Year)
Baylor has exchange agreements with partner universities worldwide. You pay Baylor tuition while studying at a foreign institution, living alongside local students. This is the most immersive option, but requires more planning and sometimes language proficiency. Credit transfer is typically smoother since Baylor has pre-approved the academic content.
Baylor-Affiliated Semester Programs
Third-party providers like CIEE, IES Abroad, and Arcadia offer programs that Baylor has vetted for credit transfer. You apply directly to the program, then work with the CGE and your academic department to confirm which credits count toward your degree. Costs vary widely, and you may be paying both program fees and Baylor tuition simultaneously.
What Baylor Study Abroad Actually Costs
| Program Type | Estimated Total Cost |
|---|---|
| Summer faculty-led (4–8 weeks) | $3,000–$8,000+ |
| Summer affiliated program | $4,000–$10,000+ |
| Semester exchange | $15,000–$25,000 |
| Full year abroad | $25,000–$45,000+ |
Semester exchange programs often cost about the same as staying at Baylor when you factor in Baylor tuition (for exchange programs) plus your Waco housing. The real sticker shock comes from affiliated semester programs where you may pay a program fee on top of Baylor tuition.
Summer faculty-led programs are the sweet spot: high experience value, lower cost, and minimal disruption to your degree timeline.
Scholarship Money You Might Be Missing
- Baylor CGE Scholarship — Up to $5,000 for summer faculty-led programs. Competitive but widely available. Apply through the CGE office with your program application.
- Federal Financial Aid — For accredited semester programs, your existing federal loans and grants may transfer to your program. Contact Baylor Financial Aid before assuming yours will — they verify on a program-by-program basis.
- Gilman Scholarship — Federal program for Pell Grant recipients. Up to $5,000 for summer or semester programs. Deadlines: October for spring programs, March for summer.
- Fulbright-Hays / Critical Language Scholarship — For advanced language learners targeting specific regions. More competitive, but worth researching if you have a specific country focus.
Application Deadlines — Where Most Students Get Burned
The most common mistake is waiting too long. Popular programs fill before most students even start browsing.
Faculty-led summer programs: Applications typically open in October for the following summer. Baylor in London and Oxford close within weeks of opening. Start researching in September and apply the day applications open.
Fall semester programs: Apply by February of the prior spring semester.
Spring semester programs: Apply by October of the prior fall semester.
These are standard CGE deadlines, but individual programs on BearsAbroad may close earlier. Check your specific program page for exact dates and don't rely on the standard windows.
What Happens to Your Waco Apartment While You're Abroad
This is the question that causes the most last-minute scrambling, and every student has to solve it differently depending on their program length.
Option 1: Hold Your Apartment and Keep Paying Rent
For summer programs (4–8 weeks), this is usually the simplest call. You're gone for less than two months. Your apartment stays yours, you keep paying rent, and you return to your unit exactly as you left it.
The math usually works in your favor: two months of rent at a place like 19Eleven runs $2,000–$3,500 depending on your floor plan. Factoring that into the total program cost is almost always cheaper than losing your unit and scrambling for housing in August — when Baylor-area apartments are nearly full.
Option 2: Lease Transfer During Your Semester Abroad
For a full semester away, paying rent on an empty apartment doesn't make financial sense. That's where lease transfers come in.
19Eleven allows lease transfers — you find an approved replacement tenant who takes over your lease for the duration of your time abroad. When you return, you negotiate your new lease term. This is the cleanest option for a semester program and avoids breaking your lease entirely.
For the full process, see our guide on lease transfers, renewals, and summer subleases.
Option 3: Lock In Your Return Housing Before You Leave
This is the most overlooked step, and the one that causes the most stress when students come home.
If you're doing a fall semester abroad, you leave Waco in August. By the time you return in December, the spring semester housing scramble is already over. Apartments near Baylor fill for spring by October and November.
The move: secure your 19Eleven apartment for the spring semester before you leave in August. Talk to management about your situation — they can work with you on holding a unit for your return. This matters especially if you want a specific floor plan or unit type.
Start the conversation early. The 19Eleven application is straightforward, and management understands the study abroad timeline. Don't wait until you're packing for the airport.
Pre-Departure Checklist for Your Waco Apartment
Before you leave for any program longer than a few weeks:
- Document your unit condition with timestamped photos or video. This protects your security deposit when you return.
- Set up mail forwarding for any government documents, financial aid disbursements, or time-sensitive mail you expect to receive.
- Notify your internet provider if you want to pause or cancel service. Some providers allow temporary holds; others require cancellation and a reconnection fee.
- Secure valuables in a locked storage unit or with a trusted friend. Even in a gated community like 19Eleven, it's good practice when you'll be gone for months.
- Confirm renter's insurance covers unoccupied periods — most policies do, but verify with your provider.
Common Questions About Baylor Study Abroad
Can I study abroad as a freshman or sophomore? Most programs are open to all undergraduate students in good academic standing, typically with a 2.5+ GPA. Some programs have additional eligibility requirements listed on BearsAbroad. There's no rule requiring you to wait until junior year.
Will my credits count toward my degree? For faculty-led programs: yes, automatically. For exchange or affiliated programs: it depends on your department and specific courses. Work with your academic advisor and the CGE before you apply to confirm which credits transfer and how they'll apply to your degree plan.
Can international students at Baylor study abroad? Yes, but with additional visa considerations. The CGE has advisors specifically for international students. If you're on an F-1 visa, get that advising appointment early — your plans may require special authorization or documentation.
Does financial aid apply to study abroad? For accredited semester programs, federal financial aid may transfer. Summer programs funded through the Baylor CGE scholarship or Gilman can significantly offset costs. Contact Baylor Financial Aid early — they need time to process your request before your program start date.
Plan the Housing Piece Now
The academic side of Baylor study abroad is well-documented. The housing piece is where students lose time and money by waiting too long.
If you're planning a semester program, review your lease options and start talking to 19Eleven management as soon as you confirm your program. If you're returning after a semester away, secure your spring housing before you leave in August — the window is shorter than you think.
19Eleven's loft-style apartments on S 8th Street put you 0.5 miles from Baylor's campus — the right base for your last semester back, close enough to walk to class without a car or parking permit. Browse available floor plans or apply online when you're ready to lock in your return.
For more on navigating Baylor-area housing, see our guides on Baylor graduate student housing options and moving to Waco from out of state.
