{"id":210118,"date":"2025-12-09T16:00:49","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T16:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/09\/the-best-credit-cards-for-college-students-studying-abroad-the-points-guy\/"},"modified":"2025-12-09T16:00:49","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T16:00:49","slug":"the-best-credit-cards-for-college-students-studying-abroad-the-points-guy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2025\/12\/09\/the-best-credit-cards-for-college-students-studying-abroad-the-points-guy\/","title":{"rendered":"The best credit cards for college students studying abroad – The Points Guy"},"content":{"rendered":"


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If you\u2019re a college student<\/a> planning to study abroad, you\u2019re in for a real treat. There\u2019s nothing like living outside the U.S. and immersing yourself in another culture, traveling and exploring different cities virtually every weekend.<\/p>\n

But this adventure doesn\u2019t come cheap. For example, you can expect to spend anywhere from $1,500 to $7,000 during a semester abroad in Europe (according to some reports<\/a>) \u2014 and that doesn’t even take into account accommodation.<\/p>\n

The good news? None of the cards on this list charge foreign transaction fees<\/a>, so you won\u2019t get hit with extra costs every time you tap your card abroad. And if you\u2019re using a credit card, you can earn some serious rewards on your study abroad expenses. Plus, the right card will help you save money on fees and protect you<\/a> if your travel plans go awry.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what you need to know to choose the best credit card for studying abroad.<\/p>\n

Comparing the best cards for studying abroad<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Card<\/strong><\/th>\nBest for<\/strong><\/th>\nWelcome offer<\/strong><\/th>\nEarning rates<\/strong><\/th>\nAnnual fee<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
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Transferable miles for no annual fee<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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<\/p>\n
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  • 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, rental cars and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel<\/li>\n
  • 1.25 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n

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$0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Cash back<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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<\/p>\n
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  • 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases<\/li>\n
  • 5% cash back on hotels, rental cars and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel<\/li>\n
  • 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Target\u00ae and Walmart\u00ae) and popular streaming services<\/li>\n
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n

\n

$0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Maximizing bonus categories<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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<\/p>\n
    \n
  • 5 points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel\u2120 and\u00a0Lyft (through Sept. 30, 2027)<\/li>\n
  • 3 points per dollar spent on dining, online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) and\u00a0 select streaming services<\/li>\n
  • 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel purchases<\/li>\n
  • 1 point per dollar on all other purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n

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$95<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Bonus points on travel<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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<\/p>\n
    \n
  • 3 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.), transit and travel<\/li>\n
  • 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n

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$150<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Students who are still building credit<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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Discover will match all the cash back earned during the first 12 consecutive billing periods that the new account is open.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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<\/p>\n
    \n
  • 5% cash back with a set of rotating bonus categories each quarter you enroll (on up to $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter at eligible merchants)<\/li>\n
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n

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$0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

The information for the Amex Green and Discover it Student Cash Back card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.<\/em><\/p>\n

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card<\/h3>\n

If transferable rewards for no annual fee<\/a> are what you\u2019re seeking, look no further than the Capital One VentureOne Rewards<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Welcome bonus<\/strong>: Earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.<\/p>\n

This bonus is worth $370, according to TPG\u2019s December 2025 valuations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use<\/a> and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy<\/a>. You may unsubscribe at any time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Annual fee<\/strong>: $0<\/p>\n

Why it’s great for studying abroad<\/strong>: The VentureOne doesn\u2019t have an annual fee and earns an unlimited 1.25 miles per dollar on all purchases. Cardholders will also earn 5 miles per dollar on car rentals, hotels and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel<\/a>.<\/p>\n

You can use your miles in a variety of ways, but the best way is to transfer them to any of Capital One\u2019s 15-plus hotel and airline partners<\/a>. This is likely your most valuable redemption option.<\/p>\n

There aren\u2019t many no-annual-fee<\/a> cards that allow you to transfer miles<\/a> to travel partners, so this card is definitely worth a serious look for students studying abroad.<\/p>\n

To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One VentureOne<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Learn more: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card<\/h3>\n

If you want to keep your wallet simple, cash back<\/a> is often the way to go. Consider the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Welcome bonus<\/strong>: Earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.<\/p>\n

Annual fee<\/strong>: $0<\/p>\n

Why it’s great for studying abroad<\/strong>: The Savor Cash Rewards is a great way to earn cash back on all your purchases.<\/p>\n

With it, you\u2019ll earn 5% back on hotels, rental cars and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, 3% back on dining, entertainment and select streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Target and Walmart) and 1% back on all other purchases.<\/p>\n

While the welcome bonus isn\u2019t lucrative, it does have a relatively low spending requirement. When you\u2019re looking at the expenses of studying abroad, every little bit helps.<\/p>\n

To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Learn more: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card<\/h3>\n

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card<\/a><\/span> is one of our favorite credit cards, and for a good reason. It offers excellent value<\/a> for its low annual fee.<\/p>\n

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\"Chase<\/div>
THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Welcome bonus<\/strong>: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.<\/p>\n

TPG\u2019s December 2025 valuations<\/a> peg this welcome bonus at $1,538.<\/p>\n

Annual fee<\/strong>: $95<\/p>\n

Why it’s great for studying abroad<\/strong>: There\u2019s a reason so many people you know have this credit card<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Sapphire Preferred may be out of range if you’re just starting your credit card journey, but it\u2019s certainly one to set your sights on if you\u2019re eligible.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a great starter card<\/a> if you want to get into points and miles because it earns 3 points per dollar on dining, online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs) and select streaming services, and 2 points per dollar on travel booked outside of Chase Travel.<\/p>\n

So, every time you book a flight on Ryanair or end up at Wok to Walk again, you\u2019ll rack up fully transferable points.<\/p>\n

The welcome bonus<\/a> is solid, too. While this card does have a $95 annual fee, perks such as baggage delay insurance<\/a>, purchase protection<\/a>, trip cancellation insurance<\/a> and trip delay coverage<\/a> easily make up for it.<\/p>\n

And when you\u2019re ready to redeem the points you\u2019ve earned with the Sapphire Preferred, you have some great options. Most simply, you can use your points with Points Boost<\/a> to purchase flights and book hotel rooms at a rate of up to 1.75 cents per point, depending on the specific redemption, through Chase Travel<\/a> (see your rewards program agreement for full details).<\/p>\n

But you can get even more value from your rewards by taking advantage of the card\u2019s ability to transfer points to any of Chase\u2019s airline and hotel partners<\/a>. This route takes a bit more time and energy to figure out, but it can help you unlock some incredible value<\/a> from your rewards.<\/p>\n

To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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American Express Green Card<\/h3>\n

The Amex Green<\/a> is a great entry point to Amex’s lucrative Membership Rewards points<\/a> for travel enthusiasts.<\/p>\n

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\"American<\/div>
THE POINTS GUY<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Welcome bonus: <\/strong>Earn 40,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.<\/p>\n

This bonus is worth $800, per TPG’s December 2025 valuations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Annual fee<\/strong>: $150<\/p>\n

Why it’s great for studying abroad: <\/strong>If you’re interested in adding the Amex Green to your wallet for your studies abroad, it’s a good idea to get the card before you book your travel. The card earns 3 points per dollar on a wide array of travel purchases, including:<\/p>\n