In case you’re a school scholar planning to check overseas, you are in for an actual deal with. There’s nothing like residing exterior the U.S. and immersing your self in one other tradition, touring and exploring totally different cities just about each weekend.
However this journey would not come low-cost. For instance, you’ll be able to anticipate to spend wherever from $1,500 to $7,000 throughout a semester overseas in Europe (based on some reviews) — and that does not even consider lodging.
The excellent news? Not one of the playing cards on this checklist cost overseas transaction charges, so you will not get hit with additional prices each time you faucet your card overseas. And should you’re utilizing a bank card, you’ll be able to earn some severe rewards in your examine overseas bills. Plus, the proper card will provide help to lower your expenses on charges and shield you in case your journey plans go awry.
This is what you should know to decide on the perfect bank card for finding out overseas.
Evaluating the perfect playing cards for finding out overseas
| Card | Greatest for | Welcome provide | Incomes charges | Annual payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Transferable miles for no annual payment |
Earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending $500 throughout the first three months from account opening. Plus, new cardholders will obtain a $100 Capital One Journey portal credit score to make use of of their first cardholder 12 months upon account opening (no spending is required to obtain the credit score). |
|
$0 |
|
|
Money again |
Earn a $200 money bonus after spending $500 within the first three months of account opening. Plus, new cardholders will obtain a $100 Capital One Journey portal credit score to make use of of their first cardholder 12 months upon account opening (no spending is required to obtain the credit score). |
|
$0 |
|
|
Maximizing bonus classes |
Earn 75,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
|
$95 |
|
|
Bonus factors on journey |
Earn 40,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. |
|
$150 |
|
|
College students who’re nonetheless constructing credit score |
Uncover will match all of the money again earned throughout the first 12 consecutive billing durations that the brand new account is open. |
|
$0 |
The knowledge for the Amex Inexperienced and Uncover it Scholar Money Again card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit score Card
If transferable rewards for no annual payment are what you are searching for, look no additional than the Capital One VentureOne Rewards.
Welcome bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending $500 throughout the first three months from account opening. Plus, new cardholders will obtain a $100 Capital One Journey portal credit score to make use of of their first cardholder 12 months upon account opening (no spending is required to obtain the credit score).
This bonus is value as much as $470 (together with the $100 credit score), based on TPG’s December 2025 valuations.
Annual payment: $0
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Why it is nice for finding out overseas: The VentureOne would not have an annual payment and earns a vast 1.25 miles per greenback on all purchases. Cardholders can even earn 5 miles per greenback on automobile leases, lodges and trip leases booked via Capital One Journey.
You should utilize your miles in quite a lot of methods, however one of the simplest ways is to switch them to any of Capital One’s 15-plus resort and airline companions. That is possible your most respected redemption choice.
There aren’t many no-annual-fee playing cards that will let you switch miles to journey companions, so this card is certainly value a severe search for college students finding out overseas.
To study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Capital One VentureOne.
Study extra: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit score Card
Capital One Savor Money Rewards Credit score Card
If you wish to preserve your pockets easy, money again is usually the way in which to go. Think about the Capital One Savor Money Rewards Credit score Card.
Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 money bonus after spending $500 within the first three months of account opening. Plus, new cardholders will obtain a $100 Capital One Journey portal credit score to make use of of their first cardholder 12 months upon account opening (no spending is required to obtain the credit score).
Annual payment: $0
Why it is nice for finding out overseas: The Savor Money Rewards is an effective way to earn money again on all of your purchases.
With it, you will earn 5% again on lodges, rental vehicles and trip leases booked via Capital One Journey, 3% again on eating, leisure and choose streaming companies and at grocery shops (excluding superstores like Goal and Walmart) and 1% again on all different purchases.
Whereas the welcome bonus is not profitable, it does have a comparatively low spending requirement. Once you’re trying on the bills of finding out overseas, each little bit helps.
To study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Capital One Savor Money Rewards.
Study extra: Capital One Savor Money Rewards
Chase Sapphire Most popular Card
The Chase Sapphire Most popular Card is certainly one of our favourite bank cards, and for a superb purpose. It presents glorious worth for its low annual payment.
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus factors after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
TPG’s December 2025 valuations peg this welcome bonus at $1,538.
Annual payment: $95
Why it is nice for finding out overseas: There is a purpose so many individuals have this bank card.
The Sapphire Most popular could also be out of vary should you’re simply beginning your bank card journey, nevertheless it’s actually one to set your sights on should you’re eligible.
It is a fantastic starter card if you wish to get into factors and miles as a result of it earns 3 factors per greenback on eating, on-line groceries (excluding Goal, Walmart and wholesale golf equipment) and choose streaming companies, and a couple of factors per greenback on journey booked exterior of Chase Journey.
So, each time you ebook a flight on Ryanair or find yourself at Wok to Stroll once more, you will rack up totally transferable factors.
The welcome bonus is stable, too. Whereas this card does have a $95 annual payment, perks comparable to baggage delay insurance coverage, buy safety, journey cancellation insurance coverage and journey delay protection simply make up for it.
And whenever you’re able to redeem the factors you have earned with the Sapphire Most popular, you’ve gotten some nice choices. Most easily, you should use your factors with Factors Increase to buy flights and ebook resort rooms at a fee of as much as 1.75 cents per level, relying on the particular redemption, via Chase Journey (see your rewards program settlement for full particulars).
However you will get much more worth out of your rewards by benefiting from the cardboard’s capability to switch factors to any of Chase’s airline and resort companions. This route takes a bit extra time and vitality to determine, however it may provide help to unlock some unbelievable worth out of your rewards.
To study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Chase Sapphire Most popular.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most popular
American Categorical Inexperienced Card
The Amex Inexperienced is a good entry level to Amex’s profitable Membership Rewards factors for journey lovers.
Welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 factors after spending $3,000 on purchases throughout the first six months of card membership.
This bonus is value $800, per TPG’s December 2025 valuations.
Annual payment: $150
Why it is nice for finding out overseas: In case you’re fascinated by including the Amex Inexperienced to your pockets on your research overseas, it is a good suggestion to get the cardboard earlier than you ebook your journey. The cardboard earns 3 factors per greenback on a big selection of journey purchases, together with:
- Airfare
- Campgrounds
- Automotive leases
- Cruises
- Accommodations
- Excursions
- Trip leases
It additionally earns 3 factors per greenback in transit, a class you are more likely to spend a superb quantity in when you’re away. This class consists of:
- Buses
- Ferries
- Parking
- Trip-hailing companies
- Subways
- Taxis
- Tolls
- Trains
Pair this with one other bonus class, incomes 3 factors per greenback on eating at worldwide eating places, and this card is a stable choice for college kids overseas.
TPG values Membership Rewards factors at 2 cents apiece whenever you maximize your earnings by transferring to certainly one of Amex’s switch companions. For a $150 annual payment, this card is a stable earner in this system.
Whereas it is extra of an funding than different playing cards on this checklist, it presents as much as $209 every calendar 12 months for a Clear Plus membership to assist offset that. (Enrollment required; topic to auto-renewal.)
To study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Amex Inexperienced.
Associated: Who ought to (and who should not) get the Amex Inexperienced card?
Uncover it Scholar Money Again
Missing a superb credit score rating, or maybe any rating in any respect? In that case, a scholar card just like the Uncover it Scholar Money Again is your finest guess.
Welcome bonus: Uncover will match all of the money again earned throughout the first 12 consecutive billing durations that the brand new account is open.
Annual payment: $0
Why it is nice for finding out overseas: With the Uncover it Scholar Money Again, you will get 5% money again in your first $1,500 in purchases on quarterly rotating classes after you enroll your card after which 1% money again on all the pieces else. Whereas it is not a flowery earnings construction, receiving 5% again on sure purchases on a scholar card is implausible.
College students finding out overseas can get outsize worth from this card since all earnings throughout the first 12 months are doubled.
And you will not have to fret about redemption minimums, so you’ll be able to money out your rewards at any time.
To study extra, learn our full evaluate of the Uncover it Scholar Money Again.
Associated: 8 issues you need to know earlier than making use of for a bank card in school
What to think about when selecting a card for finding out overseas
As you put together to check overseas, search for these qualities that will help you select your finest bank card.
Welcome bonus
Search for a card that provides a welcome bonus. The additional spending you will do in your semester overseas is an effective way to fulfill the minimal spending requirement to earn a bonus on a brand new bank card.
International transaction charges
Selecting a bank card with no overseas transaction charges — like one of many playing cards on this checklist — is the simplest approach to economize when you’re overseas. In case you use a debit or bank card that costs them, you will incur an extra payment of as much as 5% on each buy.
Card acceptance abroad
Not all playing cards are accepted equally around the globe, so it is necessary to decide on one you’ll be able to depend on wherever you are headed. For the smoothest expertise, it is a good suggestion to hold a minimum of one Mastercard or Visa whereas finding out overseas.
Mastercard and Visa have a tendency to supply the broadest world acceptance, significantly throughout Asia, Europe and Latin America. American Categorical is extensively accepted in lots of main cities, although acceptance can range by nation and service provider sort. And Uncover’s worldwide acceptance is bettering via community partnerships, nevertheless it stays much less constantly accepted than the opposite main networks in lots of study-abroad locations.
Journey protections
Now greater than ever, you need to be protected towards journey delays, cancellations and different mishaps.
Search for a bank card with journey protections that cowl you when one thing goes fallacious.
Grow to be a certified person
Chances are you’ll not have sufficient credit score to qualify for certainly one of our favourite journey rewards playing cards but. If that is the case, contemplate changing into a certified person on a beloved one’s account. This can will let you profit from the cardboard’s protections and may have the additional benefit of boosting your credit score rating concurrently.
Associated: The advantages of including a relative as a certified person
Backside line
You will spend closely throughout a semester overseas, on flights, trains, meals out, weekend journeys, transit passes and all of the little purchases that add up quick. Selecting the best bank card turns that unavoidable spending right into a strategic benefit.
A well-chosen, no-foreign-transaction-fee card can prevent cash from day one, whereas sturdy bonus classes, journey protections and versatile redemption choices provide help to maximize each euro, pound or yen you spend.
Choose a card aligned with the way you journey and what you worth, and your time overseas will not simply be unforgettable — it might additionally set you up for future journeys you’ll be able to ebook with the rewards you earned alongside the way in which.
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