If you’re a college student planning to study abroad, you’re in for a real treat. There’s nothing like living outside the country and immersing yourself in another culture, traveling and exploring different places virtually every weekend.

But this adventure doesn’t 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) — and that doesn’t even take accommodation into account.

The good news? All of the cards on this list charge no foreign transaction fees, so you won’t get hit with extra costs every time you tap your card abroad. And if you’re 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 if your travel plans go awry.

Here’s what you need to know to choose the best credit card for studying abroad.

Comparing the best cards for studying abroad

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

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

If transferable rewards for no annual fee are what you’re after, look no further than the Capital One VentureOne Rewards.

Welcome bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

This bonus is worth $370, according to TPG’s June 2026 valuations.

Annual fee: $0

Why it’s great for studying abroad: The VentureOne doesn’t 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.

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

There aren’t many no-annual-fee cards that allow you to transfer miles to travel partners, so this card is definitely worth a serious look for students studying abroad.

To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One VentureOne.

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Learn more: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

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Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

If you want to keep your wallet simple, cash back is often the way to go. Consider the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Welcome bonus: Earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Annual fee: $0

Why it’s great for studying abroad: The Savor Cash Rewards is a great way to earn cash back on all your purchases.

With it, you’ll 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.

While the welcome bonus isn’t lucrative, it does have a relatively low spending requirement. Given the expenses of studying abroad, every little bit helps.

To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards.

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Learn more: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards

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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of our favorite credit cards, and for a good reason. It offers excellent value for its low annual fee.

Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

TPG’s valuations place this welcome bonus at $1,538.

Annual fee: $95

Why it’s great for studying abroad: The Sapphire Preferred may be out of range if you’re just starting your credit card journey, but it’s certainly one to set your sights on if you’re eligible.

It’s a great starter card if you want to get into points and miles, thanks to its high earning rates on travel and dining. Every time you book a flight on Ryanair or end up at Wok to Walk again, you’ll rack up fully transferable points.

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

But you can get even more value from your rewards by taking advantage of the card’s ability to transfer points to any of Chase’s airline and hotel partners.

To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

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Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred

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American Express Green Card

The Amex Green is a great entry point to Amex’s lucrative Membership Rewards points for travel enthusiasts.

Welcome bonus: Earn 40,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.

This bonus is worth $800, per TPG’s valuations.

Annual fee: $150

Why it’s great for studying abroad: 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 airfare, hotels, tours and more.

It also earns 3 points per dollar in transit, a category you’re likely to spend a good amount in while you’re away. This category includes buses, taxis, trains and more.

Pair this with another bonus category, earning 3 points per dollar on dining at worldwide restaurants, and this card is a solid option for students abroad.

TPG values Membership Rewards points at 2 cents apiece when you maximize your earnings by transferring to one of Amex’s transfer partners. For a $150 annual fee, this card is a solid earner in the program.

While it’s more of an investment than other cards on this list, it offers up to $209 each calendar year for a Clear+ membership to help offset that (enrollment required; subject to auto-renewal).

To learn more, read our full review of the Amex Green.

Related: Who should (and who shouldn’t) get the Amex Green card?

Discover it Student Cash Back

If you have limited or no credit history, a student card like the Discover it Student Cash Back is your best bet.

Welcome bonus: Discover will match all the cash back earned during the first 12 consecutive billing periods that the new account is open.

Annual fee: $0

Why it’s great for studying abroad: With the Discover it Student Cash Back, you’ll get 5% cash back on your first $1,500 in purchases on quarterly rotating categories after you enroll your card and then 1% cash back on everything else. While it isn’t a fancy earnings structure, receiving 5% back on certain purchases on a student card is fantastic.

Students studying abroad can get outsize value from this card since all earnings during the first year are doubled.

And you won’t have to worry about redemption minimums, so you can cash out your rewards at any time.

To learn more, read our full review of the Discover it Student Cash Back.

Related: 8 things you should know before applying for a credit card in college

Factors to consider when choosing a card for studying abroad

As you prepare to study abroad, look for these qualities to help you choose your best credit card:

• Card acceptance overseas: Not all cards are accepted equally around the world, so it’s important to choose one you can rely on wherever you’re headed. For the smoothest experience, it’s a good idea to carry at least one Mastercard or Visa while studying abroad, since they tend to offer the broadest global acceptance (particularly across Asia, Europe and Latin America). American Express is widely accepted in many major cities, but this varies by country and merchant type. Discover‘s international acceptance is improving, but it remains less consistently accepted than the other major networks in many study-abroad destinations.
• Foreign transaction fees: Choose a card that doesn’t charge fees on foreign transactions. If you use a debit or credit card that charges foreign transaction fees, you’ll incur an additional fee of up to 5% on every purchase (with 3% being the average).
• Travel protections: Look for a credit card with travel protections that cover you when something goes wrong, such as travel delays, cancellations and other mishaps.
• Welcome bonus: Look for a card that offers a welcome bonus. The extra spending you’ll do on your semester abroad is a great way to meet the minimum spending requirement to earn a bonus on a new credit card.

If you don’t have enough credit to qualify for one of our favorite travel rewards cards yet, consider becoming an authorized user on a loved one’s account. This will allow you to benefit from the card’s protections and can also boost your credit score.

Related: The benefits of adding a relative as an authorized user

Bottom line

You’ll spend heavily during a semester abroad — from flights and trains to group dinners and weekend trips. Choosing the right credit card turns that unavoidable spending into a strategic advantage.

A well-chosen, no-foreign-transaction-fee card can save you money from day one, while strong bonus categories, travel protections and flexible redemption options help you maximize every euro, pound or yen you spend.

Pick a card aligned with how you travel and what you value, and your time abroad won’t just be unforgettable; it may also set you up for future trips you can book with the rewards you earn along the way.

Related: Can you pay your student loans with a credit card?