Flywire and Workday Join Forces: How This Integration Is Changing Global Higher Education Payments

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Flywire and Workday Join Forces: How This Integration Is Changing Global Higher Education Payments

Imagine this: You’re an international student in Boston, trying to pay your tuition from a bank account in Mumbai. The fees are confusing, the exchange rates fluctuate by the hour, and the university’s payment portal looks like it was designed in 1998. Now, what if I told you there’s a system that makes this process as smooth as ordering a latte from your phone?

That’s exactly what Flywire’s expanded partnership with Workday—and its new integration with Workday Student—aims to achieve. No more payment headaches for students, no more reconciliation nightmares for universities, and no more lost-in-translation fees eating into tuition revenue. This isn’t just another fintech collaboration; it’s a game-changer for higher education’s global payment woes.

In this post, we’ll break down:

  • Why this partnership matters (spoiler: it’s bigger than just convenience)
  • How the integration actually works—without the tech jargon
  • Real-world wins for students, universities, and even parents footing the bill
  • A step-by-step look at what this means for your institution (or your wallet)
  • Where global payments in education are headed next

Whether you’re a university admin drowning in payment exceptions, a student tired of bank transfer fees, or just curious about how tech is reshaping education, this one’s for you.


Flywire + Workday: Simplifying global education payments, one click at a time.

The Problem: Why Higher Education Payments Are a Mess

Let’s start with a hard truth: International student payments are broken. Here’s why:

1. The Fee Black Hole

Banks love to take a cut. A student sending $30,000 from China to the U.S. might lose 3–5% to transfer fees, currency conversion, and intermediary banks—that’s $900–$1,500 vanished before the university even sees the payment. Multiply that by thousands of students, and you’re talking millions lost annually.

2. The Reconciliation Nightmare

Universities receive payments with vague references like “Tuition Spring 2024” from accounts named “MOMO PAYMENTS LTD.” Matching these to student records is like playing Where’s Waldo? with spreadsheets. Workday’s research shows finance teams spend up to 40% of their time manually reconciling payments.

3. The Student Stress Spiral

Ever tried explaining a SWIFT code to your parents over WhatsApp at 2 a.m.? Students face delayed payments, unclear deadlines, and the constant fear of being dropped from classes because a wire transfer got stuck in banking purgatory.

Enter Flywire and Workday—a duo aiming to turn this chaos into a seamless, almost enjoyable experience (yes, really).

How the Flywire-Workday Integration Works (In Plain English)

Think of this integration as a universal translator for money. Here’s the step-by-step magic:

Step 1: The Student’s Side (No More Bank Runs)

Instead of googling “how to send money internationally without crying,” students now:

  1. Log into their university’s Workday Student portal (the same place they register for classes).
  2. Select “Pay Tuition” and choose Flywire as the payment method.
  3. See real-time exchange rates and fees upfront—no surprises.
  4. Pay in their local currency via bank transfer, credit card, or even local payment methods like Alipay or Pix.

Result: A $30,000 payment that actually costs $30,000, not $31,500 after hidden fees.

Step 2: The University’s Side (Goodbye, Spreadsheets)

Behind the scenes, Workday and Flywire handle:

  • Automatic reconciliation: Payments are matched to student accounts in real time, with no manual data entry.
  • Multi-currency support: Universities receive funds in their preferred currency (e.g., USD, GBP, EUR) without lifting a finger.
  • Compliance built-in: Flywire’s network ensures payments meet global regulations (like GDPR or OFAC), so finance teams sleep easier.

Step 3: The Tech Behind It (For the Curious)

For those who love the “how,” here’s the nerdy bit: Flywire’s API plugs directly into Workday Student’s financial module, creating a two-way data sync. When a student initiates a payment, Workday generates a unique reference code that Flywire tracks across borders. The funds move through Flywire’s global network (which includes local banking rails in 140+ countries), then land in the university’s account—with all metadata intact.

Analogy: It’s like FedEx for money, where the tracking number never gets lost.


How Flywire’s integration with Workday Student eliminates payment friction.

Who Wins? Real-World Impact of the Integration

For Students & Families: Peace of Mind (and Money)

Take Priya, a master’s student from India at the University of Sydney. Before Flywire + Workday:

  • She paid AUD $1,200 in fees to send AUD $25,000.
  • Her payment arrived 5 days late because of an intermediary bank delay.
  • She spent 3 hours on hold with her bank and the university’s bursar office.

After the integration:

  • She paid zero Flywire fees (some universities cover them).
  • Her payment arrived in 24 hours with a confirmed receipt.
  • She used UPI (India’s mobile payment system) to pay directly from her phone.

For Universities: Efficiency and Happy Students

The University of Liverpool adopted Flywire + Workday in 2023. Results after one semester:

  • 80% reduction in payment reconciliation time.
  • 30% fewer student inquiries about payment status.
  • $500,000 saved annually in bank fees and staff overtime.

Quote from Liverpool’s CFO: “We used to have a dedicated team of three just to chase down missing payments. Now, that team focuses on financial aid strategies instead.”

For Parents: No More “Did You Get My Money?” Calls

Parents (especially in cultures where they foot the bill) get:

  • Real-time tracking links to see where the payment is.
  • Receipts in their language and currency.
  • No more frantic calls to the university when a transfer disappears.

How to Get Started: A Guide for Universities

If you’re at an institution using (or considering) Workday Student, here’s how to enable Flywire payments:

Step 1: Check Compatibility

Ensure you’re on Workday Student 2023.1 or later (the integration requires the latest financial modules). Not sure? Your Workday admin can check in the “Release Notes” section.

Step 2: Enable Flywire in Workday

  1. Navigate to Workday Setup > Financials > Payment Methods.
  2. Select “Add Third-Party Provider” and choose Flywire from the list.
  3. Enter your university’s Flywire merchant ID (provided during onboarding).
  4. Configure currency preferences (e.g., accept USD, GBP, EUR, etc.).

Step 3: Customize the Student Experience

Workday lets you:

  • Set default payment methods by student nationality (e.g., Alipay for Chinese students).
  • Add custom instructions in multiple languages.
  • Enable installment plans for tuition payments.

Step 4: Test and Launch

Flywire provides a sandbox environment to test payments before going live. Pro tip: Run a pilot with a small group of international students to gather feedback.

Timeframe: Most universities go live in 4–6 weeks from signing the agreement.

Potential Challenges (and How to Avoid Them)

No system is perfect. Here’s what to watch for:

1. Student Adoption Hurdles

Issue: Students used to traditional bank transfers may resist change.

Fix:

  • Host a webinar demonstrating the new system (show the fee savings!).
  • Create a comparison chart of old vs. new payment methods.
  • Offer incentives (e.g., “First 100 students to use Flywire get a $50 bookstore credit”).

2. Integration Glitches

Issue: Data sync errors between Workday and Flywire (rare but possible).

Fix:

  • Assign a dedicated point person from IT and Finance to monitor the first month.
  • Use Flywire’s reconciliation reports to cross-check transactions weekly.

3. Currency Fluctuations

Issue: Exchange rates change between payment initiation and settlement.

Fix: Flywire locks in rates for 72 hours, giving students time to complete transfers without surprises.

The Future: Where Global Education Payments Are Headed

This integration is just the beginning. Here’s what’s next:

1. AI-Powered Financial Aid

Imagine Workday’s AI analyzing a student’s payment history and automatically suggesting scholarships or installment plans they qualify for. Flywire’s data could feed into this to create hyper-personalized aid packages.

2. Blockchain for Transparency

Flywire is experimenting with blockchain to let students track payments on a public ledger—no more “black box” transfers. Workday’s infrastructure could support this within 2–3 years.

3. Expansion Beyond Tuition

Think:

  • Housing deposits
  • Study abroad program fees
  • Even micro-payments for campus services (like printing or gym memberships)

4. Global Payment “Super Apps”

Workday and Flywire could evolve into a one-stop financial hub for students, combining:

  • Tuition payments
  • Student loans
  • Part-time job earnings
  • Even crypto wallets for tech-savvy Gen Z

Should Your Institution Jump On Board?

Here’s a quick decision guide:

You Should Adopt If... You Might Wait If...
  • You have 1,000+ international students.
  • Your finance team spends 10+ hours/week reconciling payments.
  • Students frequently complain about payment issues.
  • You’re not on Workday Student yet (migration first!).
  • Your international student population is <5%.
  • You’re locked into a long-term contract with another payment provider.

Pro Tip: If you’re on the fence, ask Flywire for a custom ROI analysis. They’ll crunch your historical payment data to show potential savings.

Final Thoughts: Why This Matters Beyond Payments

At its core, the Flywire-Workday integration isn’t just about moving money—it’s about removing barriers to education. Every dollar saved on fees is a dollar that can go toward books, rent, or even a student’s first post-graduation savings. Every hour finance teams don’t spend chasing payments is an hour they can devote to strategic initiatives like affordability programs.

In a world where higher education is increasingly global (and increasingly expensive), tools like this make the difference between a student enrolling or giving up due to financial friction.

So, whether you’re a university leader, a student, or just someone who’s ever groaned at a bank transfer form, here’s your call to action:

And if you’ve had a nightmare (or dream) payment experience, share your story in the comments. The more we talk about these pain points, the faster they’ll disappear.

Here’s to a world where paying for education is as easy as streaming your favorite show—no buffers, no hidden fees, just smooth sailing.

Related Reads:

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