• Students Studying Abroad
Yes! Financial aid is available for students who study abroad. The type and amount of financial aid you are eligible to receive is based on the Study Abroad program you are attending.
If you enroll in a University of Michigan-sponsored study abroad program, you may apply for financial aid through the Office of Financial Aid. If the program pays tuition through U-M or if you are paying course program fees to U-M that cover the tuitiion and housing costs for your trip, you will be considered for all aid programs (Pell Grant, Michigan Grant, scholarships, etc). If you pay tuition directly to the host partner, you you may only be eligible for federal programs (Pell Grant, SEOG, Direct Loans, etc., but not Work-Study.) Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more details.
 |
Depending on the cost of your study abroad program, the financial aid you receive may or may not meet your full demonstrated financial need. To make up the gap between your aid and the cost of your program, you may want to apply for a departmental scholarship, a private scholarship, or a supplemental loan. For more information about aid for your particular study abroad program, please contact our office.
|
• How and When to Apply for Aid
Fall/Winter Programs:
The ADF notifies the Office of Financial Aid that you will be abroad for a term or terms. If you do not complete the form, OFA will not know you are abroad and your aid may be affected.
When to Complete the ADF:
- Fall study abroad: Complete your ADF by July 1 (recommended beginning June 1)
- Winter study abroad: Complete your ADF by Dec. 1 (recommended beginning Nov. 1)
Spring/Summer Programs:
- Follow the instructions to apply for Spring/Summer aid
- Complete the Spring/Summer Request for Funds Form (RFF)
The Spring/Summer RFF notifies the Office of Financial Aid that you will be abroad for a term or terms. If you do not complete the form, OFA will not know you are abroad and you will not receive financial aid.
When to complete your RFF:
- Complete the RFF by the deadline for Spring/Summer financial aid applications (usually early March).
If you enroll in a non-UM-sponsored study abroad program and you expect to receive academic credit that will transfer to U-M, first check with your program to see if you can apply for financial aid as a “guest student” through the sponsoring institution.
 |
|
If you cannot apply for aid through the program sponsor, you may apply for financial aid through U-M’s Office of Financial Aid. However, because you are attending a non-UM program, you will be eligible only for federal aid programs (Pell Grant, SEOG, Direct Loans, etc., but not Work Study). You will not be eligible for U-M grant funding (Michigan Grant and M-PACT Scholarship) for the term(s) you attend a non-UM program. In addition, if you are receiving any departmental or private scholarships, you should check with your department and/or donor to make sure you are eligible to receive the scholarship while attending a non-UM study abroad program.
|
Depending on the cost of your study abroad program, the financial aid you receive may or may not meet your full demonstrated financial need. To make up the gap between your aid and the cost of your program, you may want to apply for a supplemental loan. For more information about aid for non-UM programs, please contact our office.
• HOW AND WHEN TO APPLY FOR AID
Fall/Winter Programs:
- Follow the directions for apply for Fall/Winter aid.
- Complete a Regular or Informal Consortium Agreement (see below).
The consortium agreement notifies the Office of Financial Aid that you will be abroad for a term or terms. If you do not complete the form, our office will not know you are abroad and you will not receive financial aid.
When to submit the consortium agreement:
- Submit the agreement 4-8 weeks before your program start date.
Spring/Summer Programs:
- Complete a Regular or Informal Consortium Agreement (see below).
- You do not need to complete a Spring/Summer Request for Funds Form.
This consortium agreement notifies the Office of Financial Aid that you will be abroad for a term or terms. If you do not complete the form, OFA will not know you are abroad and you will not receive financial aid.
When to submit the consortium agreement:
- Submit the agreement 4-8 weeks prior to your program start date.
• WHAT ARE CONSORTIUM AGREEMENTS?
Consortium agreements are agreements that enable the Office of Financial Aid to process your federal aid, private scholarships, and/or private loans, even though you are not a registered U-M student during your term(s) abroad. This agreement is completed by you, your academic advisor and/or the Office of Credit Transfer Evaluation, and your study abroad program. You will need to obtain signatures and/or paperwork from each office or participant in the agreement. You must allow 4-6 weeks to complete this process before you leave.
There are two types of consortium agreement:
A Regular Consortium Agreement is used for study abroad programs that are sponsored by institutions that have a Title IV School Code (e.g., EMU, MSU, WMU). To find out whether the institution sponsoring your program has a Title IV School Code, please visit the FAFSA website (www.fafsa.gov).
An Informal Consortium Agreement is used for study abroad programs that are sponsored by an agency or organization (e.g., CEA, CET, ISA) that does not have a Title IV School Code.To find out which type of agreement you need and to obtain a copy, meet with a financial aid officer in the Office of Financial Aid. The financial aid officer will also give you instructions for completing the form. Consortium agreements are not available on-line.
|
What Happened to My Scholarship?
Attending a non-UM program during the Fall/Winter term(s) is considered a break in enrollment. If you are receiving a U-M scholarship that requires continuous enrollment (e.g., Michigan Tradition, Michigan Experience, Scholar Recognition Award), you will lose that scholarship for that term and your remaining terms at UM. If you have a question regarding your scholarship, please contact the Office of Financial Aid before your term abroad.
|
The following programs do not qualify for either type of consortium agreement:
- Programs that occur in the United States
- Semester at Sea
- Programs that are shorter than U-M’s standard term
- Programs in which the student does not earn any credit
- Non-UM programs that take place in countries listed on the U.S. State Department’s list of current travel warnings. These programs require special approval before a student is eligible to receive any financial aid.
Even if the non-UM program you are interested in is not listed, check with the Office of Financial Aid to make sure you will be eligible for financial aid on the program. If your program does not qualify for either type of consortium agreement, you cannot receive federal aid, private scholarships, and/or a private loan through the university. You will need to fund your study abroad program on your own.
• WILL I GET MORE AID FROM OFA IF I GO STUDY ABROAD?
You might receive more aid in the form of loans. Grant funding is awarded based on a student’s Expected Family Contribution (EFC), not on the student’s educational costs.
• CAN I USE MY CURRENT FINANCIAL AID WHILE ABROAD?
U-M programs: Yes. If the program pays tuition through U-M or if you are paying course program fees to U-M that cover the tuitiion and housing costs for your trip, you will be considered for all aid programs (Pell Grant, Michigan Grant, scholarships, etc). If the program is through U-M but pays tuition directly to the host school or agency, contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information about your aid eligibility
Non-UM programs: If you pay tuition directly to the host partner, you will be eligible only for federal programs (Pell Grant, SEOG, Direct Loans, etc., but not Work-Study.) In addition, eligibility for U-M scholarships such as the Jean Fairfax, Michigan Tradition and Michigan Experience scholarships and the Scholarship Recognition Award will be lost if you attend a non-U-M study abroad program in the Fall or Winter.
• DOES THE OFFICE OF FINANCIAL AID HAVE STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS?
At this time, we do not offer specific scholarships in the Office of Financial Aid. But there are other resources available. Visit the M-Compass website at www.mcompass.umich.edu and follow this path for more information: Getting Started > Is Study Abroad for You? > Search M-Compass for programs. Select scholarship programs and click on the search button. There, you will find a list and links to available scholarships in several U-M Colleges and Schools. You might want to check the Scholarships and Grants section of this website for information about other scholarships.
• CAN I USE MY DEPARTMENTAL OR PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIP WHILE ATTENDING A NON-UM STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM?
You will need to contact your department and/or donor to see if you are still eligible for the award while attending a non-UM program.
• IF I AM UNABLE TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR MY PROGRAM, WHAT OTHER ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE?
You may be interested in applying for a supplemental loan. Please visit the Comparing Supplemental Loans page for information about supplemental loans.
• WHEN DOES A STUDENT NEED TO NOTIFY OFA THEY ARE GOING STUDY ABROAD?
Fall term: By July 1. If you are going abroad through a U-M program, complete the Applicant Data Form (available June 1). If you are going through a non-UM program, complete the appropriate consortium agreement (see a financial aid officer to find out which agreement to use).
Winter term: By Dec. 1. If you are going abroad through a U-M program, complete the Applicant Data Form (available Nov. 1). If you are going through a non-UM program, complete the appropriate consortium agreement (see a financial aid officer by this date to find out which agreement to use).
Spring/Summer term: By the first week in March. If you are going abroad through a U-M program, complete the Spring/Summer Request for Funds Form. If you are going through a non-UM program, complete the appropriate consortium agreement (see a financial aid officer to find out which agreement to use).
• WHAT OPTIONS ARE THERE IF I NEED MY FINANCIAL AID EARLY TO PAY FOR AIRFARE OR NON-UM PROGRAM FEES?
Speak with a financial aid officer regarding the qualifications and process for obtaining a study abroad advance.
• CAN I USE MY MICHIGAN EDUCATION TRUST (MET) FUNDS FOR A STUDY ABROAD TERM?
• ARE GLOBAL COURSE CONNECTION (GCC), GLOBAL INTERCULTURAL EXPERIENCE FOR UNDERGRADUATES (GIEU) AND ROSS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS CIBER (CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS EDUCATION AND RESEARCH) PROGRAMS ELIGIBLE FOR FINANCIAL AID?
No. These programs do not meet financial aid requirements for the term in which students are enrolled.