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Study Abroad Frequently Asked Questions
The University of Colorado offers more than 35 study abroad programs in Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and North and South America. The Office of Financial Aid encourages students to expand their educational options by participating in a CU approved study abroad program. Financial eligibility for these programs varies, so read this information carefully to ensure that your plans are financially feasible and academically fulfilling. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS How much does it cost to study abroad? As a participant in a CU-Boulder study abroad program, you will be charged a program fee based on the instructional costs of the specific program you choose. You are not charged CU-Boulder tuition. In addition to the program fee, you should anticipate other expenses that will contribute to the total cost of the program. The factors that influence the total cost include tuition, field trips and/or other services provided by the host institution, the cost of living in the host country, currency exchange rates, books and supplies, transportation costs (i.e., airfare), insurance, and your miscellaneous personal expenses. The Study Abroad Office can provide you with a list of current program fees and estimates of total costs for each program. Every CU-Boulder program has a nonrefundable $400 deposit due, with the signed contract, two weeks from the date on your acceptance letter. The deposit is mandatory and cannot be deferred. If you are concerned about signing the contract before you know if you will receive enough financial aid to cover your program costs, you can negotiate an addendum to the contract with the study abroad finance officer. The addendum amends the contract to allow you to withdraw from the program and get your full deposit back if you do not receive a specified amount of financial aid. If you will be receiving financial aid, the first program fee payment may be deferred until that aid is received. The deferment request must be made in writing to the study abroad finance officer in the Study Abroad Office. The $400 deposit, however, cannot be deferred. What are the application deadlines? To apply for financial aid for your study abroad program, submit the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible. Allow two to three months for the processing of your aid application and the subsequent loan processing (if applicable). For most CU-Boulder study abroad programs, admission is on a rolling basis. You may apply between January 1 and March 1 for summer, fall, and academic-year programs. You may apply between September 1 and October 1 for programs that begin in the spring. Some programs may have a special application cycle. Check with the Study Abroad Office for specific deadlines for your program. Will financial aid pay for my study abroad program? If you participate in a CU-Boulder study abroad program and are a CU-Boulder degree-seeking student, you may use any federal, state, or institutional aid you would normally be awarded, with the exception of work-study. We do not provide financial aid for study abroad programs not offered through the CU-Boulder Study Abroad Office (i.e., those sponsored by other organizations, colleges, or educational institutions). Nor do we provide funding for direct enrollment in a foreign university, even if CU-Boulder accepts your courses as transfer credits. There may, however, be alternate resources available to help you fund these programs. I am enrolled in a CU-Boulder study abroad program. What financial aid can I receive? Your eligibility for financial aid is determined by filing the Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA). The amount of aid you are awarded will be based upon the FAFSA results and the total cost of the study abroad program. See www.colorado.edu/finaid/typesofaid.html for the types of aid available.
The aid you are awarded may not cover the entire cost of your program. If your program costs are more than your aid, it is possible to meet this unmet need through alternative loans.
Is summer financial aid available? In addition to having a processed FAFSA on file, you must complete a CU-Boulder summer aid application, available from the Office of Financial Aid. To be eligible for federal loans, you must be enrolled at least half time (6 credit hours). You are eligible for summer aid only to the extent that you have not reached your annual aid limits during the fall and spring semesters and provided you meet all other eligibility requirements. If you borrow the maximum amount of student loans during the fall and spring semesters, you may be eligible for alternative loans. I am not enrolled in a CU-Boulder study abroad program. What kind of financial aid is available for me? CU-Boulder only provides financial aid for those programs that are offered through our Study Abroad Office. If you are enrolled in another educational institution or organization’s program or are enrolled directly in a foreign university study abroad program, you should contact the school or program in which you are enrolled to learn about financial resources available. Alternative loans are available through private lenders for students who are not eligible for financial aid through CU-Boulder and who need additional funds to meet educational expenses. Please see our Alternative Loan page for more information. Are there scholarships for studying abroad? There are a few scholarships for studying abroad applicable to CU-Boulder programs. Contact the Study Abroad Office for further information. We also suggest you do some research on your own to determine your eligibility for other scholarships. Some scholarships have very early deadlines, so be sure to do your research early. Most private scholarships, and many institutional scholarships, are applicable to study abroad. However, you must confirm that with the donor or CU-Boulder department offering the scholarship. Can I work while I’m abroad? In most cases, it is not possible to work while you are abroad, since most countries have laws restricting work by foreign nationals. You can check the resources in the study abroad library or contact the consulate of your host country to find out if work would be possible. If you have been awarded work-study as part of your financial aid package, it cannot be used while you are studying abroad because work-study does not exist overseas. It may be possible, however, to convert the work-study award to a Perkins loan. This will be done automatically by the financial aid office if sufficient Perkins loan funds exist and you have not met your annual maximum eligibility. How do I access my financial aid funds? To ensure that your financial aid refund is available as soon as possible, make sure that all your paperwork is in order prior to your departure. Loan promissory notes sent to you by the Office of Financial Aid must be submitted in order for loan funds to disburse. A Power of Attorney is suggested if you cannot complete the financial aid process before your departure. Also, consider having your refund directly deposited in a bank account to which you have access via an ATM card. Can I defer past loans while studying abroad on a CU-Boulder program? All federal, state, and institutional loans can be deferred while abroad, as long as you maintain your half-time enrollment status. (Full-time status is mandatory for CU students attending CU-Boulder study abroad programs during the fall and/or spring semesters.)
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