Financing Study Abroad—Financial Aid

The billing structures for study abroad are subject to change. Check with an adviser in the Center for Study Abroad for up-to-date information about the anticipated costs for your overseas studies.

Listed below are general guidelines regarding financial aid eligibility for students on study abroad programs. However, as each student's financial situation is unique, it is your responsibility to meet with a financial aid counselor while planning your semester(s) abroad.

Financial Aid Counseling

Financial Aid Counselors are available to meet with students by appointment to discuss their specific study abroad plans and their financial aid eligibility. To set up an appointment with your counselor, please call the Financial Aid office at 275-3226, stop by our front desk, or email your counselor directly. Counselor assignments and contact information are listed online at www.enrollment.rochester.edu/financialaid.

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Application Requirements

You must complete a Financial Aid Application to be eligible for any need-based aid (including loans) while on a study abroad program. A completed application includes the following items:

  • FAFSA
  • University of Rochester Returning Undergraduate Application
  • Copies of Federal Tax returns for both student and parents, including parent W-2 forms
  • Business supplement form if your parent is self-employed

With the exception of your family's federal tax returns, the forms listed above are all available online at FAOnline.

Returning students who do not submit their financial aid application with all supporting documentation by the April 15th deadline should be aware that they are not guaranteed full consideration for need-based assistance and may have their aid reduced due to limited funding.

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Costs

UR Programs:
All students studying on UR-sponsored programs will be charged UR tuition and room costs for their semester abroad. These charges will appear on your UR term bill. The bill will not reflect the registration for your specific study abroad program, but will show any anticipated or expected financial aid.
Cost figures are estimated by the Center for Study Abroad in consultation with program sponsors. These figures will include UR tuition and room charges, fees, board, personal expenses, international airfare, books and other required expenses.  Optional expenses, such as additional travel, restaurant dining, visa fees, and souvenirs are not considered when calculating educational costs for the semester/year. These discretionary costs are the student's responsibility.
Non-UR Programs:
Each non-UR program has a different fee depending on what the program includes (room, board, tuition, etc.), as well as cost of living in the host country, currency exchange, and other factors. Keep in mind that studying in Paris, London, or Tokyo will prove much more costly than a semester in Jerusalem or Lima.

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Financial Aid Eligibility

UR Programs:
If you are a financial aid recipient you will be eligible to receive financial aid during your semester abroad. If your total program cost is less than the cost of studying at UR for that semester, your need-based aid will be reduced proportionately. Merit awards will not be reduced. Please see your financial aid counselor to discuss your specific situation, including which awards are need-based.
Non-UR Programs:
If you choose to study on a non-UR program, you will not be eligible to receive the same financial aid. Most importantly, you will not be eligible for any University of Rochester assistance. It is especially important to discuss your plans with your financial aid counselor to determine what types of aid you will eligible for while abroad and to ensure the continuation of your aid when you return. A small number of study abroad programs have their own financial aid available; applications are available from the sponsors.
Federal Direct Loans and Federal Pell Grants may be used while on a non-UR program, provided that you have completed a Consortium/Contractual agreement and the Financial Aid Office has verified the program sponsor's eligibility. TAP awards for NYS residents can be used if the non-UR program is sponsored by a NY college or university.
In order to be eligible for these funds (as well as for a Parent PLUS or alternative loan(s)) for the semester you are abroad, you must complete a Consortium/Contractual Agreement. This can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office, or online through FAOnline. Detailed instructions on completing the Agreement are included. A Consortium/Contractual Agreement involves multiple steps and requires several signatures, so do not delay in completing this requirement. Your coursework must be approved before the UR Dean can sign the Consortium Agreement.

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Non-refundable Deposits

Once students are admitted to programs, they are required to inform the Center for Study Abroad and the program sponsor of their plans as quickly as possible. Many programs ask for a non-refundable deposit to hold a student's place in the program. Deposits range from $100 to $1000 and are discussed in acceptance materials. The average is around $300.

For students admitted to IES programs: Upon admittance to an IES program, UR students will be asked to submit an Intent to Enroll form, rather than submitting the $500 confirmation deposit. If a student submits the Intent to Enroll form and subsequently decides not to participate in the program, they will be responsible for the $500 deposit.

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Billing

If you are participating in a study abroad program in the fall, your fall semester statement will be posted online in mid-July. If you are participating in a study abroad program in the spring, your spring semester statement will be posted online in mid-December. You will not receive a statement in November unless you have a balance from the fall semester. Students participating in a full-year program will be billed on a semester basis.

Your balance must be paid in full from the prior semester to register for a study abroad program. If you have a past due balance, you may settle your account with the Bursar's Office, 330 Meliora Hall, 275-3931. Your registration for a study abroad program is subject to cancellation if payment is not kept current and your past due balance is $5,000 or greater, or if you submit a check that is returned by the bank, unless acceptable arrangements are promptly made.

If you are participating in a non-UR program, UR will bill you for the study abroad fee ($1,340). You will be billed directly for the program cost by the college or university that sponsors your program.

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Before You Leave

Update your billing address with the Bursar's Office before departure, and again when you return, if the billing address should change.

Contact the Bursar's Office before you leave if you are receiving an outside scholarship or alternative loan that requires your endorsement. We will make arrangements with you to have the check (s) signed so that you will be credited with the funds. If someone other than you will be handling your financial affairs while you are abroad, please be sure to share this information with that individual.

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Refunds

If you are expecting to receive a refund of financial aid (your financial aid exceeds your charges), you need to contact the Bursar's Office before you leave to make arrangements to receive this refund. If you are participating in a UR-sponsored program, the Bursar's Office cannot issue a refund until at least ten days prior to the start of classes at UR. If you are receiving NYS TAP, which is usually certified in October for the fall semester or in March for the spring semester, you will not receive that portion of your refund until those funds can be credited.

If you are on a non-UR program and have completed a Consortium Agreement, the Bursar's Office will need to verify your registration before financial aid can be credited to your account and a refund check issued. Your registration cannot be verified until your program start date; you should therefore plan to cover a minimum of one month's expenses before the refund will be available.

In Section III of the Consortium/Contractual Agreement, students are required to indicate how their refund check should be made payable. If you want your refund check to be issued to your study abroad program, this must be indicated on the Consortium/Contractual Agreement. If this section is left blank, the refund will be made payable to you and sent to your billing address. Payment will not be sent to the Consortium School unless you have requested this in Section III of the Consortium/Contractual Agreement.

If your Financial Aid Application is complete, and if your anticipated aid will more than cover the study abroad charges on your account, then the Bursar's Office may be able to advance funds to cover airfare or other expenses prior to departure. Contact the Bursar's Office to inquire about this possibility.

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Budgeting

Don't spend all your money in once place! Your spending money will need to make it through the several months of your study abroad program. Although there are many exciting things to do and purchase while you are abroad, pace yourself. Devise a budget and stick to it as closely as you can to avoid any problems while you are abroad!

The University's Financial Aid Office is ready to advise you about options for financing your education. Stop by their office in Wallis Hall, or visit their web site at http://enrollment.rochester.edu/financial.default.shtm

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