Cost comparisons| Programs Eligible for Financial Aid |
Applying your financial aid to study abroad

Aside from concerns about academic credit, the other top issue concerning students who want to study abroad is the cost of the programs. Students should know that their federal and state financial aid award package can be increased to the budgeted costs of the study abroad program. The Scholarships & Financial Aid Office has made available a packet explaining how to use federal and state financial aid for study abroad for the 2008-2009 Academic Year.  Students must be prepared to obtain the necessary forms and take the time to meet with staff in the Texas A&M Study Abroad Programs Office and Scholarships & Financial Aid Office in order to sufficiently allow for the adjustment of their financial aid award package.

The first step in this process is recognizing that costs differ when one studies abroad. For example, while some fees do not apply to study abroad students, such as the Health Center fee and the Student Center Complex fee, living expenses can be higher depending on the value of the U.S. dollar to the local currency. Other costs add to the increased travel expense, such as airfare and personal travel before, during, or after the study abroad program.

To assist with the increased costs, many students must rely on a combination of loans, grants, and scholarships through Texas A&M and other outside sources. While loans are not the preferred means by which to fund an international program, they are accessible to all students, regardless of need. Approximately 30% of students studying abroad in summer 2006 received a federal and/or private loan. Below is a chart estimating the difference in total cost of attendance between studying on-campus versus studying abroad (for a semester) and how this difference in cost can many times, but not always, be offset by financial aid. Provided a student qualifies for certain types and amounts of financial aid, it is possible to cover the entire cost of a study abroad program.

Cost Comparisons

Cost of a typical fall or spring semester Texas A&M Study Abroad Program
	Study Abroad Program in Italy	Living On/Off Campus	Living with Parent
Tuition & Fees	3000	3483	3483
Loan Fees	30	30	30
Room & Board	6000	4256	1541
Books & Supplies	500	640	640
Travel	2000	442	442
Parking Permit	0	200	200
Misc.	2200	976	976
Total	$13730	$10027	$7312
Difference in cost from a Study Abroad Program		$3703	$6418

Students studying abroad on a Texas A&M faculty-led or reciprocal exchange program enroll in and pay tuition and fees for the course(s) in which they are registered. Fortunately, since study abroad students do not have access to certain campus services while abroad, some fees are discounted. Below is a list of fees which students do not pay if they are enrolled in a faculty-led  course(s).

Fees NOT PAID by TAMU Study Abroad Students 2008-2009:

Semester Program:

• Writing Center Fee $8
• Transportation Fee $70
• Health Center Fee $69.25
• Student Center Complex Fee $100
• REC Center Fee $98

TOTAL NOT PAID:$345.25

5-Week Summer Session

• Writing Center Fee $8
• Transportation Fee $35
• Health Center Fee $25
• Student Center Complex Fee $50
• REC Center Fee $49

TOTAL NOT PAID:$167.00

 

Programs Eligible for Financial Aid

All credit-bearing study abroad programs are eligible for financial aid provided participants meet the eligibility requirements for the types of financial aid to which they are applying. For example, undergraduate students must be enrolled at least half-time during their study abroad program to qualify for federal and state financial aid.

Some study abroad program providers offer additional financial aid or open scholarships applications to Texas A&M students studying with a provider's program.

Texas A&M is currently affiliated with the following study abroad providers:

• Academic Programs International (API) – San Marcos, TX: www.academicintl.com; ph 800-844-4124
• Academy for International Education (AIB) - Bonn, Germany: www.aibnet.de
• American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) – Stamford, CT: www.aifsabroad.com; ph 800-727-7437
• Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE) – Portland, ME: www.ciee.org; ph 800-407-8839
• Cultural Experiences Abroad (CEA) – Tempe, AZ: www.gowithcea.com; ph 800-266-4441
• Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS) – Copenhagen, Denmark: www.dis.dk; ph 800-247-3477
• Education Abroad Network - Notre Dame, IN: www.educationabroadnetwork.com; ph 800-585-9658
• Institute for the Int’l. Education of Students (IES) – Chicago, IL: www.iesabroad.org; ph 800-995-2300
• International Studies Abroad (ISA) - Austin, TX: www.studiesabroad.com; ph 800-580-8826
• Kukulcan Language Institute – Cuernavaca, Mexico: www.kukulcan.com.mx; Int’l. Ph (52)(777) 312-5279
• School for Field Studies (SFS) – Salem, MA: www.fieldstudies.org; ph 800-989-4418

 

Applying your financial aid to study abroad

Studying abroad should be carefully planned. Keep in mind that one visit to Scholarships & Financial Aid Office for a meeting with a counselor is not going to be enough. You need to be diligent in your planning and conscious of important dates with regard to your program.  The Scholarships & Financial Aid Office has created a packet explaining how to use federal and state financial aid for study abroad for Spring 2008 and Summer 2008.   Below is an overview of the financial aid process.

1. Complete the study abroad application on the Study Abroad Programs Office web site.

2. If you plan to use federal and/or state financial aid (i.e. Stafford loans, Texas grants, Pell grants, etc.), please complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov if you have not done so already.  Generally, if you are classified as having calculated need, the sooner you complete a FAFSA, the better chance you have to receive grant funds that the Scholarships & Financial Aid Office may have available. Please be aware that grants are awarded on the basis of need and availability. Awarding of grants is not guaranteed! Please contact the Scholarships & Financial Aid Office for assistance.

3. Summer study abroad student seeking federal/state financial aid must also complete the Summer Supplement Form online at myfinancialaid.tamu.edu.

4. Meet with a Study Abroad advisor to complete a Study Abroad Budget Request Form for your program.  This budget provides a total cost of attendance for your program, which allows Scholarships & Financial Aid to assist you in providing an award package.

5. When you meet with your Scholarships & Financial Aid counselor, the counselor will keep the budget form and complete a disbursement form (either the Texas A&M Study Abroad Financial Aid Disbursement form or a similar form provided by your program provider).  If you are participating in a Texas A&M faculty-led or reciprocal exchange program, you will give the disbursement form to the Study Abroad Advisor for your program by the request due date. For Transfer Credit Study Abroad, Research, Internship and Volunteer programs (if credit-bearing), you will give the disbursement form to your program provider or foreign institution by the requested due date.

6. The financial aid will apply directly to the program costs for a Texas A&M faculty-led or reciprocal exchange program. For Transfer Credit Study Abroad, Research, Internship and Volunteer programs, you will use the financial aid to pay the program provider or foreign institution directly. You will be responsible for paying all costs that financial aid does not cover.  (Note:  For students receiving the Texas Tomorrow Fund/Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan, program fees will be billed through Texas A&M.)