Using Financial Aid to Study Abroad

As you start planning your study abroad experience, take a look at your current expenses.

• Track of how much you spend on tuition, housing, meals, parking, gas, bills, going out, shopping, etc. per semester so you can compare to your study abroad experience.
• Take a look at your current financial aid allowance and scholarships.
• Compare program costs and follow our budget tips when selecting a program.

To use financial aid for a study abroad experience, it is important that the classes you take abroad apply to your academic degree program. As part of the academic planning process, the financial aid office will ensure your proposed coursework meets your remaining degree requirements.

Work with your study abroad advisor, academic advisor and financial aid advisor to ensure that your financial aid package will apply to the program you select. Please provide as much information as possible when reaching out to the financial aid office (plans to use tuition remission, for example).

To use financial aid, including the UC International Scholarship, for an exchange program, external provider program or hybrid faculty-led program, you must complete a financial aid contractual agreement form. You will be prompted in Catalyst to create an account on Students Forms. When you’ve been enrolled in the appropriate MLTI placeholder course, this is where you will upload the completed agreement and supporting documents. 

You will need to submit the following documents:

1. Contractual Agreement page 1: Completed first page with your contact information and program details. Circle “Aid? Y” if you anticipate receiving the UC International Scholarship.
2. Contractual Agreement page 2: This is completed by your program provider (USAC for example) or external institution and they verify your travel dates, budget and part- or full-time student status. If you are participating on an exchange program or a hybrid faculty-led program, UC International will assist with this section. The Home Institution section is completed by Financial Aid after the complete agreement is uploaded online.
3. Academic Credit Approval Form: Completed Academic Credit Approval form. This should include the courses you plan to take abroad, course equivalencies and total number of credits, signed by your academic advisor.
4. Acceptance letter: An acceptance letter including program name, dates, and location.
5. Semester/Term bill: Access your UC semester/term bill in Catalyst and upload it with your agreement.