Using Financial Aid and Other Funding Sources
Federal Financial Aid
Students can use their existing federal financial aid toward their study abroad program cost if they are awarded aid for the term they plan to study abroad. Any student who wishes to apply for aid or use their existing financial aid to study abroad is encouraged to make an appointment with their Financial Aid Counselor to discuss financial aid options.
KU Scholarships
Students can use existing KU Freshman Merit Scholarships awarded upon admission to KU toward study abroad program costs if they continue to be eligible for the award for the term they intend to study abroad.
Kansas Resident Scholarships
For semester and academic year programs, students can use their existing KU Scholarships toward their study abroad program fees. Summer scholarships are not awarded.
Out-of-State Scholarships
For semester and academic year programs, students can use their existing merit scholarships towards study abroad cost; however the scholarship amounts will be adjusted depending on the type of study abroad program in which you are participating. KU Exchange Programs are billed at the resident tuition rate, therefore the out-of-state merit scholarship will be awarded at the equivalent in-state merit scholarship amount during the semester that a student is participating in a KU exchange program abroad. Tuition for direct enrollment and student-initiated programs is set by the foreign institution and paid directly to the host institution. As a result, the Out-of-State Merit Scholarship that the student normally receives will remain the same when participating in these programs. Out-of-State Merit Scholarships cannot be applied to summer study abroad. If you have questions on how KU Out-of-State Merit Scholarships can be applied towards study abroad costs, contact your Financial Aid Counselor.
International Student Scholarships
These generally cannot be used towards most study abroad programs. International Student Scholarships can be used towards faculty-led study abroad programs where students are enrolled in KU study abroad courses taught by KU faculty which charge KU tuition.
KU Endowment Loans
KU Endowment Loans are available in amounts up to $5,000/year for undergraduate students (except for freshmen) and $6,000/year for graduate students. KU Endowment Loans offer a low interest loan which can be a good option for students who need funds to cover the upfront costs of study abroad, such as securing a passport or student visa or purchasing airfare. This loan is typically disbursed two weeks after application.
Private/Alternative Loans
Private/Alternative Loans are also an option for students who are not awarded enough financial aid to cover the entire program cost.
Steps for Using Financial Aid for Study Abroad
If you have not done so already, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) available online. You must also complete an online study abroad program application by the program deadline. If you wish to be considered for a KU SAGE Scholarship you must also complete the Scholarship Application by the deadline.
After the Financial Aid and Scholarships office (FAS) receives the budget for your study abroad program from SAGE, you must contact their office and complete any materials needed to request additional financial aid. You are not guaranteed to be eligible for enough federal financial aid to pay all costs associated with your study abroad program so it is important to look into alternate funding sources with FAS Scholarships, KU Endowment Loans, or Private/Alternative Loans. NOTE: DO NOT commit to a study abroad program until you have secured enough financial aid and know that you can cover all costs associated with the program.
Once your aid is posted on your KU Enroll & Pay account, accept it and complete any promissory notes for loans. When you’ve secured enough aid to cover all costs of the program, you can commit to your study abroad program by signing the Financial Contract with SAGE. After committing to your KU study abroad program, fees will be posted to your KU Enroll & Pay account according to the billing cycle. See Billing for more information. In order for your aid to transfer, you must also enroll in the designated course(s) for your study abroad program on Enroll & Pay.
We highly recommend setting up Direct Deposit so that excess financial aid is disbursed directly into your bank account.
When is Financial Aid Disbursed?
Federal Grants, Federal Loans, and KU Scholarships are typically disbursed and available on the first day of on-campus classes, and cannot be disbursed earlier, regardless of the study abroad program dates. Students who depart before aid is disbursed will need to make a plan to ensure adequate funds are available to cover expenses until their financial aid is disbursed.
Using Financial Aid & Scholarships for Student-Initiated Programs
Students who are participating in student-initiated programs (SIPs) will often pay the majority of their study abroad costs to their study abroad institution or program provider (API, CEA CAPA, CIEE, CIMBA, DIS Study Abroad, John Cabot University, Lorenzo de’Medici, SAI, Semester at Sea, WorldStrides, etc.), with only the fee for the KU study abroad placeholder course (FRSP) and the KU Required Fee charged to their Enroll & Pay accounts.
Every SIP institution or program provider sets its own payment deadlines. These deadlines frequently occur before students’ financial aid will be disbursed by KU. As noted above, financial aid and scholarships that are released by KU — including federal financial aid, such as Pell Grants, federal direct student loans, and Parent PLUS Loans; institutional aid, such as KU Freshman Merit Scholarships and the Jayhawk Access Grant; and study abroad-specific scholarships from KU — are typically not available until the first day of on-campus classes at KU and cannot be released earlier.
Study abroad program providers often allow students to defer payment to the provider until students’ financial aid has been disbursed. Every provider has a different process for deferring payment. Students should reach out to their counselor or contact with their study abroad program provider as soon as possible to confirm their provider’s payment deferral process.
NOTE: When students sign up for financial aid payment deferral with their study abroad institution or program provider, this does NOT mean that KU will “transfer” a student’s financial aid directly to the provider after the aid is released. KU does not send students’ financial aid to other institutions or study abroad program providers.
Below is a summary of what will happen when students defer payment to their study abroad institution or program provider until after their financial aid has been disbursed:
- Financial aid will be released by KU near the start of on-campus classes at KU for the term when the student will be abroad.
- Students’ financial aid will pay whatever costs have been charged to the students’ Enroll & Pay account for their study abroad program.
- A few days later, any excess financial aid will be deposited into the bank accounts of students who have set up direct deposit for refund with Student Accounts & Receivables at KU. It is highly recommended that students set up direct deposit for refund if they have not already done so.
- For students who do not have direct deposit for refund set up with Student Accounts & Receivables, a physical check will be cut for any excess financial aid 4-5 days after financial aid is initially released by KU. The check will be mailed to the “Jayhawk/Current Address” that the student has listed under the “Personal Details Tile → Addresses ” on Enroll & Pay.
- Once the student has received their excess financial aid either via direct deposit or a paper check, it is the student’s responsibility to use that money to pay their study abroad institution or program provider. Students should ask their counselor or contact with their study abroad program provider how to make payment if they are not sure how to do so.