Can I apply for financial aid to cover the costs of a study abroad program?
Students who are enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree program at Appalachian State University may apply for financial aid assistance. Students applying for study abroad financial aid must also meet all financial aid eligibility criteria.
Note that there is no guarantee that you will receive enough financial aid to completely cover the total costs of the study abroad program.
What study abroad programs are approved for financial aid?
All study abroad programs must be approved through the Appalachian State University Office of International Programs to be eligible for financial aid.
What financial aid is available for study abroad programs?
The Office of Student Financial Aid does not have special grants or scholarships to award students who wish to study abroad.
Financial aid will be awarded based on the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the student's financial need.
For summer, generally, only the loan programs will be offered. If the aggregate or annual maximum Federal Direct Loan limits have already been received for a dependent student, the only alternative is for a parent to apply for the Federal PLUS loan. If the aggregate or annual maximum Federal Direct Loan limit has already been received for an independent student there will be no additional Federal Direct loan eligibility. Graduate students who have already borrowed their maximum amount of Federal Direct Loan eligibility may apply for the federal Direct Graduate PLUS loan.
It is the student's responsibility to apply for scholarships through outside sources.
Several publications which list additional scholarships and financial resources for international study are available on the Office of International Programs Website.
How many credit hours do I have to take to be eligible for financial aid?
For the semester study abroad programs an undergraduate student must be enrolled in at least twelve (12) credit hours and a graduate student must be registered for at least nine (9) credit hours to be considered full-time for financial aid. If you do not maintain full-time status, awards may be canceled or adjusted.
For summer undergraduate students must be in a study abroad program that is no less than six (6) credit hours and a graduate student must be in a study abroad program that is no less than five (5) credit hours.
Will financial aid cover my deposit and airfare?
The student is responsible for paying any deposits required for study abroad programs. If the airfare is not included in the study abroad costs that are charged to the student account, the student will responsible for buying their airplane ticket. Keep in mind that financial aid funds may not be disbursed to your student account until ten days prior to the beginning date of the study abroad program. Generally, you will need to plan to pay from these expenses from your own resources.
When will I get my financial aid refund?
You must work with International Program and the Office of Student Accounts to obtain any funds that are not applied to the study abroad charges on your student account.
*It is highly recommended you complete the Direct Deposit Authorization Form in the Office of Student Accounts to have the remaining funds automatically deposited in your checking account.