Planning to study abroad can be exciting and sometimes overwhelming. Taking care of financial aid issues before you leave is essential. So, before you pack your bags, please schedule an appointment with a financial aid counselor who will provide you with the best possible information regarding your financial aid. Following are some answers to general questions about the processing and disbursement of financial aid during your absence.
Yes! It is possible to use financial aid for virtually every study abroad option. Even if you have not received aid in the past, you should consider applying for financial aid for the period of your study abroad. Cal State Fullerton students must be enrolled in a degree-seeking or eligible certificate program to be eligible for financial aid through the University.
There are three basic types of financial aid:
For need-based aid and supplementary loans, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) packet which is available at the Financial Aid Office, UH-177, or at the FAFSA website.
Apply early, but not before January 1 for the following academic year. Applications may be submitted until May 1 for the following year. Scholarship application deadlines vary. Keep in mind that financial aid procedures for study abroad will take additional time and planning.
In order for you to use your financial aid for your study abroad program, you must work with the Study Abroad Office to complete all necessary procedures. This may include the completion of a financial aid consortium agreement with another educational institution. Cal State Fullerton financial aid will not be applied to your study abroad expenses unless these procedures are completed PRIOR TO DEPARTURE.
It depends on your study abroad program cost, your financial need, and the number of supplementary loans to which you will have access. In reviewing your options, you should also consider how much loan debt you are willing to incur.
Yes. Study abroad credit load requirements are the same as those for on-campus study. For specific details, refer to the Financial Aid Award Policies on the Financial Aid webpage. In general, Cal Grants require a minimum of 12 units per semester for full-time status. Loans usually require only six credits per semester or summer term.
Successful completion of the program will affect your financial aid status in the same way that it would if you had studied on campus. Read and be familiar with the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid Recipients, available from the CSUF Financial Aid Office.
Yes. You must contact your loan agency to request and complete the necessary paperwork. Then consult with the Study Abroad Office. Loan deferment requires that you register for a minimum of 6 or 12 credits per semester, depending on your loan status. Be sure to arrange for completion of the appropriate forms or your loan agency may expect repayment to begin while you are abroad.
YES! Students complete a form with academic chairpersons before departing overseas to ensure courses and credits will transfer back to Cal State Fullerton. Grades earned during study abroad are posted onto the transcript and calculated in the GPA.
Yes. The Study Abroad Office offers scholarships for study abroad. More information on these and national level scholarship opportunities is available on the Scholarship Information page. Several University departments offer scholarships, as well. To search for these, refer to the Office of Financial Aid Scholarship webpage.
You must report any outside scholarships you are receiving to the Study Abroad Office and the Office of Financial Aid. If you fail to report any scholarships not awarded to you by the OFA, you may incur holds, delays, and/or billing charges to your student account. The OFA does not provide any scholarship money for study abroad.
Your financial aid, including loans, will be disbursed into your student account. Study Abroad program fees that are billed through the University are the first charges that will be paid. After your program charges are completely paid, any remaining funds are considered a credit balance. If you will be attending a non-CSUF program , your aid will also be issued as a credit balance that may be handled in one of two ways.
Option 1 – The credit balance is mailed as a check to your local mailing address. Credit balance checks are never forwarded or mailed to international destinations or non-CSUF programs. To receive your credit balance check by mail on a timely basis, make certain your mailing address is accurate and current with the University.
Option 2 – The credit balance is directly deposited into your bank account. However, direct deposit is not automatic. You must set up direct deposit with in Student Financial Services, or consult with a financial aid advisor during your appointment.
If your program fee will be billed through Cal State Fullerton and your financial aid does not cover the entire bill, you will be notified via your student e-mail account when your electronic billing statement is available online. You must make payment on any outstanding balance by the due date given on the statement. You will not receive a paper bill. You may pay your bill online via Titan Online.
While you study abroad, you are not eligible to receive work-study during the semester(s) you are away. However, you may request that other aid, usually a loan, replace your work-study funds.
Yes. You may apply for additional financial aid to meet costs related to courses completed during intersession and studies during summer session(s).
In rare instances, you may have emergency financial aid loans available from the OFA before your departure. Your eligibility for these loans is based on financial aid for the semester immediately following the Study Abroad session. If you are eligible, the emergency loan will only be issued if you have been awarded previously accepted and approved aid, including grants, paying scholarships, and loans with completed, approved promissory notes. You are not eligible if you have outstanding or denied promissory notes. For more information about emergency financial aid loans, contact a financial aid advisor.
To be eligible for financial aid, you must meet the standards set forth in Cal State Fullerton’s Financial Aid Policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). This policy is determined by federal guidelines and includes a variety of grants, loans, and scholarships sponsored by federal and state programs and Cal State Fullerton, as well as many private loans. As a Study Abroad participant, you will be impacted by SAP guidelines in several ways.
At the end of each semester the OFA will send a letter to you if you (1) have not met the required credit completion ratio; (2) do not meet the required grade point average (GPA); (3) are reaching the maximum time frame allowed for receiving aid. For complete details on SAP, go online to view information on Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
Cal State Fullerton, Office of Financial Aid
www.fullerton.edu/financialaid/
FAFSA on the Web
www.fafsa.ed.gov
FASTWEB Scholarship Search
www.fastweb.com
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