Purdue University Division of Financial Aid

Study Abroad Financial Aid Process

Students interested in receiving financial aid for Study Abroad should read through these frequently asked questions.

Q: Is financial aid available for Purdue students interested in study abroad?

A: Yes! The financial aid awarded to students to study on campus at Purdue can be used to study abroad with just a few exceptions (i.e., tuition-dedicated aid programs may be restricted).

Q: How much does it cost to study abroad?

A: There are many different fee structures and billing arrangements among Purdue's 300+ study abroad programs but we encourage you to explore this site.

Q: What type of financial aid is available for any extra costs associated with study abroad?

A: In general, student and parent loan eligibility may be able to be increased for extra study abroad costs. Study abroad students can typically access Stafford Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, or private loan options for additional costs incurred to study abroad.

Q: If I have not applied for financial aid for study abroad, should I?

A; Yes! Students not receiving financial aid currently may be able to get student and parent loans for study abroad; the first step is complete the FAFSA.

Q: Who should I talk to if I have questions about financial aid for study abroad?

A: Counselors in the Division of Financial Aid are all trained to answer general questions about financial aid for study abroad.

Q. Who should I talk to about study abroad program costs?

A: Study Abroad Office staff are experts about potential study abroad costs. Study abroad advisors will be given preliminary budgets for each program. These budgets list the education costs of the program and the additional costs that you pay out of pocket. These additional costs vary from program to program and from person to person.

Q: How do I apply for study abroad financial aid during the academic year?

A: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student aid (FAFSA) by March 1 each year for full aid consideration. Note that the FAFSA can be completed after March 1 but you will be limited to the types of financial aid for which you will be considered.

Q: How do I apply for study abroad financial aid during the summer?

A: Summer financial aid is processed separately from the academic year. Students may be eligible for aid for a Summer Study Abroad program even if they were not eligible during the academic year. Students must have a FAFSA on file AND complete a Summer Aid Application on the DFA website.

Q: How many credit hours do I need to enrolled to be eligible for study abroad financial aid?

A: Academic year and summer financial aid eligibility requires you to be enrolled for at least 6 hours as an undergraduate student and 4 hours as a graduate student.

Q: What do I do if my financial aid awards do not reflect the additional costs of my study abroad program?

A: You can contact the Division of Financial Aid (DFA) to check your status, but this may be a timing problem. Once the cost of the Study Abroad program and the list of participants are provided to DFA by the Study Abroad Office, DFA should adjust aid packages within 7-10 days.

Q: When are financial aid funds made available to study abroad students?

A: Financial aid funds that are in excess of the fees/tuition will be refunded to students no earlier than one week before the program starts. Therefore financial aid funds may NOT be available to pay some pre-departure costs, such as the program deposit, plane ticket, visa and/or passport application fees, etc.

Q: How do study abroad programs vary?

A: There are many different fee structures and billing arrangements among the Purdue Study Abroad programs. Financial aid rules vary for the following programs:

EXCHANGE PROGRAMS – Exchange programs are what they sound like: a Purdue student goes to a partner university and in exchange, a student from that university is able to study at Purdue. Purdue students pay their regular tuition (in-state students pay in-state tuition and non-residents pay out-of-state tuition). The only additional cost paid to Purdue would be a charge for the required emergency medical coverage. This means that:

The most cost-effective study abroad option for an in-state student is probably an exchange program;

The financial aid that you receive while studying in West Lafayette will probably apply to your tuition and fees for the terms you study overseas;

Most scholarships or fee remissions will cover the education costs of exchange programs; State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana scholarships (Higher Education, Core 40, Honors, 21st-century), staff-dependent remissions, or CDV benefits can be used to cover tuition for exchange programs.

The Study Abroad Office staff is not responsible for providing detailed information about your financial aid. Students must meet with representatives in the Division of Financial Aid to get accurate information about their aid for the term they will be oversea.

CO-SPONSORED PROGRAMS – Co-sponsored programs are designed and administered by outside organizations, usually non-profit agencies. Examples include Arcadia, CIEE, IES, IFSA, and DIS. Students participating in co-sponsored programs pay program fees directly to the organization plus a study abroad fee (not tuition) to Purdue. Program fees do not depend on Indiana residency status. They are usually higher than in-state fees + room and board, but lower than out-of-state tuition + room and board. This means that:

For out-of-state students, co-sponsored programs are usually about the same cost as staying on campus, or sometimes even less

For Indiana residents, co-sponsored programs are usually more expensive than fees at Purdue.

IMPORTANT: Indiana residents who are recipients of State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana scholarships (Higher Education, Core 40, Honors, 21st-century), staff-dependent remissions, or CDV benefits cannot use this aid to cover the program fees of co-sponsored programs.

Recipients of Purdue merit scholarships, such as the Top Scholar Award, can use their aid for these programs. Availability of aid must be determined by DFA.

DEPARTMENTAL—For Departmental Programs, contact the Division of Financial Aid to determine the types of aid that can be used to cover fees under this program.
DIRECT ENROLL—For Direct Enroll Programs, contact the Division of Financial Aid to determine the types of aid that can be used to cover fees under this program.
PURDUE-ADMINISTERED—Purdue Administered programs are administered by the Study Abroad Office staff.

Participants in Purdue Administered programs are charged comprehensive program fees, not merely tuition. Therefore, Indiana residents who are recipients of State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana scholarships (Higher Education, Core 40, Honors, 21st-century), staff-dependent remissions, or CDV benefits cannot use this aid to cover the program fees of Purdue Administered programs. Recipients of Purdue merit scholarships, such as the Top Scholar Award, can use their aid for these programs. Availability of aid must be determined by DFA.

SUMMER—If you plan to study abroad during the summer, remember:

Most summer programs are either co-sponsored or Purdue Administered. That means that State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana scholarships (Higher Education, Core 40, Honors, 21st-century), staff-dependent remissions, or CDV benefits cannot be used to cover the costs of these programs.

If you want to take summer classes at Purdue in addition to going on study abroad, take a close look at the amount of your summer aid award. It may not be enough to comfortably cover both a study abroad experience and classes/rent/food.

Your aid eligibility may increase if you take more credits over the summer; for example, if you register for distance learning courses in addition to your study abroad courses.

Q: Are payment plans available?

A: Installment and deferred payment plans are not available at Purdue for the period students study abroad, though some co-sponsored programs may offer installment plans for their fees.