Financial Aid

UW-Madison students may be able to utilize financial aid on UW-Madison study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programs. Guidelines on the usage can be found on the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) webpage.

If you have not received aid in the past, you may still be eligible for financial aid to help with your study abroad expenses. Students interested in receiving financial aid (loans, grants, scholarships) should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) even if they do not receive aid on campus. You complete a FAFSA as normal and do not need to indicate you are studying abroad. It is possible to apply for aid anytime during the academic year. However, it can often take in excess of 4 weeks to complete the processing of your application with OSFA; therefore, it is best to apply as early as possible.

If you already receive aid, you may qualify for additional funding to offset the extra costs sometimes associated with study abroad. Additional aid often comes in the form of loans, although there are some need-based study abroad grants available annually through OSFA. Likewise, if anticipated study abroad costs are less than on-campus costs; aid packages can be reduced.

IAP reports the total cost of the program, not just the program fee, to the Office of Student Financial Aid for all participants.

The types of federal financial aid offered through FAFSA that can be used for study abroad on a UW-Madison sponsored program for a semester, year, or winter break duration are:

• Pell Grants
• Direct Loans

Pell Grants and Direct Loans may potentially be applied to summer programs. Consult with an advisor at the Office of Student Financial Aid to determine whether this is an option for you.

Work Study funds cannot be applied to study abroad program fees. However, declining Work Study for the term you are abroad can be a strategy. Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for more details.

Graduate students receiving a tuition remission should inquire with their home department about whether it will apply when studying abroad. There are various types of tuition remissions on campus and some will and some will not continue to be funded.

Some examples of the State of Wisconsin grants and scholarships offered through FAFSA by UW-Madison that can be used:

• Vilas Grants
• Equal Opportunity Grants
• WI Higher Education Grants
• Lawton Minority Grants

Financial Aid Contact/Study Abroad Liaison

Office of Student Financial Aid

Send your questions to finaid@finaid.wisc.edu

To schedule an appointment with a financial aid advisor to discuss financial aid and study abroad visit this page.