The Pre-Departure Assistance Program helps students who do not have ready access to funds to cover their program acceptance deposit and flight booking costs. The Pre-Departure Assistance Program will cover these costs until the study abroad or study away program fee is billed to the student financial account. This allows the student’s financial aid to apply towards these costs when it is disbursed. No interest or loan fees are charged to participating students. The Pre-Departure Assistance Program does not cover other pre-departure costs such as passports, visas, medical visits, etc. Students must pay those costs directly.
Assistance Amount
Program acceptance deposit: $300
Flight booking costs: up to $2,500
Total possible assistance amount: $2,800
Eligibility Requirements
You must:
- Be an enrolled University of Wisconsin-Madison degree-seeking student
- Have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $11,000 or be part of Bucky’s Pell Pathway program for the past or current academic year.
- Be applying, or planning to apply, to an approved study abroad or study away program (sponsored by IAP, CALS, Engr, or WSB) that does not include airfare in the program fee. Airfare must be listed as an estimated additional expense on the cost sheet.
- Complete a Financial Aid Consultation with the Office of Student Financial Aid and a Study Abroad (or Study Away) Advising Appointment with a Study Abroad Advisor before the deadline to confirm participation for your program*
*The deadline to confirm participation is provided to you upon official acceptance to a program, and is posted in your MyStudyAbroad checklist.
Pre-Departure Assistance Instructions
| 1. Confirm you meet the above requirements. | Find your SAI listed on your Student Aid Report provided after completion of the FAFSA. If this year’s FAFSA is not yet available, reference your SAI from last year’s FAFSA. |
| 2. Print out the program cost sheet | From the program webpage, Cost & Funding tab |
| 3. Schedule and complete a Financial Aid Consultation with the Office of Student Financial Aid | Contact OSFA at 602-262-3060 to schedule an appointment. During the consultation, you will review your eligibility and your financial aid package. Bring the program cost sheet with you. |
| 4. Schedule and complete a Study Abroad Advising Appointment with a Study Abroad Advisor | All appointments are scheduled online |
| 5. Apply for your program, and turn in pre-departure assistance agreement form with all three (3) signatures | As long as your agreement form is in by the deadline with signatures, you will receive the pre-departure assistance after program acceptance |
| 6. Confirm your participation on the program | Once you confirm all other details, the acceptance deposit will be deferred. Instructions for booking your flight will then be given. |
| 7. Book your flight through the designated travel agency | Flights must be booked through the designated agency to be covered by the Pre-Departure Assistance Program. Information will be provided to you on how to do this. |
Billing & Payment
The total amount of money offered through this assistance program (the sum of the program deposit and flight booking costs) will be charged to your student financial account, along with the program fees, and billed to you by the UW-Madison Bursar. Refer to the program cost sheet for additional billing information and a payment schedule.