Financial Aid Process for Study Abroad Programs

1. Visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office early in your planning process to get more financial aid information and assistance. Documentation of trip costs may be requested when determining your financial aid eligibility.
2. Consult with a financial aid coordinator before you apply to a program to find out the maximum amount of additional aid you are eligible to receive.
3. Meet with Financial Wellness Center to talk through financial questions and plan out your budget, including when payments will be due. 
4. Contact the UMKC Study Abroad and Global Engagement Office.
5. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if you would like to be considered for federal aid eligibility. The priority deadline to complete the FAFSA is February 1st for UMKC.
   1. You can apply most forms of federal, state, or institutional aid awarded to help pay for fees and costs on some study abroad programs.
   2. Private scholarships are generally applicable to study abroad. Verify the conditions of your award with the scholarship administrator or donor directly.
6. Seek out study abroad scholarships.
7. Visit the UMKC Study Abroad Globetrotter Portal to choose a program.
8. Once you’re accepted into to a study abroad program and are registered in the appropriate placeholder course(s), the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office will obtain a study abroad budget that’s been signed by the Study Abroad and Engagement Office. This will replace your on-campus budget for your time abroad.
9. The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office will determine your eligibility status and types of aid to be awarded to you.
10. Receive and Review your Award Letter.
11. Receiving Funds
    1. Financial aid and most scholarships are disbursed one week prior to the first day of each semester.
    2. Most of your financial aid funds will be credited directly to your university student account. As aid is credited, Study Abroad tuition and fees as well as any study abroad program fees charged to your account will be deducted from your financial aid. If you’re expecting a refund to cover additional costs of studying abroad, make sure you have direct deposit set up!  If you have direct deposit set up, the refund will be directly deposited into your personal bank account 3 to 5 business days after your aid has been disbursed.
    3. Study abroad students receive their aid at the same time as those studying at UMKC.

Financial Aid Eligibility for Study Abroad Programs

*If you are a financial aid recipient, please read the following carefully. 

• Program eligibility for use with financial aid depends on the type of study abroad program. Some programs are approved to use financial aid to help pay for program costs and fees and some programs may be limited or not approved to use financial aid to help pay for program costs and fees.
• If your study abroad program cost is less than your on-campus cost of attendance, your aid will be adjusted to reflect the study abroad cost. As a result, some of your aid may be reduced.
• Studying abroad doesn’t make you more eligible for gift assistance if the cost is higher than your on-campus cost of attendance. Tuition specific scholarships only cover your UMKC tuition assessment; they don’t cover foreign tuition or study abroad fees, and you must pay any additional charges. Some students who otherwise wouldn’t be eligible for a need-based loan may become eligible for a Direct Subsidized Loan as a result of the increased costs of studying abroad.
• If you qualify for financial aid, you can request an increase in aid from the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office if the cost of the program or exchange exceeds the regular budgeted amount for a UMKC student living and studying in Missouri. These additional funds are often in the form of loans (i.e. Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, Direct Parent PLUS, or Private Loans).

Determining Eligibility for Study Abroad Programs

• Eligibility for use with financial aid cannot be determined until program dates are available. For many exchanges, program dates are not available until after a student must commit to the program. 
• Terms will have one of three designations listed below:
  • Approved:
    The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office approved this semester for use with financial aid in the academic year listed. Examples: Fall semester, Spring semester, Summer Semester
  • Not Approved:
    The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office did not approve this semester for use with financial aid in the academic year listed.
  • Not Yet Reviewed:
    This term has not been reviewed by The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office for the academic year listed. This is usually because the term dates are not yet available. The UMKC Study Abroad and Engagement Office provides information about term eligibility as soon as partner institutions announce their academic year dates. 

Types of Aid Which May be Used for Study Abroad Programs

• Exchange Program: Pay UMKC tuition and fees while attending one of our international partner universities. These programs offer a more independent experience and are for a semester or year.
  • Types of Aid:  Federal grants, loans, state aid, and scholarships.
• Faculty-led Program: Pay UMKC tuition and fees while exploring specific interests with other students through these UMKC credit-bearing programs developed by UMKC faculty and staff members. The programs vary from one to six weeks during Summer Semester, January term, Spring Break and intersession and often include cultural activities and excursions.
  • Types of Aid:  Federal grants, loans, state aid, and scholarships.
• Program Providers: Third Party Fees are assessed for this program. Study Abroad placeholder hours are assessed and this program is not charged UMKC tuition and fees. These programs are offered for various lengths of time during the year and provide a more structured experience, often with cultural activities and excursions and homestay options. 
  • Types of Aid:  Federal grants and loans. Most institutional scholarships cannot apply toward this type of program cost.

Please contact the UMKC Study Abroad and Engagement Office for more information about Study Abroad program types.

Important information: Some scholarships and grants require students show a certain number of earned credit hours to renew the aid for a future academic year. Students who use these types of aid for study abroad trips will not be able to renew their scholarship/grant until transcripts of the credit hours earned during the study abroad program are received by UMKC and posted to their student record. Example, if a student uses the Chancellor's Scholarship for a spring study abroad trip, their study abroad transcripts must be showing on the students Unofficial Transcripts on Pathway (via their UMKC Portal) before the scholarship can be renewed for the following fall and spring semesters.

Limitations

• If you are not a degree seeking and enrolled UMKC student, you do not qualify for UMKC financial aid or scholarships.
• If you have graduated or completed your degree requirements prior to going abroad, you cannot use UMKC financial aid (scholarships, grants or loans) to pay for your study abroad program.

Release of Information

• If you need to release your Financial Aid information to another person or a third party, you will need to authorize the release of your information.  Follow the directions outlined in the Updating your Privacy Settings via Pathway guide on the Registrars FERPA for Students page.