Cost and Aid

Regardless of the program-type you choose, the application process remains the same:

1. Apply for financial aid by completing a FAFSA or TAFSA for the appropriate academic year.
   • Talk to your financial aid counselor to determine if there is required documentation or if you need to complete promissory notes or additional loan applications.
2. Schedule an appointment with the study abroad coordinator to prepare your study abroad financial aid form and budget sheet using this PDF guide.
   • Affiliate Provider program applicants: bring all program information.
   • Faculty-Led program applicants: schedule this appointment after receiving acceptance into the program.
3. Take completed forms to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for processing.
4. Return your budget sheet to the study abroad coordinator.

All financial aid recipients, including those enrolled in study abroad courses, are subject to the same Enrollment, Attendance and Withdrawal policy.

Enrollment

Financial aid is awarded on the assumption that you will be enrolled full-time for the academic year. If you are not enrolling as a full time student, adjustments will need to be made to the awards and cost of attendance prior to disbursement.

For financial aid purposes, full-time enrollment is 12 semester hours for undergraduates and nine semester hours for graduates each semester (fall, spring or summer).

Withdrawal

Depending on the date of withdrawal or enrollment status, you may be required to repay some or all of your financial aid awards. For more details visit the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships information on withdrawal or contact your financial aid counselor. 

Any expenses above the normal cost of attendance (airplane tickets, dues, and room/board costs, etc.) must be approved and documented by the Office of International Programs before any additional financial assistance can be given.

After the approval and documentation by OIP, you can meet with your financial aid counselor and determine if you are eligible for additional Federal Student Aid funds to cover the total cost of the trip.

Costs due one semester in advance

Sometimes, these costs are due in the semester before the trip is taken. If your financial aid counselor determines this is the case, FSA funds may be released in a preceding term to help cover these costs.
If payment is required during a preceding semester, your financial aid counselor has the option to complete a Special Circumstance form to increase your cost of attendance and provide additional funds covering only those early required costs.

Costs due semester of departure

Your budgets and awards are increased for semester in which you depart. At your financial aid counselor's discretion, you can request additional FSA funds for the same semester if you have received OIP approval and documentation of the necessary costs.

Funded by student fees, this scholarship is the Office of International Programs' way of offering financial assistance for your upcoming foreign study.

Criteria for eligibility:

• Enrolled at least one semester at SFA during the 12-month period prior to the eligible study abroad program
• Minimum GPA, calculated through the most recent full-semester preceding application deadline
  • Undergraduates: 2.5
  • Graduates: 3.3

Program-specific requirements

Depending on the program, students may need to fulfill other requirements, such as attendance of pre-departure orientation or project service.

Faculty-Led programs: Review program materials for application and deadline information.

All other programs: contact international@sfasu.edu

With supervision directed by the School of Honors, these awards are made possible through the generosity of the Dorothy Wisely School of Honors Endowment.

Fall or spring departure

Recipients traveling in fall or spring semesters will receive up to $2,000 toward the semester of the study abroad trip.

Summer departure

Recipients traveling in the summer I or summer II semesters will receive up to $1,000 toward the semester of the study abroad trip.

Visit the Wisely Study Abroad Awards Scholarship document for eligibility criteria and application requirements. Application materials must be submitted to the School of Honors by Feb. 1.

Scholarship databases

Specifically for study abroad, these scholarship databases allow you to browse many opportunities at a glance.

• goabroad.com
• internationalscholarships.com
• studyabroad.com
• studyinnewzealand.govt.nz
  • Official government site for advice on studying abroad in New Zealand

Crowdfunding

• fundmytravel.com
  • Designed to allow you the ability to create a customized campaign highlighting your destination, program type and reasons for wanting to study abroad.