Download your financial aid forms and detailed instructions.
This can be a confusing process, so we’re here to help.
Step 1: Understanding financial aid.
Financial aid includes ALL aid that you can receive to study towards your degree: federal loans and grants; state loans and grants; institutional loans, grants and scholarships; and, private loans, grants and scholarships. Under federal law, all federal financial aid that you qualify for (loans and grants) can be used to study abroad if the program you are attending has been approved for credit by your home institution. Beyond this, it is up to your home institution to decide whether or not you can utilize state and/or institutional aid to study abroad.
Step 2: Meeting with your study abroad/academic advisor.
If you’re considering participating in a CISabroad program, it’s a good idea to meet with your study abroad/academic advisor as well as a financial aid officer at your home school. Ask:
• What you need to do to have your federal financial aid award applied to the study abroad program fee.
• Find out if your home school will allow institutional aid to be used for study abroad.
• Ask if your home school has a direct billing arrangement with CISabroad. If so, your financial aid will go to your school, and they will pay CISabroad for the program fee.
• Ask what each office will need to facilitate the process.
Step 3: Submit our program budget to your financial aid office.
The amount of financial aid that you receive is determined based upon the cost of the program. Budgets are available here. These include all expected costs such as tuition and fees for the program, living costs, health insurance, books and supplies, and estimated transportation costs including airfare and program travel. The budget for your program can be submitted to your financial aid office to determine the amount of aid you will be able to receive toward your study abroad or intern abroad program. Sometimes, federal financial aid does not cover your total program fee and what you will need for living expenses. If you need to look into private student loans www.finaid.org is a good place to start your research, as well as the various scholarships listed on our scholarship page.
Step 4: Complete the CIS Financial Aid Forms.
Please download our financial aid forms and detailed instructions. The CISabroad Proof of Financial Aid form must be filled out by your financial aid officer. This form provides proof of your award, and it must be returned to CISabroad by the payment deadline for your program. If financial aid covers only a portion of your program fee, you are responsible for paying the remainder to CISabroad by the payment deadline.
Step 5: Pay your financial aid advance payment (if applicable)
This policy is in effect for all applicants for Summer 2012 and beyond:
All financial aid students must pay CISabroad at least $1,000 (in addition to the $200 application deposit) toward the cost of the program by the payment deadline regardless of financial aid award. CISabroad requires a minimum of $1,000 from every student by the final payment deadline.
Example: your financial aid package covers $10,000 of a $15,000 program. You are paying CISabroad directly $4,800 (and the $200 application deposit). Therefore, no additional money is required.
Example: your financial aid package covers $15,000 of a $15,000 program. You will pay CISabroad directly the $200 application deposit, then a $1,000 financial aid pre-payment due by the final payment deadline.
Please see detailed instructions above in Step 4 for more information.
Step 6: Pay your bill!
Once your financial aid is disbursed, (usually after you are already overseas) You will be responsible for making sure that money goes to pay your bill at CISabroad. This is VERY IMPORTANT, because if your bill doesn’t get paid when the money comes in, you could be withdrawn from the program! Make sure that you pay attention to your disbursement dates, and that you or a family member are ready to make final payment to CISabroad within a week of the financial aid disbursement date!
Additional: Complete a Power-of-Attorney form before you leave the U.S. (Optional)
Financial aid disbursements are often made after you’re already overseas. It’s a good idea to have a Power-of Attorney form signed and notarized or to make arrangements BEFORE DEPARTURE for a parent/ guardian to pay the balance of your program fee once financial aid funds are released. A sample Power-of Attorney form can be found online via your CISabroad account.
Talk to our financial aid counselor if you have any questions!
If you have any questions about how to begin or about any of the steps along the way, just give us a call. We will work with you and your home school to make the process as painless as possible. If you wish to contact our financial aid advisors and billing department directly please call toll free 877-617-9090.