Financial Assistance for

Study Abroad

Apply to study abroad with the Office of Inter-

national Programs.

Submit the FAFSA online.

Schedule a meeting with the Office of Finan-

cial Assistance.

Complete the Study Abroad Aid Application.

Apply for Meredith competitive scholarships.

Investigate outside scholarship opportunities.

See the back of this brochure for the full study

abroad financial aid checklist

Steps to Applying for

Financial Assistance

for Study Abroad

Financial Assistance for Study Abroad

Meredith College students have a variety of options for obtaining financial aid to

study abroad. Eligibility for assistance may vary depending upon the program, the

term the student plans to attend, and the student’s prior study abroad experiences.

In order to receive financial assistance to study abroad, students are encouraged to

file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov if they

have not already done so. The FAFSA is used to determine financial need for study

abroad scholarships as well as provide grant assistance and low-interest loans for

eligible terms and programs. For more information on completing the FAFSA, please

visit the Meredith financial assistance website at www.meredith.edu/

financial_assistance/current_students.

In addition to being encouraged to file a FAFSA, all students must complete the stu-

dent portion of the financial assistance for study abroad application. This applica-

tion can be downloaded through the hyperlink above or from the forms page of the

Meredith College Financial Assistance website. This application is required in order

to authorize the financial assistance office to release aid for programs abroad. Note

that this form is for authorization purposes only and does not qualify students for

additional assistance. Furthermore, Teaching Fellows, Presidential, and Legacy

scholars will need to arrange a separate meeting with the Office of Financial Assis-

tance to discuss their particular scholarship application requirements.

Students in need of assistance in addition to what is available through the FAFSA

application and federal loan programs may apply for specific study abroad scholar-

ships. The Meredith Office of International Programs facilitates a competitive schol-

arship program, and applications are available in 124 Joyner Hall or online at the

Office of International Programs website. Meredith study abroad scholarships are

highly competitive, and award amounts typically range between $500 and $1,500,

depending upon the number and quality of applicants and the expense and length of

the program. Finally, students are also encouraged to investigate outside scholar-

ship opportunities by visiting the financial assistance outside scholarship listing at

www.meredith.edu/financial_assistance/scholarships/.

Applying for Aid

Payments and Fund Transfers

Meredith Programs Students participating in their first study abroad experience through Meredith’s

semester program in Italy, Meredith’s summer programs abroad, or through any of

the College’s partnership programs will have their aid applied directly to their study

abroad program and will receive a bill only if a balance remains after the aid is ap-

plied. If a student’s aid exceeds the program’s direct charges, the student may re-

quest that the excess aid be issued in a personal check and used to fund expenses

while abroad. All excess aid checks will be issued two weeks prior to program de-

parture. *Please note: While financial aid may exceed the amount a student is being

directly charged, financial aid may not exceed a program’s total cost. If a student’s

aid exceeds the program’s total cost (tuition, room and board, supplies, transporta-

tion, and miscellaneous expenses), aid will be adjusted downward accordingly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Any student planning to use financial assistance to

travel abroad should make an appointment with the

Office of Financial Assistance. Students should bring all

information available to the meeting, including program

brochures and cost information. During the meeting, a

financial assistance counselor will discuss the aid process

in greater detail and provide a rough estimate of the

amount of aid a student may anticipate to receive.

Should I make an appointment with

the Office of Financial Assistance?

Students participating in their first study abroad experience through providers other

than Meredith (such as Butler University, CIEE, IES, etc.) will be issued financial assis-

tance funds in the form of a check two weeks prior to their program departure. The

aid check will be issued directly to the student in the amount of all semester or sum-

mer funds less any balance remaining on the student’s account. Note that students

using non-Meredith providers are subject to a processing fee from the Meredith

Office of International Programs, and this amount will be deducted automatically

from a student’s pending financial aid. Additionally, it is imperative that a student

complete each of the aid application steps in order for aid to be processed.

Since students using non-Meredith providers will not be issued a financial assistance

check until two weeks prior to their program departure, students should notify their

program that they will not be meeting the typical payment deadlines. Many provid-

ers require official payment deferral forms that must be submitted by the student in

order to avoid late fees or other penalties. Typically, Meredith will not make any

payments to the provider; instead, a check in the amount of a student’s total finan-

cial assistance (less any charges on a student’s account) will be issued directly to the

student. It is up to the student to deposit these funds into a personal bank account

and pay the provider accordingly. *Please note: While financial aid may exceed the

amount a student is being directly charged, financial aid may not exceed a pro-

gram’s total cost. If a student’s aid exceeds the program’s total cost (tuition, room

and board, supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses), aid will be ad-

justed downward accordingly.

Non-Meredith Programs

Payments and Fund Transfers

Funding Advances for Pre-departure Expenses

Students who intend to utilize pending financial assistance in order to pay for pre-

departure expenses may request one aid advance. To request an aid advance, stu-

dents must complete an official Study Abroad Expense Reimbursement Form and

attach the appropriate receipts and/or official cost estimates. Requests submitted

before 5pm on Thursdays will typically be reimbursed on the following Tuesday.

Checks may be picked up in the Office of Accounting on the 1st floor of Johnson Hall.

*NOTE: If a student cancels or withdraws from a program abroad, any funding ad-

vanced must be returned to the College in full.

Because program travel dates and deadlines vary signifi-

cantly, the financial assistance timeline will differ for

each individual student. Typically, students can expect to

receive an official study abroad financial assistance

award letter four to six weeks prior to departure

(provided all paperwork has been completed by the

student). Rough estimates may be available once a stu-

dent has been accepted to a program abroad, has com-

pleted all aid applications, and has submitted official

budget information.

When will I find out exactly how much

financial assistance I will receive to

study abroad?

Can I receive financial assistance to

study abroad for more than one term or

for more than one study abroad experi-

ence?

Students who have received grant or scholarship funding

from Meredith College for a study abroad experience

may not receive institutionally-administered* funding on

a subsequent study abroad experience. This does not

apply to competitive scholarships offered through the

Office of International Programs. However, students

wishing to travel on subsequent study abroad programs

are eligible to receive federal funding as well as outside

scholarships and student and parent loans.

*Institutionally-administered funding includes but is not limited

to the State Contractual Scholarship Fund and any direct institu-

tional funds. Contact the Office of Financial Assistance for more

information.

Apply to study abroad with the Office of International Programs.

Submit the FAFSA online.

Read the Financial Assistance for Study Abroad brochure.

Schedule a meeting with the Office of Financial Assistance.

Complete the Study Abroad Aid Application.

Apply for Meredith competitive scholarships.

Investigate outside scholarship opportunities.

Apply for loans (if necessary).

Submit payment deferral paperwork (if necessary).

Sign and return the official study abroad award letter.

Pick up the study abroad aid check (if applicable).

Pay your provider (if applicable).

To ensure that the financial assistance process is as smooth as possi-

ble, students will need to complete the following steps:

Study Abroad Aid Checklist

The Office of Financial Assistance 309 Johnson Hall 3800 Hillsborough Street

Raleigh, NC 27607 Phone: (919) 760-8565 Fax: (919) 760-2373 finaid@meredith.edu

More Information

For additional information on financial assistance for study abroad,

please contact the Office of Financial Assistance.