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Study Abroad & Away Aid Requirements

Review the eligibility requirements for your current financial aid awards to determine if they have any study abroad/away restrictions. 

The TU Study Abroad & Away Office offers four types of programs:

• TU Exchanges
• TU Faculty-led Programs
• TU Programs ("TU in ...")
• Approved Non-TU Programs.

Most federal aid programs, TU funded grants and scholarships, and private scholarships and loans can be used to pay for all four types of study abroad/away programs.  TU tuition waivers and all MHEC aid programs have study abroad/away restrictions.   Summer aid options are also more limited.

• TU Tuition Waivers\Remission can only be applied to TU Exchanges, and cannot be applied toward TU Faculty-led Programs, TU Programs, or Approved Non-TU Programs.  These restrictions apply to all tuition waiver/remission programs including waivers for University System of Maryland employees and their dependents and waivers for Foster Care, Unaccompanied Homeless Youth, and Maryland National Guard students.
• If you are receiving any of these state aid programs from the , those awards can only be used for study abroad/away programs or exchanges for which TU or another school within Maryland bills you directly for your tuition or program fee.  Eligible programs include TU Exchanges, TU faculty-led programs, TU Programs ("TU in ..."), and programs offered by other colleges within Maryland that meet the restrictions above.  Study abroad/away programs are NOT eligible for MHEC aid if the costs are billed by providers, overseas institutions, or out-of-state institutions.  MHEC’s aid programs include Conroy, Delegate, Senatorial, 2+2 Transfer, and V.A.I.C Scholarships; and Educational Assistance, Guaranteed Access and Workforce Shortage Student Assistance Grants.  MHEC aid programs usually aren't available during summer terms.
• TU study abroad/away policy requires students who study abroad/away for a semester or year to maintain full-time enrollment (at least 12 units per fall or spring).  In addition, many grants and scholarships require full-time enrollment.
• Summer aid options:  To apply for summer loans or Federal Pell Grants, complete the summer aid application.  For summer loans, you must take at least 6 summer units.  Most other aid programs aren't available during summer terms.
• For minimester programs, please carefully review the minimester aid rules.  Some aid programs can’t be used for minimester units, and others can.
• To borrow federal loans during any term (fall, spring, or summer), undergraduate students must enroll for at least 6 credits per term (can be combination of credits earned at home and abroad). 
• Pre-existing grants/scholarships cannot be increased based on study abroad/away costs.

Applying for Study  Abroad & Away Aid

• Apply for Study Abroad & Away Scholarships.
• To apply for federal loans and need-grants, if you haven’t already done so, you must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
• For summer loans and Pell Grants, you must also complete a Summer Aid Application.  The Financial Aid Office will not be able to officially offer you any summer aid until after you have officially registered for your summer study abroad or away classes.  To request an estimate of your summer aid eligibility, email finaid AT_TOWSON or call 410-704-4236 to schedule an appointment with your Financial Aid Advisor.

Study Abroad & Away Aid Procedures

If you plan to use any financial aid (including loans) during your study abroad/away term, please carefully follow these procedures.

1. Compare your expected study abroad/away costs to your current financial aid offers to determine if you will need additional loan funds or personal funds to cover your study abroad/away costs. 
2. If you will receive any financial aid during your study abroad/away term, once you have made a final decision to study abroad/away, you should request a Study Abroad/Away Aid Budget and should submit it to the TU Financial Aid Office.  (This budget will list your estimated program costs including tuition, airfare, personal expenses, and any additional fees.)
3. After you receive your Study Abroad/Away Budget, email it to finaid AT_TOWSON or call 410-704-4236 to schedule an appointment with your Financial Aid Advisor to review your aid options.
4. After your aid is disbursed to your TU Student & University Billing Office account, if your aid exceeds your charges, the Student & University Billing Office will send you an aid rebate (no earlier than 10 days before the first day of classes each term at TU).
5. Make sure that you enroll for direct deposit of your rebate through the Student & University Billing Office Disbursement Online Center (DOC)!
6. Even while you are abroad or away, you must regularly check your TU email to receive important aid information. 
7. If you have any aid questions, please email finaid AT_TOWSON or call 410-704-4236 to schedule an appointment with your Financial Aid Advisor.

Submitting a Study Abroad/Away Budget

Submitting an aid budget can help in two ways:

1. If we increase your standard aid budget based on your study abroad/away costs, we may be able to increase the total amount of loans that you are eligible to borrow for that term.
2. If you receive additional aid and your new combined aid exceeds your standard financial need or budget limits, we might be forced to reduce your aid offers to correct the over-award, but if you submit a study abroad/away budget, we can increase your budget based on your additional study abroad/away costs.

To request your Study Abroad/Away Budget, email your Study Abroad & Away Advisor.