Education Abroad

Students who enroll in coursework that satisfies degree requirements while doing a study abroad program and for which is approved for credit by WWU can be considered for financial aid in most cases.

Preparation

  • Contact the Education Abroad Office to start the planning process
  • Consider whether you intend to use financial aid to help fund your program:
    • Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for federal and, if you are a resident, state financial aid.
    • Review the Financial Aid Checklist to ensure you have completed important steps necessary for general financial aid eligibility.
    • Visit the Financial Aid Services Center after working with Education Abroad to discuss your eligibility or if you have additional questions.
    • Complete paperwork with your program such as deferment for your payments to your program- contact our office for assistance with completing required paperwork.
  • Contact the Scholarship Center if you are receiving a departmental or private scholarship 

Financial Aid Funding

Once your program is confirmed, your financial aid offer will be updated to reflect your eligibility based on your program. Your Cost of Attendance (COA) will be increased or decreased depending on the approved study abroad COA. Your Student Aid Index (SAI) will not change based on the change in COA.  If your program cost is greater than your original COA to attend WWU, your overall need increases and the inverse may occur as well.  This doesn't always mean an increase OR decrease in financial aid.

Your financial aid offer will depend on your aid eligibility and availability of funds. Often students have a gap between their financial offer and the cost of attendance just like when they attend WWU. Many of the aid types available are also eligible to fund your approved study abroad program.

The following aid programs are eligible for use in Education Abroad:

  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant
  • Federal TEACH Grant
  • Federal Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized Loans
  • Federal Direct PLUS Loans (Parent PLUS or Graduate PLUS)
  • Washington College Grant
  • College Bound Scholarship
  • WA Bridge Grant
  • Private Scholarships (depending on donor requirements)

The following aid types are not eligible to fund a study abroad program:

  • Work Study
  • Western Grant or Tuition Waiver
  • Admissions Achievement Award, Admissions Recognition Waivers, Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), or other Admissions Scholarships
  • Multicultural Achievement Program (MAP) Scholarship
  • Other Western Tuition Waivers

Summer Financial Aid Estimator for Study Abroad

If you plan on studying abroad during summer quarter, you may use the Summer Education Abroad Loan Estimator to calculate your potential loan eligibility. Additional information for other aid types is available on the summer financial aid page.