Studying abroad is an important part of the college experience for many U-M students, and financial aid is available. The type and amount of financial aid you are eligible to receive depends upon the Study Abroad program you choose.

If you enroll in a UM-sponsored Study Abroad program, you may apply for assistance through the Office of Financial Aid. We encourage you to email us if you have any questions about how your financial aid will be impacted by studying abroad. Non-resident students attending a non-tuition paying Study Abroad program may see a change to their existing financial aid for this experience and should submit the Study Abroad Estimate Worksheet for details.

The University of Michigan Grant is available to eligible U-M undergraduate students who are enrolled in their first bachelor's degree during the first 10 terms of enrollment in a college or university. This includes U-M or any other institution and includes enrollment during spring/summer terms. Email [email protected] for more details.

Depending on the cost of your Study Abroad program, the aid you receive may not meet your full demonstrated financial need. To cover the gap, you may choose to apply for a departmental scholarship, a Study Abroad scholarship, funding from M-Compass, a private scholarship, or a supplemental loan. If you have questions, email our office.

Applying for Aid

Fall and Full-Year (Fall/Winter) Program

Study Abroad forms are found below and are also available on our Forms page as they become available.

  • Follow the instructions to apply for fall/winter aid
  • Download and complete a Fall/Winter Study Abroad Request Form when it is available. This form notifies the Office of Financial Aid that you will be abroad for study. Check with your Study Abroad Program Adviser in your school or college to discuss their process (some advisers will begin this form, and ask you to complete your portion). Note that if you do not complete the form, you will not receive financial aid.

Winter Term-only Programs

  • Follow the instructions to apply for fall/winter aid
  • Download and complete a Winter Study Abroad Financial Aid Request (available in October). This form notifies the Office of Financial Aid that you will be abroad for study. Check with your Study Abroad Program Adviser in your school or college to discuss their process (some advisers will begin this form, and ask you to complete your portion). Note that if you do not complete the form, you will not receive financial aid.

Spring/Summer Programs

  • Download and complete a Spring/Summer Study Abroad Financial Aid Request (available Feb. 1-July 31). This form notifies the Office of Financial Aid that you will be abroad for study. Check with your Study Abroad Program Adviser in your school or college to discuss their process (some advisers will begin this form, and ask you to complete your portion). Note that if you do not complete the form, you will not receive financial aid.

Study Abroad Estimates

Studying Abroad through CGIS?

If you have applied to study abroad through the Center for Global and Intercultural Study Program in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, do not download the forms listed on this page. There is a different process. CGIS staff first completes their portion of the financial aid form and then contacts you to share the partially finished form for you to complete. If you are a CGIS student and have questions, please contact the CGIS office at 734-764-4311 or email [email protected].

Participating in Non-UM Programs

If you enroll in a non-UM-sponsored Study Abroad program and you expect to receive academic credit that will transfer to U-M, check first with your program to see if you may apply for financial aid as a “guest student” through the sponsoring institution.

If you cannot apply for aid through the program sponsor, you may apply for aid through U-M’s Office of Financial Aid but because you are attending a non-UM program, you will be eligible only for federal aid programs. If you have a U-M grant or scholarship and you choose a non-UM program, your scholarship or grant will be canceled for the term abroad; when you return, you must transfer your credits back to have your scholarship reinstated.

If you are receiving a departmental or private scholarship, check to make sure you are eligible for the scholarship while attending a non-UM study abroad program.

Depending on the cost of your program, the financial aid you receive may not meet your full demonstrated financial need. To cover the gap, you may want to apply for a supplemental loan. For more information, contact our office.

Applying for aid: Non-UM Spring/Summer Programs

  • Follow the instructions to apply for fall/winter aid
  • Complete a Consortium Agreement (see below). This agreement notifies the Office of Financial Aid that you will be abroad for a term or terms. If you do not complete the form, our office will not know that you are abroad and you will not receive financial aid.
  • Submit the agreement four to eight weeks before your program start date.

What is a Consortium Agreement?

Consortium agreements allow the Office of Financial Aid to process your federal aid, private scholarships, and/or private loans, even though you are not a registered U-M student during your term(s) abroad. This agreement must be completed by you, your academic advisor and/or the Office of Credit Transfer Evaluation and your Study Abroad program. You will need to obtain signatures and/or paperwork from each office and participant in the agreement. Allow four to eight weeks to complete this process before you leave.

A consortium agreement is needed for any of these situations:

  1. Study Abroad programs that are sponsored by institutions that have a Title IV School Code (e.g., EMU, MSU, WMU). To find out whether the institution sponsoring your program has a Title IV School Code, please visit the FAFSA website.
  2. Study Abroad programs that are sponsored by an agency or foreign university (e.g., CEA, CET, ISA) that does not have a Title IV School Code.
  3. To obtain a consortium agreement, you must meet with a financial aid officer (forms are not available online).

The following programs do not qualify for a consortium agreement:

  • Programs that occur in the United States
  • Sea Semester
  • Semester at Sea
  • Programs in which the student does not earn any credit toward their U-M degree
  • Non-UM programs that take place in countries listed as restricted on the Global Michigan Travel Resource webpage.

Even if the non-UM program is not listed, check eligibility with the Office of Financial Aid. If your program does not qualify, you cannot receive federal aid, private scholarships, and/or a private loan through the university. You will need to fund your study abroad program on your own.

Travel Warnings and Restrictions
  • Undergraduate students are not eligible for financial aid if traveling to a country in a “U-M Travel Restriction" status as posted on the Global Michigan Travel Resource page.
  • Students traveling to countries in a U-M Travel Warning status must be able to document an approved University of Michigan travel safety plan. 
  • The Office of Financial Aid is unable to provide additional support if travel plans suddenly change, including living costs associated with being in-country longer than intended in the event of border closures or high flight costs/repatriation flights to the student's home county. Students traveling to “warning” countries must have an approved safety plan to return home without additional financial assistance from the Office of Financial Aid. 
  • If a study abroad program is converted to remote learning, students are still required to finish the program or financial aid may be revoked or reduced.

Register your travel with U-M

The university encourages all U-M travelers to register their travel so that they can be notified quickly in case of an emergency, regardless of how the travel is organized or funded. Registration is quick and easy. View the U-M International Travel Policy and visit Global Michigan to register your trip. Your program may have additional international travel requirements.