Study Abroad & Transient Student Information

Financial Aid is available for Study Abroad and Transient students whose programs meet current WVU policies for acceptance of full academic transcripts.  Students participating must have obtained prior assurance that all courses successfully completed will transfer to WVU and count toward graduation requirements.  Students must also be maintaining satisfactory academic progress .  WVU will be considered the "home" school or degree granting institution and the other institution/agency will be considered the "host" school.  The following programs are approved at this time:

Possible Programs of Study
International Student Exchange Program (ISEP)
National Student Exchange Program (NSEP)
WVU Summer Study Abroad Programs (Foreign Language Department)

Any Study abroad program which has been approved by the Study Abroad Office.  If you are uncertain about your study abroad program,  check with the Study Abroad Advisor at 139 Stansbury Hall, or the Transfer Unit of Admissions and Records.

Any Transient Program which has been approved by your Academic Advisor.  If you are uncertain about your transient program, please check with your Academic Advisor, or the Transfer Unit of Admissions and Records.

To Receive Financial aid for Study Abroad or Transient Study

1.   You must apply for financial aid according to standard procedures for all students (i.e. the Federal aid application--FAFSA--must be completed and mailed to the processor to be considered for assistance for the academic year in which you will enroll as a Study Abroad or Transient student).  You must also speak with the Study Abroad/Transient Financial Aid Counselor in the WVU Financial Aid Office once the financial aid results are on file in the financial aid Office (usually takes 2-3 weeks after you file the FAFSA). 

2.   You must inform the Financial Aid Office of your plans well in advance, 90 days or more, to ensure that disbursements will not be delayed or cancelled.

3.   Study Abroad transient students are eligible for all aid they would receive if they were enrolled for  the same number of credit hours at WVU.  There are some exceptions:  Federal Work Study, some scholarships, and the West Virginia higher education Grant Program (if the student is paying tuition and fees at another institution/agency other than WVU. Scholarship availability should be confirmed with the sponsor of the scholarship.

4.   Study Abroad/Transient students (with the exception of ISEP/NSEP participants) must provide to the Financial Aid Counselor:

a)   a copy of a completed Transient Application (or written verification from the academic department of plans to study outside WVU, and the number of credit hours WVU will accept).
b)   an "official" estimate of the cost of the study abroad/transient program (from brochure, WVU Dept. of Foreign Languages, Study Abroad Advisor, etc.).  Financial aid eligibility is determined by program costs.  Due to limited availability of financial aid, it is recommended that students keep the cost of their program as close to their WVU Cost Of Attendance (COA) as possible.  If your program costs will be  considerably higher, you  should discuss options with the Financial Aid Counselor.
c)   the beginning and ending dates of the program.

6. Deposits and advance payments are your responsibility.  N o disbursements of financial aid can be made before the beginning date of the program or the beginning date of the corresponding WVU term, whichever is later.   Federal Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and PLUS (Parent Loans), are paid in one disbursement at the beginning of each term.

7.   If you are unable to pay charges at the other school, and need a  deferment of those fees until financial aid is available, it is your responsibility to make those arrangements with the "host" institution/agency.

8.   If the "host" ischool requests, financial aid will be sent directly to their Business Office.  Unless you specify otherwise, your refund will be mailed to the local mailing address on file with Admissions and Records.  Any charges owed to WVU must be paid before aid can be used to pay charges at the "host" school.

9.   The Financial Aid Office will keep the WVU Office of Student Accounts apprised of your status and disbursement needs. 

10.   In the event WVU is notified that you have  failed to pay your  financial obligation to another school, WVU is required to restrict access  to your WVU academic records.  Further financial aid cannot be offered until the situation is resolved.

11.   During participation in a Study Abroad/Transient program,you are responsible for keeping your student loans deferred by properly completing deferment request forms, and submitting them to your loan servicer(s).  Deferment forms must be completed by the "host" school, not by WVU.

NOTE:   International/National Exchange Students are considered to be enrolled at WVU for purposes of receiving financial aid, and are charged WVU tuition and fees.  If you are properly registered at WVU during your participation in the exchange program, you will receive automatic deferments for your student loans.  It is not necessary to provide any of the items listed in #4 on this instruction sheet.

Study Abroad/Transient Student Financial Aid Checklist

• Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the enrollment period during which you plan enroll in a Study Abroad or Transient program.
• Make an appointment to see your Academic Advisor and complete a Transient Application.  You will need a separate Transient Application for each term.
• Make an appointment to see the Study Abroad Advisor if you are participating in a WVU sponsored Study Abroad program. Transient students do not need to do this.
• Register for courses at the other institution.
• Make an appointment with the Financial Aid Office to see the Study Abroad/Transient student Financial Aid Counselor.  Bring a copy of your Transient Application and a description of program costs to this meeting.  Appointments need to be made 90 days in advance to ensure that all aid disbursements will be made on time.
• Sign and return, to the Financial Aid Office, the award letter mailed to you.
• Complete, sign, and return the promissory notes mailed to you by the Financial Aid Office.
• Submit a copy of your academic transcript to Admissions and Records and the Study Abroad/Transient Financial Aid Counselor to confirm completion of coursework before additional aid can be disbursed.
  Note: The WVU Financial Aid Counselor will be responsible for disbursing aid.  Money will first be paid to the "host" school and any remaining money will be refunded to you.