To be eligible for U.S. financial aid and the federal student loan programs for international studying you must be a U. S. citizen, a U.S. permanent Resident (with appropriate CIS documentation), an eligible non-citizen (with appropriate documentation) and a citizen of certain Pacific Islands (the free associated states).

There are now over 200,000 citizens studying abroad each year, and this number continues to increase each year. You must be enrolled at least part time, in a degree-granting program, at an eligible institution abroad. Or you must be participating in a study abroad program sponsored or recognized by your eligible home institution in the U.S.

All foreign schools do not offer federal financial aid. The school must be accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and be eligible to participate in federal student aid programs. Federal financial aid is available only to students attending eligible institutions.

You can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) toll free to find out if a school is eligible and the number is: 800-4-FED-AID (433-3243). Also, check with your school to see if it participates. Also, if you try to apply online but your school isn’t on the list, contact Sallie Mae at their website and tell them the name and country of the school and ask for further assistance.

What Loans Are Available?

For the U.S. citizen or non-citizen permanent resident students enrolled in a degree-granting course of study at eligible institutions outside of the U.S. the following federal loans are available: Stafford loans, (subsidized and unsubsidized), Parent PLUS loans, Graduate PLUS loans, Global Health Education Loans Program.

U.S. federal aid at international institutions is available only in the form of Stafford and PLUS loans.

The following private loans are available: Signature Student Loans, MBA LOANS, Tuition Answer Loans, LAWLOANS, and Global Health Education Loan Program (GHELP).

Schools must be approved by the Department of Education to offer the private loans listed above. You cannot apply on any other private loan for yourself.

How Do I Begin?

Complete and submit the FAFSA. Next, obtain your Student Aid Report (SAR). We would recommend you wait at least 24-48 hours after filing your FAFSA online, then call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at (800) 4-FED-AID (433-3243) and ask to have the eight-page hard copy for the full SAR mailed to you.

When your FAFSA information is complete, your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be printed in the upper-right corner. Your EFC is based on the information you provide on the FAFSA; your school uses it to award your financial aid.

When they mail you the detailed SAR, it would be a good idea to keep a copy for yourself and then send the original to the school’s financial aid office for review. Then begin the loan application process.

The school in accordance with federal regulations sets disbursement dates of the loan. The first disbursement date on a federal loan cannot be any earlier than 30 days before the first day of the loan period. Checks will be made co-payable to the school and to you.
The checks will be sent to the school, unless they are requested otherwise.

Some institutions are required to delay delivery of federal funds to first-year undergraduates who are first-time borrowers.