Study Abroad / Transient

Attention: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:

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.  An organization named Student Financial Aid Services is offering to file your FAFSA from their web site (www.fafsa.com).  This is not a free service!!!!  You can file your FAFSA electronically on the Department of Education's web site ( www.fafsa.ed.gov ).  If you file your application through the Department of Education, it is completely free!!!!!!!!!

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.

5.  A written agreement with the "host" school is required.  An individual agreement must be negotiated for each term that you participate in the Study Abroad/Transient program.  The Financial Aid Counselor will negotiate a  consortium agreement for you after all requirements in step #4 have been met.

6. Deposits and advance payments are your responsibility.  No 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" school 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.

Click here for a Study Abroad / Transient Checklist