Study Abroad Financial Aid Eligibility

To request financial aid for studying abroad, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by April 15 prior to the planned semester/term of study abroad. All financial aid requirements must be satisfied as well.

*Students who qualify for WV PROMISE Scholarship and who cannot use the scholarship to study abroad must request to defer their scholarship for the next semester or academic year by contacting West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, Division of Financial Aid, 1018 Kanawha Blvd. East, Suite 700, Charleston, WV, 25301, 304-558-4618 or 1-877-987-7664. Failure to make this request could disqualify you for future WV PROMISE Scholarship eligibility.

Students participating in one of the Marshall Exchange Programs are responsible for paying Marshall University for tuition and fees in addition to any other study abroad fees. Students studying abroad in Marshall Faculty-led Study Abroad Programs or other affiliate study abroad programs are responsible for paying tuition directly with those programs or institutions in addition to any other study abroad fees.

Students who require additional financial assistance (typically student loans) to cover travel expenses in order to study abroad may request consideration of additional financial aid by completing an Appeal for Student Cost of Attendance Budget Adjustment Form and submitting it to the Marshall University Office of Student Financial Assistance.

Completing the Study Abroad Credit Approval Form prior to departing for the Study Abroad program not only has academic significance, but also has sustainable impact on financial aid eligibility both while studying abroad and in future semesters. It is imperative that if the student’s planned and previously approved coursework abroad changes for any reason, the student communicate with the Coordinator of Study Abroad, who will consult with the Office of Admissions, to ensure that the proposed courses taken abroad will transfer in and count toward the student’s degree.

It is also important to understand there are different credit equivalencies when studying abroad. One credit hour in the United States may not be equivalent to one credit hour at another University in a foreign country. Students are responsible for working with the Study Abroad Office, who will consult with the Admission Office, to ensure that full-time enrollment is maintained and that students receive transfer credit hours as anticipated.

Students must be aware that if enrollment status changes from full-time to less-than full-time while studying abroad, the financial aid awarded for the period of enrollment can also change. Also, it is important to be aware that various scholarships require students earn a minimum cumulative GPA and complete a minimum number of credit hours during the academic year for scholarship renewal. In most instances, students must complete a minimum of 30 credit hours each academic year for scholarship renewal.

Upon completion of the semester/term studying abroad, students must immediately request that their official academic transcript be sent from the Registrar at the host institution to Coordinator of Study Abroad, Marshall University, One John Marshall Drive, Old Main 102, Huntington, WV, 25775.

Students’ financial aid will not disburse for the next term of enrollment until the Marshall University Office of Admissions has received and evaluated the student’s official academic transcript from the study abroad institution. An Academic Transcript Requirement will be added to the student’s financial aid record as a Financial Aid Requirement reminding the student that the official academic transcript from abroad is needed before financial aid for a future semester/term can disburse.

Students must meet with a financial aid counselor schedule to receive financial aid counseling for study abroad. Appointments may be made by emailing sfa@marshall.edu or you may visit Old Main 116.

The earliest financial aid can disburse to the student’s Bursar account is 10 days prior to the start of the enrollment period and it is usually released on the first day of the semester/term. Students’ financial aid for studying abroad will not disburse until the start of the semester/term abroad, which is not necessarily the same date as when Marshall releases student aid.