Financial Aid, Loans & Grants
Policies and procedures regarding Payments & Financial Aid are also available.
How can I fund my Travel-Study program?
There are a variety of financial assistance options available to undergraduate students participating in study abroad programs. The best place to start researching financial opportunities is with your home-campus financial aid counselor who can help you with determining your eligibility for state and federal aid, as well as finding extra sources that may be available on your campus, and which are appropriate for you.
Please note that the Travel-Study office does not administer, award, or provide counseling on financial aid. Rather, eligibility for federal or school-based aid is determined on an individual basis by financial aid counselors on your home-campus. For UC students, please make sure to notify counselors that this is a Summer Session Travel-Study Program (not EAP or another travel abroad program). If you are a UC student, and have available aid, you should be able to use the aid towards enrolling in UCI Summer Session (which includes our Travel-Study Programs). We recommend that you communicate with your financial aid counselor as early as possible to determine your eligibility.
For UCI students, you should visit www.ofas.uci.edu and log in to My Aid to estimate your Summer 2010 eligibility.
For specific information and costs for the UCI Summer programs please visit the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships..
Below are some popular loans and grants for your reference. This list is not exhaustive, and personal research may help you find additional opportunities.
Federal Grants
- Federal Pell Grant
The Pell Grant is a need-based grant. To qualify, you must be a full-time undergraduate student with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) below the limit determined each year. Speak with your financial aid adviser for current information.
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunities Grant (SEOG grant) This need-based grant is awarded to those students demonstrating the greatest financial need. Students typically must qualify for the federal Pell Grant to receive an SEOG Grant. Speak with your financial aid adviser for current information.
Federal Loans
- Federal Stafford Loan
To be eligible for a Stafford Loan you must complete the current academic school year FASFA application. The Stafford Loan offers two main options, a Loan in your name or a loan in your Parent’s name, also referred to as a Parent Loan. If the loan is subsidized, the government will pay the interest while you are in school. If the loan is unsubsidized, you have the option of capitalizing the interest or of paying the interest quarterly during the in-school period. Payment of the principal itself (for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans) does not begin until six months after graduation. Speak with your financial aid adviser for current information.
- Federal Perkins Loan
The Perkins Loan is a low-interest loan awarded to those students demonstrating the greatest financial need. Speak with your financial aid adviser for current information.
Other Types of Aid
- David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships for Study Abroad The National Security Education Program (NSEP) provides scholarships to undergraduate students who wish to study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad. NSEPfocuses on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. national security and international relations. Visit their website for eligibility and a complete list of countries.
- Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
The Benjamin A. Gilman InternationalScholarship Programis open to all U.S. citizen undergraduates, in good academic standing, who meet the following criteria:
- The applicant must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant or provide proof that he/she will be receiving a Pell Grant at the time of application or during the term of his/her study abroad.
- The applicant is applying to or has been accepted into a study abroad program eligible for credit by the student's accredited institution of higher education in the U.S.
- The applicant is studying abroad for at least 28 days in one country. Programs going to more than one country are eligible if the student will be studying in one country for at least 28 consecutive days.
The Gilman Scholarship Program is piloting a special summer award cycle for students participating in summer 2010 study abroad programs. To be eligible applicants must meet all of the criteria listed above and must be majoring in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math (STEM) field.
- AIFS Study Abroad Scholarships
Students who are studying abroad on summer programs are eligible to receive AIFS grants, provided that they are studying through affiliate institutions; UCI is already an affiliate institution. There is also a special scholarship that students may apply for if they are in exceptional academic standing. Visit the website for more details.
- IIEPassport Study Abroad Funding
A funding resource that allows users to search by country or subject to find study abroad funding information. The comprehensive database includes study abroad scholarships, fellowships, and grants.
- International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search (IEFA)
IEFA is the premier resource for financial aid, college scholarship and grant information for US and international students wishing to study abroad. At this site, you will find the most comprehensive college scholarship search and grant listings plus international student loan programs and other information to promote study abroad.
- The International Education Finance Corporation (IEFC)
IEFC is the premier provider of international student loan programs for the rapidly growing population of students who wish to study in foreign countries.
