Financial Aid

Step 1: Complete a FAFSA if you have not done so for the academic year

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be filed online by March 15^th for each upcoming school year. An academic year begins with the fall semester and ends with the summer session. It takes approximately 1 month for aid to be processed after a FAFSA has been filed.

If you haven't filed a FAFSA but want to apply for financial aid for a summer program, you can still do so.

Note: If you are a resident of the District of Columbia and receive DCTAG funding, please note that DCTAG will not award funds for any semester you choose to study abroad.

Step 2: Meet with your Financial Aid Counselor

Your financial aid counselor will explain financing options for your specific program of study, as well as determine the amount of aid you are eligible for during the time you are abroad. (Grant eligibility may decrease if the total cost of attendance is less than the standard cost of attendance for the year.) It takes time to work out the details, so please arrange to meet early in the semester before your departure.

To find out who your Financial Aid Counselor is, please visit the Financial Aid site here. 

Step 3: Complete and submit a Refund Disbursement Form (pdf)

The Financial Aid Disbursement Form is required of students who receive money awarded or directly processed by the Financial Aid Office. Refund checks are typically mailed to a student's home address. It is best to list the name of the person paying for the study abroad program, typically the student's family member. This form must be submitted to the Reves Center as early as possible. This form ensures that student accounts has the most current address on file. Once completed, students should return the form to the Reves Center.

Step 4: Complete and submit a Study Abroad Consortium Agreement (pdf)

The Consortium Agreement is required of students who receive money awarded or directly processed by the Financial Aid Office. This form must be submitted to the Reves Center as early as possible. The student must complete the top portion and indicate their intended program of study (university or program provider). The form will be faxed to the university or program provider who will fill in the estimated costs for tuition, housing fees, books and airfare. The financial aid office will use this to determine a student's financial aid package for study abroad.

Students must complete the top portion of the form, and submit it to the Reves Center. After processing, Reves staff will forward the form to the Financial Aid Office; a copy will be kept in students' individual files.

(Note: students on non-W&M programs will need to submit their provider's name and fax number with their form. Reves staff will fax it to the provider, but students should check back in a week to confirm that the provider completed and returned the form.)

Financial aid is disbursed according to the disbursement schedule set by the Financial Aid Office for on-campus students.  If your program starts before the W&M semester, you may have to pay program fees, living expenses, and airfare before receiving the disbursement. Many study abroad providers will accept payment of program fees after the published deadline if you contact them and submit the appropriate paperwork confirming your financial aid package.

We are no longer requesting all study abroad students complete a consortium agreement or financial aid disbursement form. To better assist students in determining when to complete a form, please refer to the chart below.

NON-WM AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

**Tuition Management System can only be used for exchange programs**