Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising
Heidi Johnson
Financial Aid Senior Advisor
UW-Madison
Overview
• Value of study abroad
• Advising students on selection and
budgeting
• Strategies for selecting a study abroad program
• Sample budgets
• Tips on saving money abroad
• Financial Aid applicability
• Study abroad scholarships
• Benjamin A. Gilman
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
By studying abroad students develop:
• an understanding of themselves culturally and the ability
to use this knowledge to live and work effectively in diverse
settings and with diverse individuals
• the knowledge and skills associated with international,
global, and intercultural content areas such as language,
geography, history;
• a desire and ability to seek out and use diverse sources of
information to inform their decision making; and
• a desire and ability to engage in communities of practice
as citizens and scholars.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising
Advising students on selection
and budgeting
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Selecting a Program
• Consider different types of programs.
• Semester v. Full Year v. Short-Term
• Affiliated/Third-Party v. Exchange
• Internship
• Look outside of Western Europe for less
expensive options.
• Consider what is included in the program costs.
• Excursions?
• Local transportation?
• Insurance?
• Visa processing?
• Comparison shop.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Budgets
• Know your current direct costs.
• Tuition and Fees/Room and Board
• Understand the costs of your study abroad
program.
• Develop a sense of what your current personal
expenses are.
• Develop a sense of what cost of attendance is your
“bottom line.”
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Budgets
UW –Madison Sample Undergraduate Budgets
Wisconsin students/semester
Undergraduate
Out-of-state students/semester
Undergraduate
Tuition
$5,201 (12 Cr.)
$13,326 (12 Cr.)
Room and Board
$4,590
$4,590
Books and Supplies
$600
$600
Miscellaneous &
Travel
$1,719
$1,719
Total Budget
$12,110
$20,235
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
UW-Madison Sample Exchange Budget
Sydney Australia, University of Sydney Exchange
In State Resident
Program Fee
$6650.00(fixed cost)
Estimated Additional Expenses:
Airfare
$2200.00
Health Insurance
$200.00
Books and Supplies
$500.00
Housing
$5000.00
Local Transportation
$500.00
Meals
$1650.00
Personal/Miscellaneous
$1900.00
Visa
$580.00
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,180.00
Program Fee includes academic expenses, administrative
costs, mandatory health insurance, orientation and
internship placement. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
UW-Madison Sample Direct Enrollment Budget
Sydney, Australia, Macquarie University
In State Resident
Program Fee
$11,700.00 (fixed cost)
Estimated Additional Expenses:
Airfare
$2200.00
Health Insurance
$300.00
Books and Supplies
$400.00
Housing
$4000.00
Local Transportation
$800.00
Meals
$1450.00
Personal/Miscellaneous
$1500.00
Visa
$580.00
Total Cost of Attendance
$22,930.00
Program Fee includes academic expenses, administrative
costs, mandatory health insurance, orientation.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Budgeting Tips
Before you go…
• Create a personal budget
• Do your research
• Travel guides, websites
• Look for group or student fares
• STA, Student Universe
• Apply for discount cards, memberships
• ISIC, IYH, YHA
• Check your bank
• Make sure you understand what fees you’ll be
charged for using your ATM or credit card abroad;
research fees with other banks.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Budgeting Tips
While you are there…
• Travel
• Plan trips ahead of time.
• Explore your host city.
• Eating
• Eat in by cooking instead of eating meals out.
• Share meals.
• Eat like a local: shop local markets, get staff
suggestions for cafés.
• Identify inexpensive places where domestic
students eat.
• Avoid tourist traps
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Budgeting Tips
• Communication
• Use Skype and pre-paid calling cards.
• Send old-fashioned letters and postcards.
• Transportation
• Use buses and metro rather than cabs; walk!
• For trips, remember to compare train and air
prices.
• Think about overnight travel—save the cost of a
room.
• Shopping
• Wait to buy! Especially for souvenirs, compare
prices.
• If bartering is part of the local custom, then barter.
• Local Markets often less expensive than stores
• Take a local friend with you to get a better deal.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Budgeting Tips
• Money
• Follow your budget! Keep track of what you spend.
• Pay cash: it’s easy to overspend with credit cards.
• Don’t carry lots of cash with you—less temptation
to spend.
• Use your discount cards (ISIC, IYH, university ID).
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising
Commonly Asked Questions
•
Can I use my financial aid to pay for my study abroad program?
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Can I use work study while studying abroad?
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You will need to check with the donor of the scholarship to determine if it may
be used for study abroad.
How can I apply for scholarships for study abroad?
•
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No.
What about my scholarships?
•
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Yes, generally students can apply their financial aid (including loans) to assist in
covering the cost of studying abroad.
Check with the college/department sponsoring your study abroad program as
well as your home college/department. Your Study Abroad Office may also
administer scholarships for study abroad.
I have been awarded my maximum amounts in FAFSA aid. What are my other options
beyond scholarships?
•
Once you have exhausted your FAFSA eligibility for the year in addition to
applying for scholarships, you may also be eligible to apply for a Parent PLUS or
private student loan up to your cost of attendance (i.e. study abroad financial
aid budget).
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising
Commonly Asked Questions
•
How will my charges be paid?
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Where will my refund check be mailed?
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If you are being billed through your home school’s Bursar’s Office, your
financial aid will first be applied to your study abroad program fees. If a credit
balance is created a refund check will be distributed to you. If your financial aid
does not cover your charges in full you will be responsible for paying the
difference by the due date. If you are not being billed by your home school’s
Bursar’s Office your financial aid will be sent to you as a refund and you will be
responsible for using the refund to pay your bill by the due date.
Your refund check will be mailed to your current mailing address as listed with
your home school. We encourage you to update your address to someone who
can deposit the check for you as you will be traveling when the checks are
mailed after disbursement takes place.
Can I pick up my refund check in person?
•
No, refund checks must be mailed or direct deposited into your checking or
savings account.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising
Using Financial Aid to Fund
Study Abroad
What funds are applicable?
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Financial Aid and Study Abroad
•
Financial aid resources may be used for education
abroad.
• Higher Education Act: Allows students to use
federal aid for education abroad if credit is
approved by home institution
• Consortium agreement with another institution
• Federal aid follows the student, not institution
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Financial Aid and Study Abroad
•
•
File a Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA.gov)
Financial aid for education abroad usually
comes in the form of federal grants and
federal or private loans.
• Scholarship money is critical.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Financial Aid and Study Abroad
•
•
Types of Aid Available
Federal Grants
• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental
Educational Opportunities Grant
(SEOG)
Federal Loans
• Federal Direct Loans
• Federal Perkins Loans
• Federal Parent PLUS Loans for
Undergraduate Students
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Financial Aid and Study Abroad
Types of Aid Available
•
•
•
•
Private Loans
• Nonfederal educational loan issued by a private
lender
State Aid
• Wisconsin Higher Education Grant, Wisconsin
Tuition Grant, State of Wisconsin Travel Grant
Institutional Aid
• Some institutions may allow you to apply aid
you would normally receive while on-campus
Study Abroad Scholarships
• National, local and institutional
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Financial Aid and Study Abroad
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•
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Develop special budgets for financial aid
• Example: Program fee, tuition and
additional costs
• Advise that costs are per program, not
student
Funds may be disbursed no earlier than 10
days prior to first of classes
Refunding of excess financial aid
Options for advance costs such as airfare
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Working with the Study Abroad Office
The Study Abroad Process
1. Students are registered for the study abroad placeholder credits and are
assigned the Off Campus Program checklist.
2. I am sent the lists of participants with their program information and costs of
attendance. UW-Madison offers study abroad programs through the following
offices/departments:
International Academic Programs (IAP)
School of Business
College of Engineering
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
School of Law
College of Human Ecology
Political Science Department
3. I update the students’ costs of attendance to reflect the information provided
and Award Reconciliation revises students’ financial aid awards as applicable.
4. I complete the Off Campus Program checklist.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Working with the Study Abroad Office
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Working with the Study Abroad Office
How can we best work together?
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•
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Funding is a crucial piece of the study abroad
decision process
Is there a financial aid advisor dedicated to study
abroad students?
Communication and coordination are key to
working with the Study Abroad Office
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising
Scholarships for Study Abroad
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Scholarships for Study Abroad
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•
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Study Abroad Office scholarships
Departmental scholarships designated for
study abroad
University Wide and Departmental
scholarships which may be used for study
abroad
National Scholarships
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Scholarships for Study Abroad
Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship
•
The program aims to diversify the kinds of
students who study abroad and the countries and
regions where they go by supporting
undergraduates who might otherwise not
participate due to financial constraints.
•
Funded through the US Department of State
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Scholarships for Study Abroad
Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship
Eligibility Criteria
• U.S. Citizen
• Undergraduate student
• Federal Pell Grant recipient
• Receiving academic credit
• Anywhere in the world not currently under a U.S.
Department of State Travel Warning or Cuba
• Minimum four weeks duration in one location
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Scholarships for Study Abroad
Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship
Tips for Writing a Competitive Essay:
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Why you, why this program and why this location?
Be specific about diversity in your essay
• The reader will not know your background unless you write
about it
• Talk about the challenges you have overcome
Make sure you proofread your essay
Talk to your study abroad advisor and your campus’s writing center
Follow-on project should:
• Give back and inspire others to go abroad
• Be realistic and attainable
• Partner with established organizations
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising
Questions
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising
Thank you for attending!
Heidi Johnson
heidi.johnson@finaid.wisc.edu
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison