ISA FUNDING 101
What is the ISA?

The ISA was created to support Yale
College students who receive
financial aid during the academic
year to participate in at least one
international experience.
Who pays for the ISA?
Each year, ISAs are paid by Yale College
and through the generosity of donor funds.
 Each ISA recipient is required to submit a
report about their experience, and to thank
the donors who helped fund this experience.
 In summer 2013, nearly 450 students
received the ISA and nearly $3.5 million
dollars was spent in ISA funding.

Who is eligible for an ISA?


Generally freshmen, sophomores and juniors who have not
received an ISA award before, including a SIC only award.
They must have received Yale Scholarship in the preceding
award year (with the exception of Light Fellows) and plan
to attend an approved program that is four weeks or
longer. Full eligibility criteria can be found here
http://www.yale.edu/yalecollege/international/funding/isa
/eligibility.html, including the Leave of Absence policy.
The ISA does not support independent projects (like
research or internships) unless a student receives fellowship
funds, in which case s/he may be eligible to receive the ISA
SIC.
How do I check my eligibility?

Students who receive Yale financial aid can find out
what their percentage award will be on the Student
Information System: www.yale.edu/sis.
Log in.
 Go to the Financial Aid Menu.
 Click on the International Summer Award Calculator at
the bottom.

Types of ISAs

Eligible
students may
receive one of
the following
types of ISAs,
depending on
their summer
activity:

ISA-SIC for Fellowships
International Summer Award - Student
Income Contribution
ISA-SIC Plus for Study or Internship
Programs
International Summer Award - Student
Income Contribution, plus a percentage
of program costs
What programs are ISA SIC Plus eligible?
Study Abroad


Eligible study abroad
programs must be on the
approved list, and must be
at least 4 weeks in duration
Students receiving ISA
funding to support study
abroad must also be
receiving academic credit
for their experience
Internships


Eligible internship
programs must be
UCS-sponsored, and
must be at least 8
weeks in duration.
Eligible internships are
listed in UCS’
Symplicity database
ISA-SIC for Fellowships
International Summer Award - Student Income
Contribution
 The ISA-SIC provides a pro-rated* amount of the
Student Income Contribution (SIC) to be used toward
Fall semester expenses.
 Students who win a Yale funded summer fellowship
for an international activity of four or more weeks
duration may be eligible for ISA-SIC funding. More
information on fellowships can be found at in the
Student Grants & Fellowship Database at
http://studentgrants.yale.edu/.
How much is the Student Income Contribution (SIC) for
summer 2013?


The summer 2013 SIC grant was $3000. The
summer 2014 SIC grant amount will be announced
in March 2014. The SIC award will be prorated
according to the length of your program.
Students on financial aid who do not have a
Student Income Contribution (SIC) requirement are
not eligible for the ISA-SIC or the SIC portion of
the ISA-SIC Plus. However, these students may be
eligible for the additional funding portion of the
ISA-SIC Plus.
ISA-SIC Plus for Study or Internship Programs
International Summer Award – Student Income Contribution,
plus a percentage of program costs




The ISA-SIC Plus provides a pro-rated* amount of the Student
Income Contribution (SIC) plus a percentage of the program budget,
based on the student's need for financial aid in 2013-2014.
Students participating in an ISA eligible program may be eligible
for ISA-SIC Plus funding.
The maximum amount of ISA-SIC Plus funding will not exceed
$10,000. This amount includes the Student Income Contribution (SIC).
*The SIC amount that a student receives will be pro-rated based on
the length of the student's experience abroad. This award assists
with Fall expenses.
What is the program cost?

2013 budgets are available on
the website, and 2014 budgets
will be posted soon so students
can use those to estimate program
costs.
Please Note:


A student’s total scholarships and fellowships cannot
exceed the total program budget, just like financial
aid for the academic year.
If a student’s combined summer scholarships and
fellowships exceed the program budget, the ISA
award would be adjusted.
How do I apply for ISA financial aid?



Please note that there is an ISA application
which is separate from your program
application.
The ISA application opens on February 15,
and you can access the application by going to
www.yale.edu/isa and clicking “Apply for the
ISA”.
The ISA application deadline is May 1.
Navigating the ISA Website
ISA Award Example


ISA SIC Plus Funding Example
In the 2013-2014 award year Emily is considering several ISA
options. She has 70% eligibility. The three programs she is
considering below are 8 weeks long and eligible for ISA-SIC
Plus funding.
What does the shortfall mean?



Since Emily has 70% ISA eligibility, she will be responsible for
a portion of the cost. Students who are short a portion of the
program cost will need to pay out of pocket for that expense.
For Programs 2 and 3 we are not able to award Emily her full
eligibility because of the ISA cap. This means her family will
be responsible for a greater portion of the program cost
and/or SIC.
We recommend creating a plan to raise the amount you need
through self-funding options, like taking advantage of Yale
employment, holding a fundraiser, or asking friends and family
to help. We find students who do ask friends and family for
financial assistance have the most success when they treat their
request like a presentation: go in with all the facts, show them
how you will benefit, and be able to articulate specifically
what you’re asking them for.
Can I borrow to offset the cost of abroad expenses?

Students in Yale Summer Session or
participating in Yale in London may be
able to borrow to cover any gap in their
program costs, or to cover New Haven
room and board expenses. Please
contact Financial Aid for details on
eligibility and for the application.
When and how are funds received?



Students can expect their funds in early May. If you participate in Yale in
London or Yale Summer Session you will receive charges and credits
through your Yale Student Account. You should check your Account History
to view them.
All other students will receive checks which can be picked up at the
Cashier’s office. You will receive an email from refund@yale.edu as soon
as the check is available. In the unlikely event you’ve already left campus
when the funds are available, please respond to the email from
refund@yale.edu and ask them to mail the check to a US address. You will
need to respond to their reply email to authorize the mailing of the check.
In all cases, if you receive SIC Plus funding, the payment will include both
the ISA and any eligible SIC funding. It is the student’s responsibility to put
the SIC portion aside for next year’s expenses.
What if fees are due before I get my ISA
payment?

Program deposits and early airfare fees are
the responsibility of the student. We may be
able to provide written confirmation of your
percentage eligibility once accepted to the
program, and some programs will reduce or
postpone the required deposit with that
documentation. We are unable to advance
funds to a student under any circumstances.
By accepting the ISA, you agree to the following terms:


If a student’s plans change and s/he is no longer eligible for the
ISA, then s/he are required to return any ISA funding that s/he
may have already received.
Students must use the ISA only for approved expenses. If students
withdraw or fail to complete the program, that student will be
required to return all or part of the funds. Likewise, federal funds
received for summer programs may also have to be returned in
accordance with federal regulations.
By accepting the ISA, you agree to the following terms:



Upon completion of my time abroad, all ISA recipients must
submit a report about their experience that may be sent to
donors who helped to fund their experience.
Failure to submit the ISA report by the September 1st deadline
will result in your access being blocked for a semester or longer
to Undergraduate Career Services’ Simplicity system, which will
block your ability to search and apply for internship programs,
post-graduate jobs, UCS and employer-sponsored events, and
alumni networking resources.
Students using ISA funding to participate in a non-Yale summer
study abroad program must earn Yale credit. This means that
students must earn the US equivalent of a C- or greater in my
courses abroad.
Questions?
Thank you!
http://www.yale.edu/isa
MyCIPE@yale.edu