Study Abroad

Financial Aid

According to the Higher Education Act of 1965, federal financial aid can be applied to study abroad if you are registered as a full-time student and if you will receive course credit for your study abroad.  Both federal and state sources may be applied to up to a year of study abroad. Note that the size of your award may be adjusted if the cost of the study abroad program is greater than your school’s tuition.

IWU financial aid may be applied to one international May Term course and one semester abroad through an approved study abroad program (see list of Programs).  Exceptions to the policy are granted for academic-year programs in one location (e.g., the Pembroke College program at Oxford University), for participants in the IWU London and IWU Madrid programs, and for students who successfully petition for a second semester of study abroad (see the Petitions page for more details). Note, though, that work-study awards cannot be used for any form of off-campus study.

The cost of studying abroad will vary depending on the program and study abroad location.  Students should note that financial aid packages will be proportionally reduced if comprehensive study abroad costs are significantly lower than IWU’s comprehensive fee.  Similarly, if program fees and/or travel costs are significantly higher than the cost of a semester at IWU, students or their parents will be required to pay the difference.

Additional sources of financial aid in the form of scholarships  are available for studying abroad.