Student FAQS

Common student questions that Ed Abroad and Faculty are asked. Read through these FAQs before in-person marketing and as questions come up from students in all stages of the study abroad process.

Finances

& Billing:

Can I use my financial aid?

Yes, financial aid available for summer study abroad program.

Direct student to Ed Abroad if they use financial aid or communicate that they are concerned about finances. We want to make sure students know resources available to help fund their study abroad and prepare in advance for the cost.

Steps for financial aid students:

Fill out the financial aid budget sheet, available in their application for their planning purposes only
Apply for summer financial aid with the VCU Financial Aid office
Plan for expenses not covered by aid

Let's make sure students know resources available to help fund their study abroad and prepare in advance for the cost.

Students should also look into applying for scholarships for additional funding. See funding options Student FAQs below!

When will I be billed for my program?

Charges for summer programs are usually posted to student's VCU account the beginning of the summer term.

Payment of charges is based on VCU Student Accounting summer deadlines, which is usually 30 days after the billing date.

It is important to talk to each student about the fee and tuition breakdown of the program before and after acceptance into the program. Send students to Ed Abroad to discuss more in detail.

Can I use my GI Bill or veteran benefits?

GI Bill or veteran benefits may be able to go towards study abroad tuition costs.

This heavily depends on the student's program choice. Students should discuss this with Ed Abroad before committing to a VCU faculty-led program. Students should make Military Student Services and Ed Abroad aware that they want to use GI Bill or veteran benefits.

How will I be billed for my program?

Programs with a program fee charge and VCU tuition charge will see two line items billed: Program fee(minus $250 deposit) + applicable VCU tuition

Programs with only the program fee charge will only have one line item: Program fee(minus $250 deposit)

Students may use the same payment methods listed on VCU Student Accounting normally used to pay their student account.

It is important to talk to each student about the fee and tuition breakdown of the program before and after acceptance into the program. Send students to Ed Abroad to discuss more in detail.

Can I use my VA 529 Prepaid funds?

VA 529 prepaid funds can go towards study abroad costs.

This heavily depends on the student speaking with VA 529 to find out if they have funds available for the summer. Students should make the Ed Abroad liaison aware that they intend to use their 529 prepaid tuition plan.

Funding Options:

What additional options are there to fund study abroad?

Try some creative funding ideas, like gofundme.com. Saving what you can from a job or birthday money helps, too.

The VCU Financial Aid office can talk with student about PLUS loan options.

All in addition to Ed Abroad and VCU departments and external scholarships available.

When should I apply to scholarships?

Ed Abroad and VCU departments offer scholarships and there are several external scholarships available. Most scholarship deadline are a year to a semester in advance of the program term. Planning ahead is key!

The Gilman scholarship is possible for pell grant recipients who are participating on a 3 week or longer program.

Advise student to apply to as many scholarships as they are eligible. It may be the first time for a student to apply to a scholarship, so connecting them to the VCU Writing Center, Ed Abroad, and their academic department as resources to support their application.

Are there scholarships that I can apply for?

The Gilman scholarship is possible for pell grant recipients who are participating on a 3 week or longer program.

It would be smart to identify and point out a couple scholarship opportunities that will work for students on your program.

Let's make sure students know resources available to help fund their study abroad and prepare in advance for the cost.

Application Process

Can I apply to the program if I am about to graduate?

Yes, this can be done through a couple options:

The student may chose to apply to graduate as planned and then participate on the program as a non-VCU student, pending faculty member permission.

The student may chose to defer graduation until summer so to participate on the program as a VCU student. This option will give student access to financial aid (if using aid, have aid available for the summer, and are enrolled full-time during summer-6 credits).

For both of these options, the student would still be responsible for the program fee and applicable tuition for the VCU course on the program. It is not allowable to participate on the program and not take the course.

Some faculty members have offered students in this case the option of an independent study, in replace of the course, which is solely to the discretion of the faculty.

How do I withdraw from the program?

Let Ed Abroad know asap if a student shares that they are considering withdrawing. It is best for us to know this and be able to work with the student sooner rather than later.

We will discuss the situation with the student and possible options for them to consider, as well as the withdrawal policy outlined in their application.

All withdrawal requests will need to be submitted to Ed Abroad in writing.

How do I enroll in the course?

Ed Abroad will enroll all students in an STUA placeholder course to flag students as 'study abroad students'.

Ed Abroad will also enroll students in their chosen VCU course. Remember that if your program includes a VCU course that will be transcripted my a foreign university, then students are not enrolled at VCU for that VCU course.

It is important for students to communicate desired changes to their course choice asap. Study abroad students are still held accountable to the add/drop deadline for their summer course abroad.

Why is my application still pending, since I have completed everything?

Be sure to take a look at the "insert tab title" guide on the program site.

Most likely the student thinks they have completed everything, but in reality has not.

Or, it could be that the student has indeed completed all of their application components, but Ed Abroad does not yet have a cleared conduct check. Take a look at the student application process as a refresher.

Recommend that the student checks that they have done all that they need to, and remind the student to be patient. Ed Abroad is continually monitoring applications.

What do I do now that my application status has changed from 'pending' to 'approved'?

Students will get an email accounting their acceptance.

DO NOT advise for the student to make firm arrangements until the program is approved to run (meets minimum enrollment requirements).

Students will receive an official email from Ed Abroad stating program will run and to start making arrangement for flights.