Student Responsibilities

• File a FAFSA no later than 3 months before the trip leaves
• Check their My.emich accounts for any outstanding requirements
• Check their My.emich account to make sure they have enough money for their trip. If not, they need to have a parent take out the PLUS loan, or they need to apply for an alternative loan. (It takes 2-3 weeks to have an alternative/PLUS loan processed)
• If a student leaves on their trip before the semester begins, they need to contact Kate for an advance refund check. (The earliest that a check can be cut is 2 weeks before a trip leaves)

Deadlines and Important dates

• Winter Trips
• Alternative or Plus loan applications should be completed no later than December 11th to ensure that they will be processed on time
• Winter Break Trips
• Alternative or Plus loan applications should be completed no later than February 5th to ensure that they will be processed on time
• Spring/Summer Trips.
• Spring/Summer applications should be available February 15th
• Alternative or Plus loan applications should be completed no later than 4 weeks before the trip leaves to ensure that they will be processed on time
• A Spring/Summer application should be submitted no later than 6 weeks before a trip leaves
• Fall Trips
• Ideally the FAFSA should be done by February 15th for trips leaving in September the following fall semester. This gives the student the greatest chance to receive priority financial aid.

Common Misconceptions

• Students come to financial aid under the impression that we have special grant funds for study abroad students.
• Financial Aid does not have special grant funds for study abroad programs. Students can apply for study abroad scholarships.
• The Office of Financial Aid can not award funds to cover apartment rent and car payments while a student is on a trip
• Stafford loan limits can be increased for study abroad programs.
• This is false. The Federal Government sets the Stafford loan limits by grade level.

Academic Programs Abroad
Eastern Michigan University
103 Boone Hall
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Voice: 734.487.2424 or toll free 800.777.3541
FAX: 734.487.4377
E-mail : Programs Abroad