Study Away

Additional information on Study Abroad is available at the Reves Center website.

Important Information for All Study Away Students

• You need to be registered as a full time student to be eligible for Financial Aid. Full time in fall and spring semesters is 12 credits. Full time during summer terms is six credits.  Enrollment in a study abroad program approved for credit by W&M may be considered enrollment at W&M for the purpose of applying for Federal Student Aid programs.
• If you are eligible for grants, they can only be awarded up to the amount you would have received for a regular William & Mary semester. For example, if your budget at William & Mary for the school year was $15,000, but the budget for your program abroad is $26,000, you can only receive grants based on the budget of $15,000. Loans, however, will increase to meet the budget of your study away program.  If the cost of your study away program is LESS than the cost of a regular W&M semester, your grants will be lowered accordingly.
• For the summer term, you are only eligible for loans. If you have already met your Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized or Perkins Loan eligibility limits for the school year, you may be eligible for Parent PLUS or private loans. PLUS and private loans are credit-based.
• If you are receiving financial aid for your study away program, please be aware that there will be no early disbursements of aid. We can only disburse your aid on the first day of your program, no matter when your program begins. If the program you have chosen begins at a time that will cause you financial hardship, you should consider selecting a different program or a different start time (e.g. spring semester instead of fall semester).

William & Mary Sponsored Study Abroad Programs:

1. Follow instructions from the Reves Center for International Studies on obtaining program approval to go abroad.
2. Make sure you have a current FAFSA on file with the Financial Aid Office.  For summer programs, we use the FAFSA for the previous academic year.
3. Complete the consortium agreement specific to your program and a financial aid disbursement form, both provided by the Reves Center as a part of your online study abroad application.  Your financial aid cannot be revised for your program until these forms are completed.
4. You will be sent an award letter stating what funding is available. Make sure the Registrar's Office has your correct address on file to avoid delays in receiving your aid package.
5. Funds may not be disbursed until after your program's starting date. Please plan ahead for upfront costs (e.g.: program deposit, airfare, initial living expenses, etc). These costs are included in the budget when determining your financial aid. You may receive a refund for these expenses.
6. Any refund you are due after tuition payment will be issued by the Bursar's Office. Be sure the necessary forms are completed with them to ensure prompt refund processing.

Study Abroad Programs Not Sponsored by William & Mary:

1. Follow instructions from the Reves Center for International Studies on obtaining program approval to go abroad.
2. Make sure you have a current FAFSA on file with the Financial Aid Office.  For summer programs, the FAFSA is the one for the previous academic year.
3. Complete a Consortium Agreement and a financial aid disbursement form, both provided by the Reves Center as a part of your online study abroad registration. The consortium agreement will first be filled out by the student (top portion only) and then returned to the Reves Center along with a fax number for the host institution or study abroad program.  The consortium agreement will then be faxed to the host institution or study abroad program, and the figures they provide will be submitted to the Financial Aid office.  The Financial Aid Office will determine your financial aid award based on the budget provided by the host institution.
4. You will be sent an award letter stating what funding is available. Make sure the Registrar's Office has your correct address on file to avoid delays in receiving your aid package.
5. The Bursar's Office will issue a check totaling the value of your financial aid package, which you will then use to pay the hosting institution or program.
6. Refunds may not be mailed until after your program's starting date. Please plan ahead for upfront costs (e.g.: airfare, initial living expenses, etc). These costs are usually included in the budget when determining financial aid. Your refund may include these funds.

Domestic Programs

The forms for Study Away (Domestic) are available at the Registrar's website.  Please see below to determine which form you will need.  FINANCIAL AID IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR TAKING COURSES ELSEWHERE DURING THE FALL AND SPRING.

A.  Domestic Study Away - For W&M students who wish to enroll full-time in a specific non-W&M program.  Students remain enrolled at W&M, but receive permission to participate in another school's program.

1. Contact the Registrar's Office for information and approval for a domestic study away program.
2. Once you have received approval, a consortium agreement needs to be filled out by the student and the host institution, and then returned to the Financial Aid Office. Make sure that the host institution fills out this agreement completely. The Financial Aid Office will determine your award based on the budget provided by the host institution.
3. Make sure you have a current FAFSA on file with the Financial Aid Office.
4. You will be sent an award letter stating what funding is available.   If the cost of your program exceeds the cost of a regular W&M semester, the difference will be made up with additional loan eligibility.   Make sure the Registrar's Office has your correct address on file to avoid delays in receiving your aid package.
5. The Bursar's Office will issue a check for your total financial aid package (less any fees), which you will then use to pay the hosting institution or program.
6. Refunds may not be mailed until after your program's starting date. Please plan ahead for upfront costs (e.g., program deposit, airfare, initial living expenses, etc).

B.  Take Courses Elsewhere - Summer - Students may take courses during the summer at another institution, if they receive approval from the Registrar's Office

1. Contact the Registrar's Office for information and approval for a domestic study away program.
2. Once you have received approval, a consortium agreement needs to be filled out by the student and the host institution, and then returned to the Financial Aid Office. Make sure that the host institution fills out this agreement completely. The Financial Aid Office will determine your award based on the budget provided by the host institution.
3. Make sure you have a current FAFSA on file with the Financial Aid Office. You will need to complete a Summer Aid Application.
4. You will be sent an award letter stating what funding is available.   The only aid available for summer classes is loan funding.  Award letters will be sent to the address listed on the Summer Application for Financial Aid.
5. The Bursar's Office will issue a check for your total financial aid package (less any fees), which you will then use to pay the hosting institution or program.
6. Refunds may not be mailed until after your program's starting date. Please plan ahead for upfront costs (e.g., program deposit, airfare, initial living expenses, etc).