Finances / Financial Aid

Financial Aid

State and federal financial aid from your home institution can often be applied to the costs associated with studying or interning abroad.

This includes Stafford Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, Direct Loans, Pell Grants and more. Read below to learn how you may be able to apply your financial aid to your study or intern abroad program.

WHAT IS FINANCIAL AID?

Financial aid is any aid that you can receive to study towards your degree at your home university.

This includes ALL Loans, Grants and Scholarships (Federal, State, Institutional and Private). Under Federal Law, all Federal Financial Aid that you qualify for (loans and grants) can be used to study abroad if the program you are attending has been approved for credit by your home institution. With State or Institutional Financial Aid, your home institution will decide if the aid can be used to study abroad.

How to Use Financial Aid for Your CIS Abroad Program

Step 1 – Fill out your FAFSA Application
If you haven’t used Financial Aid previously, submit your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Aid) application. All students who apply for Federal Student Aid, must complete the FAFSA process.
Step 2 – Meet with your University Financial Aid Office

After submitting your FAFSA application, prepare to meet with your home institution’s Financial Aid Office.

Before you set up an appointment, it’s best to calculate your proposed costs for your study abroad. CIS Abroad Program Fees may include Tuition Fees, Accommodation and there are additional items like Housing Deposits, Program Deposits, Excursion or Single Room Add-ons. 

You should also consider other expenses besides your Program Fees like Flights, Food and Entertainment, Visa Applications and Textbooks.

You can find guidelines about these costs on our budgeting page.

Once you have a budget, meet with the Financial Aid office and ask the following questions:

  • Does your home institution allow institutional aid to be used for study abroad?
  • Does your home institution require a Verification of Enrollment (VOE) before Financial Aid is disbursed to you?
  • Does your home institution require a signed Consortium Agreement from CIS Abroad?
  • Will the financial aid you are applying for cover the entire cost of your CIS Abroad program?
  • What documents does your home institution require to facilitate the process?
  • When will the Page 2 of CIS Abroad Financial Aid Forms be ready for submission to CIS Abroad’s Finance Support Team?

Don’t forget to bring a copy of the CIS Abroad Financial Aid Forms with you to the meeting!

Step 3 – Complete and submit your Financial Aid Forms to CIS Abroad Finance Support

The Financial Aid Officer at your home institution will complete Page 2 of the Financial Aid Forms. This form will list all of the different types of aid that you will be receiving, the Gross Amount, the Actual Amount (minus processing fees) and the Disbursement Dates. They may submit this directly to CIS Abroad or send this to you.

You’re responsible for filling out the rest of the pages. Please ensure that you use the TOTAL ACTUAL AID amount that is listed on Page 2 and the disbursement date to complete the requirements on Page 3.  (If there is more than one disbursement date listed, please use the last calendar date).

Scan your completed Pages 2, 3, 4 and email these documents to financesupport@cisabroad.com. 

Important: Always follow up with your home institution if there are any delays in your Financial Aid paperwork process.

Step 4 – CIS Abroad confirms and updates your Balance

Once you’ve submitted your Financial Aid forms to CIS Abroad, we will check the forms and upload the paperwork to our system. If there are any discrepancies (no signature, incorrect totals/dates), we will be in touch with you.  If everything is correct, the amount of financial aid you will be receiving will be separated from the total balance that you owe for Program Fees. If the Financial Aid you are receiving from your home institution does not cover the entire balance of your Program Fees, you will have to pay the remaining ‘Personal Balance’ by the Final Payment Deadline. Please contact financesupport@cisabroad.com if you have any questions.  

Important: Please ensure that you pay for all Program deposits/ Housing deposits before your final payment deadline. These deposits are used to secure your spot on a program or housing earlier than Payment deadlines and before you travel abroad.

Step 5 – Paying your Financial Aid Disbursement to CIS Abroad

Financial Aid is often disbursed from your home institution after the start of the semester – this means you might already be abroad. While you might be enjoying your time abroad, it’s important to keep track of whether the Financial Aid has been disbursed to you and make the necessary arrangements to pay for your program fees using your Financial Aid Disbursement. If your school needed a Verification of Enrollment, ensure that you reach out to your Program Coordinator or the Finance Support team to get the right documentation in order to receive your disbursement. 

You can submit payment to CIS Abroad at our Make a Payment page.

Important Financial Aid Definitions

Consortium Agreement
A contract between two educational institutions that recognizes your registration at each location for financial aid purposes.

 Verification of Enrollment (VOE)
Documentation to prove enrollment and attendance at an academic institution.

 Disbursement Date
The date that funds become available to the student/parent taking out the Financial Aid Loan.

Hear what students, interns, and alumni have to say
BOLDLY COMMITTED to providing the best experiences abroad
While studying in Tokyo for a semester, I aimed to live by the quote: "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone." Because of that, I have gotten to experience incredibly fascinating things and meet amazing people. Tokyo almost feels like a second home to me now. I am immensely thankful for the opportunity to have experienced the beauty of Japan and its rich culture.
Kenae Turner
Elizabeth City State University
Semester in Tokyo - Toyo University

Based on personal experience from my home university, Australia does not tend to be a popular destination for study abroad, likely due to its distance. However, I am extremely grateful I made the decision to come here. The geographical diversity, numerous cultural representations, and major cities so close to nature make Australia a truly unique and unforgettable country. Spending three and a half months here will be an experience I treasure for the rest of my life.

Joshua Grossman
Coastal Carolina University
Semester on the Gold Coast - Bond University
CIS provided a brilliant network of people so I never felt alone, and everyday was a new adventure. I got to explore a place completely different from anything I could have imagined. It was challenging navigating a new culture, a language I didn't know completely, and a new environment, but that was the beauty of it all. No one goes abroad searching for comfort, but you learn that comfort can be found anywhere, if you know how to look.
Alisa Geise
Virginia Commonwealth University
Semester in Costa Rica - Universidad Veritas
Studying abroad has allowed me to grow as a person. I have conquered fears, experienced new things, tried new foods, and met wonderful people who helped make my experience unforgettable. I am more confident in myself and the person that I want to be in the future.
Ashlyn Holmes
Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
Semester on the Gold Coast - Bond University
Studying abroad in London has been an experience I will never forget. Living in a new country is something I think everyone should experience in their life. I've made so many new life long friendships I never would have unless I came here. I've also grown so much as a person and become more independent. The CIS team has been so supportive during the whole process. From applying to my program to arriving on campus in London. My site directors have been so helpful and supportive answering any questions I have. The social program activities were amazing and helped me see a different side of London than I would have without it. I will never forget this experience; it really has changed me for the better.
Katlynn Orloski
Michigan State University
Semester in London - University of Roehampton
Studying abroad changed my life in all of the best ways and CIS Abroad made it all happen!! Through CIS, I was able to make my first friends and integrate into the culture way easier than I would have on my own.
Amy Zochalski
Valparaiso University
Semester in Newcastle - University of Newcastle
My time abroad has been the most eye opening journey and I’m a more independent person because of it. I’m so grateful for all the experiences, friends, and memories I’ve made along the way!
Casey Ferguson
Kean University
Semester in Scotland - Edinburgh Napier University
Unlike many people on this trip who come with the intention of being a tourist, I feel like I had a different goal. I wanted to rediscover my culture and where I belonged. Being a hafu living in America and not fluent in Japanese, I was never really able to get in touch with my Japanese heritage. This trip completely changed that and I now have a goal of one day living in Japan for the rest of my life.
Dean Handler
University of Central Florida
Summer in Tokyo - J.F. Oberlin University
The CIS program was truly a one of a kind experience. I was able to meet many students from all across America, attend several events (such as food tours or a trip to Kyoto), and make many friends. I would not trade it for anything. I am thankful I decided to study with CIS Abroad. Before this, I was thinking about just plowing through my degree, getting my master's and PhD, and immediately entering society. However, this experience changed my life. Through meeting many people from many places, and living in a new area for an extended period of time, my view of my own philosophies, culture and place of living, changed. This would not have happened if I stayed in the States. I would say if you are able to go, you should go. There is no time like the present.
Lexington Whalen
University of South Carolina - Columbia
Semester in Tokyo - Toyo University
Studying abroad in Japan was lifechanging! Embracing a rich culture, forging international friendships, and gaining valuable insights broadened my perspective, fostering personal growth and unforgettable memories.
Bricen Williams
West Texas A&M University
Semester in Tokyo - Toyo University
I knew I wanted to study abroad, particularly in Japan, because it was on my bucket list. Thanks to CIS, I was able to go to Tokyo! Even now, it is surreal to me that I got to go! I can't put it into words how much fun I had in Tokyo. I enjoyed every second of my time there, from walking around the bustling streets of Shibuya and Shinjuku, to going to class, eating delicious Japanese cuisine, and even going to the convenience store. Even the simplest things were incredibly fun to me. I was initially anxious about being homesick, my Japanese skills and traveling alone, but I'm happy to say that I very quickly made lovely, lifelong friends and was met with nothing but kindness from the locals. I learned not to let my worries get in the way of an opportunity of a lifetime. Thank you, CIS Abroad. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity I had to go to Tokyo.
Sada Chaudhury
Hunter College
Summer in Tokyo - J.F. Oberlin University
During my time in Costa Rica, I took Intermediate Conversation and Cultural Photography at Veritas University. I really enjoyed how relaxed the classes were and how the teachers taught us not only Spanish, but also culture and day-to-day life. I was also involved in the biology lab here (BIOMOL) and had fun doing some lab work every week. I got to explore multiple places with my program, such as Manuel Antonio, Curubandé, and Jaco. I went surfing for the first time and got to hike some amazing trails. I highly recommend traveling to Costa Rica for study abroad; it is a beautiful country with beautiful people and memories to make!
Lauren Adams
William Woods University
Summer in Costa Rica
I took Spanish for Healthcare Professionals and Conflict Resolution & Healthcare at Universidad Veritas in San Jose, Costa Rica. I really enjoyed how interactive my elective class was; the students often led the class by doing presentations on various topics. We also had a field trip to the local school. My favorite part of the study abroad experience was all the weekend trips. It was awesome to see so many different places in the country. My favorite trip was to Tamarindo and Curubande where I got to take a surf lesson and hike to waterfalls.
Faith Johnson
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Summer in Costa Rica
This past month I spent my time studying abroad in Sorrento, Italy with CIS Abroad. The opportunity of being able to study in Italy was a dream come true! From my peers in the program to Frankie and Kayla, everyone has been so open and welcoming. CIS has done any amazing job making sure I felt prepared for my travels and was available to answer my many questions. Without CIS, this opportunity would have seemed like a dream, but they helped me turn it into a reality. I have met some amazing friends and grown into a better person during my time in Sorrento!
Alana Bergin
University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa
Summer on the Italian Coast
I’ve always wanted to study abroad, even though I was initially very nervous since I had never been over seas before. But even my imagination could never have dreamed of the amazing things I got to see and experience while abroad. I didn’t get to just see all these new places but studying abroad allowed me to have the time to fully submerge myself into so many different cultures. I’ll never forget my time over here and I will forever be grateful I was able to experience studying abroad!
Mary Claire Vaughan
University of Alabama -Tuscaloosa
Semester in London - University of Roehampton