Finances are personal and unique to you. It’s important to understand your study abroad budget and how you will pay for it. Education Abroad Advisors can answer questions about program costs and paying for your program. Financial Aid Staff can answer questions about what aid can be used for your study abroad program and increasing what you can borrow.
The billing and payment process will vary depending on the specific study abroad program and by student. It is important to communicate with your Education Abroad Advisor, your study abroad program, and the UMass Financial Aid Office so you understand how billing and payments will work for you.
Paying for your study abroad program depends on the type of program you choose and when you are going. Review How the Money Works to understand billing, payments, and financial aid for your term abroad.
Using Financial Aid
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To use financial aid for study abroad, you must have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
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You can see your financial aid package on SPIRE; Log in with your UMass Amherst ID and password, click “Finances” and then “View Financial Aid.”
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You can use financial aid for summer programs if you will be earning at least 6 credits. Winter session programs aren’t eligible for financial aid.
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Tuition credits and work study cannot be used.
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Grants, scholarships, and loans can be used to pay for study abroad.
Billing and Payment
Billing and payment options depend on the type of education abroad program.
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Partner & Direct-Enroll
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Once you are accepted by your partner program (API, CIS, CET, IFSA, TEAN, USAC, etc), they require a deposit to confirm enrollment, usually within 2 weeks. Your program posts charges in your application portal and full payment is typically due 60 - 90 days before your program begins. They share instructions about using financial aid to pay. The Education Abroad Fee is posted to your UMass bursar bill for the term you’ll be abroad.
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Exchange
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Your exchange tuition fee is posted to your UMass bursar bill in SPIRE for the semester you are abroad, along with the Education Abroad Fee. Billing deadlines are the same as if you were on campus. Out of pocket expenses such as housing will be billed directly by the partner university or the accommodations provider with varying due dates.
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Faculty-Led
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Review financial information about UMass faculty-led programs.
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Out of Pocket Payment
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Follow instructions to pay through either your program portal or SPIRE before the due date.
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Using Financial Aid for Partner & Direct-Enroll Programs
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Partner & direct-enroll programs allow you to defer payment of awarded aid when you verify your financial aid package before the program fee due date. Each partner has their own paperwork and instructions to do this. UMass Financial Aid will confirm award amounts. These programs require deposits and any amount not covered by financial aid by the payment due date. Once the UMass semester begins, you will receive a financial aid refund through Excess Express, minus the Education Abroad Fee. It is your responsibility to pay your program. Any remaining amount can be used to cover out-of-pocket costs such as airfare, meals, etc.
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Using Financial Aid for Exchange & Faculty-Led Programs
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Because education abroad program fees are posted to SPIRE, your financial aid is automatically applied to the term you will be abroad. If you will receive more financial aid for out-of-pocket costs, sign up for Excess Express to receive it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
To use financial aid for education abroad, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
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You are eligible for financial aid for a summer program if you will earn at least 6 credits. Financial aid is not available for winter programs, but some scholarship funding is available.
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To apply for summer financial aid, indicate you want to apply for summer financial aid on your UMass Abroad application. You will receive an email with instructions for applying for aid when the Financial Aid office is ready to start processing these requests, around April 1.
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For planning purposes, students can ask the Financial Aid office to calculate the anticipated summer aid amount before April 1.
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Go to your SPIRE account to understand your current financial aid package. Log in to SPIRE with your UMass Amherst ID and password, click “Finances” and then “View Financial Aid.”
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Work study, most tuition credits, and a few other categories of aid cannot be used for education abroad; confirm whether your aid can be used for education abroad by asking at the UMass Financial Aid Office at Whitmore 243 any time the service desk is open.
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For programs that cost considerably more than a semester at UMass, you may request that Financial Aid consider an increased cost of attendance for your semester abroad. You may be eligible for additional loans, but additional grant funding is rare. You are encouraged to apply for study abroad scholarships.
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File a FAFSA for the correct academic year.
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See Alternative Loan options on the UMass Financial Aid Office website.
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Each partner program has their own form for students to request deferment of all or part of their program fees until financial aid is disbursed and refunded, during the first week of classes at UMass. Students must work with UMass Financial Aid to complete the form before the partner program’s payment deadline. Once received, the partner program defers the amount of the fee covered by financial aid until the date on the form, but the balance (anything more than expected financial aid funds) and any deposits or down payments are due by the partner’s deadline.
More Questions?
Student Account Manager
Kate Smith can answer questions about finances, payment, and other money topics. Schedule an appointment or email her.