1. Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising
Heidi Johnson
Financial Aid Senior Advisor
UW-Madison

2. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Overview
Value of study abroad
Advising students on selection and budgeting
Strategies for selecting a study abroad program
Sample budgets
Tips on saving money abroad
Financial Aid applicability
Study abroad scholarships
Benjamin A. Gilman
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

3. By studying abroad students develop:
an understanding of themselves culturally and the ability to use this knowledge to live and work effectively in diverse settings and with diverse individuals
the knowledge and skills associated with international, global, and intercultural content areas such as language, geography, history;
a desire and ability to seek out and use diverse sources of information to inform their decision making; and
a desire and ability to engage in communities of practice as citizens and scholars.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

4. Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising
Advising students on selection and budgeting
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

5. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Selecting a Program
Consider different types of programs.
Semester v. Full Year v. Short-Term
Affiliated/Third-Party v. Exchange
Internship
Look outside of Western Europe for less expensive options.
Consider what is included in the program costs.
Excursions?
Local transportation?
Insurance?
Visa processing?
Comparison shop.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

6. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Budgets
Know your current direct costs.
Tuition and Fees/Room and Board
Understand the costs of your study abroad program.
Develop a sense of what your current personal expenses are.
Develop a sense of what cost of attendance is your “bottom line.”
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

7. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Budgets
UW –Madison Sample Undergraduate Budgets
Wisconsin students/semester Undergraduate
Out-of-state students/semester Undergraduate
Tuition
$5,201 (12 Cr.)
$13,326 (12 Cr.)
Room and Board
$4,590
Books and Supplies
$600
Miscellaneous & Travel
$1,719
Total Budget
$12,110
$20,235
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

8. UW-Madison Sample Exchange Budget
Sydney Australia, University of Sydney Exchange
In State Resident
Program Fee $ (fixed cost)
Estimated Additional Expenses:
Airfare $
Health Insurance $200.00
Books and Supplies $500.00
Housing $
Local Transportation $500.00
Meals $
Personal/Miscellaneous $
Visa $580.00
Total Cost of Attendance $19,180.00
Program Fee includes academic expenses, administrative costs, mandatory health insurance, orientation and internship placement.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

9. UW-Madison Sample Direct Enrollment Budget
Sydney, Australia, Macquarie University
In State Resident
Program Fee $11, (fixed cost)
Estimated Additional Expenses:
Airfare $
Health Insurance $300.00
Books and Supplies $400.00
Housing $
Local Transportation $800.00
Meals $
Personal/Miscellaneous $
Visa $580.00
Total Cost of Attendance $22,930.00
Program Fee includes academic expenses, administrative costs, mandatory health insurance, orientation.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

10. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Budgeting Tips
Before you go…
Create a personal budget
Do your research
Travel guides, websites
Look for group or student fares
STA, Student Universe
Apply for discount cards, memberships
ISIC, IYH, YHA
Check your bank
Make sure you understand what fees you’ll be charged for using your ATM or credit card abroad; research fees with other banks.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

11. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Budgeting Tips
While you are there…
Travel
Plan trips ahead of time.
Explore your host city.
Eating
Eat in by cooking instead of eating meals out.
Share meals.
Eat like a local: shop local markets, get staff suggestions for cafés.
Identify inexpensive places where domestic students eat.
Avoid tourist traps
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

12. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Budgeting Tips
Communication
Use Skype and pre-paid calling cards.
Send old-fashioned letters and postcards.
Transportation
Use buses and metro rather than cabs; walk!
For trips, remember to compare train and air prices.
Think about overnight travel—save the cost of a room.
Shopping
Wait to buy! Especially for souvenirs, compare prices.
If bartering is part of the local custom, then barter.
Local Markets often less expensive than stores
Take a local friend with you to get a better deal.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

13. Heidi Johnson UW-Madison
Budgeting Tips
Money
Follow your budget! Keep track of what you spend.
Pay cash: it’s easy to overspend with credit cards.
Don’t carry lots of cash with you—less temptation to spend.
Use your discount cards (ISIC, IYH, university ID).
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

14. Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising
Commonly Asked Questions
Can I use my financial aid to pay for my study abroad program?
Yes, generally students can apply their financial aid (including loans) to assist in covering the cost of studying abroad.
Can I use work study while studying abroad?
No.
What about my scholarships?
You will need to check with the donor of the scholarship to determine if it may be used for study abroad.
How can I apply for scholarships for study abroad?
Check with the college/department sponsoring your study abroad program as well as your home college/department. Your Study Abroad Office may also administer scholarships for study abroad.
I have been awarded my maximum amounts in FAFSA aid. What are my other options beyond scholarships?
Once you have exhausted your FAFSA eligibility for the year in addition to applying for scholarships, you may also be eligible to apply for a Parent PLUS or private student loan up to your cost of attendance (i.e. study abroad financial aid budget).
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

15. Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising
Commonly Asked Questions
How will my charges be paid?
If you are being billed through your home school’s Bursar’s Office, your financial aid will first be applied to your study abroad program fees. If a credit balance is created a refund check will be distributed to you. If your financial aid does not cover your charges in full you will be responsible for paying the difference by the due date. If you are not being billed by your home school’s Bursar’s Office your financial aid will be sent to you as a refund and you will be responsible for using the refund to pay your bill by the due date.
Where will my refund check be mailed?
Your refund check will be mailed to your current mailing address as listed with your home school. We encourage you to update your address to someone who can deposit the check for you as you will be traveling when the checks are mailed after disbursement takes place.
Can I pick up my refund check in person?
No, refund checks must be mailed or direct deposited into your checking or savings account.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

16. Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising
Using Financial Aid to Fund Study Abroad
What funds are applicable?
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

17. Financial Aid and Study Abroad
Financial aid resources may be used for education abroad.
Higher Education Act: Allows students to use federal aid for education abroad if credit is approved by home institution
Consortium agreement with another institution
Federal aid follows the student, not institution
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

18. Financial Aid and Study Abroad
File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA.gov)
Financial aid for education abroad usually comes in the form of federal grants and federal or private loans.
Scholarship money is critical.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

19. Financial Aid and Study Abroad
Types of Aid Available
Federal Grants
Federal Pell Grant
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunities Grant (SEOG)
Federal Loans
Federal Direct Loans
Federal Perkins Loans
Federal Parent PLUS Loans for Undergraduate Students
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

20. Financial Aid and Study Abroad
Types of Aid Available
Private Loans
Nonfederal educational loan issued by a private lender
State Aid
Wisconsin Higher Education Grant, Wisconsin Tuition Grant, State of Wisconsin Travel Grant
Institutional Aid
Some institutions may allow you to apply aid you would normally receive while on-campus
Study Abroad Scholarships
National, local and institutional
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

21. Financial Aid and Study Abroad
Develop special budgets for financial aid
Example: Program fee, tuition and additional costs
Advise that costs are per program, not student
Funds may be disbursed no earlier than 10 days prior to first of classes
Refunding of excess financial aid
Options for advance costs such as airfare
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

22. Working with the Study Abroad Office
The Study Abroad Process
1. Students are registered for the study abroad placeholder credits and are assigned the Off Campus Program checklist.
2. I am sent the lists of participants with their program information and costs of attendance. UW-Madison offers study abroad programs through the following offices/departments:
International Academic Programs (IAP)
School of Business
College of Engineering
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
School of Law
College of Human Ecology
Political Science Department
3. I update the students’ costs of attendance to reflect the information provided and Award Reconciliation revises students’ financial aid awards as applicable.
4. I complete the Off Campus Program checklist.
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

23. Working with the Study Abroad Office
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

24. Working with the Study Abroad Office
How can we best work together?
Funding is a crucial piece of the study abroad decision process
Is there a financial aid advisor dedicated to study abroad students?
Communication and coordination are key to working with the Study Abroad Office
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

25. Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising
Scholarships for Study Abroad
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

26. Scholarships for Study Abroad
Study Abroad Office scholarships
Departmental scholarships designated for study abroad
University Wide and Departmental scholarships which may be used for study abroad
National Scholarships
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

27. Scholarships for Study Abroad
Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship
The program aims to diversify the kinds of students who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go by supporting undergraduates who might otherwise not participate due to financial constraints.
Funded through the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

28. Scholarships for Study Abroad
Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship
Eligibility Criteria
U.S. Citizen
Undergraduate student
Federal Pell Grant recipient
Receiving academic credit
Anywhere in the world not currently under a U.S. Department of State Travel Warning or Cuba
Minimum four weeks duration in one location
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

29. Scholarships for Study Abroad
Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship
Tips for Writing a Competitive Essay:
Why you, why this program and why this location?
Be specific about diversity in your essay
The reader will not know your background unless you write about it
Talk about the challenges you have overcome
Make sure you proofread your essay
Talk to your study abroad advisor and your campus’s writing center
Follow-on project should:
Give back and inspire others to go abroad
Be realistic and attainable
Partner with established organizations
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

30. Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising
Questions
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison

31. Study Abroad: Best Practices in Advising
Thank you for attending!
Heidi Johnson
Heidi Johnson UW-Madison