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Federal Student Aid (FSA) Eligibility & UGA Study Abroad Programs

UGA students may receive the awarded Federal Student Aid (FSA) for which they are otherwise eligible when enrolled in a UGA study abroad program, and are not required to complete any additional financial aid processes.

Students who wish their Cost of Attendance (COA) to be increased due to additional study abroad expenses can complete the COA Adjustment Request Form. Due to FSA limits, the addition of study abroad expenses may not result in additional financial aid eligibility.

Federal Student Aid (FSA) Eligibility & Non-UGA Study Abroad Programs

Otherwise eligible UGA students may receive their awarded Federal Student Aid (FSA) when enrolled in non-UGA approved study abroad programs sponsored by other schools or organizations.

Undergraduate UGA students attending non-UGA study abroad programs must complete the Office of Global Engagement’s Transfer Credit Approval Form.

Graduate UGA students attending non-UGA study abroad programs should contact the Office of Global Engagement regarding the Graduate Transfer Credit Approval Form.

HOPE / Zell Miller Scholarships and UGA Study Abroad Programs

UGA students awarded the HOPE Scholarship enrolled in a UGA study abroad program will be eligible for the UGA HOPE Scholarship Award Amount payable based on the total number of eligible hours in which they are enrolled that semester.

UGA students awarded the Zell Miller Scholarship enrolled in a UGA study abroad program will be awarded an amount equal to the current UGA standard Undergraduate tuition charge on a per credit hour basis.

UGA students enrolled in a UGA study abroad program are not required to complete any additional financial aid processes to receive the HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship amount for which they are eligible.

HOPE / Zell Miller Scholarships and Non-UGA Study Abroad Programs Offered Thru Eligible Institutions

University of Georgia (UGA) students planning to enroll in approved non-UGA study abroad programs offered through another HOPE / Zell Miller Scholarship eligible institution are required to complete the HOPE / Zell Miller Scholarship Transient Request.

By submitting the HOPE / Zell Miller Scholarship Transient Request the student is authorizing the UGA Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) to certify his/her eligibility for the HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship to the host / transient institution, and the host / transient institution will award them the scholarship. UGA will award the student any Federal Student Aid (FSA) they are eligible for.

Students enrolling in study abroad programs through HOPE/Zell Miller Scholarship eligible institutions must also complete the Office of Global Engagement’s Transfer Credit Approval Form.

HOPE / Zell Miller Scholarships and Non-UGA Study Abroad Programs Offered Thru Ineligible Institutions

Otherwise eligible UGA HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship students studying abroad in approved non-UGA study abroad programs offered through institutions that are not eligible to participate in the HOPE / Zell Miller Scholarship program can be awarded HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship for the study abroad program. Undergraduate UGA students attending non-UGA study abroad programs must complete the Office of Global Engagement’s Transfer Credit Approval Form in order to receive HOPE / Zell Miller Scholarship funds for the non-UGA Study Abroad Programs.

Disbursement of Financial Aid

Except for those HOPE / Zell Miller Scholarship students enrolled in Non-UGA Study Abroad Programs Offered Thru Eligible Institutions, UGA Student Accounts will disburse the student’s financial aid either ten days prior to the study abroad program’s start date or the UGA semester start date, whichever is later.

Students who must pay for study abroad program expenses prior to the disbursement date need to be prepared to pay for those expenses in advance while awaiting their aid disbursement.

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