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Financial Aid and Scholarships

Undergraduate Programs

Financial Aid

You may be wondering how you will pay for an IPSL program. The good news is that many students are able to apply some or all of their financial aid toward the cost of IPSL programs. However, policies and practices regarding financial aid vary widely among U.S. institutions, so you should consult with the financial aid office and/or study abroad office at your home institution to determine whether or not you will be able to apply financial aid, scholarships and/or other support received from your home institution toward an IPSL program.

Under federal law, U.S. students can receive federal financial aid (such as Pell Grants and Stafford Loans) for study abroad if their home institution has approved the program for credit. Federal law also states that financial aid can cover all "reasonable" costs for a study abroad program, including: tuition and fees for the program; round-trip transportation; living costs; passport and visa fees; and health insurance.

Download IPSL program costs breakdown.

How to determine eligibility and procedures

Talk to your financial aid and/or study abroad office to determine whether you can apply your financial aid and/or scholarships toward an IPSL program.

1. If IPSL is already an approved program at your institution, you should be able to remain registered at your home institution, apply federal financial aid toward the program, and receive transfer credit for courses you successfully complete. If you are currently receiving direct need-based and/or merit-based scholarships from your home institution, you will need to determine with your financial aid and/or study abroad office whether or not these funds may be used for off-campus study. Procedures vary from campus to campus; please consult with the appropriate office on your campus.
2. If IPSL is not a pre-approved program at your home institution, find out what information is required. We are happy to complete consortia/contractual agreements from the home institution and provide administrators and faculty with additional information about the programs.

Methods of payment

Colleges and universities each have different ways of determining methods of payment for study abroad programs. Consult with your financial aid and/or study abroad office to determine the procedure at your institution. The following are three of the most common methods of payment :

1. The student pays the home institution (whether by paying out-of-pocket, using financial aid, or through a combination of both). The college/ university then pays the program fees to IPSL.
2. The student pays IPSL directly, and the home institution transfers financial aid directly to the student or to IPSL.  
3. The student takes a "leave of absence" from the home institution, pays the programs fees directly to IPSL, and is unable to use any financial aid sources.

IPSL Scholarships

The Howard A. Berry Scholarship - Howard A. Berry, founder and first president of IPSL, was a pioneer in international education and service-learning. Each year two colleges/universities are each awarded the honor of selecting two of their students to receive $1,000 each towards an IPSL semester or year program. This year, Appalachian State University and Lesley University will grant these scholarships to students participating in Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 programs. Please contact IPSL for additional information.

OTHER SCHOLARSHIPS*

• Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship - Awards are available to U.S. citizen students who are receiving Pell Grant funding at a two- or four-year college or university. Any geographic location.
• Freeman-ASIA Program - Awards are available to undergraduate students for programs based in the Philippines and/or Thailand.
• Fund for International Service Learning - Awards are available to any U.S.-based student attending an accredited service-learning program outside of the United States.
• The National Security Education Program (NSEP) - Awards are available to U.S. citizen undergraduate students to study in most geographic regions except Western Europe.

• DiversityAbroad.com Summer Scholarship (sponsored by AIFS) - Awards are available for students from traditionally under-represented minority groups for studying abroad during the summer of 2008.

*Please note that these are additional resources, not funded by IPSL.

Graduate Financial Aid Information