Financial Aid for Education Abroad
Most forms of financial aid can be applied toward the cost of a study abroad/international internship program depending on the term(s) and program in which you choose to study abroad. As part of financial planning, make sure that you have reviewed all the different funding sources that are available to you.
How to Apply Your Financial Aid to Education Abroad
- Apply for financial aid by completing the FAFSA
- Finalize your admission to a CCU affiliated Study Abroad Program/Internship by completing all post-acceptance items with the Center for Global Engagement (CGE).
- Meet enrollment guidelines for receiving financial aid. To receive financial aid, you must typically be registered at least half-time while participating in your study abroad program. Please note that if you are currently receiving any CCU scholarships, you must be registered full-time during the term(s) that you will be abroad to receive regular disbursements of your scholarship. Please visit CCU’s Financial Aid Terms & Conditions for more information.
- Apply for Scholarships. Visit here to see available scholarship opportunities for Education Abroad funding.
- Submit a Request for Financial Aid Adjustment if Additional Funds are Needed Students who are fulfilling degree requirements and registered with CCU, will likely not see any changes in most financial aid with the exception of tuition waivers and merit awards. Financial aid eligibility will be initially calculated according to the standard CCU cost of attendance. After you have been accepted into your study abroad/international internship program, you may request your financial aid be adjusted according to your study abroad program cost of attendance. This is only necessary if your abroad program/internship cost of attendance exceeds that of a standard cost of attendance at CCU.
Confirmed Your Plans to Study Abroad and Ready to Submit Your Financial Aid Adjustment Request?
If your normal cost of attendance allows you to obtain sufficient funding for your program, there is no need to submit this form.
By submitting the Education Abroad Cost of Attendance Adjustment 2024-2025 form you are requesting that Financial Aid & Scholarships adjust your cost of attendance and potentially financial aid to reflect your study abroad program costs.
It is important to note that you must be officially admitted into a study abroad program, have completed all the steps above, and must be enrolled in study abroad credits before the adjustment can be made.
Depending on when you plan to study abroad, please submit the form by the following priority deadline:
- July 1- for programs starting in Fall and Full Year
- November 1 - for programs starting in Winter
- November 1 - for programs starting in Spring
- April 1 - for programs starting in Summer
After you submit a financial aid adjustment form, your financial aid offer may be changed to reflect eligibility for your education abroad program. We cannot guarantee that your financial aid will be adjusted in time for the start of your program if you do not request the adjustment by the priority dates listed above. If you have a financial aid form from a third-party study abroad program that needs to be completed by a financial aid counselor, please email it to finaid@coastal.edu. Please allow up to six (6) weeks for processing.
What types of aid are available for Education Abroad programs?
Depending on the term(s) in which you choose to study abroad, most forms of financial aid can be applied toward the cost of your program. Financial aid cannot be used for non-affiliated study abroad programs.
Grants and Scholarships
- Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
- Merit Awards/CCU Institutional Funding (Chanticleer Grant/Bronze Award)/Application-Based Scholarships
NOTE: Waiver portions of merit and scholarships are typically not eligible to be used for study abroad programs.
- HCHEC Scholarships (Fall and Spring Only)
- SC Need Based Grant
- SC State Scholarships (LIFE/HOPE/Palmetto Fellows)
- South Carolina Waiver of Tuition for Certain War Veterans/Law Enforcement, etc.
- South Carolina National Guard College Assistance Program (CAP).
Loans
- Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Direct Student Loans
- Parent PLUS Loan
- Graduate PLUS Loan
- Private Loan
Not Eligible for Education Abroad
- Academic Common Market
- Waiver portion of Merit and Foundation scholarships
For Additional Information: Please visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships website.
Financial Aid Awarding & Disbursement Schedule
CCU Financial Aid is applied on a term basis. Financial aid received specifically for your abroad program will be applied to the term in which you are studying abroad. Some programs require program fees be paid prior to the term you are studying abroad. Financial aid for a future term CANNOT be used to pay program fees due prior to your departure.
CCU Financial Aid typically pays to your CCU student account 15 days after the start of each major term (summer disbursement schedules may vary).
Due to federal regulations, CCU cannot alter financial aid disbursement dates if you plan to be abroad at the time of disbursement. Therefore, you must find alternative sources of funding to pay for airline tickets and other arrival expenses if required prior to aid disbursement. We also recommend you set up direct deposit and sign a Title IV Authorization on MyCCU before going abroad.
Some study abroad programs require that you pay the full program costs before you leave. We cannot adjust financial aid disbursements to accommodate this. If this applies to you, you must talk to your third-party program provider regarding payments as tuition may be due before the program begins.
Summer Financial Aid
Summer aid is not part of the general aid package awarded for fall and spring.
If you plan to study abroad for the summer term (Maymester, Summer I, and/or Summer II) and need financial aid to support your program expenses, you must submit a FAFSA and file a separate Summer Aid Application, which is usually available by April 1 each year.
Contacting Financial Aid and Scholarships
Students and families needing assistance with financial aid for their study abroad experience should consult with a financial aid counselor. Prior to meeting with a financial aid counselor, make sure that you have met with the Center for Global Engagement to talk through your financial questions and plan out your budget, including when payments will be due. Schedule an appointment by reaching out finaid@coastal.edu or (843) 349-2313. We encourage students who need additional funding to schedule an appointment early in the planning process.