Financial Aid and Scholarships

You can afford to study or intern abroad!

U-M students from a wide variety of backgrounds have gone abroad with CGIS. In fact, 1 out of every 5 CGIS study-abroad students were Pell-eligible last year! Here's what you should know:

Program Cost:

Costs vary considerably between programs—talk with your CGIS advisor about which programs will be most affordable for you!

All CGIS programs are priced as inexpensively as possible without sacrificing academic quality or student safety.
However, different financial models exist, and program expenses depend on many factors (local cost of living, fluctuating exchange rates, whether you’re in-state or out-of-state, class standing, etc).

Funding Resources:

Don't let the fear of financial barriers hold you back—let LSA, the LSA Scholarship Office, and the Office of Financial Aid help you tackle those barriers!

Consult the Office of Financial Aid Study Abroad Team about your eligibility
Explore the LSA Scholarships for CGIS Programs listed below
Browse more scholarships from other U-M units and beyond

Important Details to Note:

Study Abroad Programs: If a student chooses to enroll in less than 6 credits in a spring/summer program, they will NOT be eligible for any Federal or Institutional financial aid, including LSA Scholarships.
International Internship Programs: If a student participating in International Internship programs would like to receive Federal or Institutional financial aid, they must register for the 6 credit internship seminar. Students in both the 3 and 6 credit internship seminars are eligible for the LSA International Internship Scholarship.

Navigating Financial Aid

Before you apply to a CGIS Program:

If you plan to use financial aid to help pay for the program, reach out to the Office of Financial Aid early! This will help you understand how study abroad may impact your eligibility for financial aid and how much you'd be eligible for. In order to obtain your financial aid estimate, you will need to complete the Office of Financial Aid's Study Abroad Estimate Worksheet. Please follow these instructions:

Save a copy of the OFA Study Abroad Estimate Worksheet to your computer
Open the PDF with Adobe (it is a fillable form)
- Note: The information for the core/variable fees can be found on the program's budget sheet on M-Compass.
Complete the ENTIRE top section, including Program Name, UMID, Unit, Credit Hours, Estimated Core Fees and Estimated Variable Fees.
Save the file and email it to the Office of Financial Aid Study Abroad team at finaid.abroad@umich.edu

Once you're admitted into a CGIS program: Financial Aid Request Process

1. Students must have a FAFSA on file for the current academic year.

Note: Spring/Summer financial aid packages utilize FAFSA information submitted for the academic year that begins in the preceding Fall term. Ex: Spring/Summer 2018 student financial aid packages utilize FAFSA information from the 2017-2018 academic year.

2. Eligible students will need to complete a study abroad financial aid request form:

CGIS will provide a financial aid request form to CGIS students. CGIS students should not download a financial aid request form from the Office of Financial Aid website.
The form provided by CGIS will have study abroad program information already filled in. Students should review this information to ensure its accuracy, read carefully remaining information and initial/sign where indicated.
The timeline for this process varies by semester. Approximate timeline for when students will be asked to submit FA request form, according to semester of abroad program, is as follows:
- Academic Year/Fall: June
- Winter: late September/early October
- GIEU/GCC: Early January
- Spring/Summer: late February/early March

3. Financial aid packages will be reviewed after the Office of Financial Aid receives FA request forms from CGIS. Student cost of attendance will utilize expense amounts based on study abroad budget sheets.

Note: The Office of Financial Aid, not CGIS, is responsible for working with financial aid packages and advising students on their available funding. CGIS students should work with advisors in the Office of Financial aid to understand if and how their financial aid packages will be adjusted because of their enrollment in a study abroad program.

4. Students should review adjusted financial aid packages via their student account on Wolverine Access.

LSA Scholarships for CGIS Programs

LSA Study Abroad Scholarship

The LSA Scholarship Office works with CGIS to ensure that students who are in good academic standing and in financial need can apply for the LSA Study Abroad Scholarship. Over 90% of eligible LSA Students receive funding from LSA Scholarships. Students on average receive $4,000. Scholarships are granted based on financial need and may only be applied to one program per spring/summer period.

To be eligible for an LSA Study Abroad Scholarship, a student must:

Be participating in a study abroad program through CGIS
Be an undergraduate currently enrolled full-time and pursuing a degree program (or MDDP) in the College of LSA
- Fall/Winter: 12 credit minimum
- Spring/Summer: 6 credit minimum
Be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (i.e. possess a green card)
Apply for and receive need-based support through the Office of Financial Aid
Have a CSS Profile and current-year FAFSA on file with the Office of Financial Aid (OFA)
Students may not be eligible for scholarships if their graduation date is prior to or during their travel abroad

For any questions or concerns regarding eligibility or other related topics, schedule an appointment or email the LSA Scholarships Office at lsascholarships@umich.edu.

The deadline to apply for the LSA Study Abroad Scholarship varies by program type.

Apply for the LSA Study Abroad Scholarship!

GCC/GIEU Grant (for LSA Pell Grant recipients)

All LSA Pell Grant recipients who participate in GCC or GIEU can receive the GCC/GIEU Grant. The grant pays the entire program fee for GCC/GIEU! Students must apply for the LSA Study Abroad GCC or GIEU Scholarship to recieve this grant. Applicants will also be considered for other scholarships that cover travel expenses. For questions or concerns, email lsascholarships@umich.edu.

LSA International Internship Scholarship

LSA International Internship Scholarships support LSA students who participate in a CGIS International Internship program and can help cover the cost of attendance and travel based on program budgets. LSA International Internship Scholarship awards vary in amount depending on the cost of a student's internship experience, and a student's demonstrated level of financial need. Funds cannot be awarded beyond what a student's aid package allows.

To be eligible for the LSA International Internship Scholarship, a student must:

Be participating on an international internship program through CGIS
Be an undergraduate currently enrolled full-time and pursuing a degree program (or MDDP) in the College of LSA
Be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident (i.e., possess a green card)
Have applied for and received need-based aid through the Office of Financial Aid (OFA) for the current academic year
Have a CSS Profile and current-year FAFSA on file with the Office of Financial Aid (OFA)
Return to LSA as an enrolled undergraduate student in the fall term following the internship

Learn more about the LSA International Internship Scholarship here. If significant changes are to be made to your application, or if you choose to withdraw your application, please contact the LSA Scholarships Office.

The LSA International Internship Scholarship application is open October 1 – March 1.

Apply for the LSA International Internship Scholarship!

More Scholarships!

Scholarships and other types of financial aid are available to U-M students participating in U-M-sponsored programs. Some funding opportunities are open to all U-M students, while others specify criteria that limit eligibility. Below you will find scholarships that can be applied specifically to CGIS programs if you are an eligible LSA student. Keep in mind that deadlines and eligibility criteria for the scholarships below may change each year. Read all application requirements and instructions before applying. Please note that CGIS does not facilitate these scholarships.

Explore more scholarships for Study Abroad and International Internship programs here!

You are also encouraged to browse online for other scholarship and financial aid information. We recommend starting with the International Center's Funding for Study Abroad page to find resources.

We encourage you to consult with your CGIS advisor about any questions or concerns you may have when applying to certain scholarships.

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