Financial Aid

Yes! Most federal, state, and institutional sources of financial aid for which a student may normally qualify are eligible to apply towards costs associated with authorized study abroad programs. Known exceptions include: work study, certain scholarships, and CU dependent tuition. Only the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO) can give advice about your specific financial aid package.

Financial aid includes grants, loans, and scholarships. Each type of aid has its own requirements and limitations. Most financial aid requires at least half-time enrollment for eligibility. Generally speaking:

• Most institutional scholarships offered through CU Denver | Anschutz will apply toward the costs of studying abroad on an approved program. FASO can confirm specific scholarship eligibility for you.
• Some private/external scholarships will allow funds to apply toward the costs of studying abroad; check with your private scholarship administrator to confirm eligibility.
• Additional scholarships are allocated to support study abroad. Please visit the Office of Global Education’s Scholarships page for more information.
• Pell grants can be applied toward the costs of studying abroad, and Pell-eligibility opens opportunities for additional scholarships and grants.
• Federal and private student loans can be applied toward the costs of studying abroad.

If eligible, students may borrow Federal Direct Student loan up to the cost of attendance, and without exceeding annual borrowing limits for their study abroad program. Some students have already been awarded up to their annual borrowing limits, and therefore may not be eligible for Summer federal loan funding; however, alternative options exist. Other options for obtaining funding are a Federal Direct PLUS Loan (if eligible) or an alternative student loan through a private lender. Both loans require a credit check, and approval is not guaranteed. Information on federal student loans, PLUS loans, and alternative student loans is available on the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office website at www.ucdenver.edu/finaid.

Financial aid funds cannot be released until ten days prior to the official start date of the study abroad program. However, if your study abroad program begins before the regular corresponding semester start date for CU Denver | Anschutz classes, your funds may not be available to be released until our regular first disbursement date for that term/semester (usually the week before regular classes begin). It is the student’s responsibility to plan accordingly for these types of situations.

The most efficient way to receive a financial aid disbursement for study abroad is to set up direct deposit with your Bursar account before requesting aid disbursement. This ensures the funds are released to your bank account. Otherwise, a paper check will be mailed to your home address. Disbursements occur daily during the business week.

To be eligible to receive most types of financial aid for a study abroad program, you must be enrolled at least half-time in the CU Denver | Anschutz records system for the term/semester(s) in which you are participating in the study abroad program. For all semesters (including Summer), half-time enrollment status for undergraduate students is six credit hours, and for graduate students, it is three credit hours. Some types of aid may be prorated based upon your enrollment status.

NOTE: A change in your enrollment status after your financial aid funds have been disbursed may change your financial aid eligibility. You are required to notify the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office (FASO) immediately of any enrollment changes. A change to your financial aid awards could lead to unexpected charges to your university billing account.

The following is the contact information for the Financial Aid offices at CU Denver and Anschutz:

Downtown Denver students: financialaid@ucdenver.edu or 303.315.5969.

You can also schedule an appointment online.

Anschutz students: fin.aid@cuanschutz.edu or 303.724.8039

FASO needs to know the total estimated cost of your program, how many credits you’ll take, and which term(s) you’ll be studying abroad.

Students may almost always apply Pell Grants to fund study abroad. The Pell Grant is prorated based on a student’s enrollment status (e.g. part-time, half-time, full-time).

GI benefits will sometimes apply toward the costs of studying abroad, depending on several factors. Please contact the Bursar’s Office to determine if your GI Bill benefits are eligible: bursar@cudenver.edu.

This varies based on the program you choose. Some programs include housing and many meals in the program cost, while other program types ask students to cover their own housing and meals. Typically, housing and some meals are included in CU Denver | Anschutz faculty-led, global studies programs. For third-party programs, please check with your provider on what costs are included.

For all programs, students should expect to cover roundtrip airfare, incidentals, course supplies, international health insurance, and at least some meals. Before you commit to a program, please check in with the Office of Global Education to make sure you’re clear about your total financial obligation and which costs are paid out-of-pocket—we’re here to help!

1. Apply for Financial Aid by filling out the appropriate year’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at and submit any additional, required documentation to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.
2. ii. Properly register for the appropriate number of credit hours you will be enrolled in during your study abroad semester. Course enrollment/registration for most CU Denver | Anschutz authorized study abroad programs is done through the CU Denver | Anschutz Division of Continuing & Professional Education (“Extended Studies”) and not through the general campus web registration system. The Office of Global Education will facilitate this enrollment process when you coordinate your program through them as required. It is important to notify FASO of any changes to your enrollment since it could impact your financial aid eligibility. Failure to do so could result in a reduction of your awards once your enrollment is verified or your transcripts are received.

iii. Accept any additional loan(s) offered to you as a result of the increase in costs associated with your study abroad program.

1. Immediately notify FASO of any changes to your intended study abroad program. Failure to contact the FASO office could affect your aid eligibility.
2. v. Submit academic transcripts from your study abroad program immediately after they are available. A delay in grade postings may cause the student to be put on Financial Aid Suspension. A student may be required to complete a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeal to receive aid for any upcoming terms of enrollment if your grades are not posted by the end of the CU Denver | Anschutz semester in which you were enrolled in the study abroad program. Please see our Satisfactory Academic Policy on our website at https://www.ucdenver.edu/student-finances/financial-aid/policies, and click on the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) link.

NOTE: If an evaluation of your study abroad transcripts or grade report results in any enrollment discrepancies or dropped or failed courses for non-attendance, your financial aid may be adjusted accordingly. An adjustment to financial aid you’ve already received could cause an outstanding bill on your student account which you would be responsible for paying.

If you are studying abroad with a third-party provider (i.e. a non-CU Denver program): You will need to fill out Section I of the contractual agreement form (found in your OGE application) and send it to study.abroad@ucdenver.edu. The Office of Global Education will then work with you to ensure that your course approval form is complete and that you are enrolled in the study abroad placeholder course in order for your financial aid to be processed.

The Office of Global Education’s Scholarship page is a great place to begin researching scholarships or you can schedule an appointment for advising on scholarships.

Scholarship Universe is CU Denver’s scholarship portal. You will need your student credentials to log in. It does not necessarily need to be a study-abroad specific scholarship to use for study abroad, but check the eligibility requirements carefully. 

Other scholarship databases:

• Studyabroad.com Scholarship Database 
• Fund For Education Abroad
• GoAbroad Scholarships Resources 
• IIEPassport 
• Abroad101 Scholarship Directory 
• Go Overseas Scholarships 
• NAFSA Study Abroad Scholarships and Grants