Study Abroad
Main Types of Study Abroad Programs
Exchange Programs
The student pays tuition and fees at their home institution, and they receive the same benefits abroad. These programs provide credit from the partner institution that will be transferred to WVU via the WVU Education Abroad Office. Tuition and fees are charged to the student’s account for outgoing exchange.
Faculty-led Programs
This type of study abroad experience is led by a WVU faculty member. These programs can range from one week to one semester in length. Tuition and fees are charged to the student’s account.
Affiliate Programs
WVU works with third-party companies to allow students a wider variety of study abroad experiences. These programs require a consortium agreement with the affiliate company. Each student will be required to submit a Request for Transient Financial Aid Form to the WVU Hub and complete a Study Abroad Form with their advisor. Tuition and fees are paid to the affiliate company by the student.
Financial Aid for Study Abroad Programs
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Priority deadline to complete the FAFSA is March 1.
- Visit the Education Abroad website to choose a program.
- Be enrolled at least half-time.
- Contact the WVU Hub for information on aid eligibility. Documentation of trip costs may be requested when determining your financial aid eligibility.
- Seek out study abroad scholarships.
- If studying abroad through an affiliate program, you must also:
- Submit a Request for Transient Student Financial Aid form available on our Forms webpage.
- Submit a Study Abroad Form to your advisor. More information about this process is available on the University Registrar website.
- Once those documents are received, WVU will contact the affiliate for additional documentation before determining aid eligibility.
Types of Aid Which May Be Used For Study Abroad:
- WVU Outgoing Exchange: Federal grants, loans, state aid, scholarships, and waivers.
- Faculty-led: Federal grants, loans, state aid, scholarships and waivers.
- Affiliate: Federal grants, loans and institutional scholarships.
Important information: Some scholarships and grants require students show a certain number of earned credit hours to renew the aid for a future academic year. Students who use these types of aid for study abroad trips will not be able to renew their scholarship/grant until transcripts of the credit hours earned during the study abroad program are received by WVU and posted to their student record. Example, if a student uses the WV Higher Education Grant for a spring study abroad trip, their study abroad transcripts must be showing on the students Unofficial Transcripts on STAR (via their WVU Portal) before the grant can be renewed for the following fall and spring semesters.
Promise and Study Abroad
- If you are studying abroad through WVU in an Exchange or Faculty-led program and tuition and fees are charged to your student account with WVU, you can receive the Promise scholarship as normal for the semester.
- If you are studying abroad through an affiliate company and as such do not have tuition and fee charges through your WVU student account, you must request a deferral through the state agency (WV Higher Education Policy Commission) to maintain your Promise Scholarship eligibility. You will not be eligible for the semester you are studying abroad through an affiliate company.
- Before renewal of your scholarship, transcripts of the credit hours earned during the study abroad program must be received by WVU and posted to your student record.
Plan Wisely
You will be responsible for deposits or other payments due prior to the WVU-scheduled disbursement of financial aid for the semester for which you are traveling.