Funding Study Abroad

The cost of study abroad varies by program.  In some cases, it actually costs less to study abroad for a semester than it would to live in Norman and take a full courseload here.  In other cases, the cost of living abroad may be more expensive than staying on campus.

Most University of Oklahoma students use some sort of financial aid to study abroad.  Financial aid is broadly defined as any source of funding for an academic program of study that comes from a source other than you or your parents.  This could come in the form of Pell Grants, OHLAP, Stafford Loans, Parent PLUS Loans or work-study.  It could also come in the form of scholarships from a private foundations or public institutions.  Most students will combine aid from a number of different sources to cover the costs of study abroad.

This website provides links to a number of financial aid options, scholarship and fellowship resources.  We encourage you to first come speak with a study abroad adviser if you have further questions about funding your experience abroad.

Students who receive an aid package from financial aid services from federal and state sources may be eligible to apply this aid toward a study abroad program.  Support from financial aid varies based on a number of factors such as remaining aid eligibility, program costs, length of stay and type of program.  The Financial Aid Services office determines which study abroad programs are approved for financial aid.  There are a few steps that all degree-seeking OU students must follow to determine aid eligibility for an approved study abroad program:

1. Have a current FAFSA on file with OU Financial Aid Services.  The OU code is 003184.
2. Complete and submit the hard copy study abroad form provided by Financial Aid Services to Financial Aid Services.  To download a copy of this form you should go to the Ask the Sooners bar at the top of the Financial Aid Services website and type study abroad form in the search.  Do not give a copy of this form to Education Abroad.  It must be submitted directly to Financial Aid Services in Buchanan Hall.
3. Submit all required materials listed on the Financial Aid Services study abroad form by the deadline. 

Financial Aid Services Deadlines:
June 1 for Fall or Fall/Spring (academic year)
November 1 for Spring or Spring/Summer
April 1 for Summer

Note: If you want to apply for financial aid for a study abroad program that takes place during the summer, you must also complete the Summer Online Financial Aid Application in addition to the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).  Current OU students may lo into oZONE and go to the Money tab for complete Summer Information and the Summer Appilcation link.

Please visit the Financial Aid Services website and use the Ask the Sooners search function for more information about applying financial aid to study abroad programs.

There are a number of scholarships for study abroad programs.  Some of them are for specific destinations.  This website links to a number of these scholarship opportunities as well as a search engine for study abroad funding administered by the Institute of International Education.

President David L. Boren continues to support international travel for study abroad through the Presidential International Travel Fellowship, or PITF.  The PITF is primarily a need-based fellowship and typically covers 75% of the cost of round trip international airfare to any study abroad destination. 

Click here for information and application for the PITF.