Financial Aid Information

Students who are accepted for participation on a study abroad program may apply for financial aid if they meet federal requirements for a guaranteed student loan.

Southern Miss students requiring financial aid should contact the Office of International Programs Office before requesting a study-abroad financial aid application from the university's Financial Aid Office. You must complete the 2012-2013_SAFAF form in order for the Financial Aid office to process your summer study abroad financial aid. After you have completed the form please return it to our office via email (studyabroad@usm.edu), fax (601-266-5699) or in person (International Center 401). We will sign it and forward it on to the Financial Aid Office on your behalf. 

Pell Grants, faculty/staff dependent scholarships, faculty/staff tuition waivers, and graduate assistantships are also accepted. Students are advised to begin the financial aid process well in advance of these deadlines.

Consortium school students should contact their home school's international or study abroad program office to find out how to apply for financial aid.

Non-Southern Miss/consortium school students should apply for financial aid through the school in which they are currently enrolled and seeking a degree. Financial aid agreements between Southern Miss and other schools are available, if requested. If more information is needed, contact the Southern Miss Office of International Programs at 601.266.4344 (fax 601.266.5699).

Please note: If you are eligible for both the honors travel award and the Golden Key discount, only one may apply to the cost of the program.  We will apply the award/discount which gives you the highest award/discount.

NAFSA: Financial Aid for Study Abroad: An Undergraduate Student's Resource

Financial aid regulations and sources for study abroad differ for undergraduate and graduate students. This resource focuses specifically on undergraduate students.

Financial aid for undergraduate study abroad consists mainly of federal grants and federal and private loans. However, scholarship money is also available from organizations and sponsoring companies. You likely have many questions about the cost of studying abroad and about how you can fund your abroad experience. Be sure to speak with your campus financial aid officer and study abroad adviser to learn more about specific funding options available at—and required procedures for—your college or university. 

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Financial Aid available?

Yes! But let's be sure we're all clear here: what is financial aid, exactly? It's any form of financial assistance you receive. Scholarships, grants, loans, tuition assistance programs, any and every thing that assists you financially in the persuit of your college education.

How much does studying abroad cost?

Well, program fees vary by program, and you can find most of that information when you search our programs online - if the information is not listed, it's probably because we're still finalizing some details.

What do my program fees include? (Accommodation, meal plans, etc.)

You'll want to check the program information for specifics, because this varies by program also. But fees always include tuition and your International Student Identification Card (ISIC). Accommodation, in-country transportation, and program excursions are also included in your fees - however you should speak with the program director or verify what is written in the program description to confirm what else is included. Specifics on each program may be found on our application site, Horizons, and you can browse all programs by clicking the "Apply Now" button at the top right of this screen and then "search programs" -or- click "browse programs" under the "student" menu option at the top left of this screen.

What types of loans are available?

Financial aid in the form of student loans or Pell grants may be used to finance your credit-abroad program fees. There are several venues that you may choose from if you qualify. Please be aware that any form of financial aid will depend on circumstances that the student or parent may have. Also, before applying for any form of financial aid, all students must have completed the appropriate FAFSA application, which can be obtained from the Southern Miss Financial Aid website.

Parent Plus loans are borrowed on behalf of the student by their parent.

Unsubsidized loans are available for any student that wishes to borrow regardless of family contribution. The amount that you may borrow depends on your classification at the time you attend the program.

Subsidized loans are awarded to those students with lower family contribution or other financial circumstances.

Pell grants are available for qualifying students.

Alternative loans or "outside loans" are available for all students. These are signature loans through certain lending institutions. They are handled in the same way as an unsubsidized loan. Because these are signature loans, a student that does not have enough income or credit may need a co-signer. This can be anyone that has an appropriate credit rating. The Southern Miss Financial Aid office will have a budget for each credit-abroad program. This budget will include the cost of the program and an estimate for spending money. You may borrow up to the total budget for each program in any combination of aid.

Scholarships that are applicable for the summer semester may be used towards the cost of the program.

Are there scholarships available?

Yes! The Center for International Education has a few scholarships available and you may learn more about how and when to apply here. 

Foreign Language majors at Southern Miss may refer to the Foreign Languages website for scholarship opportunities.

Here are a few places for everyone to start looking:

Study Abroad Funding - a directory featuring detailed descriptions of hundreds of study abroad scholarships, fellowships, grants, and paid internships for U.S. undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate students, and professionals.

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is open to all U.S. citizen undergraduates, in good academic standing, who meet certain criteria. If you currently qualify for a Pell Grant, you are eligible to apply for the Gilman Scholarship and should schedule an appointment to meet with Robyn Curtis, National Scholarship Officer, as soon as you review the scholarship's website.

AllAbroad Suggestions - offering suggestions for "general" study abroad, "diversity" study abroad and nontraditional country destinations.

Golden Key members qualify for a discount ranging from $300-500 on our programs. To learn more visit your program of interest's information page - click "Apply Now" to the right of this screen to browse our programs.

If you are an Honors College student you may be eligible for a Travel Award and should indicate you are an HC student within your study abroad application (there will be a box to tick). This is the same for members of the Golden Key Honor Society, be sure to check that box during the online application process. If you qualify for both travel awards you will only be awarded one.

How much money will I need to take with me?

On top of your program fees you will need to prepare to take additional funds with you to pay for things like meals, sight-seeing, independent travel, etc. Speaking with former students is one of the best ways to get an idea of what you should budget. Our staff is also available to counsel you, this amount varies between programs.