Study Abroad

Financial aid is available to help fund your participation in Global Edge. You may be eligible for aid for both the fall semester and summer and are encouraged to apply for financial aid as early as possible. The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office will award federal, state and institutional funds to all eligible students participating in Global Edge. We will partner with you to ensure your cost of attendance and financial aid awards are adjusted to reflect the Global Edge Program.

What do I need to do to apply for aid for the Global Edge program?

As a Global Edge participant, you apply for financial aid in a similar way as a newly admitted freshman who is attending both summer and fall. You will need to complete two financial aid applications—one for the 2023-24 academic year and one for the 2024-25 academic year. This will ensure we evaluate your eligibility for both summer 2024 as well as the entire 2024–25 academic year at UC Berkeley.

You can find more information about applying for summer aid on the Summer Financial Aid page. Please note that all entering students must complete a 2023–24 FAFSA application by June 1, 2024 to be considered for summer aid. All applications must include UC Berkeley’s federal school code (001312).

Costs, deadlines, registration information and FAQs can be found on the Global Edge website. We encourage you to contact the Global Edge staff for programmatic related questions.

Berkeley Summer Abroad and Global Internship programs, are UC Berkeley courses which offer a diverse collection of programs that combine international travel with academic coursework in nearly 20 countries. You can earn academic course credit on a Summer Abroad program, or earn academic course credit while also gaining practical internship experience in your field of interest on a Global Internship Program. The cost of attending these programs varies from around $8,500 to $15,000, including roundtrip airfare and estimated out-of-pocket expenses. For more information about Berkeley Study Abroad programs, please visit the Berkeley Study Abroad website.

1. What types of financial aid are available for a Summer Abroad or Global Internship Program?

Typically, the types of funding available for a Summer Abroad Program are a UC Summer Fee Grant for the tuition cost (if you qualify), Federal Direct Loans, and Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans or private loans. You will qualify for the same types of aid as students attending a Summer Session on the UC Berkeley campus. Also see question 7 for more detail.

2. How does the Summer Abroad or Global Internship Program financial aid process work?

• Review your financial aid eligibility before enrolling. Check CalCentral in late February to see if you are eligible for grant aid, and then calculate your loan eligibility.
• Once you understand the types and amounts of aid you are qualified to receive, you can then decide whether or not to enroll in your Summer Abroad Program.
• After you enroll, the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office will post your summer award package beginning in late April. You then must accept and/or decline the awards you would like.
• Ten days before the start date of your program, the financial aid awards you accepted will be sent to your account. Your aid will be applied to any outstanding charges, and then to your summer-related charges. Once these charges are paid, any funding accepted by you in excess of the fixed costs will be refunded to you. You can sign up for Electronic Funds Transfer via CalCentral for a faster way to get your refund for your summer personal expenses.

3. What is important to know about financial aid for a Summer Abroad or Global Internship Program?

• Make sure that your Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer account is active to ensure timely receipt of your funds.
• Make sure that your account does not have any financial holds or previous semester balances before you leave. If any balance remains, the aid you will receive for your Summer Abroad Program will pay those balances before refunding to you. This means you would not receive the full amount you were expecting for your summer abroad expenses.
• You cannot have an expected graduation date of Spring. Your aid package will not be available until your expected graduation date is updated. Speak with your college to update your graduation date. It is also important to review your status online to ensure your expected graduation date is correctly listed.
• Any deposits owed to the Summer Sessions office for your Summer Abroad Program must be paid before their deadline. These expenses are considered a part of your Summer Abroad Program fee, and your total budget will take this into consideration.
• The total estimated budget for all Summer Abroad Programs includes deposits, roundtrip airfare, accommodations, food, books and supplies, transportation, personal and pre-departure expenses such as immunizations, and passport and visa applications.
• We advise you to purchase a roundtrip plane ticket, passport, and visas well in advance of your departure date. Financial aid will disburse to you only 10 days before the start date of your program, and then refund to you approximately four to five business days later, which is not enough time to get a good deal on roundtrip airfare or arrange for a passport and visas. Planning in advance for your trip is very important.

4. What does a sample Summer Abroad Program budget look like?
SAMPLE SUMMER ABROAD PROGRAM BUDGET

Program Name:

Barcelona, Spain: The Other Side/El Otro Lado: 6 units

Program Dates:

06/24 to 07/29 (5 weeks)

*It is important to note that although the total estimated budget includes fixed expenses for program and housing fees, all other living expenses are only estimates. It is difficult to know how much funding each student will need to cover for individual expenses such as airfare, books and supplies, and personal, so the total budget is an average of student expenses. You can decide how much of any loan awards accept. This will help to cover the Remaining Costs not met by grant or scholarships. Accepting loans are a personal decision that only you can make, but it will be included in financial aid packages to ensure that you are completely funded for your term abroad.

5. What does a sample Global Internship Program budget look like?
SAMPLE GLOBAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAM BUDGET

Program Name:

Berkeley Global Internship Program: London, UK; 6 units

Program Dates:

06/10 to 08/05 (8 weeks)

*It is important to note that although the total estimated budget includes fixed expenses for program and housing fees, all other living expenses are only estimates. It is difficult to know how much funding each student will need to cover for individual expenses such as airfare, books and supplies, and personal, so the total budget is an average of student expenses. You can decide how much of any loan awards accept. This will help to cover the Remaining Costs not met by grant or scholarships. Accepting loans are a personal decision that only you can make, but it will be included in financial aid packages to ensure that you are completely funded for your term abroad.

6. How can I determine what kind of loan funding might be available to me for my Summer Abroad or Global Internship Program?

If you did not accept or receive the annual maximum amount of your student loan eligibility during the academic year, the remaining balance of these loans may be available to you to use for your Summer Abroad Program.

To get an idea of your summer loan eligibility before receiving your summer financial aid offer, you can compare the amount of loans you accepted and received against the total amount available to you as shown on the following tables. Simply subtract the total amount of loans you accepted and received during the academic year from the total amount available for your grade level to calculate your remaining summer loan eligibility. You can check your award payment status in CalCentral.

Example: Joe Cal is a Dependent sophomore who accepted and received $3,450 of his loan eligibility during the academic year. This leaves him with $3,050 remaining student loan eligibility for the summer term ($6,500 - $3,450 = $3,050).

Example: Josephine Cal is an Independent freshman who accepted and received $9,500 of her loan eligibility during the academic year. This leaves her with no remaining student loan eligibility for the summer term ($9,500 - $9,500 = $0).

7. What kind of financial aid can I receive if I participate in a Berkeley Summer Abroad or Global Internship Program?

You may be eligible to receive the same types of financial aid you would receive if you attend a Summer Session on the Berkeley campus, but because you are studying abroad you may be eligible for additional travel scholarships and grants not available to students studying on the campus. If you want to know if you may qualify for any of the awards listed below send us an email at travelaid@berkeley.edu. You may also use the Summer Cost and Aid Estimator, which is available to students through Cal Central, located on the "My Finances" tab, under the Summer Sessions header.

Awards available to all summer students, studying abroad or not:

• UC Summer Fee Grants – this award is designed to pay your total per-unit costs.
• Berkeley Study Abroad Travel Scholarship – if you qualify for the UC Summer Fee Grant (above) you may also qualify for this scholarship which is designed to assist you with your travel and personal expenses. And even if you don’t qualify for the UC Summer Fee Grant, you may still qualify for this grant depending on your financial need.
• Federal Direct Student Loans – if your unused student loans from the current year are still available to you for the summer term.
• Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans – if the total grants and student loans listed above do not cover the total amount of your costs, dependent students will be awarded this loan to assist with any remaining costs.
• Summer Sessions Loan – an institutional loan provided to Berkeley students who meet the eligibility requirements. For more information, please see the Summer Sessions Loan web page.
• Berkeley Loan – an institutional loan provided to Berkeley students who meet the eligibility requirements. For more information, please see the Berkeley Loan web page.
• Private Loans – if you are not eligible for any of the other awards listed above, then you may apply for a private student loan for the amount up to the total cost of your summer budget.

8. How do I apply for financial aid to attend a Berkeley Summer Abroad or Global Internship Program?

If you have filed your FAFSA for the current academic year, then you will not need to submit a new FAFSA for the summer term. Once you have been admitted to your program, you will be enrolled in the course and your financial aid package will be available in late April for you to view. At that point it is important to check your messages to make sure your financial aid file is complete, and accept the awards or decline the awards.

9. What do I need to know about the Berkeley Summer Abroad or Global Internship Program?

Planning for your trip in advance is very important. You will have unique responsibilities in preparing for your study abroad program, but rest assured there is an entire staff of program advisers and financial aid officers dedicated to helping you through the process. You can visit us for assistance in understanding what you need to do, but some of the more important things you should know are listed here:

• The total cost of attending a Summer Abroad or Global Internship Program includes roundtrip airfare, accommodations, food, books and supplies, in-country transportation, personal, and pre-departure expenses such as immunizations, and passport and visa applications.
• Your financial aid will disburse ten (10) days before the start date of your program, but 10 days is not enough time to get a good deal on pre-departure expenses like roundtrip airfare, passports, and visas. It's a good idea to purchase your round-trip flight, as well as passport and visas, well in advance of your departure.
• After your aid is disbursed, it will be sent directly to your account; where your Summer Abroad or Global Internship Program charges will be posted. Once the charges in your account are paid in full, any funding that you accepted in excess of the charges will be refunded directly to your bank account via a Direct Deposit/Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) that you can then use for your other expenses abroad.
• You cannot be on the previous spring semester degree list. The financial aid office cannot release your summer financial aid until your name is removed from the degree list, so if you are on the degree list you must speak with your college to update your expected date of graduation. NOTE: Students who are NOT on the degree list but who have completed all degree, college, and major requirements are ineligible for financial aid for the summer.
• Summer financial aid may be applied to any charges remaining from the prior year, so you are encouraged to make sure you have no balance due before your summer financial aid disburses. Otherwise, you may find that you do not have enough funding to cover your expenses for your Summer Abroad or Global Internship Program program.

10. Can I talk with someone about my financial aid eligibility for a Berkeley Summer Abroad or Global Internship Program?

Absolutely! Please visit the Study Abroad Financial Aid Advising website, or you may email travelaid@berkeley.edu for assistance.

The UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) is the university's most popular and most common study abroad program. Year-round you have a choice of more than 150 study abroad programs in 38 countries. Each program is unique and offers you a variety of academic curriculum and opportunities for personal growth. The cost of attending these programs varies from approximately $7,000 for a summer term to $41,000 for a full academic year – including airfare. For more information about the collection of UCEAP programs, please visit the UCEAP website. For details about the financial aid process for these programs please read the Frequently Asked Questions: Education Abroad Program section below.

1. What kind of financial aid will I receive if I participate in a summer Education Abroad Program (EAP)?

You will receive the same types of financial aid you would receive if you attend a Summer Session on the Berkeley campus, but because you are studying abroad additional grants and scholarships may be available to you. If you want to know if you may qualify for any of the awards listed below send us an email at travelaid@berkeley.edu, or visit the Study Abroad Financial Aid Advising website to request an estimate.

Awards available to all summer students, studying abroad or not:

• UC Summer Fee Grants – this award is designed to pay your total tuition costs, for program units.
• Federal Direct Student Loans – if your unused student loans from the current year are still available to you for the summer term.
• Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans – if the total of grants and student loans listed above do not cover the total amount of your costs, dependent students will be awarded this loan to assist with any remaining costs.
• Summer Sessions Loans – if you meet the eligibility criteria you will be offered this type of loan to assist you with your program costs.
• Private Loans – if you are not eligible for any of the other awards listed above, then you may apply for a private student loan for the amount up to the total cost of your summer budget.
• Awards, in addition to those above, available only to summer EAP students:
• EAP Program Grant – if you qualify for the UC Summer Fee Grant (above) you will automatically qualify for this program grant designed to assist you with your travel and living expenses.
• UC Berkeley EAP Scholarship – you may receive this scholarship from the Berkeley EAP program office if you demonstrate financial need. You are automatically considered for this award; no application is necessary.
• UCEAP Scholarship – this award is similar to the UC Berkeley EAP Scholarship, however it is an award for which you must submit a formal application to the system-wide EAP office in Santa Barbara. Details on how to do this are available on the UCEAP and Berkeley Study Abroad websites.

2. How do I apply for financial aid to attend an UCEAP program?

If you have filed your FAFSA for the current academic year, then you will not need to submit a new FAFSA for the summer term. Once you have chosen which program you wish to attend the UCEAP office will give your name to the financial aid office in early to mid-April. The financial aid office will then create your summer financial aid package based on both the cost of your program and your award eligibility, and then email you when it is ready. All you will need to do at that point is check CalCentral where you can make sure your file is complete, check your messages, and accept the awards or decline your awards.

3. What do I need to know about the summer Education Abroad Program?

As a summer UCEAP participant planning for your trip in advance is very important. You will have unique responsibilities in preparing for your summer study abroad program, but rest assured there is an entire staff of EAP program advisers and financial aid officers dedicated to helping you through the process. You can reach out to us for assistance with applying for the program and planning your term abroad. Some important details of the process are:

• The total cost of attending a summer UCEAP program includes roundtrip airfare, accommodations, food, books and supplies, transportation, personal, and pre-departure expenses such as immunizations, and passport and visa applications.
• Your financial aid will disburse ten days before the start date of your program, but 10 days is not enough time to get a good deal on pre-departure expenses like roundtrip airfare, passports and visas. You should purchase your round-trip flight as well as passport and visas well in advance of your departure.
• After your aid is disbursed, it will apply towards any remaining balance on your Cal Central Account before it is sent to the UCEAP main office. The UCEAP office will apply your financial aid awards to your UCEAP portal for study abroad expenses such as tuition and housing fees. Once the UCEAP account balance is paid in full, any remaining financial aid you accepted will be refunded directly to your bank account via the UCEAP eRefund which you can then use to pay for the additional expenses listed in your budget. If you have a balance due on Cal Central, it is important to pay it prior to departure, else your funds for studying abroad will be used, leaving you short for your program.
• You cannot be on the previous spring's degree list. Your aid package will not be available until your name is removed from the degree list. Speak with your college to remove yourself from the degree list. It is also important to review your status on CalCentral to ensure your expected graduation date is correctly listed. NOTE: Students who are NOT on the degree list but who have completed all degree and major requirements are ineligible for financial aid.

4. What is the process for receiving financial aid payments?

• Before You Leave

The costs for roundtrip airfare and pre-departure expenses, such as visa applications and vaccinations, are paid in advance by you. We cannot legally advance financial aid to cover costs that are incurred before the start of EAP programs. However, if you accept all aid offers and complete all loan application requirements for the term abroad, then you will be reimbursed in full for these pre-departure costs.

Also, we cannot legally advance financial aid to cover costs for fall term EAP programs with a lengthy summer component (such as the Intensive Language Program) before the actual start of the overseas program term. You must plan on covering your summer component EAP cost of attendance through your own resources initially. You will be reimbursed for EAP summer component expenses when all of your aid offers are accepted and disbursed at the normal start of the fall term at UC Berkeley.

• Once You're There

No financial aid awards will pay charges in CalCentral during the period of your EAP participation. All aid will transfer to the main EAP office in Santa Barbara office to pay the EAP tuition and fees assessed on your separate UCEAP portal, and then the main EAP office in Santa Barbara will process a refund for you, if applicable.

5. What are important things that I should do before I go?
Before you leave, make sure to:

• Watch currency rates. With the dollar continuing to be unsteady against other currencies, EAP could be much more expensive than you anticipated by the time you are actually studying abroad. Watch currency rates against the dollar on a weekly basis before your departure.
• Bring additional funds. If you are planning to participate in recreational travel outside of your study program, attend events, or shop beyond the budget, please be sure to plan for these expenses using your own resources. Financial aid will only cover expenses that are a part of your student budget, as identified by UCEAP.
• Plan to pay for some expenses up front. You will need to pay for pre-departure expenses and roundtrip airfare prior to your financial aid disbursing, but can be reimbursed for these cost later, if they meet the expenses detailed in your budget.
• Accept all aid offers and complete all loan application requirements. Accept aid offered. If you choose to accept your loan offers, please complete all loan application requirements.
• Clear academic holds. Before your departure, make sure no academic holds have been assessed, either by your college, the Office of the Registrar, or any other campus entity. The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office cannot release a hold on your aid for the term of your EAP participation.
• Pay entire balance. Monitor your account to ensure that you don't have an outstanding balance before you leave. If you do have an outstanding balance, the disbursement of your EAP term aid will apply towards that balance, leaving you short. Continue to monitor your account while you are abroad.
• Consider your SHIP options. All EAP students are required to have health insurance. It is very important to decide whether you want to keep your SHIP insurance or waive out of it before you leave on your trip. If you decide to keep SHIP and you are eligible to receive additional financial aid to cover this expense, the aid will be applied to SHIP charges on your Berkeley student account while you are studying abroad. Contact the Tang Center and the Study Abroad Office for more information
• Set up an Education Abroad Program eRefund Account. Set up an EAP eRefund account to receive your EAP refund. If you do not do this, your refund check will be mailed to your United States permanent address on file stateside. You can sign up for eRefund via your UCEAP portal.
• Get the right contact information. Make sure that you have the correct contact information of your EAP Finance Advisor before you leave. This person will confirm aid payments and how they have been applied to your UCEAP portal.

6. Can I talk with someone about my financial aid eligibility for an Education Abroad Program?

Absolutely! Please visit the Study Abroad Financial Aid Advising website, or you may email travelaid@berkeley.edu for assistance.