Many students get federal student aid to help pay for their study at international schools, either at the undergraduate or graduate level. 
Whether you plan to study abroad for a semester or get your entire degree outside the United States , you may be able to use federal student aid to pay your expenses. The type of aid you can get and the process you must follow will depend on the type of program study - abroad or full degree you plan to enter. Your status as an undergraduate or graduate student also affects the type of aid for which you re eligible , just as it does at schools in the U.S. 

Study Abroad for a Semester or Year 
You may receive federal student aid for a study - abroad program, if you meet the aid eligibility criteria. If you aren t already in the habit of filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid FAFSA form each year for college , be sure to learn about the federal student aid programs and the FAFSA process. You ll need to fill out a FAFSA form before you can receive federal student aid to study abroad. To determine which types of aid you ll be able to use for your study - abroad program , contact the financial aid office at your American school. If your American school doesn t participate in the federal student aid programs, then you won t be able to get federal student aid to help pay for your study abroad. Start early, because it s important to get all necessary paperwork done on time, both at your American school and at the international school. The rest of the information on this page below this section does not apply to you if what you re interested in is doing a study - abroad program. 

Get a Degree From an International School 
If you ve decided to get your degree from a school outside the U.S. , congratulations. Now let us help you find out which international schools participate in the federal student aid programs and guide you through the process of getting federal aid to make a dent in that tuition bill. 

How can I rese

user: I was wondering if I could get student aid when studying abroad. Can you please give me some advice?

assistant: Of course. Whether you plan to study abroad for a semester or get your entire degree outside the United States, you may be able to use federal student aid to pay your expenses.

user: So even if I study outside the U.S. I can get student aid?

assistant: Yes, that's correct.

user: That's great! What should I do if I plan to get a degree from an international school?

assistant: Have you decided to get your degree from a school outside the U.S. ?

user: Yes, I want to study abroad.

assistant: Congratulations. Now let us help you find out which international schools participate in the federal student aid programs and guide you through the process of getting federal aid to make a dent in that tuition bill.

user: I see. When and how do I repay the loan?

assistant: That depends on whether it s a subsidized or unsubsidized loan versus a PLUS loan. Repayment of a loan used to pay for international study works the same way as repayment of a loan used to pay for an American school. Get information about repaying federal student loans.

user: How can I research schools and their requirements?

assistant: First, don't panic. You're on your own, but if you're organized and determined, you'll be okay.