Study Abroad

Generally, students go abroad during either the Fall semester or the Spring semester; occasionally students will spend an entire academic year abroad. Students also go abroad during Summer. Students participate in study abroad programs in one of two ways:

• Via an agreement with a Study Abroad Provider, in which the student does not pay NJIT (MR_GLBL)
• By paying tuition and fees to NJIT (student is registered for the 12 credit course MR-INTL)

Financial Aid Program Eligibility

The type of financial aid a student is able to utilize for their study abroad trip is determined by whether the student selects MR-GLBL or MR_INTL; the chart below illustrates students’ eligibility for financial aid by student aid source and circumstances (please note, however, that students must still meet the individual eligibility programs to receive the specific types of aid programs).

For students selecting the MR_INTL option, students are billed by NJIT and are eligible to receive all Federal, State and Institutional aid that they would normally be entitled to, other than work-study and any NJIT Room Grants (Honors, Athletic, etc). To insure that all aid is processed properly, the student must meet with a Financial Aid Advisor and provide an approved “Study Abroad Enrollment and Financial Form” from the Office of Global Initiatives.

For students selecting the MR_GLBL option, a consortium agreement will be required in order for NJIT to process any Title IV Financial Aid, which includes but is not limited to, Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Direct Loan, and Federal PLUS Loan that the student qualifies for. In this instance, even though the student is not being billed by NJIT and is not attending NJIT, NJIT will serve as the “home school” and will award/disburse student’s aid via a Consortium Agreement. Since the student’s bill will be zero, a credit will be generated once the aid is disbursed and the money will be refunded to the student. A Consortium Agreement will be initiated only after the student has met with a Financial Aid Advisor, and has provided an approved “Study Abroad Enrollment and Financial Form” from the Office of Global Initiatives.

Documentation of Costs

Regardless of which study abroad option a student selects (MR_INTL or MR_GLBL) students receiving any form of aid (federal, state or institutional) are required to provide documentation of costs associated with their trip abroad. These costs include tuition/fees, housing, food, books, course materials, supplies, & equipment, transportation and miscellaneous costs; if the student fails to do so, these components will be “zero” on the student’s cost of attendance (COA) and could impact the amount of aid that the student is eligible to receive.

Student’s Responsibilities

In addition to providing documentation of costs, students have several other responsibilities that need to be addressed before they go abroad. They include, but are not limited to, those detailed below:

• Provide proof of enrollment AFTER registering for classes at the host institution;  failure to do so may result in loss or reduction of financial aid;
• Notify both the Office of Global Initiatives and Student Financial Aid Services of any enrollment changes; enrollment changes may impact Federal, State and Institutional Aid;
• Submit all required financial aid documents PRIOR to departure;
• Maintain contact with the Office of Global Initiatives;
• Ensure that the academic transcript is forwarded from the host institution to NJIT;
• Have a GREAT time abroad!

For more information, please visit https://www.njit.edu/studyabroad/