Inform your university
Start by letting the staff in your university’s study abroad and financial aid offices know you plan to use financial aid for your program abroad and ask about any requirements you’ll need to meet.
Types of financial aid you can use
You can usually use the same financial aid for study abroad that you rely on at your home university including Title IV funding like Pell, Stafford, and PLUS loans, as well as grants, loans, and scholarships from your school or private sources. WorldStrides accepts all types of financial aid, but it’s important to check with your university or scholarship provider to make sure your funding can be applied to your program.
Download our funding guide
This guide walks you through everything from using financial aid and finding scholarships to budgeting and fundraising, giving you a better idea of how to make study abroad work for you.
How to use your financial aid
Submitting financial aid can feel complex, but we’re here to break it down so you can feel confident and in control of the process.
Submit your forms
- Log in to your WorldStrides student account and go to the "Forms & Documents" section.
- Print and sign the Verification of Award (VOA) form. Complete the student section at the bottom. If you don’t see the form, reach out to us.
- Take the signed form to your Financial Aid office to have it completed. Ask if they also need a Contractual or Consortium Agreement.
- Email all completed financial aid documents to HigherEdFinAid@worldstrides.org as soon as possible. Make sure everything is submitted by your program’s Final Forms and Payment deadline.
Submit your payment
To avoid late fees or cancellation, make sure to complete one of the payment options below by your final form and payment deadline.
Option 1: Full Payment
Pay the full program fee out-of-pocket by the deadline. You can be reimbursed with your financial aid once it’s released. Pay online via your student account (ACH or credit/debit), or mail a check/money order to WorldStrides.
Option 2: VOA Guaranteeing Full Aid + Down Payment
If your aid is released to you:
- Pay your down payment by the deadline. Once your aid is released, pay the rest through your student account or by check/money order.
If your aid is released to WorldStrides:
- Pay your down payment by the deadline. No further action is needed—WorldStrides will receive your full aid directly.
Option 3: VOA Guaranteeing Partial Aid + Remaining Balance
If your aid is released to you:
- Pay the part of your balance not covered by aid (at least your down payment) by the deadline. Pay the rest when your aid is disbursed.
If your aid is released to WorldStrides:
- Pay the portion not covered by aid (at least your down payment) by the deadline. WorldStrides will receive the remaining aid directly.
Keep in mind that housing deposits and commitment fees are separate from your program fee and must also be paid by the deadline.
Submit verification of course enrollment
Once you are abroad and your course schedule has been finalized, you must submit the Verification of Course Enrollment (VOCE) form in your WorldStrides student account. This form allows us to confirm for your home university that you are enrolled full time and the approximate number of credits you will receive. Most U.S. universities require this information before they can release any financial aid.
Down payments
Down payment amounts can be made via ACH or debit/credit card on the WorldStrides student account or via check or money order (to be deposited immediately upon receipt).
Note: All required housing deposits (in addition to the down payment) must be paid no later than the final forms and payment due date.
| Program(s) | Amount |
| 4- and 6-week WorldStrides Community Engagement programs | $300 |
| Summer and Intensive Month programs | $500 |
| 8-week WorldStrides Community Engagement programs | $500 |
| Semester, Trimester, and back-to-back Summer programs | $1000 |
| 8- and 12-week Internship programs | $1000 |
| London Summer (except Westminster), Stirling Summer (single-session), Freie Universität Berlin Summer, and Italy Summer programs | $1000 |
| Westminster Summer program | $1500 |
| Year programs, back-to-back Semester programs, or back-to-back Trimester programs (except the specific programs below) | $1500 |
| England, Scotland, Prague, and Florence Semester and Year programs | $1500 |
| EuroScholars programs | $1500 |
| Stirling back-to-back Summer programs | $2000 |
| Berlin Semester, Year, and Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Summer program | $2000 |
| Florida State University-Valencia Study Center Semester and Year programs | $2000 |
Reach out to us
We know processing your financial aid can feel a little overwhelming. Let us know if you need one-on-one support. We’re here to help you through it.