Loans for Study Abroad
Students or their parents may apply to borrow additional loan funds to cover the costs of their study abroad program. Coverable costs include any additional tuition and fee charges, transportation, housing and personal expenses. Students or their parents may apply for additional loan funds through the following programs:
Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan Program
A parent borrows on behalf of their dependent undergraduate student. This loan program requires a parent credit check. The Office of Financial Aid processes the loan request once Dominican University’s Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan Authorization Form and all documents from Direct Loans have been received. The parent can request an amount up to the study abroad program cost minus any financial aid the student is receiving.
Parents can apply for Parent PLUS Loans online at studentaid.gov. The parent who will be applying for the loan will sign into the website using their FSA ID Number. Parents need to complete two sections on this website:
- Request a PLUS Loan (Select the loan type Parent PLUS)
- Complete a Master Promissory (Select the loan type Parent PLUS)
Parents must also complete Dominican University’s Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan Authorization Form. Parent PLUS Loans will not be processed until all of the above requirements have been completed. The forms can be found here.
Private Education Loans
These loans are also sometimes referred to as Alternative Education Loans. For these loan programs, the student is the borrower although there are some lenders who may have parent loan programs. This loan program requires a credit check. If the applicant is not credit-worthy on their own, they are able to apply with a credit-worthy co-signer such as a parent or other relative. The Office of Financial Aid processes the loan request once we have been notified by the lender that all application materials have been received and the loan has been approved. The student can request an amount up to the study abroad program cost minus any financial aid received.
Additional questions about financial aid for study abroad can be addressed to the Office of Financial Aid in Lewis Hall Room 120, call us at (708) 524-6809 or email finaid@dom.edu.
Scholarships for Study Abroad
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards for undergraduate study abroad and was established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000. This scholarship provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study abroad programs worldwide. Learn more about the Gilman Study Abroad Scholarship.
Who Should Apply?
The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are planning to study abroad. The program aims to diversify the kinds of students who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go by supporting undergraduates who might otherwise not participate due to financial constraints. Learn more about Eligibility Requirements.
When and How To Apply
The Gilman Scholarship Program accepts applications two times per year. Ideally, students should begin their application one full semester before their study abroad program is scheduled to begin. Learn more and access the online application.
About the Sponsor
The Gilman Scholarship Program is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries to promote friendly, sympathetic, and peaceful relations.