FAQ

TOC: FAQ Topics

Eligibility

FAQ: Am I eligible for the ISA?

Please refer to the ISA Eligibility page for eligibility requirements.

FAQ: I am eligible for the ISA, but I have concerns about my ability to use the ISA.

Please reach out to the ISA Team at isa@yale.edu.

FAQ: What is the difference between the ISA and the SEA?

The ISA can fund an eligible summer study experience outside the U.S. for eligible students. This includes Yale Summer Session Abroad, Yale in London, and approved non-Yale study abroad programs. The SEA can fund a secured, OCS-approved, non-study summer opportunity in the U.S. or outside the U.S. which is unpaid or underfunded ($1,500 or less).

FAQ: When is the best time to use my ISA?

The ISA can be used in the summers following your first, sophomore, and junior years.

The ISA Team recommends meeting with a Study Abroad advisor (for an activity eligible for the ISA) or Office of Career Strategy advisor (for activities covered by the SEA) early in your academic career if you are interested in participating in more than one summer experience abroad. While advisors can’t tell you what to do, they can help you navigate the decision-making process.

Since each student can only use an ISA once, if you plan to do more than one study program abroad, you may want to optimize your use of the ISA so that it will provide you with as much funding as possible. For example, if you are thinking of participating in a YSS Abroad program after your sophomore year and then a different YSS Abroad program following your junior year, it would be wise to review previous years’ budgets to get a sense of what your level of ISA funding would be for each experience. You could then determine which course you would pay more for out of pocket. The SEA can be used to help fund a professional activity, such as an internship, abroad.

Students may use their ISA for summer AND still study abroad during term-time using financial aid. 

FAQ: Is the award competitive?

The ISA is non-competitive; if you meet the eligibility requirements and complete all program application components on time, including completing the ISA pre-departure form, you will receive funding proportional to your aid percentage up to the ISA cap amount.

FAQ: I've already graduated or am a senior who will graduate before the summer I wish to use my ISA. Am I eligible?

Students who have already graduated and students with senior class standing are not eligible for an ISA. We recommend checking out postgraduate fellowship opportunities.

Students with senior class standing who will graduate the December following their ISA experience may apply for ISA funding provided they meet all other eligibility requirements. 

Funding

FAQ: How much funding will I receive?

Funding is calculated in two parts. Eligible students will receive a stipend for Travel Expenses associated with their study abroad program, such as airfare and health. This stipend is flat by region of travel.

The second part of the ISA budget covers Program Expenses such as tuition, room and board, local transportation, and required supplies. Calculate your ISA funding by multiplying your aid percentage as a decimal by the Program Expenses in your study abroad program budget. For example, if you receive 50% aid and your Program Expenses are $10,000.00, your stipend would be calculated as .50 x $10,000 = $5,000.

Add your Travel flat stipend and your Program percentage stipend for your final ISA award. You can find out how to calculate your ISA here. 

Please note that the ISA is capped at $18,000 for the 2025 application cycle. This means that no student, even a student on 100% aid, will receive more than the cap even if their program exceeds this amount.

FAQ: How are Regional Expenses Calculated?

Some ISA expenses are calculated as a flat stipend by region of study, as follows:

Africa
Airfare: $1,700 | Health, Visa, Misc: $200 | Books*: $50 | Meals: $90/wk | Local Transport: $10/wk

East Asia
Airfare: $2,000 | Health, Visa, Misc: $200 | Books*: $50 | Meals: $115/wk | Local Transport: $25/wk

Eastern Europe
Airfare: $1,500 | Health, Visa, Misc: $200 | Books*: $50 | Meals: $105/wk | Local Transport: $10/wk

Latin America and Caribbean
Airfare: $1,100 | Health, Visa, Misc: $200 | Books*: $50 | Meals: $110/wk | Local Transport: $10/wk

Middle East
Airfare: $1,500 | Health, Visa, Misc: $200 | Books*: $50 | Meals: $135/wk | Local Transport: $10/wk

North America
Airfare: $900 | Health, Visa, Misc: $200 | Books*: $50 | Meals: $130/wk | Local Transport: $20/wk

Australia and Oceania
Airfare: $2,000 | Health, Visa, Misc: $200 | Books*: $50 | Meals: $110/wk | Local Transport: $25/wk

Central, Southeast, and South Asia
Airfare: $1,700 | Health, Visa, Misc: $200 | Books*: $50 | Meals: $110/wk | Local Transport: $10/wk

Western Europe
Airfare: $1,400 | Health, Visa, Misc: $200 | Books*: $50 | Meals: $120/wk | Local Transport: $20/wk

*In cases where Books and Meals are billed by a study abroad program, the actual program cost is included in the ISA program budget instead of the flat rates above.

FAQ: What budget categories are in the regional Travel Expenses stipend?

The budget categories included in the regional Travel Expenses stipend are: Airfare and Health/Visa/Misc. Please refer to the list above for regional stipend amounts.

FAQ: My budget seems too low. Can I get more funding?

While budgets are firm, students may petition for adjustments to their program budget related to Health expenses required for their program (example: uncommon vaccinations).

If you believe your situation presents an extreme outlier or extenuating circumstance, please review the information found on the About Budgets page and follow the directions there to petition for additional funds.

FAQ: My regional Travel Expenses stipend is too low. Can I apply for outside scholarships to cover the gap without lowering my ISA?

Yes. If a student's regional Travel Expenses stipend is significantly lower than actual travel needs, the student can apply for an outside scholarship to cover the gap without lowering their ISA even if they are due to receive 100% of the ISA program budget. The student must submit proof of actual travel need.

Submitting proof of need - email the ISA Team with the following information:

• Proof of outside Scholarship awarded, such as email announcement
• Proof of actual travel expenses: Screenshots of available travel itineraries for the dates of travel. All relevant details (dates of travel, class of travel, available airlines) must be visible. Receipts of purchased tickets can be submitted but do not constitute proof of required travel expenses.

Please note that if the outside scholarship received is significantly higher than what is required to fund the gap between the ISA Travel Expenses stipend and actual cost of travel, the student's ISA may be reduced. This is decided on case by case basis.

FAQ: I am an international student. My airfare costs are significantly higher than the Travel stipend for my region of study.

International students who will depart to their study abroad program from outside the US can petition for an airfare budget adjustment if their airfare costs are significantly higher than the Travel stipend for their region.

Please fill out the Budget Petition form and provide supporting documentation, including proof of travel costs. Screenshots of available travel itineraries for the dates of travel constitute proof of costs. All relevant details (dates of travel, class of travel, available airlines) must be visible. Receipts of purchased tickets can be submitted but do not constitute proof of required travel expenses.

Petitions must be submitted before the Travel stipend is disbursed to a student via Zelle.

FAQ: I’m participating in a Yale Summer Session (YSS) Program Abroad with a New Haven start. Will the New Haven costs be deducted from my ISA?

No. Fees associated with New Haven on-campus housing and meal plans will be completely waived for all students using any level of ISA funding toward the relevant YSS Program Abroad. Students participating in a YSS Program Abroad with a New Haven start who want to use the waiver should opt into New Haven on-campus housing when completing the pre-departure materials in their Yale Compass account, which appear after admission. Financial Aid will work with CIPE to ensure the free on-campus housing and meal plan will be applied for the ISA recipients who opt into New Haven on-campus housing. Note that ISA recipients who opt to live off-campus will not receive ISA funding toward New Haven costs and will pay for all associated New Haven housing and meal costs out-of-pocket.

New Haven costs which are not included in the ISA program budgets are available here. These figures can be used to estimate your ISA. Students wishing to approximate ISA funding levels before budgets for the upcoming summer are available should find the relevant YSS Abroad program page here, open the budget, subtract the “New Haven Housing – Room & Board” cost from the total (billed & estimated unbilled expenses), and multiply by their aid percentage.

(YSS budget – New Haven Room & Board) x aid percentage = ISA

For more information, please see Calculate Your ISA.

FAQ: What does the ISA cover?

Please see the About Budgets page for a breakdown of covered and un-covered expenses. The ISA does not cover optional charges like non-required field trips, specialty clothing, or personal items like notebooks.

FAQ: Are there expenses not covered by the ISA that I should plan to pay out of pocket?

The ISA is intended to cover a percentage of the program's set budget. It will not cover all expenses of a student's experience abroad, and even after careful planning and budgeting, please be aware that unexpected costs may arise. All students – even students with 100% need – will most likely need to contribute their own money towards program and related expenses.

For more information, please review the Out-of-Pocket Costs page.

FAQ: What do I do about expenses due before my funds are disbursed?

Program application fees are the responsibility of the student and are not included in ISA budgets.

In some cases, students may be asked by their program to pay in part (a deposit) or in full for tuition or housing before their ISA stipend has been disbursed. While the ISA and Financial Aid cannot release any ISA funds early, students may be able to request a letter from Financial Aid to their program explaining the nature and estimated amount of their ISA funding as assurance to the program that costs will be covered.

To request a letter be written on your behalf, please contact Financial Aid at yss.funding@yale.edu (click the email link to generate an email template) with the following information:

• Full legal name
• SID
• Admission letter to program
• Contact information of someone in admissions, registrar, or finance office of program

While Yale is unable to offer any guarantees that an outside institution will accept this type of letter and allow for a deferred payment arrangement, many institutions and programs have made arrangements like this with students once they are aware of the circumstances.

Students participating in Yale Summer Session Abroad and Yale in London do not need to request these letters, as both their program and funding source are internal to Yale.

The ISA Request Process

FAQ: When should I request an ISA if I’m not sure which program I’ll attend?

Request your ISA once you are committed to a program using the pre-departure ISA form. If your plans change, contact isa@yale.edu right away.

FAQ: Can I apply for an ISA and a SEA in the same year?

Yes, provided you meet the eligibility requirements. Please review ISA requirements here. Please review SEA requirements here. Note that if you are applying for the ISA and a Yale Fellowship, many Yale Fellowships require that the fellowship experience not overlap with any other experience and therefore certain fellowships cannot be done at the same time as the ISA. Review the requirements of the fellowship you're considering to see if this may apply.

FAQ: I applied for the ISA, but now I plan to pursue an activity which falls under SEA instead. What should I do?

If you change your plans from an international summer study activity to a non-study summer experience, let us know you no longer intend to use your ISA by emailing isa@yale.edu. You should instead apply for the SEA which funds a secured, approved, unpaid or underfunded ($2,000 or less) summer opportunity with one of the following: 501(c)(3) nonprofit including non-profit Universities; government entity including public universities; non-governmental organization (NGO); arts apprenticeship; or science, laboratory, or other research opportunity.

FAQ: What applications/forms do I need to complete besides the ISA pre-departure form?

Please review the information found on the What is eligible? page for application information specific to each type of experience.

FAQ: Is my ISA request complete?

Due to the high number of requests received, the ISA Team is unable to individually confirm students’ submission status. To check whether you have already completed your ISA request, please see the information on the ISA request page.

FAQ: What if I withdraw or change my study abroad program after requesting an ISA?

If you withdraw from your study abroad program or change programs, you must alert the ISA and the Study Abroad Office. If you withdraw, you must return any ISA funds received in full.

Receiving the ISA

FAQ: How do I get my ISA funds?

ISA funds are deposited directly into students’ bursar accounts. ISA funding will automatically be credited against any outstanding charges in your student bursar account, including but not limited to fees and tuition for your summer program. You can withdraw any excess funds via direct deposit refund request.

FAQ: How do I know when my ISA has been disbursed?

You should check your bursar account. Financial Aid will send a letter, but this may be received several weeks after you received your funds.

FAQ: I haven't received my funds yet.

We expect that funds will be disbursed in early June. Unfortunately, CIPE is unable to track payments for individual students. Please contact Financial Aid directly for updates.