Bridging Loan Program

A Bridging Loan is a no interest no fees program designed to assist you if you do not immediately have the funds available to cover your program deposit and flight booking costs. It enables you to pay for these costs with your financial aid package. The Bridging Loan will cover these costs until the program fee is billed to your account.

Other possible upfront costs associated with attendance on a program abroad, such as passports, visas, and medical visits, will often need to be paid for directly by you before your financial aid disbursement occurs.

Application Process

Schedule a Financial Aid Preview Meeting with the Office of Student Finance (OSF)
OSF will notify the Learning Abroad Center if approved
The Bridging Loan Agreement Form will then be added to your study abroad program application
Complete the checklist item by the deadline below
LAC will send an email with instructions for booking your flight

Program Term	Bridging Loan Deadline
Fall Semester	June 1
Academic Year	June 1
Winter Break	November 15
Calendar Year	November 15
Spring Semester	November 15
Spring Break	December 15

Eligibility Requirements

You must be enrolled as a degree-seeking undergraduate student on the Twin Cities or Rochester campuses
You must be eligible for subsidized loans during the academic year you plan to study abroad. Eligibility can be based either on your current on campus costs OR on the estimated cost of participation in your study abroad program. To determine if you are eligible for subsidized loans, follow these instructions or schedule a financial aid preview meeting.
You must have applied, or are planning to apply, to a credit-bearing fall, winter break, spring, spring break, Academic Year, or Calendar Year Learning Abroad Center program

If you are a Carlson student participating in a Carlson Global Institute program, review information about their Connecting Flight Advance program.

Eligible Programs

Ensure that your program is on this list before applying. Only fall, winter break, spring, spring break, academic year, or calendar year Learning Abroad Center programs are eligible. May and summer programs are not eligible.