Financial Aid Calculation for International Students
in Masters / Doctoral Programs
Introduction
The procedures on the following pages represent the best practice for identifying financial need for
international students. These procedures were developed by the Financial Aid Office in collaboration with
academic units, and are approved by Vice Provost Gail Burd.
Funds from Financial Aid Set Aside accounts are generally distributed based on financial need as
determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) filed by or on behalf of the students.
Since the FAFSA can only be filed by citizens or eligible non-citizens, an alternative must be identified for
international students who have need.
These procedures may only be used for identifying need for international students in graduate level
programs that are subject to program fees.
Background
International students enrolled in masters and doctoral programs may have financial need. However, they
are not eligible to complete the FAFSA because this document is for US Citizens and eligible non-citizens.
This process outlines an alternative methodology for determination of financial need for international
students that are not eligible to complete the FAFSA. For information and to determine the citizenship
requirement in order to be eligible to complete the FAFSA, review detailed requirements on the
Department of Education financial aid website: http://ifap.ed.gov/ifap.
The proposed process is based on the methodology used by the US Department of Education, as published
in ‘The EFC Formula Guide.” Publications are updated for each award year. For the current publication,
access the Department of Education financial aid website reference above and click on the “Publications”
link.
Key points from this guide as of this writing are as follows:
• All students enrolled in masters or doctoral degree programs qualify as “independent students.”
• The worksheets for independent students are much shorter than those for dependent students.
• Worksheet B is used for independent students without dependents other than a spouse
• Worksheet C is used for independent students with dependents other than a spouse.
• Independent students with dependents other than a spouse are eligible for ‘Automatic Zero
EFC’ under specified conditions.
Financial Aid Calculation for International Students
in Masters / Doctoral Programs
Pro
cess for Identifying Financial Need
for International Students in Masters / Doctoral Programs
• Departments are responsible for managing the availability of funds in set-asi
de accounts and
requesting item types to make awards.
• The academic program manager for a masters / doctoral program informs international students
that they have the opportunity to apply for need-based financial aid from the University of Arizona,
and provides a deadline for applications to be submitted.
• International students interested in aid should submit to the academic program manager a
completed calculation of a paper copy of Worksheet B or C noted above, or a comparable on-line
calculator.
• The academic program manager reviews all completed forms to determine which students are
eligible. Students are eligible for need-based financial aid if the calculated EFC is lower than the cost
of attendance. Cost of attendance for the University can be found:
https://financialaid.arizona.edu/cost
• If a particular program has higher costs due to program fees or other expenses, the academic
program manager identifies the additional costs of attendance.
• The academic program manager completes a worksheet identifying the cost of education, the
estimated family contribution (EFC), and the need calculation for each eligible student.
• The academic program manager determines the amount of aid to award to eligible students and
completes the external awards on-line. Financial aid may be awarded up to the amount of unmet
need.
• Documentation of financial aid eligibility must be maintained on file by the college for a minimum
of five years, or three years after the last date of attendance, whichever is longer. This
documentation includes the eligibility worksheet completed by the student, and the financial need
calculation completed by the academic program manager.
