PLAN, Manage Your Professional Development as a Graduate Student
International students may face unique financial pressures. For instance, it is not uncommon for international students to be left with limited opportunities for financial assistance. Although the University's admission policy requires that international students (those with F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, and G series visas) have enough resources to meet their expenses throughout their enrollment, students with these visas are not eligible for federal student aid. Nevertheless, the University of Michigan does offer campus resources from basic definitions of the United States' financial terms, to emergency funding loans.
You may qualify for need-based student financial aid programs. Check the OFA website for up to date criteria.
This is a short-term, low-interest loan for international students currently enrolled full-time at the University of Michigan. It should be used as a last resort to provide some funding while a student looks for a long-term solution for meeting educational costs. Because this is a loan program and the funds must be repaid, the long-range solution must include identifying sources of funds to repay the loan. The application process and application can be found on the Office of Financial Aid website.
An international student may be eligible for the alternative long-term CitiAssist Loan for University of Michigan domestic students, if the student has a creditworthy co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Contact the Office of Financial Aid and check out their website for more information.
Text adapted from the University of Michigan Office of Financial AidThe International Center helps international students navigate the United States' financial system and banking terms. If the information below does not answer your questions fully, feel free to make an appointment with the International Center for one-on-one counseling.
A Social Security Number (SSN) is used to report your wages to the U.S. government and to determine eligibility for Social Security benefits. Social Security numbers can be assigned to foreign workers who are authorized to work in the United States. Visit the International Center website for more information on Social Security Number and Cards (i.e. why you need it at some point), eligibility to apply, and application process.
The International Center holds tax workshops for international students with F-1 status who are non-residents. The workshop covers an overview of the U.S. tax system and tax return filling requirements that apply to foreign nationals. While this workshop will NOT offer assistance with individual tax return forms, it provides background information that will be helpful to you in discussions with tax professionals and in preparing your tax forms. The University also offers free use of CINTAX tax preparation software for non-resident federal tax forms.
Please visit the International Center for more tax information.
Often, as an international student, you may come across terms that seem confusing and make it hard for you to make choices about certain aspects of your banking. The International Center has put together the some of the key terms and explanations.
In 1914 the bequest of Levi L. Barbour established a scholarship program at the University of Michigan for women of the highest academic and professional caliber from the area formerly known as the Orient (encompassing the lands extending from Turkey in the west to Japan and the Philippines in the east) to study modern science, medicine, mathematics and other academic disciplines and professions critical to the development of their native lands. Any graduate program in any school or college of the Ann Arbor campus, whether or not such programs are in Rackham, may nominate one woman each year. Nominees must be citizens of countries in the area formerly known as the Orient (encompassing the large region extending from Turkey in the west to Japan and the Philippines in the east). More information please visit Rackham's Barbour Scholarship page.
Check with your individual graduate program for more financial resources.
