USC-Columbia students who wish to use financial aid to pay for credits earned while enrolled in a National Student Exchange (NSE) Program, a Study Abroad Program, or as a transient or concurrently enrolled student must provide additional information to the Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships in order to determine financial aid eligibility for these programs.

National Student Exchange (NSE) Program
The National Student Exchange Program is a consortium of colleges and universities in the United States, the U.S. territories, and Canada that provide opportunities for undergraduate students to study for up to one calendar year at another NSE member institution. Participation in this program is coordinated through the NSE Office.

Study Abroad Program
The Study Abroad Program is set up to afford students the opportunity to study overseas and complement their academic program or major. Participation in this program is coordinated through the Study Abroad Office.

Transient Student Enrollment
Transient students are USC-Columbia students who earn credits at another institution (including other USC campuses) and transfer the earned credits back to USC-Columbia. Students must receive approval from their academic advisor to participate.

Note: USC-Columbia students who are taking courses through USC Fort Jackson are not considered to be transient students. Likewise, USC-Columbia graduate students who are taking USC-Columbia graduate courses which are taught at another USC system campus are not considered to be transient students.

Concurrent Student Enrollment
Concurrent students are USC-Columbia students who enroll at both USC-Columbia and at another institution (including other USC campuses) during the same semester. Students must receive approval from their academic advisor to participate. Concurrently enrolled students may receive financial aid for coursework at one school only and must meet the minimum requirements for each type of financial aid received for attendance at that school. The hours from school 1 and school 2 cannot be combined.

Note: USC-Columbia students who, during the same semester, are taking courses through both USC-Columbia and USC Fort Jackson are not considered to be concurrent students. Likewise, USC-Columbia graduate students who, during the same semester, are taking some USC-Columbia courses which are taught in Columbia, and some USC-Columbia courses which are taught at another USC system campus, are not considered to be concurrent students.

Summer London Law Students
Law students traveling to London in the summer for the Transnational Dispute Resolution course are not considered to be transient students, and therefore do not need to complete transient paperwork. The London program is coordinated through the student affairs office at the USC School of Law. You can contact their office at 803-777-4155 to inquire about participation in this program.

Back to Top

Academic Year Enrollment
If you wish to apply for financial aid for one of the above special programs during the academic year (Fall and/or Spring semester), USC-Columbia must have the following:

	A completed FAFSA for the academic year in which you will enroll in one of these programs, and
	A Financial Aid Pre-Screen Form for the appropriate semester (available from the Forms section of this web site)

Summer Enrollment
If you wish to apply for financial aid for one of the above special programs during the summer, USC-Columbia must have the following:

	A completed FAFSA for the academic year that precedes the summer you will enroll in one of these programs, and
	A Summer Financial Aid Pre-Screen Form (available from the Forms section of this web site), and
	An On-line Financial Aid Summer Application (log into VIP, choose “Financial”, then choose “Financial Aid Summer Application"). This application has a May 1 priority deadline.

Other Important Financial Aid Information

	To receive financial aid for any of these programs, you must have been enrolled for at least one semester at USC-Columbia prior to your enrollment in one of these programs.
	Departmental scholarships must be approved by the college or department before those funds can be used for attendance at another school. You must check with your department and request that notification be sent to our office if use of the scholarship at another school is allowed.
	Non-USC scholarships must be approved by the awarding agency before those funds can be used for attendance at another school. You must check with the awarding agency and request that notification be sent to our office if use of the scholarship at another school is allowed.
	Your financial aid package will be reviewed for adjustments once all paperwork is received.
	Fees may be due at the other institution you will attend before your financial aid is disbursed. You are responsible for making payment arrangements with the other school.

Back to Top

	Participation in the National Student Exchange (NSE) Program – Part B, allows you to use all of your USC awarded financial aid (except Federal Work Study) as if you were enrolled at USC-Columbia.
	Participation in the National Student Exchange (NSE) Program – Part A, requires your other school to participate in a consortium agreement with USC-Columbia. A consortium agreement allows USC to process your financial aid for attendance at the other school, and to send the funds to the other school for disbursement. The Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships will work with your other school to obtain the agreement if one is not already on file. If your other school does not participate in consortium agreements, you will be notified.
	National Student Exchange (NSE) programs are generally not available during the summer sessions.

Back to Top

	Participation in a Study Abroad Program where fees are paid to USC-Columbia allows you to use all of your USC awarded financial aid (except Federal Work Study) as if you were enrolled at USC- Columbia.
	Participation in a Study Abroad Program where fees are paid to another school requires your other school to participate in a consortium agreement with USC-Columbia. A consortium agreement allows USC to process your financial aid for attendance at the other school, and to send the funds to the other school for disbursement. The Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships will work with your other school to obtain the agreement if one is not already on file. If your other school does not participate in consortium agreements, you will be notified.
	If you will participate in a Study Abroad Program where fees are paid to USC-Columbia and you will incur additional expenses due to studying abroad, documentation of those expenses must be submitted on departmental letterhead to the Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships, Attn: Tara Green.
	If you will participate in a Study Abroad Program where your fees will be paid to a program sponsor, you will be asked to indicate your program sponsor on the Financial Aid Pre-Screen Form. If you do not know who your program sponsor is when you complete the Pre-Screen Form, you must notify the Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships as soon as you find out.

Back to Top

	Enrollment as a transient student at another institution (including other USC campuses) requires your other school to participate in a consortium agreement with USC-Columbia. A consortium agreement allows you to receive financial aid for attendance at the other school. The Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships will work with your other school to obtain the agreement. If your other school does not participate in consortium agreements, you will be notified. All USC campuses participate in the consortium agreement process with USC-Columbia.
	Transient students are not eligible to receive Federal Work Study or State Need-Based Grant. Also, students may not meet the minimum hours requirement by enrolling in two different institutions (including other USC campuses) simultaneously.
	Note: USC-Columbia students who are taking courses through USC Fort Jackson are not considered to be transient students. Likewise, USC-Columbia graduate students who are taking USC-Columbia graduate courses which are taught at another USC system campus are not considered to be transient students.

Back to Top

	Concurrent enrollment is an arrangement where a student enrolls at both USC-Columbia and at another institution (including other USC campuses) during the same semester. You may receive financial aid for coursework at one school only and must meet the minimum requirements for each type of financial aid you will receive for attendance at that school. The hours from school 1 and school 2 cannot be combined.
	If you will enroll in more credits at the other school than at USC-Columbia and wish to have aid processed for attendance at that school, you are considered a transient student at the other school. Enrollment as a transient student requires your other school (including other USC campuses) to have a consortium agreement with USC-Columbia. A consortium agreement allows you to receive financial aid for attendance at the other school. The Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships will work with the other school to obtain the agreement. If your other school does not participate in consortium agreements, you will be notified. All USC campuses participate in the consortium agreement process with USC-Columbia.
	Note: USC-Columbia students who, during the same semester, are taking courses through both USC-Columbia and USC Fort Jackson are not considered to be concurrent students. Likewise, USC- Columbia graduate students who, during the same semester, are taking some USC-Columbia courses which are taught in Columbia, and some USC-Columbia courses which are taught at another USC system campus, are not considered to be concurrent students.