Education Abroad Connecting Flight Advance Program
The Connecting Flight Advance is a no-interest/no-fees program designed to assist students who do not immediately have funds available to cover upfront costs associated with their education abroad program, enabling the student to pay for these costs with their Financial Aid package. The Connecting Flight Advance will cover these costs until the billing term associated with their education abroad program.
The Connecting Flight Advance includes:
- Flight Booking
The Connecting Flight Advance does NOT include:
- Pre-Travel Medical Visits
- Textbooks & Materials
- Housing Deposits
Eligibility and Program Criteria
Carlson undergraduate students who are eligible for subsidized loans during the academic year they plan to study abroad and who are participating on semester-length education abroad programs through the Carlson Global Institute (CGI) are eligible to apply for the Connecting Flight Advance. Carlson undergraduates who are participating on Carlson-administered faculty-led programs for which group flights are not included in the program fee are also eligible. See below for a full list of eligible programs.
If you are participating on a program through the University of Minnesota’s Learning Abroad Center, please review information about their Bridging Loan Program.
Deadlines
CGI reviews Connecting Flight Advance applications on a rolling basis until the deadlines below. Any Connecting Flight Advance applications received after the appropriate deadline will not be reviewed.
| Education Abroad Program Term | Connecting Flight Advance Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester | June 1 |
| Spring Semester | November 15 |
Application Instructions
- Schedule a Financial Aid Preview Meeting with the Office of Student Finance (OSF)
- OSF will notify the Carlson Global Institute if approved
- The Connecting Flight Advance Form will then be added to your study abroad program application checklist
- Complete the checklist item by the deadline above
- CGI will send an email with instructions for booking your flight
Eligible Programs
Semester-length and short-term faculty-led Fall & Spring education abroad programs through the Carlson Global Institute (CGI) for which flights are NOT included in the program fee, but rather as an expected cost that is the student's responsibility.
For Business in Barcelona and Business in Dublin programs, students must utilize the Learning Abroad Center's Bridging Loan Program.