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�ճ�� Office of Financial Aid is responsible for administering 91���˶������'s financial aid programs. Every complete financial aid application is reviewed by a financial aid counselor. Counselors determine the student’s eligibility for financial aid and help students and their families navigate special situations related to financial aid and financing their education. The Office of Financial Aid is located on the 2nd floor of Benham Gateway and is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Financial Aid Information needed for Immigration Documents

Incoming international students must provide a statement of complete financial information to the International Student and Scholar Advising (ISSA) Office regardless of Financial Aid awarded. A bank statement is required from all incoming international students to obtain an I-20.

How do I contact The Office of Financial Aid? 

When students have a financial aid question, they begin by contacting the office’s customer service team by phone: 610-526-5245, by email: finaid@brynmawr.edu or by visiting the reception desk on the 2nd floor of Benham Gateway. The customer service team answers questions regarding the financial aid application process, the completeness of the student’s financial aid application, what documents might be missing, steps needed to process loans, and how to use BiONiC Self Service. Students may also directly request an appointment with their financial aid counselor . 

Do International students have to re-apply for financial aid every year? 

Non-U.S. Citizens and Non-U.S. Permanent Residents apply for financial aid at the time of admission. If they are continuously enrolled, they are not required to re-apply. The family contribution is calculated in U.S. dollars and remains constant if the student is continuously enrolled. Non-U.S. Citizens and Non-U.S. Permanent Residents who are not enrolled at the College for more than two consecutive terms are required to submit a new financial aid application. For students who enroll as first-time, first-year students, awards are assured for a maximum of four years or eight terms of full-time enrollment. Annual increases are based only on any increases in tuition, fees, housing and food set by the Board of Trustees. 

Once your financial aid offer has been finalized, all students will be required to submit a bank statement to the Office of International Student and Scholar Advising.  The bank statement will be used to verify funding to support the total family contribution amount which is required to complete immigration applications. 

What happens if I receive an Outside Scholarship? 

Outside Scholarships and grants received after the student’s award notification will not replace the family contribution. Instead, the scholarship or grant will replace Bryn Mawr financial aid in the following order: loan, campus employment, grant. More information about the financial aid outside scholarship policy may be found here. 

What happens if my family's financial circumstances change? 

College policy requires Non-U.S. Citizens and Non-U.S. Permanent Residents to apply for financial aid at the time of admission. The amount of aid awarded is based on a determination of the amount the family is expected to provide each year for the student’s educational costs. This amount is expected to stay the same for all four years regardless of any change in the family’s financial circumstances.  

If I didn’t apply for financial aid for my first year, may I apply for financial aid in subsequent years? 

No. Non-U.S. Citizens and Non-U.S. Permanent Residents must apply for financial aid as a first-year student to be considered for institutional aid during any of the four years of enrollment at the College. To be considered for aid as a first-year student, the student’s response to the Financial Aid Intent question on the Common Application must have been “Yes” and all financial aid materials submitted timely. 

Will acquiring U.S. Permanent Residency affect eligibility for financial aid? 

A student who acquires Permanent Residency must notify the Office of Financial Aid immediately of the change in citizenship status. U.S. Permanent Residents are not eligible to receive College funds designated for Non-U.S. Citizens and Non-U.S. Permanent Residents. U.S. Permanent Residents must apply for financial aid each year of enrollment by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the CSS Financial Aid PROFILE and, if applicable, the Noncustodial PROFILE annually. Application instructions are located on the Financial Aid website, and a student’s aid eligibility may change. 

Is there tax on my scholarship/fellowship? 

All grants, fellowships, and prizes given to students who are nonresident aliens for tax purposes in excess of tuition and fees will be taxed U.S. federal income tax per federal regulations.  

Need-based financial aid Bryn Mawr Grants are taxed at the rate of 14% unless the student eligible for and has elected a tax treaty exemption. The tax will appear on the student's account at the end of each semester. An international tax grant will be posted to the student account to cover taxes on need-based Bryn Mawr Grant only.  

Additional grants, fellowships, or prizes awarded to students over their academic career at Bryn Mawr are also subject to taxation. Students are responsible for paying these taxes. These taxes will appear on the student's account at the beginning of each month in which they receive an award. Fellowships given to students who are nonresident aliens for tax purposes will be taxed U.S. federal income tax at the rate of 14% unless the student is eligible for and has elected a tax treaty exemption. Other awards/prizes given to students who are nonresident aliens for tax purposes are taxed at 30% and tax treaties are not applicable. 

Should I file a US Federal Tax Return? 

A student may be eligible for a tax refund after filing a federal return. Assistance for filing U.S. taxes is offered by The Impact Center in late March and early April. 

What if I do not have enough money to purchase books? 

All students are expected to arrive on campus prepared to purchase books. If a student plans to purchase books using a refund of personal payments or financial aid (grants or loans) disbursed to the student account in excess of billed charges, that refund will not be available until the second week of classes at the earliest. Alternatively, a student may be able to transfer a credit balance to the OneCard (Student ID card/Campus Cash Account) to be used at the Bryn Mawr Bookstore or the Haverford Bookstore. To obtain more information and procedures access the Student Accounts webpage. If the student has no plan in place, and finances are preventing the purchase of books at the start of the semester, the student should contact the Office of Financial Aid for directions.