International Students
This section is for current students applying for aid. If you are a prospective student, please go to the Tuition & Financial Aid section for application deadlines and policies. You must apply for financial aid prior to admission.
Applying for Financial Aid
International students who do not apply for aid prior to admission are not eligible to receive institutional aid at Smith at any time. For more information, see When to Apply for Aid.
Automatic Renewal
International students do not re-apply for financial aid each year; financial aid will be automatically renewed and updated each academic year. No action is required on your part.
Housing & Aid
Types of Aid
The student employment component of a financial aid award represents the opportunity to have a job on campus. You are responsible for finding a position that aligns with your preferences and schedule, and are encouraged to apply early for the best selection of jobs.
You may work to earn money for books and supplies, to put towards your tuition accounts, or for personal spending money. There is no obligation to work all or any of the hours awarded, though income not earned is not replaced with other aid.
For information about work-study at Smith College, see Student Employment.
If you receive any assistance from an organization outside of the college, this aid must be taken into consideration in calculating your financial aid award. You are required to report all outside aid to the Student Financial Services office.
Once you notify us of any aid which is expected to be sent directly to the college, we will add the anticipated amount to the student account as a pending credit, reducing the amount due. If the aid is expected to be late, please notify us so we can extend the pending credit. Any amounts expected but not received are the responsibility of the student.
Outside aid, based on either student merit or parent employment (e.g.: employee tuition benefits), will first reduce or replace the self-help portion of your award (federal work-study). If outside aid is in excess of self-help, we will allow it to go toward the cost of the Smith health insurance plan or a one-time computer purchase. Any amount of outside aid in excess of self-help and these costs will reduce Smith Grant dollar for dollar.
Review Requests
The Expected Family Contribution determined during the college application process prior to your first year will remain in effect during your tenure at Smith. Appeals for those students already receiving financial aid from Smith College are granted only in extreme cases when a life-changing event has occurred. International students who are currently not receiving financial assistance may appeal only when there has been a significant life-changing event. Examples of significant life-changing events include the death of a parent or extremely high medical expenses.
For those already receiving financial aid or those who applied in their first year but determined ineligible, enrollment of a sibling in a U.S. college or university may also be considered as a situation where an exception may be granted.
As all International student appeals are considered exceptions to policy, these appeals are reviewed by the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. The Financial Aid Appeals Committee is chaired by the vice president of enrollment and includes one member of the faculty, the dean of students and the controller. The director of student financial services is a nonvoting member of the committee.
The Appeal Process
Students must present appeals by completing a Request for Review form and submitting all required documentation. The committee will consider the appeal as soon as possible. It generally takes one to two weeks for the committee to convene and review the appeal. A decision will be given to the student in writing within 48 hours after the appeal is heard. The decision of the appeals committee is final in all cases.