Office of International Programs & Exchange

International Student Emergency Assistance Fund

International students are a vital part of the global fabric of the University of the District of Columbia.  Their sharing in classes and presence on campus provide a rich learning environment that prepares UDC students to engage in an increasingly diverse society. While enrolled at UDC, international students often encounter extenuating circumstances and financial obstacles, such as struggling to buy books, pay tuition and fees, pay rent or even buy food.  These obstacles usually adversely impact the retention and success of our international students.

To assist with these types of short-term financial emergencies and allow students to overcome some of the obstacles to success, the University of the District of Columbia has created the International Student Emergency Assistance Fund to provide emergency grants to international students who face financial difficulties and who have exhausted other resources.

The fund is intended for International Students at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Assistance will normally be offered only once, as the fund is intended to cover emergency situations only. As funds are limited, priority will be given to students in their final year of enrollment.

Students seeking help must demonstrate that they had made adequate arrangements to finance their education before they came to the University, and that these arrangements have been affected by unforeseen circumstances or events beyond their control.
A maximum of five (5) grants will be allowed to any one student during enrollment at UDC.  The maximum amount available to students during their enrollment at UDC will be $3000 for undergraduate students and $4500 for graduate students.

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General Guidelines

Download the PDF International Student Emergency Assistance Fund Application

Eligibility Criteria

1. Applicants must have been enrolled for at least one full semester at the University of the District of Columbia.
2. Applicants must hold an Asylum, Refugee or ‘in status’ F-1 visa.
3. Applicants must be full-time and maintain 12 credit hours per semester at the undergraduate level and nine credit hours at the graduate level, unless otherwise approved by an International Admissions Counselor.
4. Undergraduate student applicants must have a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.3 and graduate student applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.2.
5. Applicants must demonstrate an active involvement in student leadership, student advocacy or community service.
6. Applicants must apply in writing and demonstrate financial need based upon economic hardship and/or deficiencies in their sponsor’s ability to provide adequate support.

Emergency cases include the following:

• Death of a sponsor
• Natural disaster, political crisis or war in a student's home country resulting in cessation of sponsorship
• Illness or accident befalling the student necessitating an extension of enrollment
• Student is/has been the victim of crime involving significant loss
• Unexpected travel home
• Costs associated with extension of stay where this is beyond the control of the student
• Student becomes disabled and requires additional support

Applications will not be considered in the following cases:

• Students currently on academic probation
• Students who have received financial aid from the Assistance Fund within the past two years of the date of their current application
• Students who have already received the maximum amount from the fund
• Students whose financial difficulties are of their own making
• Students already in receipt of a scholarship from the University