What is financial support?
At NYU Abu Dhabi, financial support is different from other programs providing financial aid or financial assistance to college students. NYU Abu Dhabi will tailor its generous financial support programs to a student’s individual needs. Your family's finances should not affect your decision to select NYU Abu Dhabi even if you are considering low or no cost public education alternatives or are the recipient of generous financial support from another institution. All financial support at NYU Abu Dhabi is in the form of scholarships and grants, including both merit and need-based support. Student or other loans are not part of the financial support package at NYU Abu Dhabi.
What will NYU Abu Dhabi’s financial support cover?
Based on your eligibility, NYU Abu Dhabi’s generous financial support can cover not only the full cost of an NYU Abu Dhabi education, including tuition, foreign travel and study integral to a student’s academic program, room and board, and two trips to and from home each year, but also books and many student life activities. Students who file the financial support application and are identified as eligible to receive financial assistance will not need to take out loans (incur debt) to cover the cost of an NYU Abu Dhabi education.
What kind of financial support is available?
All financial support at NYU Abu Dhabi is in the form of scholarships and grants (as opposed to loans), including both merit- and need-based support.
What is the difference between merit- and need-based financial support?
Merit-based support is given to students regardless of their family’s financial circumstances; this support is based exclusively on a student’s outstanding record of academic and related accomplishments. Need-based support is given to students who qualify, based on their family’s financial circumstances, for financial support.
How do I receive a merit-based scholarship?
All admitted students will be considered for merit-based scholarships. No separate financial support application such as the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) or the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE application (PROFILE application) is required for students solely interested in being considered for merit-based scholarships.
How do I receive need-based support?
In order to apply for need-based support, you must complete and submit either the ISFAA or the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE application. NYU Abu Dhabi accepts either application for all students, regardless of citizenship. Information on application deadlines and steps necessary to complete the ISFAA or the PROFILE application as well as links to both the ISFAA form and the PROFILE web site are available under “Financial Support” on the NYU Abu Dhabi web site.
Am I required to apply for financial support?
If you wish to be considered for need-based financial support, you must complete either the ISFAA or the PROFILE application. You are not required to apply for financial support to be considered for a merit-based scholarship.
What is the cost of submitting the ISFAA or the PROFILE application?
The ISFAA can be submitted free of charge. NYU Abu Dhabi will pay all costs associated with submitting the PROFILE application. Students who have submitted either an Early Decision or Regular Decision application for admission will automatically receive a fee payment code which will allow the PROFILE application to be submitted free of charge.
I’m not sure if my family will qualify for financial support. Should I apply for it anyway?
Yes. NYU Abu Dhabi will tailor its generous financial support programs to a student’s individual need. Our financial support program will give consideration to a broad range of family situations and financial scenarios to ensure that families do not need to take on debt to pay for an NYU Abu Dhabi education.
Will I qualify for financial support if I am an international student (non-U.S. citizen)?
Yes. All applicants will be considered for financial support regardless of country of citizenship.
Will my financial support application affect my application for admission?
No. At NYU Abu Dhabi financial support and admission decisions are made independent of one another. Therefore, a family’s financial situation will not be considered until after the admission decision has been made.
Do I need to submit the Early Decision Financial Aid Application if I am applying to NYU Abu Dhabi for Early Decision?
No. The Early Decision Financial Aid Application is for those students who are applying Early Decision to NYU New York. You must complete either the ISFAA or the PROFILE application in order to be considered for NYU Abu Dhabi financial support.
I am a US citizen/permanent resident and am applying to NYU in New York and would also like to be considered for NYU Abu Dhabi; should I fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), in addition to the ISFAA or the CSS PROFILE application?
Yes. The ISFAA and the PROFILE application will be used to determine the financial needs of students applying to NYU Abu Dhabi while the FAFSA will be used to determine the financial need of NYU in New York applicants. For more information, please visit NYU’s FAFSA information page.
Is financial support renewable for all four years at NYU Abu Dhabi?
Generally speaking, the answer is “yes” unless a family’s financial circumstances changes dramatically. Family financial information must be submitted by the preferred deadline annually through either the ISFAA or the PROFILE application in order for our records to be up to date. In addition, students also must remain in good academic standing in order to receive financial support.
When should I fill out the financial support application? Do I have to be admitted to fill out the financial support application?
You should complete and submit the financial support application soon after you have submitted your application for admission. Do NOT wait to submit either the ISFAA or the PROFILE application until you have received an admission decision. The admissions decisions are “need-blind,” we won’t look at your financial support application until after you have been admitted to NYU Abu Dhabi. It is important that we have either the ISFAA or the PROFILE application on file, however, so that we can review the application in a timely fashion and get you the financial support information you need to make an informed decision about attending NYU Abu Dhabi.
What are the important deadlines?
The Non-Binding Early Decision application for admission is due November 1, 2009.
For those applying Non-Binding Early Decision, we have extended the ISFAA and the PROFILE application deadlines to November 15, 2009.
The Regular Decision application for admission is due January 1, 2010.
For those applying Regular Decision, the ISFAA or the PROFILE application is due February 15, 2010.
We must have either the ISFAA or the PROFILE application to provide you with your Financial Support package.
