Using TGTP for Study Abroad

Education Abroad Programs for TAMU Credits

Students participating in credit-bearing international experiences that charge Texas A&M tuition and fees may request to use their Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan (TGTP) benefits for the term abroad by submitting a Request TGTP form with Student Business Services (SBS). This process applies to students participating in faculty-led programs, outgoing exchanges, national student exchanges, and independent travel experiences for TAMU credit.

Other pre-paid tuition plans, such as Texas Tuition Promise Fund (TTPF) or 529 Plans, can also be used to pay TAMU tuition and fees. Pre-paid tuition plans will only apply towards the tuition and required fees incurred by enrolling in the program courses. Funds will not apply to education abroad service fees, program fees, or travel expenses. 

Education Abroad Programs for Transfer Credit

For students participating in academic programs for transfer credit Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan (TGTP) benefits can be applied toward a portion of the program cost based on the students’ course load abroad (enrollment in the SABR placeholder course). Note: TGTP does not cover the full program cost. Therefore, please expect to be responsible for paying the difference.

For transfer credit programs coordinated by Title IV eligible institutions, the TGTP main office can send payments directly to an approved institution. To initiate the direct payment process, please contact TGTP at 1-800-445-GRAD (4723), Option 2, and provide 60 days advance notice of your program’s final payment due date.

For affiliate provider programs coordinated by non-Title IV eligible institutions, Education Abroad will facilitate third-party billing. To initiate the third-party billing process, students must complete the course pre-approval process for their respective experiences and send a request to tcabroad@tamu.edu  approximately 120 days (a semester) in advance of their program departure date. 

As a part of the third-party billing process, students must pay the application fee and confirmation deposit owed to the program provider/institution by its billing due dates. The remaining program fee is deferred and billed to the students’ Howdy account. The estimated TGTP disbursement amount available is determined based on the current fiscal state rate per credit hour and the student's course load abroad. For questions about this process, please email tcabroad@tamu.edu.

For other pre-paid tuition plans, such as Texas Tuition Promise Fund (TTPF) or 529 Plans, contact your education abroad advisor for questions about available options to apply these funds to your international experience as the process to access these funds varies.