How To Apply

Important Note for Students and Parents: In order to be considered for certain types of need-based aid (including institutional grants, Perkins loan funds, and Federal Work Study), all required application materials must be received by our office by April 30, 2012. Students who do not supply all these documents by April 30, 2012, should not expect to receive any institutional aid as part of their official financial aid award. For more information about the April 30th deadline, click here. Additional documentation that we specifically request of you will be due to our office by June 1, 2012, in order for you to be considered for state and institutional need-based aid.

This policy is a departure from our past processes; please do not delay in completing and submitting these documents, as we will be unable to grant exceptions to these requirements.

Required application materials by April 30, 2012, are:

• the 2012-2013 FAFSA
• the 2012-2013 University Financial Aid Application
• the Parent and Student Signature page, which is found here

Federal regulations prevent us from accepting digital or electronic signatures as valid. Only "wet" signatures will be accepted by Student Financial Services.

Students should NOT complete any additional documentation unless they are specifically asked to do so by Student Financial Services. Submitting unrequested documentation will delay your receipt of your financial aid award. Any additional documentation will be requested through your To Do List in your Student Center in the Student Information System. If you have To Do List items assigned to you, please be sure to attend to them right away to avoid missing the June 1, due date for receiving state and institutional need-based aid.

1. All students must reapply for financial aid each year.
   
   
2. Apply for a U.S. Department of Education personal identification number (PIN) if you don't already have one. Your PIN will allow you to electronically "sign" financial aid applications and federal loan promissory notes. Apply for a PIN online at pin.ed.gov.
   
   
3. After January 1, 2012, and before April 30, 2012, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2012-2013 at www.fafsa.gov
   
   For the quickest and most accurate processing, students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA online.
   
   The University of Virginia's school code for the FAFSA is 003745.
   
   
4. After January 1, 2012, and before April 30, 2012, complete the University Financial Aid Application and/or submit additional information. Go to the Finances section of the Student Center and click on the link called "Apply for Financial Aid 2012-13". Complete this form so that we may process your financial aid. You may find that having a printout of your FAFSA information will enable you to more quickly complete the University Financial Aid Application.

Returning students should NOT complete the CSS/PROFILE as part of their application. That application is only required of entering and transfer undergraduate students. Submitting the CSS/PROFILE will delay the awarding of aid for undergraduate students.

Please remember that you must sign your Direct Loans Master Promissory Note and complete entrance counseling at studentloans.gov before we can receive and disburse your federal loans.

What Happens Next?

Your FAFSA and University Financial Aid Applications will be sent to us electronically. We will review them, and if necessary, request additional documentation to verify your information. Once we receive and review all of your information, we will post your award information on the SIS, detailing your financial aid package.  

In some cases, you may be required to submit an IRS tax return transcript and/or IRS tax account transcript. If you receive such a request from our office, there are three ways you can request this document. Most of these methods do not require the payment of a fee.

• Online Go to www.irs.gov. A paper transcript will be mailed to the requestor within 5 to 10 days. Please sign the transcript and submit it to our office by mail or fax.
• Telephone Call (800) 908-9946. A paper transcript will be mailed to the requestor within 5 to 10 days. Please sign the transcript and submit it to our office by mail or fax.
• IRS Form 4506T-EZ. A paper transcript will be mailed to the requestor within 5 to 10 days. Please sign the transcript and submit it to our office by mail or fax.

Financial Aid awards for returning students should be viewable in the Student Center of the SIS by early July. If you have any outstanding To Do List items, you will not receive an award.

If an application for financial aid is received after April 30, 2012, the student should not expect to receive institutional grant aid from the University. In order for a student to be considered for institutional aid, our office must have on file before April 30, 2012, the FAFSA, the University Financial Aid Application, and the Parent Signature page, which is found here.

Term statements for Fall term 2012 should be viewable in the SIS by mid-July. If your Financial Aid award has been created by that time, you will see those awards, and any other scholarships you may have reported to us, in QuikPay@UVA listed as anticipated aid in the "Current Statement".

Receiving Outside Scholarships

If you will receive outside scholarships, you must notify us either when completing the University Financial Aid Application or you may notify us in the SIS, under the Finances section, Report Other Financial Aid .

Non-University awards include all scholarships and grants awarded by agencies other than our office, such as:  

University Alumni Association, Tuition Benefits/Reimbursements, and any scholarships or grants awarded by churches, fraternities & sororities, corporations, professional or civic organizations.

Student athletes who participate on varsity athletic teams (excluding club sports) MUST complete the Student Athlete Outside Award Certification Form, which is included in the student athlete's Grant in Aid (GIA) agreement.