SAIC info/Financial Aid for Foreigners

April 27, 2007 8:21 AM

I'm a 25 year old American woman from Chicago married to a Canadian woman, and I'll soon have permanent resident status in Toronto. My Canadian was recently accepted to the Visual and Critical Studies Masters program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago for the upcoming fall term, and I have two questions. One, what can she expect as a grad student at the School of the Art Institute, and two, can anyone offer us some advice on acquiring financial aid for a foreign student?

My credit rating is just average, and because she is foreign, she will need me to co-sign. I'm also worried about the prospect of finding work and a place to live in a new country. I know lenders won't allow me to co-sign if I don't get a job first, but the fall term is quickly approaching. This is complicated by the fact that I can't leave the country until my permanent resident status as a Canadian comes through, so going to job interviews in Chicago is an issue. All in all, we've got a lot on our plates, and I would love any advice the community could offer.

posted by Lieber Frau to education (5 comments total)

don't be silly.. how could a woman and a woman be married.

Because they're in Canada?
posted by desjardins at 8:47 AM on April 27, 2007

You might get the best info about what it's like to be a grad student at SAIC by contacting current student at SAIC. The department that admitted your wife should be able to put her in touch with current students in the same program.

Could you just get a loan in Canada instead of getting one in the US?
posted by agent99 at 8:50 AM on April 27, 2007

SAIC foreign financial aid information. Just in case you haven't already, might be helpful calling the resource number on that page.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 8:57 AM on April 27, 2007

Hi Agent99, we are looking into Canadian financial aid, but because Canadian universities are so much less expensive than American ones, they financial aid that loan institutions offer is quite a bit less generous. As well, my partner is a professional artist, and though it's a demanding career, it's not exactly one that financial institutions view as a great moneymaker. And I can't cosign for her here because I have no Canadian credit history.

Thanks for suggesting current students, I'll definitely try asking them.
posted by Lieber Frau at 9:00 AM on April 27, 2007

OSAP will provide student aid to Ontario residents who are studying at approved institutions outside Canada. They won't give as much as they would if she were studying in Ontario, but every little bit helps. It's interest free while in school and repayment also does not begin until 6 months after graduation.

The federal Canadian government also provides bursaries/scholarships for students studying outside Canada, see here, though you have missed the deadlines for this year.

Canadian financial institutions will also provide students lines of credit, though interest begins to accumulate right away. For example, see here. There is actually specific information for Canadians studying in the US.
posted by modernnomad at 9:14 AM on April 27, 2007