Students can use the Permission to Enroll process to request approval to take a course at a different school (Host Institution) and transfer the credits back to UMD towards their degree requirements. Students should contact their advising College to determine their PTE policy and submission instructions. If a student with an approved PTE wants to receive financial aid based on their combined enrollment at UMD and the Host Institution, they must submit a request to the Office of Student Financial Aid through a Permission to Enroll (PTE) Financial Aid Consortium.
In general, an approved PTE Financial Aid Consortium does not result in additional financial aid. Students should budget according to their current financial aid offer. Since financial aid cannot be disbursed until a student is registered for a minimum number of credits per term, the PTE Financial Aid Consortium process may be helpful for students who do not qualify for a financial aid disbursement based on their UMD enrollment alone. Most federal loans require half-time (6+ credits) enrollment, and most grants and scholarships require full-time (12+ credits) enrollment. See the Enrollment and Keeping Aid page for additional information.
Example: If a student takes nine (9) three-credit courses at UMD and three (3) credits at the Host Institution, the student can submit a PTE Financial Aid Consortium to use all twelve (12) credits to determine their financial aid eligibility.
Financial aid for approved PTE Financial Aid Consortia will be disbursed after the semester’s schedule period according to federal, state, and institutional policies. Students are responsible for making payments to the Host Institution. UMD is not responsible for late fees, enrollment changes, or other penalties due to late payment at the Host Institution. Students must contact the Host Institution to confirm payment deadlines and discuss payment options.
Permission to Enroll Financial Aid Consortium Agreement
Students can use the Permission to Enroll process to request approval to take a course at a different school (Host Institution) and transfer the credits back to UMD towards their degree requirements. If you have an approved PTE and want to receive financial aid based on your combined enrollment at UMD and the Host Institution, you must submit a Permission to Enroll (PTE) Financial Aid Consortium Agreement.
To qualify for a PTE Financial Aid Consortium, students must:
- Have a Permission to Enroll (undergraduate students) or a Request for Transfer or Inclusion of Credit (graduate students) approved by the student’s academic advisor or academic department
- Complete the FAFSA or MHEC One App for the appropriate academic year
- Meet and maintain UMD Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements
- Complete all federal and institutional financial aid verification requirements
- Be admitted as a degree-seeking student at UMD in an eligible academic program
- Be enrolled in 11 credits or less at UMD during the Fall, Spring, or Summer term
Students should submit all forms to the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) at least 30 days before the semester starts, but no later than the following deadlines:
- Fall & Spring Semester: All PTE financial aid consortium documents must be submitted by the end of UMD’s schedule adjustment (add/drop) period for the semester. See the Official University Calendar for dates.
- Winter Session: PTE financial aid consortia are not accepted for this semester.
- Summer Session:
- If enrolled for Summer classes at UMD, PTE financial aid consortium documents must be submitted by the end of UMD’s schedule adjustment (add/drop) period for the session. See the UMD Extended Studies Summer Semester Calendar for dates.
- If not enrolled for Summer classes at UMD, PTE financial aid consortium documents must be submitted by the first day of class at the host institution.
PTE Financial Aid Consortium requests will be reviewed within 7-10 business days of submission. OSFA will adjust your financial aid based on your combined enrollment at UMD and the Host Institution AFTER the end of the semester’s schedule adjustment period.
- Obtain approval from your academic department through the Permission to Enroll (PTE), Request for Transfer, or Inclusion of Credit (Graduate students) process.
- Register for the approved course(s) at the Host Institution.
- Submit the following documents to the Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) at finaid-pte@umd.edu by the semester deadline:
- The approved Permission to Enroll (PTE), Request for Transfer, or Inclusion of Credit form
- A completed and signed Permission to Enroll Financial Aid Consortium Agreement, signed by the student and the Host Institution
- A copy of an unofficial transcript from the Host Institution confirming enrollment
- A copy of a billing statement or account summary from the Host Institution. We will only consider the courses approved on your Permission to Enroll form for the stated semester. A new Permission to Enroll form is required for additional or modified course enrollment(s) and/or semester.
- OSFA will adjust your financial aid based on your combined enrollment at UMD and the Host Institution AFTER the end of the semester’s schedule adjustment period. Financial aid will be disbursed to your UMD student billing account within 3-5 business days after the end of the schedule adjustment period. If your financial aid exceeds your charges at UMD, the excess aid will be refunded to you.
- You may use the refund to pay the charges at the Host Institution or education-related expenses. Students are encouraged to sign up for Direct Deposit to facilitate timely refund payments.
- Submit an official transcript to the UMD University Registrar with your final grade(s) upon completion of your host Institution's courses.
You must notify OSFA if you drop or withdraw from any PTE approved course(s) at the Host Institution. Our office reviews changes to a student’s enrollment level and may adjust your financial aid according to federal, state, or institutional policies. Failure to complete enrolled coursework or leaving your program on an unsatisfactory basis may result in a financial aid adjustment or cancellation.
Per the provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), effective with the 2026-27 academic year, the Department of Education will require institutions to reduce Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loan amounts for students enrolled less than full-time. If a student is enrolled in PTE approved courses and has submitted a PTE Financial Aid Consortium, OSFA will use the combined enrollment at UMD and the Host Institution to determine the student’s loan amounts. Changes in enrollment at either UMD or the Host Institution may impact the amount of federal loans a student may receive for the academic year.