Duke FinAid: August Highlights

This monthly newsletter features relevant information, helpful tips, and upcoming deadlines to help you make the most of the financial aid available to you.  For each headline, you can click the available link to be redirected to our website, or you can scroll down for additional info. 

•   Bursar refunds/Direct Deposit

•   Health Fee & Health Insurance

•   Books & Computer Purchase

•   Work-Study

•   Mandatory Session for International Students with Aid

•   Upcoming deadlines/reminders

Bursar Refund/Direct Deposit

If you are eligible for a refund, you must sign up for direct deposit to receive the funds as quickly as possible after the start of the term.  If your financial aid (excluding work-study) exceeds your Bursar account balance, you will receive a refund of the difference.  This refund can be used to purchase books or to cover other school-related costs.

Health Fee   

Duke Student Health is the primary source for healthcare and health education services including general medical care, basic nutrition counseling, laboratory services, travel / immunization clinics, and allergy / immunotherapy clinic. Most services at the Student Health Center (SHC) are covered by the mandatory Student Health Fee.

Health Insurance  

In addition to the health fee, students are required to maintain adequate medical insurance while at Duke.  If a student receiving financial aid does not have access to health insurance, the student should complete the health insurance waiver (NOT the application) process and get a "decline of waiver." Even though the tab reads “I have insurance” you need to complete this section to prove you need the insurance from Duke.  This indicates that you are not eligible to waive coverage, and must be covered by Duke health insurance.  This ensures that your expected family contribution will not increase, and that Duke will cover the cost of the insurance with additional grant funding.

Books & Computers

The financial aid budget includes an allowance for required textbooks and supplies.  For the purpose of buying textbooks, it is expected that students arrive on campus with at least half of their Summer Earnings Expectation. These funds should be used to buy textbooks and supplies for your fall semester.  If these funds are not available, however, students can charge the cost of their textbooks to their Bursar account by using their FLEX spending account . Textbooks can be purchased from the Duke University Book Store and online.

The Duke University Computer Store allows students to buy a computer that can be paid off in interest-free monthly installments over the course of the next four years.  Grant aid is not provided to help with the purchase of a computer.  Loan funds are available if requested. 

Work Study   

Students who participate in the Work Study program work part-time on- or off-campus.  Students can begin to apply for positions over the summer as soon as they have been posted on DukeList, the online listing of available positions. FAQ and forms are available online.

Mandatory Session for International Students with Aid

International students coming from out of the country to attend classes in the fall must attend one of three sessions hosted by Undergraduate Financial Aid, Visa Services, International House and Corporate

Payroll Services.   Sessions will be held:

 

August 23^rd 9 a.m. -12 p.m.  This date also includes the information session for all 1^st year students

August 26^th 11:30 a.m.  – 2 p.m. 

September 1^st 11:30 a.m.  – 2 p.m. 

 

All sessions will be held at Smith Warehouse, Bay 5, Second Floor in the Career Services area.

Upcoming deadlines/reminders   

Check your “To Do” list on ACES

Make sure there are no outstanding financial aid items to hold up your aid or student loans.

Renew your aid for next year

If you are a returning student and haven’t completed your application for financial aid, be sure to complete the renewal process as soon as possible so funds can be available by the fall term.

ACES Reminder: you can view your up-to-date financial aid information, including your financial aid application To-Do List, your financial aid budget, and your financial aid award, via your ACES account