Loans/Grants/Scholarships and
TUITION ACCOUNT REFUNDS

Please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid for financial aid eligibility, application, and award information at: http://finaid.wisc.edu/index.htm.

The Bursar's office applies Financial Aid (including loans, grants, and scholarships) to the student's Tuition Account when the funds are received at UW-Madison.

  • If there are remaining funds after tuition is paid, a refund is issued.
  • Refunds are payable to the student and the check is mailed to the active 'mailing' address on their My UW Student Center.
    • If there is not an active 'mailing' address but there is an active 'home' address, the check is mailed to the 'home' address.
    • If there is not an active 'mailing' or 'home' address, a refund cannot be issued until the student updates their address on My UW Student Center.

Exception: If the remaining funds are from a Parent Plus loan, the check is payable to whomever applied for the loan, and mailed to that person's 'home' address.

Students in Abroad and Off-Campus programs: Should have an active 'mailing' address of where they want their refunds mailed.

Paper Loan Checks: The majority of loans are received electronically through Direct Lending. If the Bursar's Office receives a paper loan check and it is payable to the student, the student is contacted by e-mail to come to the Bursar's Office to endorse the check before it can be applied to the Tuition account.

  • Contact the Bursar's Office to make endorsement and tuition payment arrangements if unable to come to the Bursar's Office to sign a check.

Scholarships from a UW-Madison Department

Scholarships from an EXTERNAL organization

Short Term Loans – Paid with Financial Aid:

If you receive a short term loan with the agreement that your financial aid will repay the loan, the loan is applied to your Tuition account and paid when funds are received – regardless of the loan due date.

  • When financial aid is received, your tuition is paid first and then the short term loan is paid.
  • In the event that the remaining funds are refunded to you and your short term loan is not paid, it is your responsibility to come to the Bursar's Office, 333 East Campus Mall #10501 and pay the loan with the refund or with personal funds.
  • Failure to do so will result in the placement of a hold on your account to prevent future enrollment, official diplomas, and refunds until the balance due is paid in full.

Perkins, Federal Health Profession, and Institutional Loans

The Student Loan department of the Bursar's Office creates a promissory note for Perkins Loans, Federal Health Profession Loans (Nursing, Pharmacy, Primary Care, Nurse Faculty) and various loans from institutional funds. Perkins loans require a master promissory note which will authorize multiple semesters. The e-signature process for the Perkins Loan has been on-line for the last several years. Federal Health Profession and institutional loans require a promissory note to be signed each academic year. As of the Fall 2013 semester, these promissory notes will also be available on-line for e-signing. Students accepting these loans must go to the web site of our loan billing servicer, ECSI, to sign the on-line promissory note.

Students receiving Federal Health Profession and institutional loans are required to submit documentation and sign a promissory note each year before their aid can be received. They can fill out and submit their documentation using our servicer, ECSI. A FAFSA or ECSI pin is required for login. Students will receive an email from ECSI with detailed instructions when the documentation is available.

Students receiving a Perkins loan for the first time while attending UW-Madison will receive an e-mail from ECSI with detailed instructions. A FAFSA pin is required at login.

Loan proceeds are applied directly onto the student's Tuition and Fee Student Account.