If your family experiences a significant or unexpected change after receiving your initial financial aid offer for the academic year, or if you believe there are special circumstances that were not considered in the initial review of your financial aid application, please notify us in writing.

Use the Appeal Form to help you explain and document special circumstances such as a significant and unexpected change in income due to job loss,  salary reduction, change in benefits and/or other financial changes as indicated on page one of the appeal form .  Circumstances where we are not able to consider an appeal include, but are not limited to, high consumer debt, voluntary unemployment/retirement, and for families living abroad the devaluation of currency.

Understanding the Appeal Process

In the appeal, include details about unique circumstances, how this will impact your family's income and/or expenses, and when these circumstances occurred. Include as much documentation as possible; for example, letters from third parties, pay stubs, canceled checks and billing statements. About two weeks after the appeal is submitted, students will receive written notification of the appeal decision. Submitting an appeal does not guarantee an adjustment to a student's financial aid offer.

In most cases, the appeal process provides our office with comprehensive information regarding how the changes have affected your ability to contribute to educational expenses. If you feel a brief letter or email would be more appropriate to explain your circumstance, feel free to send the information in that format.

Contact the Office of Financial Aid if you have questions about the appeal process.

International Student Appeal Policy (for students admitted prior to the fall of 2025)

A limited number of international students who did not receive University Scholarship at the time of admission prior to the fall of 2025 may petition to apply for financial aid in the following extenuating circumstances:

• Death of a wage-earning parent
• Civil war in the student’s home country
• Natural geological disaster in the student’s home country that impacts the family

Additionally, in extremely rare cases, if an international student has completed at least four semesters at Brown, and their family has experienced a substantial and sustained financial loss that jeopardizes the student’s ability to complete their undergraduate education at Brown, the student may petition to apply for financial aid. In cases in which international students have third-party sponsors who help pay for their education, the loss of funding from a sponsor does not, by itself, constitute a substantial financial loss in the evaluation of financial aid eligibility and therefore is not an event that warrants a petition.  In addition, devaluation of currency is also not, by itself, an impetus for submission of a petition. 

If an international student experiences any of the eligible circumstances outlined above, the student may consider submitting a petition to apply. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with a financial aid counselor prior to submitting a petition.

In any year, the number of petitions granted will be limited by the amount of need-based University Scholarships available to fund such petitions. A determination will be made by the Office of Financial Aid on both the outcome of the petition to apply and the potential amount of University scholarship. University Scholarship awarded through this petition process is for the fall and spring terms only.