Study Abroad Scholarships
Study abroad scholarships are gift aid (money you don’t have to pay back) that can be used towards many different aspects of your study abroad experience. They are often provided by local or international organizations, universities and more.
Scholarships are often competitive and have strict eligibility requirements, so be sure to research each one carefully before applying. Most require academic transcripts, a personal essay or letter and often have stipulations for how the funds will be distributed.
Need-Based Scholarships
Need-based scholarships are meant to help students who cannot afford tuition fees or other costs related to their study abroad programs. These scholarships are based on the student’s ability to pay, and scholarship providers consider a variety of factors including family income, number of household members, tax records, employment, and more. In addition to determining eligibility, these scholarships can also cover additional expenses like housing, food, travel, or textbooks.
Government-funded scholarships are another great source of need-based financial aid. In the United States, this is most commonly seen in the form of Pell Grants. Many local, state, and university-based scholarships are also available for students to pursue a study abroad experience. Additionally, some private organizations that provide financial support for study abroad offer need-based scholarships.
When searching for need-based scholarships, make sure you look for those specific to your destination and region of choice. This is a good way to increase your chances of winning a scholarship for the study abroad experience of your dreams!
For instance, if you’re dreaming of studying art history in Italy or public health in Norway, there are numerous European-specific study abroad scholarships you can apply for. The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is another example of a need-based scholarship that provides up to $5,000 in funding for students who are studying a language, culture, or world region that is critical to the U.S. national security, yet less frequently studied by American undergraduate students.
Other region-specific scholarships include the Heather Jow Leibowitz Memorial Scholarship (named after a School of Field Studies alumni), which is offered to students who choose SFS programs in East Africa. Additionally, the CIEE Language Intensive Focus Track Scholarships are awarded to students who study a world language for an extended period of time overseas.
Once you’ve found some scholarships that you think you might be eligible for, be sure to read all of the application requirements carefully. Many of these scholarship applications will require that you submit transcripts, letters of recommendation, and/or essays. It’s a good idea to start requesting these documents early, as it can take some time for them to arrive. Finally, double-check that all of the required pieces of your scholarship application have been submitted by the deadline.
Academic or Merit-Based Scholarships
Merit-based scholarships are a great way to fund your study abroad experience. Scholarship providers often look at factors such as academic achievement, leadership skills and special talents (like athletic abilities or musical talent). These types of scholarships typically cover tuition fees only and can also cover other costs like books or living expenses.
Some merit-based scholarships are specific to a certain program or region of the world. For example, the Walter Jensen Scholarship supports students who want to study French in France, while other programs, like the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, are specifically designed for students looking to learn about ancient Greek culture and language.
Many universities have their own merit-based scholarships that support students studying abroad, including the University of Oxford Scholarships. These full scholarships are awarded to students on the basis of their grades and other academic achievements and can be used towards your entire semester of study at Oxford.
Other scholarships are offered by individual providers of study abroad programs or institutions. These types of scholarships tend to focus on particular demographics, such as students with financial need or pell eligibility, and are intended to help students from underrepresented groups take advantage of the opportunity to study abroad. For example, the Freeman Awards for Study in Asia provides scholarships to help Americans achieve a deeper understanding of the people and cultures of Asia, and the Boren Scholarships for International Study support undergraduate students who study languages that are critical to U.S. national security interests.
It is important to remember that when applying for merit-based scholarships, you will be competing with students from a wide range of backgrounds. This means you will need to make a strong case for why you deserve the scholarship, and how it will help you accomplish your study abroad goals. For example, if your goal is to improve your fluency in the language of your host country, then you will need to clearly articulate how this scholarship will help you achieve that goal. You will also need to show why you are an excellent candidate for the scholarship by highlighting your prior academic achievements, and how this study abroad experience will fit in with your overall career path.
Athletic-Based Scholarships
Many student athletes devote their lives to their sport, working tirelessly outside of school hours to improve their game. That dedication doesn’t always lead to a lucrative career as a professional athlete, but can still make it possible to earn scholarships to help pay for college. These athletic-based scholarships usually cover a large portion of tuition and fees, but can also include other expenses like housing, food, textbooks, and equipment.
As a result of these rigorous training schedules, many student athletes may feel that they have no time for studying abroad or fear that they won’t be able to continue their sporting career while away. However, with careful planning and a bit of help from CGIS, student athletes can often study abroad without putting their careers on hold.
In fact, a recent survey found that “study abroad” was second (“more sleep” was first) on the list of things that PAC-12 student-athletes wish they could have done during their undergraduate years but couldn’t due to their athletic commitments. To that end, CGIS has created several scholarship opportunities to help make it easier for students on full athletic scholarships to take advantage of the life-changing benefits of a study abroad experience.
If you’re a student athlete, it’s important to work closely with your coach and athletic advisor to find a program that fits in well with your sport and academic schedule. You should also do your research on what athletic resources you’ll have access to while abroad, including university gyms and facilities, club sports teams, or community gymnasiums. Finally, don’t forget that while most academic scholarships automatically renew each year, athletic awards are typically only one year at a time.
This scholarship, offered through the Joyce Komperda Athlete Support Fund, provides financial assistance for singles, pairs, or ice dancing competitors at the intermediate through junior level who demonstrate financial need and have shown exemplary effort in their training. The scholarship is open to current U.S. Figure Skating members. For more information and to apply, visit the scholarship provider’s website.
Region or Minority-Based Scholarships
Study abroad can be a life-changing experience, opening students’ minds to alternative ways of living and working. But it can also be a costly endeavor, and many students struggle to cover tuition fees and other expenses. Scholarships are an excellent way for students to offset these costs and make their study abroad dreams a reality. Various government programs, private companies and non-profit organizations offer scholarships for students who want to explore different countries or pursue specific studies abroad.
Region- or minority-based scholarships are meant to encourage students from particular groups to pursue their study abroad dreams. These scholarships are usually based on academic merit and financial need, but they can also be subject-specific or focus on the student’s cultural heritage or background. For example, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables Pell Grant-eligible U.S. undergraduates to study abroad in world regions critical to national security and economic prosperity. The Critical Language Scholarship program provides fully funded intensive summer language institutes overseas in fifteen critical languages.
Students from certain areas of the country or who come from a particular minority group are often underrepresented in study abroad programs. In order to help increase these student participation rates, the CIEE Global Access Initiative (GAIN) scholarship program was created. This scholarship program offers full-year and semester scholarships to help students overcome the major barriers to studying abroad, such as cost and curriculum requirements.
The University of Auckland offers several scholarships to help students cover their upfront expenses for a semester or year-long study abroad program. These scholarships are given to stand-out students who demonstrate a passion for learning and dedication to their academic studies. These scholarships can be used for any University of Auckland program and include tuition, program fees and orientation.
DIS offers several need- and diversity-based awards that can be applied towards your DIS program. These scholarships are awarded to incoming and returning DIS students who can show a significant level of financial need, and they are designed to reduce the overall cost of your DIS program. DIS also considers your DAAD application and any financial aid you may be receiving through your home institution when awarding these scholarships.