External Funding & Scholarships
On any program, students may be eligible to apply for outside funding to help support the costs of their study away program, whether that is the cost of meals, flights, or materials needed for the program. There is a wide variety of unique funding opportunities whether it is applying for a national or international scholarship, working as a media/student ambassador for your study away program, or connecting with your current organizations regarding funding for engaged learning.
Some scholarship databases charge fees to users, and other databases provide their services at no cost. In general, the same information is available from both types of database services, so it is not necessary to pay any fee. Ask in advance, and choose the database service that is free of charge. Be especially aware of dishonest scholarship offers: do not send money, bank account numbers, or credit card numbers to any organization that promises a scholarship in return. If you doubt the truthfulness of any scholarship source, consult with the admissions office or the international student office at the university to which you are applying.
The U.S. Department of Education and EduPASS offer tips and resources to protect students from dishonest organizations.
In addition to the resources below, contact and look into scholarships and grants through:
External Funding Resources and Organizations
Some scholarship databases charge fees to users, and other databases provide their services at no cost. In general, the same information is available from both types of database services, so it is not necessary to pay any fee. Ask in advance, and choose the database service that is free of charge. Be especially aware of dishonest scholarship offers: do not send money, bank account numbers, or credit card numbers to any organization that promises a scholarship in return. If you doubt the truthfulness of any scholarship source, consult with the admissions office or the international student office at the university to which you are applying.
The U.S. Department of Education and EduPASS offer tips and resources to protect students from dishonest organizations.
In addition to the resources below, contact and look into scholarships and grants through:
- Your Affiliate/Exchange partner program
- You/your family's employers
- Local community initiatives
- Clubs/Teams/Organizations in which you are a member (Academic, Philanthropic, Leadership, Fraternity, Sorority, Athletic, etc.)
- GoFundMe
- Academic Department
External Funding Resources and Organizations
| Funding Resource | Brief Overview | Deadlines |
| The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship Program | Sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE). This scholarship program is only open to undergraduate Federal Pell Grant recipients who intend to study abroad for credit for a semester, summer or year-long program. Students must be in the process of applying to, or accepted to, a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program. | View Deadlines |
| The Gilman-McCain Scholarship | Provides awards of $5,000 for child dependents of active duty service members to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs. Student must be participating in alanguage study and commit to government service after graduation. | View Deadlines |
| David L. Boren Scholarships | As an initiative of the Defense and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO), Boren Scholarships are awarded to U.S. undergraduates for the overseas study of languages and cultures critical to national security. These undergraduate awards provide up to one academic year of funding. Boren Scholars demonstrate their merit for an award of up to $25,000 in part by committing to work for the U.S. Government for at least one year. | View Deadline |
| Project GO | Project Global Officer (Project GO) is a collaborative initiative that promotes critical language education, study abroad, and intercultural dialogue opportunities through language study scholarships for ROTC students. The program was designed to improve the language skills, regional expertise, and intercultural communication skills of future military officers through domestic language study and domestic and overseas language and cultural immersion. | View Deadline |
| Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) | Provides scholarship and support to students who are underrepresented among the U.S. study abroad population. FEA makes international experiences accessible by supporting students of color, community college, and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programs. | Summer/Fall/Academic Year Deadline: Early January Spring Deadline: Early September |
| Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) | The CLS Program provides opportunities for American college and university students to study languages and cultures essential to America's engagement with the world. During the summer, students spend eight to ten weeks learning one of fourteen languages at an intensive study abroad institute. The CLS Program is designed to promote rapid language gains and essential intercultural fluency in regions that are critical to U.S. national security and economic prosperity. | Summer Deadline: Mid- November |
| Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship | The Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship is awarded biannually to passionate students who want to explore the world. Applicants must (1) be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or currently studying in the United States on a student visa, (2) be a full-time undergraduate student in good academic standing at a four-year, degree-granting college or university in the United States, and (3) have applied to or been accepted into a study abroad program eligible for credit by your college or university. | Fall Deadline: Mid-April Spring Deadline: Mid-November |
| Rotary Club | The Rotary Club operates one of the largest and longest-run private study abroad funding programs offering up to $25,000 in scholarships to fund one year of academic study, room and board, and other associated expenses. Students are named Cultural Ambassadors and are expected to give presentations both on their home culture while abroad and on the culture of their study abroad destination upon returning home. Scholarships are given through local branches. | Variable Deadlines |
| Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society | Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants are designed to help support undergraduates as they seek knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad. One hundred twenty-five $1,000 grants are awarded each year. Applicants do not have to be Society members but must attend an institution with an active Phi Kappa Phi chapter. Applicants must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale. | Fall/Spring Deadline: Mid-March |
| Bridging Scholarships: Japan | The U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation awards scholarships to U.S. undergraduate students to study in Japan for one semester or an academic year. Semester scholarship grantees are awarded a $2,500 stipend; academic-year grantees are awarded $4,500. | View Deadlines |
| Freeman - ASIA Scholarship | Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA) provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. | View Deadlines |
| Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program | Stipends of $500 are available for those who successfully apply to become a Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador. The money is put towards a Spring or Fall semester volunteering or studying abroad program. Ambassadors are expected to blog about their experiences for the Diversity Abroad community with the aim of inspiring other members to travel. | Variable Deadlines |
| German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarships | Each year, DAAD offers a variety of scholarships to encourage students to study abroad for a semester or postgraduate degree. | Variable Deadlines |
| Delta Phi Alpha Study Abroad Scholarships | Delta Phi Alpha members from active chapters are eligible to apply for scholarships for semester, summer, and winter programs as well as graduate studies. | Variable Deadlines |
| Scott's Cheap Flights Scholarships | Travel database for flights. | Variable Deadlines |
| IIE Passport Study Abroad Funding Database | IIE manages more than 200 programs with participants from more than 180 countries. | Variable Deadlines |
| Diverse International Women of Color Study Abroad Scholarship (DIWC) | Diverse International Women of Color, Inc is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation founded in New York on June 23, 2018. DIWC’s charitable concern is to provide scholarships to women of color who need financial assistance to study abroad. Scholarships provide deserving students the ability to achieve success at their study abroad program of choice. | Variable Deadlines |
| Diversity Abroad Scholarship Database | Database of DiversityAbroad.org to research study abroad scholarships & global fellowships by keyword, country, subject, or recommended searches. | Variable Deadlines |
| GoAbroad Scholarship Database | Gathers a diverse selection of study abroad scholarship opportunities to help prospective students get started and scholarship research & opportunities across all backgrounds. | Variable Deadlines |
| U.S. Government Scholarships and Programs | Provide fundin information for U.S. undergraduate & graduate students for funding for global study and research. | Variable Deadlines |
| Fulbright U.S. Student Program | Sends recent college graduates and early career professionals to live, study and conduct research abroad in 140 countries. | Deadline: Early September |
| Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program | Sends recent college graduates and early career professionals to live, study and conduct research abroad in 140 countries. | Deadline: Early September |