They say money cannot buy happiness, and in some cases, that’s true. However, money facilitates things and ambitions that give you happiness. For that reason, we all seek money.

I knew I wanted to study abroad before going to college. My first attempt to go overseas occurred in the spring of my sophomore year in High School. Someone told me about a program that sent high school students to five or six European cities, and I begged my mother to give me the money to participate. However, my mother had no extra money to give me to wander around Europe and live out my fantasies. Not being able to afford this trip was the first time I realized I was in a low-income family. Before this event, I thought my family was doing well. My mother gave us what we needed, so I never confronted not getting what I wanted. Not going on this trip in high school left a giant print in my head, and I gave myself a mental note to accomplish this goal of traveling and seeing the world.

I learned about the study abroad opportunities when I started applying for college. Knowing there was a possibility to go overseas and study in different institutions was a big motivation to go to college. I researched every travel opportunity that colleges offered more than I researched my major, and that is because I desperately wanted to travel. In my research, I focused on finding financial opportunities that would allow me to study abroad. Because I had limited information on how to use my tuition for an overseas program, I spent the summer leading to my first year of undergrad researching different financial opportunities to study abroad. Then, I started the Chinese Program at the University of Rhode Island. Through the Chinese Program, I would travel to China three times. Knowing that through this program, I had a guaranteed opportunity to travel motivated me to learn Chinese. In the middle of the first semester, I added French as my third major, ensuring another opportunity to study abroad. 

As mentioned in a previous post, I participated in a faculty-led program in China and a direct exchange program in France. Faculty-led programs are great ways to embark on a study abroad program. One of the reasons why faculty-led programs are fantastic is because they are affordable. You can afford it by applying for scholarships from the different offices on your campus. Because host universities in other countries host faculty-led programs, there are instances where they will cover some of the expenses for you. When I went to China, the Chinese program covered expenses like visa application fees, and our Chinese department received some funds to cover our flight and accommodation at East China Normal University in Shanghai. Various offices at my alma mater offered me internal scholarships that enabled me to go to Shanghai without any financial burden, which showed me that it is possible to have such experiences without breaking the bank.

My trip to France was through a direct exchange. Through direct exchange, you go to international schools with which your university has a partnership or one you enroll in independently. In direct exchange with a partnered university with your university, you are trading places with another international student from the partnered university where you are going. You only have to pay for tuition because your university will transfer your credits and count them as credits toward your major and diploma. Because I spent a year abroad, I got 80% of my course credits toward my French major. Since I only had to pay for tuition and insurance, the university refunded the remainder of my scholarship. I did not have to take out a loan for that academic year. Aside from benefiting from tuition reimbursement and internal scholarships, I won a lot of other national grants, which exposed me to other financial opportunities to study abroad, hence why this post will list eight financial scholarships and grants to look out for if you are hoping to study abroad! However, before diving into these scholarships, let’s talk about where one goes to find study-abroad scholarships. 

Where to find study abroad scholarships? 

One of the most pressing I get when I talk about how I was able to study abroad for free is where did you find those scholarships? I had the same question when someone told me I could study abroad in college and that there were scholarships for it. Researching scholarship on Google can be overwhelming. I recently had to go back to searching for Ph.D. grants and had a challenging time flushing out which grants and scholarships are legit and which are not. Therefore, I understand how confusing and overwhelming finding a travel scholarship can be. To alleviate the stresses that come with planning to study abroad, here are three places every college student should go to see study abroad scholarships: 

1. The University’s International Office

Your university’s international office is one of the most important offices to be familiar with if you want to study abroad. The international office has many roles. First, it is the main point of contact for international students studying at your university. It supports international students, scholars, and their families in their immigration process and cultural integration once they arrive at the university. It also helps international students connect with the campus community. Secondly, it helps domestic students in their process of studying abroad. It advises you on your study abroad process, helping you choose a suitable program according to your wants and needs and your major or interests. On the administrative side, the international office promotes the university’s interests abroad and collaborates with foreign universities. However, the most vital part is that it will introduce you to scholarships that you may qualify for. 

2. Your University’s Fellowship & Academic Opportunities Office

Similarly to the international office, your university’s fellowship and academic opportunities office is another vital office to be familiar with. The fellowship office provides scholarships, grants, and other educational opportunities. Its goal is to advise and assist students applying for national and international scholarships. The people who work at the fellowship office are well-versed in different financial opportunities, and they know the structures that different scholarships require. Although the International office can introduce you to some scholarships, the fellowship office will help you in the application process. They know what it takes for your application to be successful. Different scholarship agencies call them and give them workshops to understand their scholarship requirements. Therefore, you will find more accurate information about various scholarships from your university’s fellowship and academic opportunities office. 

3. GoAbroad.com

The place every student looking to study abroad should be familiar with is GoAbroad.com. This website is like a search engine for those looking for scholarships to study overseas. It curated scholarships, grants, and fellowship programs from various private or governmental agencies to help students like you seeking to study abroad. Whatever your principal or interest, you can find scholarships tailored to your needs. Many students I meet tell me they need help finding scholarships for their fields, which is why they do not want to study abroad. On GoAbroad.com, you can filter your searches based on your major, the country you want to go to, and what time program you are interested in. Some students go abroad to study, others conduct research, and others do internships. Whatever you want to do and wherever you want to go, you will find great resources on GoAbroad.com. Therefore, utilize it like you use Google. It is easier and easier for you to decipher which is a legitimate scholarship and which isn’t because GoAbroad.com has already done the work for you. Now that you know the three most important places to seek study-abroad scholarship opportunities, let’s discuss five remarkable scholarships. 

5 Amazing Study Abroad Scholarships

The scholarships listed in this post are not the only study abroad scholarships. Suppose you are a student or a young professional looking to study overseas. In that case, finances are no longer a factor that prevents you from accomplishing your dreams because there are many scholarships for you. I chose these eight scholarships for the amounts they give you and the life and professional development they offer to post your grants. Many students think that when they apply for a scholarship, it is solely to receive the money and not worry about financial restraints when living in a foreign land. As a recipient of some of the scholarships listed below, I can attest that being an alumnus of some of the scholarships I listed had a more profound impact on me personally and professionally after I received my grants than it did during my grant. Without further adieu, let’s dive into these five remarkable study-abroad scholarships.

1. Gilman Scholarship

The first scholarship we will discuss is the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship. The Gilman Scholarship is one of several scholarships on this list that the Department of State funds. The scholarship aims to help Americans from underrepresented communities study abroad and represent the diversity within the U.S. The scholarship is up to $5,000; applicants who study critical languages get an extra amount of up to $3,000, and students interested in STEM get an additional amount of up to $1,000. To be eligible for the Gilman Scholarship, you must be a U.S. citizen or a national of the United States. This scholarship is for undergraduate students receiving the Federal Pell Grant. Students must be in good academic standing at accredited higher institutions in the United States. Students must already be in the process of applying to or have already received an acceptance letter to a credited study abroad program or an internship abroad. The Gilman Program will give you the grant based on your financial needs and the duration of your time abroad.

The scholarship is up to $5,000, but you may not get that total if you already have another scholarship or your internship is only for a week. Unlike in previous years, there are no minimum term limits, meaning that your program can be for a day or a week, and you can still apply for the Gilman Scholarship. When I received the Gilman Scholarship in 2018, I went to SciencesPo Rennes for an academic year and received $5,000. Additionally, the Gilman Scholarship has a partnership program for specific destinations. Should you want to go to Germany, the Gilman-DAAD program is specifically for Germany. The Gilman-French Program is also for those who want to go to France. For more information, check out the Gilman Scholarship. 

2. Boren Scholarship

The Boren Awards is the only grant opportunity on this list targeted at undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduate students can apply for the Boren Scholarship, and graduate students can apply for the Boren Fellowships. The Scholarship gives up to $25,000 to undergraduate students who plan to study abroad for 25-52 weeks. Students who go to programs that are 12-24 weeks will get up to $12,000; for programs that are 8-11 weeks, you can get up to $8,000 if you are a STEM student. The Boren Fellowship is for graduate students who want to go abroad for research or study abroad in world regions critical to U.S. interests.

Similarly to the Boren Scholarship, the maximum award for 25-52 weeks is $25,000 and $12,000 for 12-24 weeks. However, graduate students can receive $12,000 for a domestic summer intensive language program. If they want to combine the domestic summer program with an overseas one, graduate students can get up to $30,000. To be eligible for the Boren Scholarship or Fellowship, students must choose between the four Regional Flagship Language Initiatives the Boren Program offers or create/design their program. The Regional Flagship Language Initiatives has an African Flagship Language Initiative, a South Asian Language Initiative, a Southeast Asia Initiative, and a Turkish Flagship Initiative. For a deeper understanding of these initiatives, follow this link. 

Moreover, the Boren Awards are for U.S. citizens and nationals with a High School Diploma or GED and are interested in regions outside Western Europe, Canada, New Zealand & Australia. The Boren Awards favors applicants who want to focus on intensive study of a preferred language or country of their field, meaning that the Boren Awards want you to go abroad longer. If you want to study, live, and conduct research in Mozambique for a year and are interested in climate change’s effect on the country, you are the perfect candidate for the Boren Awards. The recipe for a Boren is Language+ region of the world+ duration+ your interest. 

3. The Voyager Scholarship

The Voyageur scholarship is the scholarship I wish existed when I was in college. The Voyager Scholarship, also known as the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service, is an award for young people curious about the world and who want to make positive changes like its founders(yes, Barack Obama is one of them!) Students seeking to apply for the Voyager Scholarship should be passionate about helping others, serving and building communities, and have visions for change through public service. The Voyager Scholarship was created to expose young Americans to new places and have different experiences because by traveling and experiencing other cultures, we build understanding, empathy, and cooperation, which we need to affect change. 

KEEP IN MIND: You do not have to be in the social sciences to be a public servant. Students outside of the social sciences think they have to be in the social sciences or humanities to study abroad or to benefit from scholarships for public service like this one. You can serve your communities through any major. As an electrical engineer, for example, you can want to develop an electrical system that will provide electricity to developing countries. Please do not be discouraged when you come across scholarships like the Voyager Scholarship. 

The Voyager Scholarship is not just a grant allowing you to study abroad. The Voyager Scholarship is a two-year leadership development and scholarship program that provides financial aid to study abroad, an immersive work-travel experience, and a network of leaders and mentors. Applicants must be in their Junior year of undergrad and be passionate about public service. Recipients received up to $50,000, $25,000 per year for the last two years of their undergraduate career. Grantees of the Voyager Scholarship will also receive $10,000 and free Airbnb housing for their summer work-travel experience between their junior and senior years of college. After graduating from college, recipients of the Voyager Scholarship will receive $2,000 of Airbnb travel credit for ten years to continue to broaden their horizons after graduating. Aside from the financial benefits, recipients have opportunities to build their public service skills through attending summits and networking opportunities with leaders in the public service field. 

4. Critical Language Scholarship

One worry that many students have is needing help to fit their study abroad aspirations during the academic year. Many STEM majors are among those students who do not partake in study abroad opportunities because of the strictness of their curriculum. The Critical Language Scholarship(CLS) allows students to study languages and cultures essential to America’s engagement with the rest of the world. The CLS program offers intensive summer language programs for 8-10 weeks, promoting rapid language gain and intercultural fluency. The CLS program is excellent for those who cannot study abroad during the academic year and those who love to learn languages and engage with different cultures but time or the strictness of their degree do not permit. Through the CLS SPARK initiative, undergraduate students can study Arabic, Chinese, and Russian online at the beginner level. Students participating in the CLS Program have 13 languages to choose from different parts of the world. 

To be eligible for the CLS program, you must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national. You must also be enrolled in a U.S. degree-granting program at an undergraduate and graduate level(from Associate to professional degree.) Undergraduate students seeking to apply to the CLS program must complete their first year in college and meet language requirements because some language programs require no prior knowledge, unlike others. (See here for more details). Recipient of the program have all their expenses paid for through the program. When you apply for a program in Morocco, for example, to learn Arabic and get accepted, the CLS program pays for the program, travel arrangements, language instructions & textbooks, and room and board. You will also receive a stipend for other expenses, such as daily transportation from your apartment to your classes and other personal needs. The Critical Language Program is another program that the Department of State funds, meaning that when you complete this program, you will also get a Non-Comptitive Eligitibily as you would with the Gilman Scholarship and Boren Scholarship. 

5. Freeman-Asia Scholarship

The Freeman-Asia Scholarship is an opportunity for U.S. undergraduates who want to study abroad in East and Southeast Asia. Students need to demonstrate financial needs. Students who are either U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible to apply for the Freeman-Asia scholarship. Students must be at an accredited two-year or four-year college or university. The Freeman-Asia scholarship aims to build a stronger connection between the United States and East Asia. Students interested in participating in the Freeman-Asia scholarship can choose from going to Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Students who want to do a multi-country program must spend a minimum of 8 weeks in one of the countries they want to go to, and they must enroll in an intensive language program during their study. Students applying for the Freeman-Asia Scholarship must have little experience in the country where they wish to study. Applications are open for the academic year 2024-2025, Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and the entire calendar year of 2025. Click here to apply today! 

In conclusion, studying abroad is a life-changing experience that can be financially daunting for some students. However, there are many financial opportunities available to alleviate the burden of the cost of studying abroad. From faculty-led programs to national grants and scholarships, there are various options to explore. It is essential to research and take advantage of the resources available to you, such as your university’s international office, to find the financial aid that suits your needs. With the proper preparation and persistence, you can achieve your dream of studying abroad without breaking the bank. The five scholarships listed here are more than just opportunities to alleviate your financial burden. They provide life-changing professional developments that benefit you as a student or a person. Still, it helps you gain skills, resources, and a network to grow as a young professional. 

As a Gilman scholar, my life after receiving the scholarship prepared me for life in my field. As a Gilman Alumni, I participated in transformative conferences on entrepreneurship in Austin, Texas. I have an influential network in places I never imagined being. Because of the Gilman Scholarship, I visited the State Department, a place I dream of working in,  three times. After the Gilman grant in 2018, I traveled domestically and abroad for seminars and enrichment conferences at no extra cost. Last summer, I visited Greece for the first time because of the Gilman Scholarship program. I also thank the Gilman application process because it provided a rubric for other scholarship applications I received after the Gilman Scholarship. We will discuss submitting a successful study abroad scholarship application in a future post. Therefore, if you are considering studying abroad and need to know what to look for, consider these five unique scholarships. 

Until next time, have a great day!

Xoxo,

Cy