If you’ve decided to explore the world while in college, you might wonder how to make that happen without breaking the bank. Many assume that studying abroad will come with hefty fees and debt, though that’s not necessarily the case. Several scholarships are available for those with dreams of studying overseas to help cover the costs of your worldly travels, education, and experience.
Why Study Abroad?
You are unlikely to forget your study abroad experience. Studying abroad provides access to new cultures, experiences, and skills and helps expand your worldview. Your experience abroad can also enhance your resume, provide access to new and different academic opportunities, offer access to learn a new language in an immersive environment and make contacts and friends worldwide.
Study Abroad Scholarships
The following list includes a sample of study-abroad-specific scholarships that offer a range of $500 to $30,000 to help cover study-abroad costs for various degree levels and populations.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State sponsors this scholarship, which issues grants to U.S. undergraduates with limited financial resources. Their goal is to diversify the population of students going abroad.
Awards:
- $3,000: Summer program
- $4,000: Fall and Spring program
- $5,000: Academic year program
Deadlines: March, October
Degree Level: Bachelor
ISA (International Studies Abroad)
The ISA scholarship is geared towards students with identities known to be underserved in studying abroad, like students with disabilities, African American/Black, LGBTQIA+, first-generation college students, and students at minority-focused institutions.
Award: $2,500 to $5,000
Degree Level: Varies
Deadlines:
- Fall: April 30
- Winter/Spring: October 30
- Summer: February 28
Rotary Foundation Global Scholarship Grants
The Rotary Foundation emphasizes humanitarian activities. Students pursuing masters-level degrees or research in the following areas qualify to apply for this scholarship:
- Community and Economic Development
- Disease Prevention and Treatment
- Education and Literacy
- Maternal and Child Health
- Peace and Conflict Resolution
- Water Sanitation
Award: $30,000
Degree Level: Masters
Deadlines: Varies
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Fulbright offers a U.S. Student Program that awards grants to live, work, and learn for one academic year in a foreign country. These types of grants include:
- Study/Research
- English Teaching Assistant
Award: Varies
Degree Levels: Masters, Young Professionals, Recent Graduates
Deadlines: August to October (varies by campus)
SIT Study Abroad Scholarships
The School for International Training (SIT) provides a range of grants and scholarships to apply toward tuition and housing for a student’s abroad experiences.
Award:
- $500 to $3,000: Summer
- $500 to $5,000: Semester
Degree Level: Bachelor’s
Deadlines:
- April 1: Summer
- May 15: Fall
- November 1: Spring
AIFS Study Abroad Scholarships & Grants
The American Institute for Foreign Study issues over $800,000 in annual study-abroad financial aid for summer and semester programs.
Award: $400 to $1,000
Degree Level: Bachelor’s
Deadlines: Varies per scholarship
These are just a few scholarships available to support your study abroad endeavors. Great resources to locate additional scholarships include Go Overseas and GoAbroad.com.
Countries with Zero and Low-Cost Tuition and Fees
To also help reduce the costs of studying abroad, you can research countries that offer free and low-cost tuition and fees. In Germany, for example, there are no tuition fees for domestic and international students at most public universities, except for the state of Baden-Württemberg. Berlin and Munich are two of the top choices to study in Germany.
France is also known to have low-cost tuition and fees for both international and domestic students. The cost for international students is higher, though it still comes in at under $4,000 per year for a bachelor’s degree. Plus, the French government offers a lot of scholarships for international students to help lower the cost even more.
The Nordic countries of Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, and Norway also offer free and low-cost tuition opportunities. For a list of the top universities to consider in these countries, visit the Q.S. World University Rankings 2023 ranking.
Studying Abroad Is Possible
As you research scholarships to help cover the costs of studying abroad, apply to as many as possible that you qualify for to increase your chances of securing one. Studying abroad is within your reach, regardless of background or financial means!