8 Study Abroad Scholarship Tips: High School & College Students

Study abroad scholarships partially cover the cost of studying abroad, including tuition, living expenses, travel, and other fees, providing financial aid to students.

Typically, colleges and universities, study abroad programs, governmental organizations, and private businesses offer these scholarships.

Study abroad scholarships intend to provide students, who might not otherwise afford it, with the opportunity to study abroad and gain valuable global experience.

You typically need to be enrolled in a study abroad program, complete specific academic standards and demonstrate financial need to qualify for a study abroad scholarship.

Some scholarships could additionally have unique requirements based on the nation you are studying in or the field of study you are pursuing.

There are a variety of funding possibilities available to high school and college students who are interested in studying abroad.

While the government provides some of these scholarships, others are given out by private institutions and foundations.

Here are a few scholarship options for you to consider:

1.    National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) scholarship

 

 

This is one option for high school students and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and provides full scholarships for intensive language study abroad in countries where the language is spoken.

Other options for high school students include the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) program.

CBYX is a scholarship for a year-long study abroad program in Germany.

Another is the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program.

YES provides scholarships for high school students to study abroad in countries in the Middle East and North Africa.

2.   The Fulbright U.S. Student Program

This is a study abroad scholarship offered by the U.S. Department of State that is open to college students, recent graduates, and graduate students.

The scholarship is available for a variety of programs, including semester and academic year programs, internships, and research projects.

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3.   Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

The U.S. Department of State offers the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, a study abroad scholarship open to high school and college students.

The scholarship aims to assist students from diverse backgrounds in studying abroad, offering support for various programs, including semester and academic year programs, internships, and service learning.

4.   Government-funded scholarships

Many governments offer scholarships for studying abroad.

These scholarships, whether need-based or merit-based, target specific countries or regions, offering opportunities for students to study abroad.

For example, The Federal Government of Nigeria study-abroad Scholarship Awards for Nigerian Students also provide funding for Nigerian Students seeking Bachelor’s degrees, Graduates seeking Master’s degrees, PhD etc.

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5.   Private organization scholarships

Many private organizations, such as foundations, universities, and non-profits, offer study-abroad scholarships.

These scholarships may be specific to a particular country, or region or open to students studying anywhere in the world.

For example, the Rotary Foundation offers the Rotary Peace Fellowship, which provides funding for graduate-level study abroad in peace and conflict resolution.

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6.   Nationality-specific scholarships

 

 

Some scholarships are specifically for students from certain countries or regions.

For example, the British Council’s International Scholarships program offers funding for students from developing countries to study in the UK.

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7.   The Boren Awards for International Study

The National Security Education Program (NSEP) offers the Boren Awards for International Study Abroad scholarships.

NSEP is open to undergraduate and graduate students.

The scholarship aims to help students study abroad in areas of the world critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad programs.

It is available for a variety of programs, including semester and academic year programs, internships, and research projects.

The scholarship targets students interested in studying abroad in Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

8.   The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA)

The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) offers scholarships for students who are planning to study abroad in a program that is at least four weeks long.

The scholarship is open to both high school and college students and is available for a variety of programs, including semester and academic year programs, internships, and service learning.

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Conclusion

There are numerous tools at your disposal to obtain scholarships if you’re considering studying abroad and need financial support.

Start by getting in touch with your college or university’s study abroad office.

They might be able to provide you with information on scholarships and other financial options.

Additionally, you can explore grants and other funding options online that may be accessible to you through your school or other organizations.

You can also hunt for scholarships that are specifically for study abroad programs.

It’s crucial to begin your scholarship search as soon as you can, as many have deadlines that are months before the start of the study abroad program.

It’s also a good idea to take the initiative and apply for as many scholarships as you are qualified for.

Don’t give up if you don’t get a scholarship the first time you apply.

Many scholarships have subsequent application cycles, so you might be able to apply again in the future.