External Education Abroad Funding Resources

We encourage you to take the opportunity to discover external study abroad funding resources to support your study abroad.

Scholarship Search Tools

The more scholarships you apply for, the more likely you are to get awarded. Use these tools to search and apply for multiple scholarships (often with only one application).

  • IIEPassport Study Abroad Funding
  • FastWeb Comprehensive Scholarship
    Designed to simplify the scholarship search for high school and college students. No more digging to find scholarships you qualify for. Students create a profile and get personalized scholarship recommendations.
  • Scholarship Owl
    Scholarship Owl has a free version that allows you to search scholarships, but to apply for them, you will need to pay. It's $20 a month and you can cancel any time. If you are serious about applying for several scholarships, consider this resource.
  • StudyAbroad.com’s Scholarships


Highlighted external scholarships

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

  • The Gilman International Scholarship is for Pell-eligible students to study abroad.  Here is a guide created by the Education Abroad Advisor to help students through the Gilman essay and application process.
  • Who can Apply: U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university.
  • Amount: Up to $5,000 depending on the length of study and student need.
  • Critical Need Language Award of $8,000 is offered to a limited number of students studying a 'critical need language' (Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bahasa Indonesian, Bangla, Chinese (Mandarin), Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, and Urdu, 2023).
  • Length of program: No minimum length. MSU faculty-directed program participants can apply!
  • Deadline: 

    There are 2 application windows available to each student with enough advanced planning. One in Spring (for following terms) and one in the fall (for following terms).

    Application deadlines are in Pacific Time

Boren Awards for International Study

In exchange for funding, Boren Scholars commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation.

Candidates

U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad.  See the Boren website for a list of eligible countries.

Amount

  • $8,000 for a summer program
  • $10,000 for a semester
  • $20,000 for a 6 - 12 months

Length of Study Abroad

Study abroad proposals for two or more semesters are strongly encouraged. Preference will be given to undergraduate applicants proposing at least 6 months overseas.

Deadline

The Boren Scholarship national deadline is early February. Please see your campus representative for your earlier on-campus deadline.

Bridging Scholarship for Study Abroad in Japan

The Bridging Scholarship awards about 100 scholarships each year to assist students with the travel and living expenses they will incur while studying abroad in Japan for a semester or an academic year.

Candidates

U.S. undergraduate students studying abroad in Japan for a semester or an academic year.

Amount

  • $2,500 for a semester
  • $4,000 for an academic year

Length of Study Abroad

At least 3 months in country/ countries.

Deadline

Fall 2018 Programs: April 11, 2018

DADD Scholarships

Highly qualified undergraduate students are invited to apply for scholarships funding study, senior thesis research, and/or internships in Germany.

Scholarships opportunities and details vary according to your program of study:

Fund for Education Abroad

FEA study abroad program must be eligible for credit at the student’s educational institution.

Candidates

U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. who are currently enrolled as undergraduates at a college or university in the U.S with a minimum GPA of 2.8.

Amount

  • Up to $10,000 for an academic year
  • $5,000 for fall & spring semesters
  • Minimum of $1,250 for summer prorated by number of weeks

Length of Study Abroad

At least 4 weeks (30 days) in country/countries.

Deadline

The application deadline is typically early January, visit FEA for specific deadlines.

Freeman Awards for Study in Asia

Freeman-ASIA is designed to support students with demonstrated financial need who are planning to study abroad in specified East or Southeast Asian countries.

Candidates

U.S. citizens or permanent residents studying at the undergraduate level at a two-year or four-year college or university with a minimum GPA of 2.8.

Amount

  • Up to $3,000 for summer
  • Up to $5,000 for a semester or quarter
  • Up to $7,000 for an academic year

Length of Study Abroad

A minimum of 8 weeks for a summer term, 10 weeks for a quarter term, and 12 weeks for a semester term.

Deadline

Visit IIE’s website for specific term deadlines.

Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant

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.

Candidates

Any undergraduate students who attend an institution with an active Phi Kappa Phi chapter. A cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or higher is required. Study abroad program must begin within sessions’ deadlines.

Amount

Seventy-five grants of $1,000 are awarded each year

Deadline

Visit Phi Kappa Phi’s website for application deadlines.

Affiliate program scholarships

Most affiliate programs offer their own scholarships for students participating on their programs. Please check your program provider's website, or contact a representative from your program for more details.

International Studies Abroad

ISA offers approximately $150,000 in scholarships to participating students each year through the ISA scholarship program and through several host universities.

Check the individual eligibility requirements and deadlines for your program on ISA website, as they vary per program.

ISEP Scholarships

ISEP offers a variety of scholarships to participating students each year through the ISEP scholarship program and through several host universities.

Check the ISEP scholarship website for individual eligibility requirements and deadlines.

Candidates

ISEP students from a member university..

Amount

Award amounts vary based on scholarships and can vary between $500- $6,000.

Deadline

Please check ISEP website for more details.

KCP Scholarships

KCP offers scholarships for their students studying in Japan. Application deadlines and awards often occur considerably in advance of study terms. Check KCP website to find more about study abroad scholarships.

SAI Scholarships

Many SAI scholarships are paired with volunteering, interning, or professional experience, granting students more opportunities to become involved in the local or study abroad community.

Candidates

SAI is pleased to offer scholarships to deserving students each academic year, generously funded by the International Education Foundation, host universities, and by SAI itself. Many SAI scholarships are paired with volunteering, interning, or professional experience, granting students more opportunities to become involved in the local or study abroad community.

Amount

Check SAI’s website as the amount of awards and scholarships varies depending on the program.

Deadline

Visit SAI’s website for specific deadlines according to your study abroad term.

USAC Scholarships

USAC awards over $1 million in scholarships and discounts each year to assist students with their study abroad expenses. 

Candidates

Students enrolled in USAC programs.

Amount

Varies depending on the scholarship opportunity.

Deadline

  • April 1 for Summer and Fall Programs
  • November 1 for January and Spring Programs

Magellan Scholarships

Candidates

Students enrolled in Magellan programs.

Amount

Varies depending on the scholarship opportunity.

Additional external scholarships

 

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals

CBYX annually provides 75 American and 75 German young professionals, between the ages of 18-24, the opportunity to spend one year in each other’s countries, studying, interning, and living with hosts on a cultural immersion program.

Candidates

U.S. citizens or permanent residents with high school diploma. Age must be 18-24 at the start of the program.

Amount

Covers basic living costs for all 150 participants.

Length of Study Abroad

  • Two months of intensive German language training.
  • Four months of classes in one’s academic or career field at a university, technical or professional school.
  • Five-month internships in one’s career field.

Deadline

All applicants must complete an online application and submit all supplemental materials by November 1 for the program year beginning the following July.

Golden Key International Honor Society

Providing a means for hope, Golden Key offers more than half a million dollars in scholarships and awards each year.

Candidates

Only Golden Key Members are eligible to apply for any number of scholarships each year.

Deadline

All applications must be submitted online by 11:59pm CST on deadline dates, which vary by program. 

Hispanic Scholarship Fund

HSF General College Scholarships are designed to assist students of Hispanic heritage obtain a college degree.

Candidates

U.S. Citizen, Permanent Legal Resident, DACA or Eligible Non-Citizen of Hispanic heritage. A Minimum of 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale is also required.

Amount

$500 to $5,000, based on relative need, among the Scholars selected.

Length of Study Abroad

Plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, not-for-profit, 4-year university, or graduate school, during the fall of a scholarship cycle.

Deadline

Late March/early April for the next academic year.