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Financing Your Study Abroad through Scholarships and Grants

Posted on May 08, 2019

Scholarships and grants are a way to make studying abroad affordable. At Diversity Abroad, you can utilize our search feature to find scholarships to use for your global program. Scholarships for studying abroad can range from travel stipends to full coverage of your program. In many cases, the competition for study abroad scholarships is high, especially for summer programs because many institutions do not provide summer aid, however with thorough research and planning, you are more likely to secure funding to go abroad.

If you haven’t already, start applying for scholarships as soon as you become interested in going. For example, if you want to study abroad in the summer, you can start your search as early as the fall semester prior. Many deadlines can be as early as 6 months before your program start date.

Because scholarships and grants do not have to be repaid, they are an excellent way to finance your study abroad experience. In general, scholarships & grants are based on merit, need, diversity criteria or the geographical location of your global program. There are many institutions and organizations that provide scholarships and grants for study abroad, including:

  • Federal and state governments
  • College & Universities
  • Nonprofits
  • Religious institutions
  • Work organizations
  • Study abroad program providers

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To research all the possible options available to you, talk to your financial aid and study abroad advisers. They can help point you in the direction of scholarships and grants that students from your particular institution, major and other identifying factors can use for study abroad. Make sure to also ask how your financial aid can be applied to study abroad programs as well!

Tips for Applying for Scholarships

  • Start your search early and keep track of deadlines. Keep checking for new scholarships and grants.
  • Don’t limit your search to only study abroad related scholarships and grants. Many general scholarships and grants can also be applied to study abroad.
  • Scholarships can add up. It may seem like a lot of work to apply for many small scholarships, but any amount of funding makes a difference.
  • Look for scholarships specific to the country where you will be studying.

Questions to Ask About Scholarship Funds

  • Which scholarships & grants do I want to apply for? When is the deadline?
  • When and how will I find out about the status of my application?
  • How will I receive the award? Will it be mailed to me or sent directly to the school?
  • Are there any restrictions on what I can use this scholarship/grant for?

Useful Resources


Author: Diversity Abroad Community

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