How to Find Scholarships for Study Abroad

6 online directories of study abroad scholarships

Many students report studying and living abroad as one of their best decisions and most profound experiences. It’s not difficult to understand why when we consider the amount of growth, expansion, and sheer fun one can derive from participating in another country’s communities and culture. Studying and living abroad may indeed provide one’s life with an immense amount of pleasure and value.

Study abroad programs can be relatively expensive, and while we think studying abroad is worth every penny, not everyone can afford to do so. Fortunately, there are an increasing number of study abroad scholarships and grants that may be available to qualified students.

Numerous organizations and companies provide students with free directories of information on financial aid such as loans, grants, and scholarships. Some list specific scholarships for study abroad, while others list financial aid meant for tuition and living expenses. While it is of course preferable to find financial aid specifically meant for studying abroad, keep in mind that funding your tuition and living expenses with grants and scholarships can potentially free up other money to be funneled toward your study abroad experience.

To find study abroad scholarships that are perfect for you, access one of the directories below to begin your search!

College Board has a free financial aid search site that allows students to search for financial aid and internships, some of which can be used to fund study abroad programs. Simply visit the College Board’s scholarship search engine, enter your criteria, and click “see results”. College Board will then provide you with financial aid and internship information from more than 2,200 programs. The landing page for the financial aid awards allows you to easily view each award’s sponsor, type, closing date, and amount.

The Institute of International Education offers a free directory through which you can search for study abroad grants, scholarships, fellowships, and paid internships. Once on the site, simply enter key information and click “go”. The directory will take you to a list of financial aid opportunities that match your criteria.

Scholarships.com is a free directory that allows you to search for scholarships, grants, and loans, many of which can be used for studying abroad. Simply click on the “Scholarship Search” tab, enter the required information, and click continue. Doing so will allow you to search scholarship.com’s expansive database. You might find that the majority of financial aid is geared toward funding your in-country tuition, but if you search long enough, you may find some aid geared toward financing study abroad programs.

StudentScholarships.org provides a directory of scholarships that students can use for tuition, costs of living, and studying abroad. Simply visit the site, click on “Start Finding Scholarships”, and browse scholarships by name, amount, deadline, and basic eligibility.

Federal Student Aid, an office of the U.S. Department of Education, gives students information about funding their education. While not all grants and loans offered by the U.S. government can be used to fund studying abroad, some can. Visit the Federal Student Aid site to discover what money the U.S. government has made available to you.

And of course, StudyAbroad.com has an extensive directory of scholarships specifically for study abroad students!

Annie Rose Stathes is a Colorado-based writer, teacher and political scientist. Her background is in international affairs and she holds a Master of Arts degree in Political Science.