Financing Study Abroad Special Scholarships and Financial Aid
The past several years have seen an increase in scholarships and loans designed specifically for study abroad. We strongly encourage you to consider applying. UR students have won these scholarships or used this aid in the past. Even if you can easily afford to pay for your semester or year overseas, you should still consider these scholarships, as some of them are merit-based, and represent an academic honor that would serve you well on your resume.
Here is a list of the most important scholarships and financial resources for study abroad. To find out how to apply, check with a study abroad adviser. Application deadlines vary and some may be up to a year in advance of your study abroad semester(s). Also, be sure to check with a financial aid counselor to discuss how these scholarships would affect your aid package.
Scholarships
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship enables students who have limited financial means to participate in study abroad opportunities worldwide. To be eligible, students must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant at the time of application and cannot be studying abroad in a country currently under a U.S. Department of State Travel Warning, or in Cuba. http://www.iie.org/gilman/
The National Security Education Program is a U.S. Government program to promote study in certain non-western countries. The program involves a national competition, and UR students have won scholarships in recent years. http://www.borenawards.org
To see a list of previous UR students who have won NSEP Scholarships click here.
The Institute for International Education. In addition to the Gilman Scholarships and the National Security Education Program, the Institute for International Education sponsors a variety of other scholarship programs. http://www.iie.org/pgms/
The Association of Teachers of Japanese Bridging Project offers scholarships to American students participating in study-abroad programs in Japan. Undergraduate students majoring in any field of study are eligible to apply for these scholarships. Japanese language study is not a prerequisite. Applicants must be U.S citizens or permanent residents and be enrolled in a college or university in the United States. www.colorado.edu/ealc/atj/Bridging/scholarships.html
Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship is a long-standing scholarship program for study abroad. Students apply through the local Rotary club. Application deadlines are extremely early, so this requires advanced planning. http://www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/amb_scho/index.html
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers scholarships for students who are interested in studying in Germany. http://www.daad.org/?p=47220
The Burton Fellowship, which is offered by the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures, applies specifically to students who are interested in summer study abroad to study language. http://www.rochester.edu/College/MLC/burton.html
The Council on International Educational Exchange offers scholarships and grants, including the Bowman Scholarship, which is for minority students. These are only for students who are applying to participate in a study abroad program sponsored by CIEE. http://www.ciee.org
The Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) also offers scholarships for students who are applying to IES programs. Among its other scholarships, IES recently announced a new diversity scholarship. Named in honor of David Porter, a member of the IES Board of Directors since 1995, this scholarship will award up to $5000 towards an IES semester or academic year program and is open to students who have been traditionally under-represented on study abroad programs. This includes, but is not limited to, students of color, the GLBT population, students from under-represented religious and ethnic groups, students from low income families, first-generation college students, students with physical disabilities, and students with a demonstrated history of overcoming adversity. https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/Scholarships_and_Aid/financialAid.html
Scholarships for students of color are available to encourage minority students to pursue overseas study opportunities. Check the following web site, maintained by Michigan State University. http://studyabroad.msu.edu/people/studentsofcolor/scholarships.html
The Institute for International Public Policy is a national scholarship competition to encourage underrepresented minorities to pursue careers in international diplomacy. It includes funding for study abroad during the junior year. www.ed.gov/programs/iegpsiipp/index.html
The U.S Department of State and the Council of American Overseas Research Centers sponsor Critical Language Scholarships for intensive summer study of certain "critical need" languages, such as Arabic, Hindi, Punjabi, Turkish, and Urdu. No prior study of the language is required. www.caorc.org
Students who are members of the Golden Key International Honor Society may apply for a study abroad scholarship offered by the society. http://www.goldenkey.org/GKIHS/MemberBenefits/ScholarshipsandAwards/
Students who are members of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars may apply for special scholarships through that organization. http://www.nscs.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=51&Itemid=1112
Some other general web sites for study abroad scholarships are: http://www.fastweb.com/ , http:// www.iefa.org/ , studyabroad.msu.edu/shared/afford.html , and www.studyabroadfunding.org
List of Scholarships for Underrepresented Minorities
Student Inventors Scholarships: http://www.invent.org/collegiate/
Student Video Scholarships: http://www.christophers.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=217&srcid=192
Holocaust Remembrance Scholarships: http://holocaust.hklaw.com/
Ayn Rand Essay Scholarships: http://www.aynrand.org/contests/
Brand Essay Competition: http://www.instituteforbrandleadership.org/IBLEssayContest-2002Rules.html
Gates Millenium Scholarships: http://www.gmsp.org/
Xerox Scholarships for Students: http://www.xerox.com/go/xrx/template/009.jsp?ed_name=Careers_Technical_Scholarship&view=Feature
Sports Scholarships and Internships: http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=412
National Association of Black Journalists Scholarships: http://www.nabj.org/programs/scholarships/index.php
Saul T. Wilson Scholarships: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/career_opportunities/student_programs.shtml
FinAid - The Smart Student's Guide to Financial Aid: http://www.finaid.org/
Presidential Freedom Scholarships: http://www.learnandserve.gov/about/programs/pfs.asp
Microsoft Scholarship Program: http://www.microsoft.com/college/ss_overview.mspx
Hope Scholarships and Lifetime Credits: http://www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/PPI/HOPE/index.html
William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Minority Students: http://www.apsanet.org/content_11389.cfm
Guaranteed Scholarships: http://www.guaranteed-scholarships.com/
Boeing Scholarships: http://www.boeing.com/educationrelations/scholarships/
Easley National Scholarship Program: http://www.naas.org/senior.htm
Maryland Artists Scholarships: http://www.maef.org/
Jacki Tuckfield Memorial Graduate Business Scholarship: http://www.jackituckfield.org/
Historically Black College and University Scholarships: https://www.iesabroad.org/IES/Scholarships_and_Aid/Diversity_Scholarships/hbcuScholarship.html
Actuarial Scholarships for Minority Students: http://www.beanactuary.org/college/scholarships.cfm
International Students Scholarships and Aid Help: http://www.iefa.org/
College Board Scholarship Search: http://cbweb10p.collegeboard.org/fundfinder/html/fundfind01.html
Burger King Scholarship Program: http://www.bk.com/companyinfo/community/scholarships.aspx
Siemens Westinghouse Competition: http://www.siemens-foundation.org/
GE and LuLac Scholarship Funds: http://www.lulac.org/programs/scholar.html
CollegeNet's Scholarship Database: http://mach25.collegenet.com/cgi-bin/M25/index
Union-Sponsored Scholarships and Aid: http://www.unionplus.org/benefits/education/scholarships/up.cfm
Federal Scholarships and Aid Gateways
Scholarship Gateways from Black Excel: http://www.blackexcel.org/25scholarhips.htm
Scholarship and Financial Aid Help: http://www.blackexcel.org/fin-sch.htm
FAFSA On the Web: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
Aid and Resources for Re-Entry Students: http://www.back2college.com/
Scholarships and Fellowships: http://www.back2college.com/library/scholarships.htm
Scholarships for Study in Paralegal Studies: http://www.paralegals.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=13
Scholarship and Fellowship Opportunities: http://frogs.uchicago.edu/fellowships/index.cfm
Inroads Internships: http://www.inroads.org/
ACT-SO Olympics of the Mind Scholarships: http://www.naacp-losangeles.org/actso.htm
Black Alliance for Educational Options Scholarships: http://www.baeo.org/programs?program_id=2
ScienceNet Scholarship Listing: http://www.sciencenet.emory.edu/undergrad/scholarships.html
Graduate Fellowships for Minorities Nationwide: http://cuinfo.cornell.edu/Student/GRFN/list.phtml?category=MINORTIES
Rhodes Scholarships at Oxford: http://www.rhodesscholar.org/info.html
The Roothbert Scholarship Fund: http://www.roothbertfund.org/scholarships.php
Loans
Some students have received alternative educational loans for study abroad, including summer programs. These loans are not federally subsidized, but sitll offer very competitive interest rates. Many financial institutions now offer such loans: CitiBank offers alternative loans called "CitiAssist Loans"; Key Bank offers "Key Alternative" loans; and Sallie Mae offers alternative educational loans as well. Here are some websites that provide information about these loans:
Nellie Mae: http://www.nelliemae.com
Key Bank: http://www.key.com
Wells Fargo: http://www.wellsfargo.com
The International Education Finance Corporation specializes in financing overseas study and can provide information about other loans for study abroad. (888) 465-1466.