How to get a study abroad Grants

Students go to study abroad as there are lots of scholarships available, that are tied to the specific location or region where students are studying abroad. The grants or scholarships, can be used to fund Students study abroad experience anywhere in the world. As we know, Study grants are a popular alternative to scholarships as they are similar to scholarships in that they are a form of non-repayable financial assistance. Here the key difference is the source of funding.

• Study abroad grants vs. scholarships

Numerous Study abroad grants are typically distributed by government agencies or philanthropic organizations. The prestigious State Department programs or Andrew Mellon Foundation fellowships are quite popular. Though these awards can be very competitive and Students are totally capable of putting their application in the running. The Grants in general can also be awarded to organizations and not just individual Student. Moreover, study abroad scholarships are equally awesome sources of funding for Students travels, but usually come from non-profit organizations or companies. Students when decide to apply for a grant vs. scholarship then these two types of awards are effectively equal in providing the coveted funds for an experience abroad and just from different sources. Additionally if students are already receiving a grant or scholarship towards their university tuitions then they may be eligible to apply this funding to your time abroad depending on the program they choose and their school’s policies. Also, Government grants and scholarships and as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and can be applied to study abroad tuitions, if both the program and home university are eligible to participate in the federal aid programs. The Students start their study abroad research and reach out to both the Study Abroad Office on their campus and the program of their choice to determine the best option for their personal situation and interests. The popular grants if scholarships are as follows-

1. Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program

It is offered by the Institute of International Education with support from the U.S. Department of State, the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarships are offered to help students on Federal Pell Grants study in foreign countries. In this, each scholarship is up to $5,000 and commonly, one in four students is selected as a recipient during each application cycle.

• Level- Undergraduate Students.

• Award- Up to $5,000

• Requirements- The Students must be current recipients of a Federal Pell Grant

• Deadline- Year-Round.

2. Critical Language Scholarships-

Students have interest in learning a foreign language then the Critical Language Scholarships -CLS program may be perfect for them. As each year,  U.S. government lists specific languages they are encouraging students to learn while studying abroad. Also, the scholarships are applied toward programs which allows students to focus on these. for example- the current list includes Bangla, Hindi, Russian, Korean, Swahili etc.

• Level- All Students.

• Award- Varies.

• Requirements- Must be a U.S. citizen enrolled at a higher institutions.

3. Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants-

The students attend a campus where a Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society has an active chapter, they are eligible for this scholarships, when even if they are not a Phi Kappa Phi member. Additionally, Every year around 75 grants are awarded to students.

• Level- Undergraduate Students.

• Award- $1,000

• Requirements- Must have an active Phi Kappa Phi chapter on the campus.

4. Rotary Foundation & Club Scholarships-

Rotary Foundation and regional clubs offer a variety of scholarship opportunities for students to study in and to study abroad. It includes scholarships for high school, undergraduate and graduate students and the amounts and eligibility vary by club. So students, do not necessarily need to be a Rotary member to qualify. Besides, Scholarships totaling 7.5 million dollars are given out each year on an average.

• Level- All Students , including High School

• Award- Varies

• Requirements- Varies

• Deadline- Varies

5. The Boren Awards-

Boren Awards are scholarships and fellowships of $2,500 to $20,000 offered to undergraduate and graduate students who are learning critical skills or languages in countries of interest to the U.S.  Also, it includes- Chinese, Swahili, Portuguese, and Arabic language programs, summer STEM courses and subjects like International Affairs and Food Sciences. The application window for 2020 grants have ended, so the deadline for 2021 grants should be checked by students interested in it.

• Level- Undergraduate & Graduate Students

• Award- $2,500-$20,000

• Requirements- Must be enrolled in an institute of higher education

6. Tortuga Backpacks Study Abroad Scholarships-

The Part of Tortuga Backpack’s mission -is to help people take amazing trips and which is why they dedicate part of their proceeds towards a study abroad scholarships. Besides, students also get a Tortuga travel backpack if they win.

• Level-Undergraduate Students.

• Award- $1,000

• Requirements- Must be Enrolled at a U.S. Institution.

• Deadline- April 15 / November 15- 2020.

Therefore, students should choose amongst these grants they are interested in according to their subject area and fields so as to excel in their career.