Scholarships for Study Abroad
Scholarships are a great way for students to offset some of their study abroad costs. A variety of government programs, private companies, and non-profit organizations offer funding specifically for study abroad students. Some students also fundraise through crowdsourcing sites like GoFundMe, or by reaching out to their local community organizations for assistance.
Scholarship applications require careful planning and detailed work. CIS recommends that students start the application process as early as possible. This will allow you more time to review and revise your application and have others provide feedback as well. Our advisors are happy to meet with you to discuss scholarships or provide feedback on your application materials. If you are interested in study abroad scholarship advising, please email keanabroad@kean.edu to schedule an appointment. For general information about scholarships at Kean University, visit Scholarship Services.
Nationally-Competitive Scholarships
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, providing them with skills critical to our national security and economic prosperity. The Institute of International Education has administered the program since its inception in 2001. Applicants can receive up to $5,000 for semester programs. Students must be Pell Grant-eligible to apply.
Provides funding for U.S. undergraduate students studying abroad in world regions critical to U.S. interests. Awards are up to $10,000 for semester programs, or $20,000 for year-long programs.
FEA awards scholarships of up to $10,000 for students who plan to study abroad for a full academic year; up to $5,000 for students who plan to study abroad during the fall or spring semester; and awards that are prorated by a number of weeks in-country (with a minimum of $1,250) for students studying abroad during summer. FEA gives preference to students with demonstrated financial need and strongly encourages students to apply who represent a group that is traditionally underrepresented in education abroad.
Member-based Scholarships
Provides financial assistance to young women who have received the Girl Scout Silver or Gold Award and are pursuing college degrees in the study of languages, or who are studying in a foreign country as enrichment for their college program. The scholarship is $1,500 per academic year and may be renewed 3 times after the initial award, for a total $6,000 maximum award.
Available to Golden Key members who are full-time or part-time undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate students who would like to study abroad. Emphasis will be placed on how studying abroad will assist the student in their future goals, why the student wants to undertake the trip and planned outcomes. Multiple awards of $5,000 available.
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. Seventy-five $1,000 grants are awarded each year.
Applicants do not have to be Society members but must attend an institution with an active Phi Kappa Phi chapter.
Provider-specific Scholarship Pages
- AIFS Scholarships
- API Scholarships
- CISabroad Scholarships
- ISA Scholarships
- Semester at Sea Scholarships
- TEAN Scholarships
Provider-specific Discounts
- CIS Abroad: Kean students receive a $250 discount for semester-long study abroad programs or $100 for short-term or internships programs
- IFSA State School Grant or Minority Serving Institution Grant: Kean students automatically receive a $2,000 grant to be applied to an IFSA program
- Worldstrides/ISA/TEAN: Kean students automatically get a $200 discount (does not apply to Euroscholars research programs)
Asia
Awards $500 to $1500 to students studying abroad in Asia or the Pacific. Students must be receiving academic credit for their program.
A Freeman-ASIA Award provides need-based funding to assist the recipient with the cost of the study abroad program and related expenses, including airfare, basic living costs, local transportation, books, etc. This program is for U.S. undergraduate students who are studying abroad in East or Southeast Asia.
Underscoring its long-term commitment to education and fostering U.S.-Japan relations, Morgan Stanley, which has had a presence in Japan for half a century, is proud to support the US-Japan Bridging Foundation’s Bridging Project for Study Abroad in Japan. Eligible students include students at US universities (citizens or permanent residents) who have an interest in economics and international finance and who have been accepted for study in Japan for the academic year. Winners of the Morgan Stanley Japan Scholarships are awarded scholarships of $7,500 to help finance their studies.
Undergraduate students majoring in any field of study are eligible to apply for Bridging Scholarships. Japanese language study is not a prerequisite. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must be enrolled as undergraduates in a college or university in the United States before and during the time they are studying abroad. Their study in Japan must last for at least 3 months and must earn credit that will transfer to their home campus in the US.
Bridging Scholarship recipients receive a stipend of $2,500 (for students on semester-long programs) or $4,000 (for students on academic year programs). Students studying in Japan on summer programs are not eligible to apply.
Europe
Offers scholarships of €3000 to BIPOC students studying abroad at participating institutions in Ireland.
Offers a variety of scholarships for students studying, interning, or performing research abroad in Germany.
Offers various scholarships for study in Norway to promote exchange between the United States, Canada, and Norway. Some scholarships require Sons of Norway membership, while others do not.
The $2000 student scholarship will be paid directly to the study abroad program of the recipient’s choice to cover tuition, fees, travel, or housing costs for a semester-long or one-year study abroad program in a Francophone country. Student applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application and enrolled in an established teacher education program (B.A., B.S., or M.A.T.) in French. The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and a non-native speaker of French. He or she must be sponsored by an AATF member teacher.
Middle East
Masa offers scholarships for Jewish students who would like to study or teach in Israel. The organization offers both merit and need-based scholarships.
Oceania
Awards $500 to $1500 to students studying abroad in Asia or the Pacific. Students must be receiving academic credit for their program.
One US undergraduate student will win $15,000 to cover the tuition to study abroad in New Zealand at one of eight participating universities. A free round trip flight is included.
Education New Zealand and New Zealand tertiary institutions will provide support for U.S. students who participate in study abroad programs at New Zealand's universities and Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics - commonly referred to as ITPs, and offering technical and applied degree programs.