External Scholarships
Many scholarships sponsored by outside organizations are available to VCU students and you may apply for more than one scholarship. Please notify your study abroad adviser if you are applying for a scholarship so we can help advise you.
The following is a list of notable scholarships and search engines to help identify scholarships that match your program destination and subject.
Study Abroad Scholarships
Here you can find information on specific scholarships for study abroad. Please refer to individual websites for deadlines, eligibility and application procedures. This is by no means an exhaustive list of available scholarships. There are a lot of study abroad scholarships that you can find with a bit of searching and persistence.
Creative Funding Ideas
Local, regional, national groups and friends and family are all great sources to look for funding to help you achieve your goals. Set aside some time each week to research scholarships and contact individuals and groups to look for funding support. And remember to thank everyone who helps to make your study abroad experience possible!
GoFundMe.com
Create a campaign for an easy way to share your goal and ask friends and family to donate.
Kickstarter.com
Fundraise for your study abroad “project” by selling art, food, etc.
Traditional
Host a car wash, bake sale, or babysit to earn money and save.
Frequent Flyer Miles
Ask if anyone is willing to give you miles to purchase your flight.
Holidays and Birthdays
Ask for study abroad related gifts like a backpack or camera.
Sororities and Fraternities
Check with your local and national chapter for study abroad scholarships.
Heritage Groups
Swedish Council of America, Swiss American Historical Society, Italian American Heritage Foundation, Japan America Society
Local Businesses, Churches, and Civic Organizations
Contact local businesses or civic organizations that may have scholarships or are willing to donate money, such as Elks, Kiwanis, Lions, Moose, Rotary, etc.
Ideas from AIFS Abroad Funding Webinar
Know your finances, use available resources, apply for scholarships, look at your habits, use your social network, virtual ideas, crowdfunding, get creative!
| Scholarship | Amount | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Programs International (API) | $250-$1,000 | Must be accepted into an API study abroad program, submit two essays, letter of recommendation and have a 3.0 GPA. |
| AIFS Study Abroad | $1,000 | High academic achievement, essay and application to the AIFS program. |
| Allianz Scholar Trips | $2,500 | For students seeking to enrich their education through international travel. |
| American Association of University Women Fellowships | $18,000-$30,000 | Non-U.S. citizen full-time graduate, doctorate and postdoctoral women. |
| American Councils for International Education: ACTR/ACCELS | Up to $40,000 and full research costs | Grants for research and language training in Eurasia and Eastern Europe for graduate, postdoctoral and faculty members. |
| American Jewish League for Israel | Varies | For study abroad in Israel. |
| American-Scandinavian Foundation Awards | $5,000-$23,000 | The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) offers fellowships (up to $23,000) and grants (normally $5,000) to individuals to pursue research or study in one or more Scandinavian countries for up to one year. Awards are granted in all fields. |
| Amideast Scholarships | Varies | For students on Amideast programs. |
| Asian Cultural Council Grants | Grant opportunities for individuals seeking aid to undertake activities in Asia. | |
| Babbel Language Scholarship | $2,500 | Open to students studying the following languages: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Russian, Polish, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Turkish and Indonesian. |
| BestValueSchools.org | $500 | 400 word essay on making a difference in your community |
| Blakemore Foundation Language Grants | Tuition, tutoring, travel, living, study expenses | Advanced proficiency in the Asian languages, studies after undergraduate. |
| Boren Awards for International Study | Up to $30,000 | Scholarships for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to study world regions critical to U.S. interests. |
| Bridging Scholarships | $2,500-$4,000 | Undergraduates interested in studying in Japan. Application form, essay, transcripts and recommendation required. |
| Brokerfish International Student Scholarship | $1,000 | Open to full time students of any nationality pursuing a degree, 500-1000 word essay. |
| BUTEX – British Universities Transatlantic Exchange Association | £500 | Eight scholarships available to North American students studying in the UK for either a semester or for an entire academic year. |
| CAPA Scholarships | $500 – 5,000 | For students participating on CAPA programs. |
| CEA Scholarships | $250-$3,000 | Eight scholarships for students in CEA programs with various purposes; requires a 3.0 GPA and written essay. |
| Chinese Government Scholarships | Varies | For students studying at Chinese universities that are affiliated with CGS. |
| CIEE Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship | Full cost of travel, housing, program trips, course abroad. | For students participating in select CIEE Summer Program (Summer 2021, Dublin, Ireland). Scholarship is for students of color, freshman, sophomore, junior, GPA 3.0 - emphasis on leadership, social justice, agitation for positive change and cross-cultural understanding. |
| CIEE GAIN Scholarship | Varies | For students participating in CIEE programs, focuses on helping students overcome the major barriers to studying abroad, namely costs and curriculum requirements. |
| CISabroad scholarships | Varies | For students participating in CIS programs. |
| College Consortium for International Studies | Brief information regarding financial aid and study abroad. | |
| Congressional Black Caucus Foundation | Varies | Funded scholarship program for Japan and China, and other scholarships. |
| Cooperative Center for Study Abroad | Varies | For students in CCSA programs. |
| Critical Language Scholarships for Intensive Summer Studies | All-inclusive (state department funded) |
Seven- to 11-week summer studies in Arabic, Bangla/Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Turkish and Urdu. |
| Delta Phi Alpha | Varies | For Delta Phi Alpha members who are German language students. |
| DIS Scholarships | Varies | For students on DIS programs (Scandinavia) |
| Diversity Abroad & CISI Planning Scholarship | $2,000 | Variety of scholarships offered to diverse and under-represented high school, undergrad and graduate students. |
| Explore the World Travel Scholarships |
$2,000 | Hostelling International USA (HI USA) offers scholarships to help finance an international trip with an educational or service component to the itinerary. |
| FEATHR Wallpaper Scholarship | $1,000 | Essay submission for Arts, Design, and Humanities students |
| FlipKey Study Abroad Scholarship | $1,000 | Full-time students over 18 enrolled in a current or upcoming study abroad program. |
| Foundation for Global Scholars | $500 - $2,500 | The foundation offers 4 scholarships to North American students studying, researching, or interning abroad for any length of time. The scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students. |
| Foundation for International Education Scholarships | $2,000 | Merit-based scholarships to qualified students on FIE programs. |
| Freeman-ASIA | Varies | Freeman Awards for Study in Asia provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. |
| Fund for Education Abroad | Up to $10,000 | General Scholarships for students planning to spend 4+ weeks abroad plus dedicated scholarships including the Hilary Echo Douglas scholarship for study in Vietnam and Rainbow Scholarship for LGBTQI students. |
| Fulbright Scholarships | Travel, books, research, health insurance, tuition, living costs | Purpose: to increase mutual international understanding. Department of State-funded, highly competitive and prestigious for one academic year of study. Grants include full grants, travel grants, business grants and English teaching assistantships. |
| The Gates Cambridge Scholarships | Full tuition, travel, living costs | For non-UK students interested in studying at Cambridge University. Highly competitive: high GPA, strong references and a commitment to helping others required. |
| German Academic Exchange Service | Information on various kinds of DAAD funding for foreign students, graduates and postdocs, faculty and researchers to study in Germany. | |
| Gilman Scholarship (please also review our page dedicated to the Gilman here) | Up to $5,000 | For undergraduate students on Pell Grants with limited financial means. Department of State-funded and highly competitive, for fall/winter/spring, four weeks or longer only. |
| Gilman-McCain Scholarship | $5,000 | For child dependents of active duty service members to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs. |
| Global Studies Grant | For full-time enrolled U.S. students with good academic standing | |
| Golden Key International Honor Society | Up to $5,000 | Golden Key Society offers $1,000,000 is scholarships and awards each year for both undergraduates and graduates. |
| Go Overseas Scholarships | $500 and up to $25,000 | General study abroad scholarships and country specific scholarships to Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia |
| Hispanic Scholarship Fund | From $500 to $5,000 | For students with Hispanic heritage, 2.5 GPA, and U.S. citizenship. Emphasis on STEM majors. |
| Hosteling International | $2,000 | For aspiring global travelers who want to give back while they experience another culture. See HI at 7 North Second Street for details. Be 18 - 30 years of age. Be a permanent, legal resident of the USA . Live close to a HI facility. |
| Hungarian Diaspora Scholarship Program | Covers tuition and housing | Established by the Hungarian Government for those who live in a Hungarian diaspora outside of Europe and wish to study at a Hungarian higher education institution to develop their personal, professional and cultural relations to Hungary. |
| ISA Scholarships | Varies | For students participating in ISA programs. |
| ItaliaRail Scholarship | $1,000 | For students with a minimum 3.0 GPA and studying in Italy. |
| iVisa Annual Scholarship | $1,500 | 2.5 GPA and 500 word story, for undergraduate and grad/post-grad students. |
| Turkish Coalition of America | Scholarship for Turkish American students or American minority students studying in Turkey. | |
| International Research and Studies Program | $50,000- $200,000 a year up to three years |
U.S. Department of Education-funded grants. For the development of educational materials to strengthen foreign language and related studies areas. |
| Ito Scholarships | Study in Japanese in Japan. | |
| Japanese Student Services Organization | $500-$2,200/ month | Scholarships for students to study in Japan. |
| JASSO Short-term Student Exchange Scholarship | Stipend of ¥80,000 per month, and a relocation allowance of about ¥150,000 upon arrival | Scholarship for students participating in a Japanese academic-year exchange program through their university. |
| Kosciuszko Foundation | $1,000-$7,000 waived tuition | Scholarships for students of Polish descent or in Polish studies studying in Poland. |
| LATUTORS Innovation in Education Scholarship | $500/monthly | LA Tutors awards students who showcase their creativity and make positive impacts with a $500 Innovation in Education scholarship. On an ongoing monthly basis, this scholarship is open to all currently enrolled college students (with a 3.0 GPA that are US citizens or permanent residents) who showcase their creativity while helping those around them (whether that be in a creative fundraiser, inventive new app, series of blog posts on a particular theme, or another idea). The application deadline is 11:59 pm PST on the 20th of each month. |
| Language Flagship Program | Tuition, a modest stipend, and support for health insurance and travel costs | Scholarship for U.S. citizens who have an advanced-low proficiency in the appropriate foreign language and a superior proficiency in English. Must hold an undergraduate degree and cannot be employed by the federal government. |
| Lord Acton Memorial Scholarship | £500 – 1,000 | For students accepted to a study abroad program offered by an AASAP/UK member and minimum 3.0 GPA. |
| Mandarin Language Enrichment Scholarship | 25,000 NTD | To encourage international students to undertake Huayu courses in the Republic of China (Taiwan) |
| Marshall Scholarships | All-inclusive | Highly competitive and prestigious scholarships for U.S. students to earn a master’s or doctoral degree in U.K. requires a minimum GPA of 3.7. |
| Masa Israel Grants | For Jewish young adults to study in Israel. | |
| Organization of American States | Up to $30,000/year | Scholarship opportunities for studies in OAS-member states. |
| Outdoorsy | $1,000 | Encourages students to pursue outdoor recreation opportunities. |
| Pacific Prime Scholarship | $1,000 | 1,000 words on the impact technology has had on healthcare. |
| Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant | $1,000 | 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. Fifty $1,000 grants are awarded each year. |
| Pimsleur Approach Study Abroad Scholarship | $1,000 | Scholarship for students participating in an immersive study abroad language program. |
| Rhodes Scholarships | All-inclusive | Highly competitive and prestigious scholarships for U.S. citizens to earn graduate degrees at Oxford. |
| Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarships | $10,000- $23,000 | Application through local Rotary clubs for international study. |
| SAI Scholarships | Varies | For students participating in SAI programs. |
| School for Field Studies Scholarships | Varies | For students participating in SFS programs. |
| Scott's Cheap Flights | $1,000 | For citizens or resident of the United States (and its territories and possessions) who are enrolled full-time at an accredited institution of higher learning. |
| Semester at Sea Scholarships | Varies | For students participating in Semester at Sea. |
| SIT Scholarships | Varies | For students participating in SIT programs. |
| St. Andrew’s Society of Washington, D.C. | $500-$2,500 | For graduate students of Scottish descent intending to study in Scotland. |
| StudySoup Future Innovator Scholarship Program | $2,000 | For students who exemplify one or more of StudySoup’s core values: Be a Knight, Make an Impact, Succeed Together. |
| My Slumber Yard's Scholarship | $1,500 | College student in the U.S. with a 3.0 GPA |
| UNESCO Laura W. Bush Traveling Fellowship | $2,500 | Must be a U.S. citizen, 18-25 years old. |
| United Negro College Fund Scholarships | Up to full costs | A general application will match you with many UNCF scholarship opportunities. |
| US-Ireland Alliance | Tuition, housing, a $12,000 stipend and international travel | Scholarship for students enrolled in a graduate degree program or certificate program offered by an institution of higher learning, in Ireland or Northern Ireland. |
| Virginia Credit Union Scholarship Program | $2,500 | For undergraduate students enrolled in 9 credits, 3.0 GPA, and a Virginia Credit Union member. |
| Volunteer Forever Scholarship | $500 - $1000 | Since 2014, Volunteer Forever has been offering a $500 to $1000 travel scholarship to help participants defray the cost of volunteering, studying, interning, teaching, or working abroad. |
| William Jefferson Clinton Scholars Program | Tuition and housing | Study full-time at the American University in Dubai, 2.0 GPA. |
Scholarship search engines
These websites offer extensive information about education abroad funding opportunities.
| Adventures in Education | Database for general academic scholarships, including some study abroad scholarships. |
| BestColleges.com | Financial Aid Opportunities for Minority Students |
| British Council’s Education U.K. | Scholarship database for U.S. undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, doctoral and postdoctoral students interested in studying in the U.K. |
| The College Board Scholarship Search | Extensive database of general scholarships, grants, internships and loans including study abroad scholarships. |
| Disability Scholarships | This search engine lists college scholarships for students with disabilities. |
| Disabled World | This search engine posts general disability scholarships. |
| Disaboom Scholarship Engine | This search engine lists scholarships related to a specific disability. |
| DiversityAbroad.com | A study abroad and cultural exchange portal that has partnered with several organizations to offer study abroad grants and scholarships. Students can search for scholarships and explore other opportunities. |
| Fastweb | Popular scholarship search that includes some study abroad scholarships (free registration). |
| FinAid! | Comprehensive online source for education funding opportunities |
| Foundation Center | Subscription site for individuals seeking foundation grants |
| Goabroad.com | Scholarship search engine |
| Grantfinder | Database of study grants in the Netherlands. |
| Grants.gov | Database of government grants (lengthy registration process) |
| Guide to Study Abroad Financial Aid | Guide to financial planning, scholarships and using financial aid for study abroad |
| HRC Student Scholarship Database | Scholarships for LGBTQ and Allied students |
| International Education Financial Aid | An extensive resource for financial aid, college scholarship and grant information for U.S. and international students wishing to study abroad |
| InternationalStudentLoan.com | A provider of international student loan programs |
| Maryville University | General & Field Based Grants and Scholarships for African American Students |
| NAFSA Funding Resources | A list of scholarships and awards for students seeking experiential learning programs abroad |
| Credit Sesame | Web company that offers free resources to students to help manage their college finances, including an extensive scholarship search engine of more than 10,000 scholarships, including scholarships for study abroad |
| Plato Resources | An online collection of study abroad scholarships for underrepresented students in study abroad |
| Proyecto Visión | This search engine lists a number of scholarships, many of which are specific to Latino students with disabilities |
| SmartScholar.com | Scholarship search engine |
| Studyabroad.com | A helpful scholarship section in the popular study abroad program search website |
| Studyabroad101.com | Scholarship search engine |
| ScholarshipPortal.eu | Scholarship search engine for funding study, work or research in one of the European nations |
| Study Abroad Funding | Database set up by IIEPassport containing education abroad scholarship information |
| United Negro College Fund Scholarships | Database of UNCF-affiliated scholarships |
| University of Minnesota | Extensive information about education abroad from the UMN including scholarships |
| Verge Magazine Travel Scholarships | Scholarship search engine |