External Scholarships and Databases
Funding your study abroad requires some research and applying for as many available scholarships as you can. Find various external scholarship opportunities and resources below, that can help you keep your study abroad costs affordable.
External scholarships
The Gilman program offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students with high financial need, including students receiving Federal Pell Grants. Award amounts may be up to $5,000, with the opportunity to receive the supplemental Critical Need Language Award of up to $3,000 and/or the STEM Supplemental Award of up to $1,000.
The Association of Teachers of Japanese Bridging Project offers scholarships to U.S. citizen undergraduate students participating in study abroad programs in Japan for more than three months. Award amounts range between $2,500 and $4,500, depending on your program term duration. USAC students attending the Hiroshima or Nagasaki programs are eligible.
Boren Scholarships and Fellowships provide funding for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to study in world regions critical to the future security of our nation and underrepresented in study abroad. Award amounts range between $25,000 and $5,000, depending on the duration of your study abroad program and focus.
British Universities Transnational Exchange (Butex) is a membership organization offering scholarships to undergraduate students for summer, semester, or full year terms. Students enrolled in USAC England programs — Brighton, Bristol, London, Reading, or Stirling programs — take classes at Butex Full Member Universities and are eligible for this award.
The National German Honors Society, Delta Phi Alpha, offers several scholarships to recognize high-achieving undergraduate students who plan to study abroad in Germany. Students must show how they plan to use German after graduation, including a study abroad German-speaking country, graduate studies, career goals, volunteer and service years, or more.
The Diverse International Women of Color Study Abroad Scholarship is a nonprofit organization intended to assist women of color who are exceptional in their studies and in need of financial assistance to study abroad. DIWC awards scholarships to women of color who have been accepted to an in-person study abroad program.
Education New Zealand, an official website managed by the government of New Zealand, manages several outbound scholarships for student who wish to study abroad in New Zealand. International students attending the USAC Auckland / Palmerston North / Wellington program may be eligible to apply.
Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA) accepts applications from undergraduate U.S. citizens or permanent residents studying at a two-year or four-year institution to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. Students must demonstrate financial need and funding may be used for study abroad program costs, airfare, and more.
USAC is proud to join the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) as an Access Partner in the shared commitment to increase the number of underrepresented American undergraduates studying abroad through the provision of scholarships!
Students with financial need who are participating on USAC programs may apply for FEA-USAC Access Scholarships of up to $5,000 and will also be considered for FEA’s general scholarships.
The Gilman-DAAD Germany Scholarships program supports an effort between the United States and Germany to support study abroad in Germany. It is a partnership between the U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A Gilman Scholarship Program and the German Academic Exchange Service. Award amounts may be up to $5,000.
The Gilman-McCain Scholarship provides awards of $5,000 for undergraduate children of active-duty service members to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs. The scholarship honors the late Senator John McCain's legacy of public service by enabling undergraduate students to develop the leadership, career readiness, skills, and global perspective to pursue careers of service.
The Going Study Abroad Scholarship is open to both undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled at an accredited higher education program in the United States (and its territories and possessions) and will be studying abroad. Twice a year, two outstanding students will win $1,500 scholarships towards their upcoming study abroad program.
Golden Key International Honour Society is the world's largest collegiate honor society for graduate and undergraduate students and connects with more than 400 institutions worldwide. Society members who are top performers in their class may use the scholarship portal tool to find scholarship opportunities that range between $500 and $1,500.
Review and community platform for programs abroad, Go Overseas, has connections with more than 15,000 study abroad, internships, teaching, volunteering, gap years, and high school abroad programs. Students applying to any study abroad program are eligible to apply for the Go Overseas Study & Intern Abroad Scholarship.
Institute of International Education, Inc. (IIE) Generation Study Abroad Travel Grants are a scholarship program that is intended to diversify study abroad and to encourage students to go abroad who would otherwise not participate in an international experience as part of their college education, especially in support of high-achieving, low-income students.
ItaliaRail, an official partner of the national railway of Italy, and International Student Identity Card (ISIC) partnered to create scholarships for study abroad students. It’s part of an initiative to offer students valuable benefits and discounts through membership. Students applying to any study abroad program in Italy are eligible to apply.
The Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) offers a scholarship for qualified international students who are accepted by a Japanese institution under a student exchange agreement or other student exchange arrangement. It is available to qualified students attending the Hiroshima or Nagasaki programs. Additional details will be provided once students have been approved.
Since 1954, the Government of Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT or Monbukagakusho) has provided scholarships each year to assist students interested in studying at Japanese universities through the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program.
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) administers nearly 200 scholarships annually for students studying a wide range of academic areas. USAC Italy students who are Italian American or majoring in Italian studies or a related field are eligible. Award amounts range in value from $2,500 to $12,000.
Each year, the National Organization of Italian American Women awards 4-6 scholarships to deserving Italian American Women, enabling them to chase their dreams of higher education.
Phi Kappa Phi is the oldest multidisciplinary collegiate honor society in the United States. Their study abroad grants are designed to help support undergraduates pursue an international education and award amounts reach up to $1,000. Applicants must attend an institution with Phi Kappa Phi chapter, but society membership is not required.
Your local Rotary International club is part of a global service organization that aims to promote peace, fight disease, support education, protect the environment and improve communities. They offer scholarships for undergraduate studies that can often be used for study abroad. Follow the link to find your local Rotary club.
A $10 million endowment gift from Mr. Toshizo (Tom) Watanabe to the U.S.-Japan Council started the Toshizo Watanabe Endowed Scholarship Fund. It provides financial assistance to Japanese and American undergraduate and graduate students pursuing study abroad program. USAC students attending a program in Japan may be eligible.