Top 10 Study Abroad Scholarships

Going to another to study can be a life-changing experience. You get a chance to get immersed into an entirely different culture by becoming part of the community. You will make local friends, try new food, and learn the language while continuing with whatever study you were doing back in your home country. However, studying abroad can be expensive, depending on where your destination is. So, a lot of students look for study abroad scholarships.

If you are an undergraduate student or a post-graduate student seeking ways to fund your education journey, continue reading to find out about the best study abroad scholarships.

Considering Studying Abroad?

Depending on where you are studying and how long you are studying, there are many different ways of funding your study abroad education. If you are planning to study as a full-time or exchange student, the easiest way could be to get a scholarship or bursary through the university or college’s international office. However, if that’s not the case or if it isn’t an available option for you, do not worry. There are third-party organizations and study abroad program providers that offer study abroad scholarships! There are so many out there that people are missing out on!

Top 10 Study Abroad Scholarships

Check out the details of each study abroad scholarship program and find the one that you are qualified for applying! Some scholarships are dedicated to a certain type of student: undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, etc.

1. Fulbright Scholarship

Fulbright has several different types of awards and grants for students, artists, professionals, teachers, and researchers. It is a great opportunity for international students who are willing to study in the United States. However, the scholarship is also designed for U.S. citizens who wish to go abroad. There are different requirements for applicants depending on their nationalities. In this article, we will focus on the U.S. student program.

• Deadline: August – October
• Award: varies
• Degree: Recent graduates, Masters, Young Professionals
• Requirements:
  • must be a citizen of the United States
  • meet the language requirements for the specific award you are applying
  • haven’t been granted by Fulbringht previously (preferred)
  • higher education completed in the U.S. (preferred)
  • haven’t had extensive foreign experience in the destination country
• Application: official website

In order to check out the more detailed and extensive list of requirements, visit the Fulbright U.S. Student Program website.

2. American Association of University Women (AAUW) Funding & Awards

The AAUW financially supports women’s graduate education. They empower women in academics and who are leading innovative community projects. In the 2022-23 academic year, AAUW awarded over six million US dollars in fellowships and grants. For more than 130 years, AAUW has been working towards helping women in a variety of fields. Overall, they have awarded over $135 million to over 13,000 women around the world. This article outlines the basics of AAUW’s international fellowships opportunities, which are for women pursuing full-time graduate or postdoctoral study in the United States who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

• Deadline: August – November
• Award: $20,000 – $50,000
  • Master’s: $20,000
  • Doctoral: $25,000
  • Postdoctoral: $50,000
• Degree: Masters, Doctoral, Postdoctoral
• Requirements:
  • must be a woman or identify as a woman
  • have citizenship in a country other than the U.S.
  • hold a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree
  • intend to return to home country for a career after graduation
  • proven English proficiency
  • not open to previous recipients of any AAUW fellowship or grant
• Application: official website

Visit this page for a more detailed list of requirements.

3. Churchill Foundation Scholarship

The Churchill Foundation Scholarship is for undergraduates who are completing their last year and are willing to pursue a master’s degree in science, mathematics, or engineering. The award covers academic expenses for the length of the academic program.

• Deadline: May – November
• Award: $60,000
• Degree: Masters
• Requirements:
  • must be a U.S. citizen
  • must be enrolled in one of the participating institutions or have graduated from one of the institutions within the past 12 months before the application deadline
  • upon taking the scholarship, the scholar must hold a bachelor’s degree
• Application: official website

Visit the Churchill Scholarships page for a more detailed list of requirements.

4. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Program

The National Institute for International Education (NIIED) design the Global Korea Scholarship Program to enhance international education exchange and strengthen the ties between Korea and participating countries. Students who hold citizenship in one of the participating countries can apply for undergraduate or graduate programs in South Korea through GKS, which covers various expenses.

• Deadline: varies (most courses close during October)
• Award: covers various expenses
  • airfare (round-trip)
  • monthly allowance
  • settlement allowance
  • language training fee
  • tuition
  • dissertation printing costs
  • medical insurance
  • Korean proficiency grants for scholars with TOPIK Level 5 or 6
• Degree: Bachelor, Master, PhD
• Requirements:
  • applicants and their parents must be citizens of one of the participating countries
  • applicants must be under the age of 25
  • must be graduated from high school
  • minimum high school GPA of 80% (or 75%, depending on the associate program)
• Application: apply through Korean Embassies in your home country or through Korean universities designated by NIIED

Visit the NIIED page for a more detailed list of requirements and various expenses covered.

5. The Briding Foundation Scholarship

The United States-Japan Bridging Foundation grants scholarships to American undergraduate students who are participating in study abroad programs in Japan for a semester or one academic year. The scholarships are granted through collaboration with the Bridging Project Clearinghouse at the American Association of Teachers of Japan (AATJ). Students in any field of study are welcome to apply, and Japanese language study is not required!

• Deadline:
  • April (fall term)
  • October (spring term)
• Award:
  • $2500 (semester)
  • $4000 (academic year)
• Degree: Undergraduate
• Requirements:
  • must be a citizen of the United States
  • must be enrolled in a college or university in the U.S.
  • must study in Japan for at least 3 months and earn transferable study credits
• Application: AATJ website

6. Fund for Education Abroad (FEA)

The Fund for Education Abroad grants scholarships to underrepresented students in the United States. Students of color, community college students, first-generation students, and more minorities are the ones that the organization tries to support and give preference to in the application process so they can have equal access to education.

• Deadline:
  • September (spring term)
  • November (summer, fall, winter term)
• Award:
  • $1,250 – $10,000
• Degree: Undergraduate
• Requirements:
  • must be a citizen of the United States (or permanent resident)
  • must be enrolled in a college or university in the U.S.
  • study abroad program must be eligible for transfer credit
• Application: Kaleidoscope website

A full list of scholarships and details can be found on the FEA website.

7. Australia Awards Scholarships

Australia Awards is a long-term education and development scholarship for scholars from developing countries. The scholarship is supported by the Australian Government and awarded to students from partner countries. Scholars who are awarded must leave Australia for a minimum of two years after completing their education. Failure to comply with the conditions will result in scholars incurring a debt for the total amount of the scholarship.

• Deadline:
  • February – May
• Award:
  • full tuition fee
  • airfare
  • establishment allowance
  • basic living expenses
  • basic medical costs
  • and more academic support
• Degree: bachelor, Master, PhD
• Requirements:
  • must be a citizen of one of the partner countries
  • proven English proficiency
    • IELTS band 6.5 or higher
    • TOEFL score 580 or higher on written test
    • TOEFL score of 92 or higher in the online exam
• Application: Online Australia Scholarships Information System (OASIS)

8. Monash International Merit Scholarship

The Monash Scholarship is unlike many other scholarships where only students from a specific country or from a partner country were eligible to apply. International students from any country who are planning to study at Monash University are able to apply for the Monash International Merit Scholarship. In total, Monash offers 31 scholarships per year.

• Deadline:
  • October 15
  • November 15
  • January 15
  • March 15
  • April 15
  • June 30
• Award: $10,000 (up to $50,000)
• Degree: undergraduate, postgraduate (coursework)
• Requirements:
  • must be an international student (from any country)
  • will enroll or is enrolled in Monash University
  • in order to retain the scholarship, must maintain an average of 70% or above each semester
• Application: Monash University

9. Boren Scholarships and Fellowships

The Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO)  supports U.S. undergraduate and graduate students who study abroad or research and do language study proposals in world regions critical to U.S. interests. The awards aim to promote linguistic and cultural immersion and help students with studies that are critical to national security. Scholars are free to choose their study abroad destination, excluding Western European nations, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In return, awarded scholars must work for the federal government for at least a year after graduation.

• Deadline:
  • February (Boren Scholarships)
  • January (Boren Fellowships)
• Award: $8,000 – $25,000
• Degree: undergraduate, graduate
• Requirements:
  • must be a U.S. citizen
  • enrolled in a university in the United States
  • Scholars may not graduate until the scholarship is complete
  • apply to a study abroad program in a country outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand
• Application: Boren Awards page

10. SIT Study Abroad Scholarships

The SIT Study Abroad is committed to reducing the barriers to accessing international education by financially supporting students’ study abroad programs. Over the past three years, SIT has awarded over $1.3 million in scholarships and grants to students. SIT Study Abroad Scholarships are for students who are also applying to an SIT Study Abroad program. There are more than 80 programs students can choose from. However, scholarships are not available for online or virtual courses.

• Deadline:
  • April (summer term)
  • May (fall term)
  • November (spring term)
• Award: $500 – $5,000
• Degree: bachelors
• Requirements:
  • enrolled at an accredited college or university
  • completed at least one year of coursework at the time of application
  • have good academic standing
  • meet prerequisites for the specific program the applicant is applying
• Application: SIT Study Abroad page

FAQs About Study Abroad Scholarships

Here are the most frequently asked questions about study abroad scholarships and the answers!

How can I study abroad for free?

If you are experiencing financial difficulty and want to study abroad for free, apply for scholarships! First of all, you are recommended to seek financial help from your educational institution. Most universities and colleges have international offices that give out scholarships and bursaries to study-abroad students. If that’s not a possible option for you, check out the third-party organization scholarships!

How can I get a full scholarship to study abroad?

There are tons of scholarships in the world. Surprisingly, many scholarships go unclaimed because people don’t apply for them. Based on your needs, do the research. You will easily be able to find a few that you are qualified to apply. Try to find as many of those. Many scholarships have common requirements. If you are missing something, like an IELTS score, get prepared and apply for as many as you can.

How much IELTS score is required for a scholarship?

It depends on the specific scholarship program. However, on average, many scholarships require applicants to have an IELTS score of or above 6.5 if possible.

What are some Tips for Finding a Study Abroad Scholarship?

Finding a study abroad scholarship can be a competitive process, but with careful research and preparation, you can increase your chances of securing financial assistance for your studies. Here are some tips to help you in your search.

Start Early

Begin your search for study abroad scholarships well in advance to allow sufficient time for research, application preparation, and meeting deadlines.

Research Scholarship Opportunities

Explore various scholarship sources, including government-funded programs, universities, private organizations, and international organizations. Use online scholarship search engines and databases to find relevant opportunities.

Consider Your Field of Study and Destination

Look for scholarships specifically tailored to your field of study or the country where you plan to study abroad. Some scholarships may be available for specific disciplines, such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences.

Check with Your Home University

Inquire at your home university’s study abroad office or financial aid office about available scholarships or grants for students planning to study abroad. They may have information on institutional scholarships or external funding sources.

Utilize Online Scholarship Databases

Explore reputable scholarship databases and websites that provide comprehensive lists of study abroad scholarships. Examples include websites like Fastweb, StudyAbroad.com, and InternationalScholarships.com.

Research Government Scholarships

Many governments offer study abroad scholarships for their citizens or international students. Check with the government agencies responsible for education or foreign affairs in your home country and the country you wish to study in for potential scholarship opportunities.

Look for Organization-Specific Scholarships

Research scholarships are offered by organizations related to your field of study, professional associations, foundations, or corporations. Some organizations have scholarships specifically designated for study abroad.

Tailor Your Applications

Carefully read and follow the instructions for each scholarship application. Customize your application materials, including your essays and personal statements, to align with the specific scholarship requirements and criteria.

Meet Eligibility Requirements

Pay close attention to the eligibility criteria for each scholarship and ensure that you meet the requirements before applying. Some scholarships may have specific academic achievements, language proficiency, or financial need criteria.

Prepare a Strong Application

Craft a compelling application that highlights your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, leadership experiences, and personal goals. Tailor your application to demonstrate how studying abroad aligns with your educational and career aspirations.

Seek Letters of Recommendation

Request letters of recommendation from professors, advisors, or employers who can speak to your academic abilities, character, and potential for success during your study abroad experience.

Submit a Well-Written Essay

Write a compelling and thoughtful essay that showcases your motivations, goals, and the potential impact of studying abroad on your personal and academic development. Use concrete examples and demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment. Take the time to thoroughly proofread and edit your application materials. Check for grammar and spelling errors, ensure clarity of your statements, and make sure your application presents a polished and professional image.

Meet Deadlines

Adhere to all application deadlines. Create a calendar or timeline to keep track of application submission deadlines to avoid missing out on opportunities.

Apply for Multiple Scholarships

Apply for multiple scholarships to increase your chances of securing funding. Cast a wide net and apply for scholarships that align with your interests, qualifications, and study abroad plans.

Study Abroad Scholarships: Join the Conversation

What are your thoughts on the top 10 study abroad scholarships? Have you found one that you are qualified for or a scholarship you would like to introduce to a person that you know? If you are a teacher who wants to teach abroad, check out the top countries. Let us know in the comments! We’d love to hear from you.