Financial Aid and Scholarships

There are a variety of study abroad financial aid assistance options available to undergraduate students interested in going abroad. If you plan to apply for or use your financial aid to pay for all or part of your GlobalEd program, you will have to speak with a financial aid advisor to determine whether your aid is applicable. Applying for financial aid early is advisable as this will enable you to receive proper notice about your award and make any additional financial arrangements if necessary.

Federal Aid

Federal Grants

Federal Loans

Federal Scholarships

Federal Grants

Federal Pell Grant

The Pell Grant is a need-based grant. To qualify, you must be a full-time undergraduate student with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) below the limit determined each year. Speak with your financial aid adviser for current information.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunities Grant (SEOG grant)

This need-based grant is awarded to those students demonstrating the greatest financial need. Students typically must qualify for the federal Pell Grant to receive an SEOG Grant. Speak with your financial aid adviser for current information.

Federal Loans

Federal Stafford Loan

The Stafford Loan is in your name and is available to all students, regardless of financial need. If the loan is subsidized, the government will pay the interest while you are in school. If the loan is unsubsidized, you have the option of capitalizing the interest or of paying the interest quarterly during the in-school period. Payment of the principle itself (for both subsidized and unsubsidized loans) does not begin until six months after graduation, provided you remain enrolled on at least a half-time (six credits) basis.

Federal Perkins Loan

The Perkins Loan is a low-interest loan (5 percent) awarded to those students demonstrating the greatest financial need. Speak with your financial aid adviser for current information.

Parent PLUS Loans for Undergraduate Students

PLUS loans are available to your parents—if you are a dependent undergraduate student—to help finance your education. Parents may borrow up to the full cost of your education, less the amount of any other financial aid you receive. There is a minimal credit check required for the PLUS loan, so a good credit history is required.

Federal Scholarships

David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships for Study Abroad

The National Security Education Program (NSEP) provides scholarships to undergraduate students who wish to study languages and cultures considered to be important to U.S. national security. Students are not eligible to receive the Boren scholarship if they are studying in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

If you receive a federal Pell grant, you are eligible to apply for a Gilman Scholarship.

Study Abroad Scholarships

Any hesitation about studying abroad is typically related to the cost. However, what most students don’t know is that they can actually apply their current on-campus financial aid package to their study abroad trip in addition to scholarships. In fact, for some students, particularly those who pay out-of-state-tuition, studying abroad can sometimes be cheaper than a traditional on-campus semester. A study abroad scholarship is a monetary award for students to use toward the expenses of their program such as travel, course credits, books and lodging. Students must apply for scholarships and some can be very competitive while others are underutilized. There are several types of study abroad scholarships to apply for such as:

Merit-based Scholarships

These awards are based on a student’s academic, artistic, athletic or other abilities, and often factor in an applicant’s extracurricular activities and community service record. It’s important to note that qualifications will vary based on the particular scholarship.

Student-specific Scholarships

These are scholarships for applicants who initially qualify based on factors such as gender, race, religion, family and medical history, or many other student-specific factors. Minority scholarships are the most common awards in this category, but qualifications will vary based on the particular scholarship.

Destination-specific Scholarships

These are scholarships awarded by a country to students planning to pursue a study abroad program in that particular country. They are awarded as an incentive to study in that country instead of elsewhere. Check with government-sponsored travel websites of the country where you wish to study to see what scholarships are available.

Program-specific Scholarships

Program-specific scholarships are offered by individual study abroad programs and/or the colleges and universities where they may be associated to qualified applicants. These scholarships are often given on the basis of academic and personal achievement, but qualifications will vary based on the particular scholarship. Check with your study abroad program and university to see what scholarships are available. Subject-specific: Subject-specific scholarships are awarded by study abroad programs or institutions to students based on their particular major or field of study. These scholarships may require the recipients to enroll in subject-specific courses while abroad or conduct subject-specific research while abroad, but it’s important to note that qualifications will vary based on each scholarship.

GlobalEd Scholarships

Students applying to a GlobalEd program may also be eligible for specific scholarships

Affiliate School Scholarship ($300-$500)

Students attending universities with an affiliate relationship with GlobalEd may be eligible to receive up to a $500 scholarship for semester programs and $300 for summer programs in Seville, Spain based on the posted program fees on our website. Please contact us to determine if your university has an affiliate status with GlobalEd or visit your study abroad advisor.