Scholarships and Funding Options
There are several outside sources that students can find for study abroad. Scholarships are either available through a university, program sponsor or through other educational organizations. Below is a list of some of the most comprehensive sites for study abroad scholarships and optional funding resources.
Wheaton College Policy Regarding Scholarships
Outside sources of funding can significantly reduce a student's debt burden and work commitment over the years. For those reasons, we encourage students to investigate as many alternative funding sources as possible. If Wheaton has not been able to meet the full amount of a student's need-based financial aid eligibility, outside scholarships may be used first to replace any unmet eligibility. If the scholarship amount exceeds the amount of unmet eligibility, we will reduce the "self-help" portion of the package (work-study and/or student loan). Only when all self-help has been eliminated will we have to reduce the grant portion of the package.
Students and families should research private scholarships through as many means as possible. The best sources are within the student's local community and high school. Students may use the internet to research a myriad of scholarship possibilities.
Wheaton Programs with Scholarships: Start with your study abroad program. Various universities and study abroad programs offer scholarship opportunities, travel grants, and other funding opportunities. As you are exploring your study abroad options, investigate the various funding opportunities that are available. Below are some of the available scholarships available through Wheaton programs.
American Councils ACTR Scholarships
Students applying to the ACTR programs in Russia may apply for a number of grant competitions. Deadlines and further information may be found on the web site above.
The American University in Cairo
The American University in Cairo offers students a partial tuition waiver to those students currently enrolled full-time in their first undergraduate degree program at a four-year public university in the United States who wish to enroll in the Study Abroad Program. The Simpson Scholarships in Egyptology are available to Study Abroad Program students who wish to concentrate their studies at AUC on the history and culture of Ancient Egypt.
Denmark International Study Program Scholarships
DIS Scholarships consist of grants in the range of $500-1,000 per semester. In addition, a small number of $2,000 scholarships are allocated per semester. For summer programs the limit is normally $500. Deadlines: Fall Semester: June 1st, Spring Semester: November 1st, Summer Program: April 1st
Institute for Study Abroad-Butler University Scholarships
IFSA-Butler awards several scholarships, ranging in amount between $500 and $2,000. Deadlines: March 1 for semester 2 programs (July to November) and November 1 for semester 1 (February through July).
IES Scholarships
IES commits over $2 million each year to scholarships and financial aid programs. They offer need-based and merit-based scholarships to students. Scholarship Deadlines: Full Year & Fall: May 1st, Spring Semester: November 1st
School for International Training (SIT) Scholarships
About one-third of those who seek scholarships from SIT Study Abroad receive financial assistance to participate in their programs. Awards generally range from $500 to $4,000.
Fall Semester Deadlines:
May 1: For India, Nepal, Indonesia (Bali), and Tanzania
May 15: For all other programs
Spring Semester Deadlines:
October 1: For India, Nepal, Indonesia (Bali),
October 15: For Jamaica, Jordan, Mongolia, Samoa, and Viet Nam
November 1: For the Balkans, Belize, Bolivia, Cameroon, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Senegal, Switzerland, Tanzania, and Tibetan Studies
November 15: For Botswana, Brazil, Central Europe, Mali, Panama, Southern Cone, and Uganda
Studio Art Centers International Scholarships
One full scholarship and several partial scholarships are awarded in two competitions each year. All SACI scholarships are based on outstanding academic and artistic ability and demonstrated financial need. Deadlines: Fall Semester: March 1st and Spring Semester: October 1st.
Sweet Briar College Junior Year in France Scholarships
Each year Wheaton College awards need-based scholarships to students on the Sweet Briar Program. Students will be notified of awards prior to departure. Financial awards are based on need as determined by Wheaton's Office of Student Financial Services.
Wheaton Travel Grants
Students traveling to topical and professional meetings, singly or in groups, with or without faculty members, for educational purposes may apply for travel grants at any time during the academic year. Students should contact Dan Golden in the Filene Center for Work & Learning for more information.
Other Scholarships
The Association of Teachers of Japanese (ATJ) Bridging Scholarship
The program will award 70 scholarships to American students participating in study-abroad programs in Japan. Undergraduate students majoring in any field of study and attending any recognized exchange or independent program in Japan are eligible to apply for these scholarships. Recipients receive stipends ranging from $2,500 to $4,000, depending on the length of their study program in Japan.
Freeman-ASIA Scholarships
This program provides awards up to $7,000 for eligible, undergraduates, U.S. citizen and permanent resident students to pursue study abroad opportunities in the East and Southeast Asia.
General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts This scholarship is for any 12 credit year, semester, or summer study abroad program beginning June 1, 2007-May 31, 2008. This is available to any undergraduate or graduate student maintaining legal residence in Massachusetts. Deadline: March 1, 2006 (applications are available in the Center for Global Education). Questions may be addressed to Jane Howard (jhoward@mountida.edu).
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Highly qualified undergraduate students are invited to apply for scholarships funding study, senior thesis research, and/or internships in Germany. The goal of this program is to support study abroad in Germany and at German universities.
Gilman Scholarship
Provides $5,000 scholarships to undergraduates studying abroad for an academic Year, semester, or on a short-term program (minimum 4 weeks in length). Deadlines: Academic Year & Fall: April 15th and Spring Semester: September 22nd
Minority International Research Training Grant (MIRT)
Program of the Fogarty International Center, National Institutes of Health, sends minority undergraduates and medical students abroad to do health-related research.
National Security Education Program (NSEP)
The National Security Education Program (NSEP) is a unique scholarship opportunity for U.S. undergraduates to study abroad. Created in 1991, the NSEP awards Boren Scholarships to American students for study of world regions critical to U.S. interests including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, the NIS, and the Middle East. Deadline: Students must work with the Center for Global Education in order to complete materials by February for the upcoming academic year or semester abroad.
Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships
Scholarships are available for undergraduates. For 2007-2008 awards, club deadlines may be as early as March 2007 or as late as 15 July 2007. Remember that scholarship availability varies by Rotary district.
Sara's Wish Foundation
This scholarship fund was established to perpetuate the memory of Sara Christie Schewe. Sara's Wish Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Safe And Rewarding Adventures for students, emerged out of this Semester at Sea tragedy.
Woodrow Wilson International Fellowship Foundation
Information on several multi-year scholarship programs for students, especially minorities, interested in international careers.
Other Resources
IIE Passport's newest searchable database of scholarships for study abroad programs - NEW!
This new web site offers hundreds of scholarships, fellowships, and grants designed to help students study outside the United States.
International Education Financial Aid (IEFA)
Web site provides free searches for scholarships for study abroad.
Studyabroad.com
A great resource for finanacial aid and funding options for study abroad
University of Minnesota Scholarship Resources & Database Search
A free on-line database of scholarships for study, research, and internships.
FastWeb
Provides free customized scholarship search for students
National Science Foundation: International Research Opportunites
American Workforce and Research and Education (AWARE)