“Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world,” Nelson Mandela said. This simple sentence encapsulates the significance of education in our lives as individuals and as nations. This is precisely why many organisations have begun to provide scholarships to deserving and meritorious students. Deserving students can now pursue their preferred course at their preferred university, thanks to study abroad scholarships available for nearly every course. However, many students are unaware of how to obtain a scholarship in to study abroad, and as a result, many deserving candidates miss out on studying at some of the world’s top universities. We have listed a few free scholarships to study abroad for US Students in this article to assist students in finding them for studying abroad.
This Blog Includes:
- Free Scholarships to Study Abroad
- Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship
- Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
- Fund for Education Award
- Boren Language Scholarship
- Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program
- National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
- Rotary International Scholarships & Grants
- Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants
- The Ashley Soulé Conroy Foundation Scholarship
- Difference Between Scholarships and Student Loans
- Key Takeaways
- FAQs
Free Scholarships to Study Abroad
Whether you want to study art history in Paris, France, or help with wildlife research in Australia, there are scholarships available to help you make your study abroad dreams a reality! Consider these free scholarships available to students planning to study abroad.
Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship
The Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship is given out biannually to deserving students who want to travel the world. Tortuga’s mission is to help travellers, including students studying abroad, avoid the cost and hassle of checked luggage by providing carry-on-sized travel backpacks. Customers who buy luggage from us for their trips “pay it forward” by funding scholarships for students like you.
Requirements | You must be a US citizen, permanent resident, or studying in the US on a student visa. Be a full-time undergraduate student in good academic standing at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States. Have applied to or been accepted into a study abroad programme that is credit-worthy at your college or university. |
Award | $1,000 (INR 81,382) |
Deadline | April 15, 2023 |
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant programme administered by the United States Department of State that allows students with limited financial resources to study or intern abroad, gaining skills critical to our national security and economic competitiveness.
The Gilman Scholarship Program is available to U.S. citizen undergraduate students receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and internship programmes around the world.
Requirements | A resident of the United States An undergraduate student in good standing at a two-year or four-year accredited institution of higher education in the United States Receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the application process In the process of applying to or being accepted to a credit-bearing study abroad, internship, or virtual international programme. |
Award | $100 (INR 8,138) – $5,000 (INR 4.06 Lakh) |
Deadline | October 6, 2022 |
Fund for Education Award
The Fund for Education Abroad’s (FEA) mission is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented in the study-abroad population in the United States. By assisting students of colour, community college students, and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programmes, FEA makes life-changing international experiences accessible to all.
Requirements | Citizenship or permanent residency in the United States Currently enrolled in an undergraduate programme at a college or university in the United States. The study abroad programme must be creditable at the student’s home institution. The duration of the study abroad programme in the country/countries must be at least four weeks (28 days). |
Award | $1000 (INR 81,382) – $5,000 (INR 4.06 Lakh) |
Deadline | – |
Boren Language Scholarship
Fund undergraduate student study abroad in world regions critical to US interests. Boren Scholars and Fellows are trained in a variety of critical languages, including Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese, and Swahili. Boren Awards are available to students of all levels of proficiency who are committed to improving their skills.
Requirements | Citizens of the United States at the time of the national application deadline A high school diploma or a GED is required. At the time of the national application deadline, you must be at least 18 years old. Planning an international programme outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. |
Award | $8000 (INR 6.51 Lakh) – $25,000 (INR 20.34 Lakh) |
Deadline | – |
Want to study abroad but are worried about expenses? Let Leverage Finance help you!
Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program
Those who successfully apply to become a Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador will receive a $500 stipend. The funds will be used to fund a Spring or Fall semester volunteer or study abroad programme. Ambassadors must blog about their experiences for the Diversity Abroad community in order to inspire other members to travel.
Requirements | Must be a full-time student or recent graduate of a U.S. university or college. Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 at an accredited US university or college. You are energetic, creative, and enthusiastic about international engagement. |
Award | $500 (INR 40,691) |
Deadline | – |
National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
The National Langue Security Initiative is a programme sponsored by the United States State Department to encourage language learning in specific languages identified as critical by the United States. Through one of their programmes, the scholarship covers language immersion programmes for the following languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Persian (Tajik), Russian, and Turkish.
Requirements | GPA should be greater than 2.5 You must be studying one of the listed languages. |
Award | – |
Deadline | – |
Rotary International Scholarships & Grants
The Rotary Club runs one of the largest and longest-running private studies abroad funding programmes, offering up to $25,000 in scholarships to cover one year of academic study, room and board, and other associated costs. Students are designated as Cultural Ambassadors and are expected to give presentations on both their home culture and the culture of their study-abroad destination when they return home. Scholarships are distributed by local branches.
Requirements | N/A |
Award | $25,000 (INR 20.34 Lakh) |
Deadline | – |
Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants
Study Abroad with Phi Kappa Phi Grants is intended to assist undergraduates in gaining knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad. Every year, one hundred twenty-five $1,000 grants are given out.
Requirements | Applicants do not need to be members of the Society, but they must attend a school with an active Phi Kappa Phi chapter. You have a 3.75 or higher cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale. You applied to or were accepted into an accredited study abroad programme before the session deadline and submitted an official letter of acceptance or a letter confirming your application as part of your application. You are not a Phi Kappa Phi board member, divisional vice president, Study Abroad Award committee member, or Society employee. |
Award | $1,000 (INR 81,382) |
Deadline | – |
The Ashley Soulé Conroy Foundation Scholarship
Ashley Soulé Conroy’s family wishes to reward your desire to meet and interact with new people, places, and ways of life, just as the founder’s daughter has. That is why they established a scholarship for deserving undergraduates: to change lives.
Requirements | You must be a US citizen enrolled in a college or university as an undergraduate. |
Award | $4,000 (INR 3.25 Lakh) |
Deadline | – |
Difference Between Scholarships and Student Loans
The most significant distinction between student loans and scholarships is that student loans must be repaid after graduation. Student loans are a type of financial aid in a bank or another financial institution that lends to the recipient based on a number of criteria. Scholarships, on the other hand, are grants given to deserving candidates based on academic performance or other accomplishments (sports, extracurriculars, etc.).
Student loans are available from government agencies as well as major banks. Most banks, however, offer these loans at extremely high-interest rates, which may be prohibitively expensive for students. This is where collateral-free loans from companies come in. A collateral-free loan has an advantage over a traditional student loan in that it can be secured without a guarantee or pledge.
Key Takeaways
Scholarships are a valuable gift for students and candidates who wish to study abroad. The best part is that they will not have to repay the money. Scholarships and grants are similar in that they are typically awarded based on a student’s financial need, merit, and social standing.
- Choose a scholarship that meets your needs, qualifications, and eligibility criteria. If you want more information on various scholarships, go to their respective official websites.
- Furthermore, several educational institutions assist students with the application processes for government scholarships and visas.
FAQs
The first step toward obtaining a study abroad scholarship is to locate one!
Qualify: Make sure you qualify for any scholarships you find.
Research. When you find a scholarship for which you are eligible, it is time to begin researching the scholarship and its provider.
Demonstrate Yourself.
Repeat.
‘NO,’ is the correct answer to this question. International students are not eligible for fully funded scholarships. Some scholarship awarding bodies may cover up to 85% of total costs, but these are few and far between. Not to mention the fact that competition for these scholarships will be fierce.
This was all about free Scholarships to study abroad. If you’re also planning to study abroad and looking for scholarships, student loans or just assistance in shortlisting the country or the college, connect with Leverage Edu and book a 30-minute free counselling session with our experts at 1800 57 2000