If you want to pursue your goals abroad, you’ll undoubtedly need a lot of money! There are numerous ways to make traveling more reasonable (tight budgeting, cooking at home/the hostel, Couchsurfing, etc.), but one fact remains: traveling is expensive.
Fortunately, there are numerous scholarship opportunities available for students and travelers wishing to have a meaningful experience abroad without breaking the bank! In this blog, you’ll find some travel abroad scholarships that will keep your money where it belongs (in the bank). Check this blog to know the eligibility criteria, application process, and more.
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Top Travel Scholarships for International Students
Here are some travel scholarships for international students to make their dream of traveling abroad come true!
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, one of the most competitive travel abroad scholarships available, was established with the objective of diversifying the types of students studying abroad. In other words, the Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. students who currently receive the Federal Pell Grant and assists minority students who would not otherwise be able to study abroad. Students from various ethnic backgrounds, with severe financial aid needs, with disabilities, or those studying disciplines not typically studied abroad (a.k.a. STEM courses) are all eligible to apply for up to $5,000 in scholarships!
Open To | Undergraduates |
Countries | Universal |
Sponsored By | U.S. Department of State |
Benefits | $5,000 ($8,000 for those studying a Critical Need Language) |
Min Time Abroad | 2 weeks for community college students, 4 weeks otherwise |
The Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program offers a variety of awards and financial alternatives, but they all share one goal: to build a bridge of cultural exchange. You can apply for an English Teaching Assistantship to teach English to children or adult learners in local schools abroad, or for a Study/Research grant to study a specific subject relevant to the place or culture in which you are living. There are also a variety of Fulbright Programs that match U.S. students with students from other countries, with one student conducting research in the other’s nation.
Open To | USA Graduates |
Countries | Universal |
Sponsored By | U.S. Department of State |
Benefits | Round-trip transportation to the host country, funding to cover room and board, health benefits |
Min Time Abroad | Generally one academic year |
International Volunteer HQ Scholarships
Money might be a barrier for people who want to give back during their stay abroad. After all, no one wants to be concerned about how they will afford to volunteer in another country! Good news: International Volunteer HQ, one of the world’s leading volunteer groups, offers a number of scholarships for first-time volunteers (and teachers!) to help offset the costs of working overseas. This scholarship covers the whole volunteer program, as well as TEFL training, a $1,000 airfare ticket, and travel insurance.
Read More: LGBTQ Scholarships Around the World
Boren Awards Scholarship
The Boren Awards Scholarship funds students to travel or volunteer abroad while studying languages and disciplines relevant to US national interests. This involves the study of essential languages like Arabic, Mandarin, and Swahili, as well as cultures and governments in critical regions including the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. Boren grants are highly competitive, so do your homework and bring your A-game to the scholarship application! The average award is $8,000.
Open To | USA Undergraduates |
Countries | Universal |
Sponsored By | U.S. Department of Defense |
Benefits | $8,000–20,000 |
Min Time Abroad | One semester, preference for a full year (8 weeks for students in select fields) |
Read More: Scholarships for Indian Students to Study in the UK
Fund for Education Abroad
The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) is well-known for assisting students who identify as traditionally underrepresented when studying abroad. Minority students, first-generation students, and community college students all receive precedence for prizes over other candidates in an effort to make studying abroad more accessible to all. The awards are solely available to undergraduate students and range in value from $1250 to $10000. The deadline for Fall 2023 is yet to be determined.
Open To | USA Undergraduates |
Countries | Universal |
Benefits | Up to $10,000 |
Min Time Abroad | 4 weeks |
Critical Language Scholarship Program
The Critical Language Scholarship Program provides fully supported language teaching and cultural enrichment opportunities in countries where the languages are widely spoken for 13 languages. Consider Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Russian, and several other languages. Are you new to critical languages? Don’t be concerned. Many languages, including those for beginners, are available at all levels.
Open To | USA Undergraduates |
Sponsored By | U.S Department of State |
Countries | Universal |
Benefits | Program costs are fully covered |
Min Time Abroad | Summer, eight to ten weeks |
Rotary Peace Fellowship
Give peace a chance—and study abroad! Rotary International chooses up to 100 people from throughout the world each year to get fully supported master’s degrees from institutions in Australia, England, Japan, or Sweden. Fellows pursue degrees in peace studies, conflict resolution, or fields relevant to these fields.
Open To | Graduates |
Benefits | Program costs are fully covered (tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and all internship and field-study expenses) |
Min Time Abroad | 15–24 months |
Watson Fellowship
The Watson Fellowship encourages students to pursue their innermost passions on a global scale. To do this, Watson Fellowships provide funding for one year of independent study in one or more countries outside of the United States immediately following graduation. All majors and fields of study are welcome.
Open To | Recent Graduates |
Countries | Universal |
Benefits | $30,000 |
Min Time Abroad | 1 year |
Other Scholarships Available to Travel Students
- AIFS Study Abroad Scholarships and Grants
Each year, AIFS Study Abroad awards a record $800,000 in travel abroad scholarships and grants to AIFS program participants. In addition to an amazing summer or semester abroad, you can apply for diversity scholarships, financial need-based scholarships, and a variety of grants. AIFS, being one of the world’s largest study abroad program providers, is a fantastic resource for students wishing to study abroad anywhere in the world without getting into debt!
2. Golden Key Honour Society Scholarships and Grants
The Golden Key Honour Society, like many other honor organizations, provides scholarships and grants to its members. The Golden Key is particularly amazing in that they award $1,000,000 in scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students, including those planning to study abroad, each year! These study abroad grants are designed exclusively for students who have demonstrated a high level of initiative in their academics and on-campus leadership responsibilities. You must be a member of the honor society to apply, and application dates vary based on the scholarship.
Tips to Submit Your Scholarship Application
Before you send the materials for scholarship applications, consider the following:
- Check your application form and other papers for spelling and grammar errors before emailing them.
- Don’t exceed the word limit for any application section or any documents you may be requested to produce.
- You should only supply the documentation that has been requested.
- It is recommended that you make a complete copy of the application before delivering it.
- Take care not to miss the deadline and keep track of the exact date by which you must submit all required documents.
Read More: Scholarships for International Students in the USA
FAQs
Is it true that you can get a full scholarship to study abroad? Many students who want to study abroad wonder, ‘Will any scholarship cover 100% of the expenditures of studying abroad?’ ‘NO,’ is the correct response to this question. International students are not eligible for fully financed scholarships.
The Tata Scholarship will be considered for undergraduate applicants who have completed the admission application and applied for financial help. All Undergraduate applicants must complete the international student financial aid application process in order to be considered for financial support.
If you want to study abroad without breaking the bank, do some research on grants and scholarships. Every year, universities, charities, foundations, and government agencies assist thousands of international students with their tuition and living expenses.
This was all about Travel Scholarships for International Students. If you wish to study abroad, connect with our Leverage Edu experts at 1800 57 2000 and book your 30-minute free counselling session.