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Study Abroad Scholarships

Take advantage of scholarships for students with demonstrated financial need, proven academic merit, and for specific CIEE programs

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Study Abroad Scholarships & Grants

We Award Millions In Grants & Scholarships for College Study Abroad Annually

We get it. Funding your study abroad program can be an overwhelming process. At CIEE, our goal is to award study abroad scholarships and grants to college students across three categories: need-based, merit-based, and other areas of funding. Whether you're looking for semester abroad scholarships, summer scholarships, or specific areas of study scholarships, we offer travel scholarships and grant money for study abroad that help students conquer their dreams. 

By simply completing the Scholarships & Grants portion of your study abroad application, our team determines the best scholarship and grant opportunities for you. Receiving financial assistance for study abroad is as simple as that! 

Important Scholarship & Grant Deadlines

Summer* & Fall ProgramsApril 1

Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship deadline - October 10

Spring & January ProgramsOctober 15

*Early decision Summer Global Internship - February 15

Scholarships & Grants to Study Abroad

Need-based Scholarships

Our need-based study abroad scholarships are based on students' Student Aid Index (SAI) from their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and enrolled institution. 

NameQualificationsDescriptionAmount (up to)
Gilman Go Global GrantQualified Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship applicantsDeducted from semester program(s) fees**$2,500
GAIN Travel GrantSAI up to 10,000 guaranteed; other SAIs considered post deadlineTravel costs to and from study abroad or internship program***$1,500
Minority Serving Institution (MSI) GrantCurrent attendee at an MSI. Award supports high-need students based on SAI and availability of funds.Deducted from program fees$2,000 for semester

For need-based grants, you will not need to complete the essay section under the Scholarships & Grants portion of your application, but will need the following items to be considered for all awards to which you are eligible:

  • The Student Aid Index (SAI) number from your most recent Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Submission Summary
  • For the CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant, you must provide proof of submission of an eligible application to the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

Note: EFC (Expected Family Contribution) was replaced by SAI (Student Aid Index) for the 2024-2025 FAFSA cycle. CIEE requires your current SAI details from your FAFSA Submission Summary for programs in 2025 and on.
 

Merit Scholarships

Merit study abroad scholarships are based on academic achievement. 

NameQualificationsDescriptionAmount (Up to) 
Douglass-O'Connell Global InternshipFreshman, sophomore, or junior, Pell-eligible, 3.0 GPAEight-week summer global internship program, including airfare100% of program fee and travel costs
Douglass-O'Connell Scholars GrantQualified applicants not chosen for the Douglass-O'Connell Global Internship are guaranteed a $1,500 grant toward any 2024 or 2025 Summer Global Internship programDeduction from program fees$1,500
McDermott Health Sciences, Nursing and Public HealthAcademic achievement and acceptance into a program focused on health sciences, nursing, or public healthDeduction from program fees$2,500
Ping Scholarship for Academic ExcellenceAcademic achievementDeduction from program fees$2,500
Ritzmann Tropical and Marine Ecology ScholarshipAcademic achievement and acceptance into a program focused on tropical or marine ecologyDeduction from program fees$2,500
STEM ScholarshipAny STEM major studying on any CIEE Summer ProgramDeduction from program fees$500
Stohl International Undergraduate Research ScholarshipAcademic achievement and acceptance into a qualified programDeduction from program fees$2,500
Wollitzer Merit Scholarship in Area or Comparative StudiesAcademic achievement and acceptance into a qualified programDeduction from program fees$2,500

To receive a merit scholarship, you must complete the Scholarships & Grants portion of your program application, along with an essay, to be considered for all awards to which you are eligible.

  • Under the essay section of the Scholarships Application, you need to explain to us (in 300 words or less) how your CIEE program will impact your college experience and/or future career plans 
  • Complete the G.P.A. and transcript sections of the program application before you submit the Scholarships Application  
     

Other Scholarships

Other awards are based on program or alumni status.

NameQualificationsDescriptionAmount (up to)
Go Abroad Again GrantCIEE alumni or sibling of alumniDeduction off of non‑consecutive in‑person termsUp to $1,500
Refer-a-Friend RewardsOpen to all CIEE alum and participants from high school and college study abroad, teach abroad, and tefl certifications.Earn a cash reward for each person you refer who travels on a CIEE program$200 per successful referral
Summer Session DiscountEnroll in more than one four-week summer sessionDeduction off of additional sessions20% discount
Trailblazer GrantStudents who travel on a qualifying spring, summer, or fall 2025 programEarn a flight voucher for your eligible CIEE programUp to $1,500

Frequently Asked Questions About Study Abroad Scholarships & Grants

If you’re wondering how to get a scholarship to study abroad, follow these three simple steps: 

  1. Search for your dream program and start an application 
  2. Review CIEE scholarships and grants 
  3. Complete the Scholarships & Grants portion of your application 

For more detailed instructions on how to apply to merit-based and need-based scholarships, check out How To Apply To Scholarships or read our blog post: How to Apply to a Study Abroad Scholarship at CIEE: 4 Steps.

CIEE makes study abroad scholarships and grants accessible to all students, regardless of where they choose to study. Whether you’re looking for study abroad grants or scholarships in Italy, South Korea, Argentina , South Africa, Australia – and so much more – CIEE offers funding to all students looking to study abroad that qualify for funding. 

While the best scholarship for studying abroad is up to you, CIEE offers a wide variety of scholarships for summer, semester, quarter, internship, and single block programs. CIEE scholarships and grants range in value from $200 for our Refer-a-Friend Reward to $2,500 for scholarships like our Gilman Go Global Grant and Ping Scholarship for Academic Excellence.  

Students could also receive full funding for their study abroad program if they apply to the Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship, which covers 100% of the program fee and travel costs.  

No, it is not hard to get scholarships and grants for study abroad programs from CIEE. Getting scholarships for a CIEE study abroad or global internship program is a simple three step process:  

  1. Search for and apply to your dream program 
  2. Review CIEE scholarships and grants
  3. Complete the Scholarships & Grants portion of your application  

Select study abroad scholarships and grants are awarded to students based on financial need, proven academic merit, and for specific CIEE program areas. Some scholarships are awarded based on your FAFSA, program selection, or alumni information, while other scholarships and grants may require a short personal essay.  

Materials needed to apply for study abroad funding with CIEE vary across need-based grants and merit scholarships.

For need-based grants, students will not need to complete the essay section under the Scholarships & Grants portion of their application, but will need the following items:

  • The Student Aid Index (SAI) number from your most recent Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Submission Summary
  • For the CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant, you must provide proof of an eligible application submission for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

For merit scholarships, students will not need to provide any financial data, but instead must:

  • Under the essay section of the Scholarships Application, you need to explain to us (in 300 words or less) how your CIEE program will impact your college experience and/or future career plans
  • Complete the G.P.A. and transcript sections of the program application before you submit the Scholarships Application

Get Started

Here's what you need to do to take the next steps:

1

Search for and apply to your dream program anywhere in the world (Exciting!)

Things to Remember

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Important - Check Deadlines & Qualifications

Watch out! Scholarship deadlines can come up faster than you think. All students applying for CIEE funding must complete the CIEE Study Abroad Scholarships & Grants task on their application by the published deadline. Applications completed after CIEE deadlines will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and funding may not be awarded.

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Scholarships & Grants Caps

Scholarship and grant totals cannot exceed the caps established for each term. If you are selected for multiple awards, CIEE may need to reduce the size of your awards to stay within the maximum cap amounts listed below.

Spring: $5,000
Fall: $5,000
Summer: $2,500
One Block: $2,500
Two Blocks (Quarter): $4,000
Three Blocks (Semester): $5,000
January: $500 GAIN Travel Grants based on need

Terms & Conditions

**Need-Based Grants: Students must submit their CIEE Scholarships & Grants application by these dates and provide proof of an eligible application to the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. 

***Need-Based Grants: Students with an SAI of 10,000 or less must submit their CIEE Scholarships & Grants application by these dates to be guaranteed a GAIN Travel Grant. Students with SAIs above 10,000 should still apply, but they will be considered after the Scholarships and Grants Deadline. The GAIN Travel Grant is valid toward outbound and return airfare on CIEE programs. This is a credit with our partner travel agency and has no cash value. If you are selected for a GAIN Travel Grant, CIEE will not reimburse you for out of pocket travel costs. If your institution covers your flights, you are not eligible for a GAIN Travel Grant.

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