Not a traditional study abroad student? No thang.
On the bright side, a handful of study abroad programs are actually ‘putting their money where their mouth is’—doing more than offering scholarships for overseas study to their general program participants.
These organizations likewise give away free money for study abroad to minority participants, as well as to those who are the first time college student in their family, through special scholarships.
You know what this means? Studying abroad is no longer just the young affluent student’s game.
Check out these 12 programs that offer first gen and minority study abroad scholarships through the Fund for Education Abroad’s (FEA’s) Access Partner Program. Read on and get the deets on first generation study abroad scholarships // other financial awards for underrepresented students helping to level the playing field of study abroad!
12 programs increasing student mobility through study abroad scholarships
1. CAPA The Global Education Network
CAPA knows a thing or two about study abroad—they’ve been around since 1972! This org has a breadth of opportunities on offer, including semester, summer, and short term study and intern abroad programs in seven powerhouse global cities: Barcelona, Buenos Aires, Dublin, Florence, London, Shanghai, and Sydney. Another thing that makes CAPA great? They award $1.5 million dollars each year in study abroad grants and scholarships. Apply now for their Diversity Advocate Grant ($1000 per semester), one of their summer minority study abroad scholarships for attendees of HBCUs ($500), or any of their needs-based scholarships (these range from $500 to a whopping $5000!). Get ready to use that flying dollar bill emoji!
- Award: Multiple
- Amount: Varies
- More CAPA Study Abroad scholarship info
2. CET Academic Programs
CET Academic Programs serves up their international experiences a little differently with an ultra-high emphasis on academic excellence. Language is a huge emphasis of every program—whether Hindi in India or Mandarin in China—and you can expect to complete your very own Directed Field Study course while abroad (your passions on paper!). This means you get a dialed-in educational experience on top of your everyday adventures—no slacking off here. All students are automatically given a scholarship application upon turning in their program application, and awards range from $250-$2000 for high school and pre-college students and $500-$1500 for college students.
- Award: General scholarships
- Amount: $250-$2000
3. AIFS Study Abroad
The American Institute for Study Abroad (AIFS) runs study, volunteer, intern, and gap year programs in 22 different destinations around the globe (including multi-destination program offerings, too!). AIFS scholarships span support for Hispanic students (HACU-AIFS scholarship details here), low-income students committed to social justice (info on the John S. Linakis Scholarship here), and more. They even work with the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) to offer financial study abroad support to black students at HBCUs and PBIs. We’re just scratching the surface—AIFS scholarships are good as gold.
- Award: Multiple
- Amount: Varies
- More info on AIFS Scholarships
4. FIE: Foundation for International Education
If studying abroad through a nonprofit is more your style, then look no further than the Foundation for International Education (FIE)—this London-based educational organization sends undergraduate students abroad to London, England; Dublin, Ireland; and Amman, Jordan. They give away over $140,000 in scholarships each year, so you best submit your applications for study abroad scholarships for fall 2019—or next summer—stat! Different locations and program lengths open up different scholarship opportunities; be sure to cross check your program eligibility with their minority and first gen scholarships for study abroad.
- Award: Generation Study Abroad Scholarship
- Amount: $3000 for a semester
- More info on FIE scholarships
5. The Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA-Butler)
Butler University (Go Bulldogs!) has been home to the Institute for Study Abroad (IFSA-Butler) for thirty years. Also a nonprofit, IFSA offers programs in 19 different countries across Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Bonus: Many of their programs offer “guaranteed scholarships” in exchange for active feedback and creative reflection projects. That means basically double the access to scholarships for overseas study! Beyond their scholarship partnership with FEA, IFSA offers achievement-based first time college student grants of up to $2500—including airfare from STA Travel. Awesome!
- Award: First Generation College Student Scholarship
- Amount: Up to $2,500
- More info on IFSA-Butler minority study abroad scholarships
6. The Intern Group
Want your study abroad experience to have a heavy emphasis on professional development? Then get ready to rock your resume through programs with The Intern Group! This organization has been connecting minority and first generation students with meaningful internship placements in 15 major cities around the world since 2011. But you want to know what makes The Intern Group really, really great? They offer full scholarships to study abroad! If you have your heart set on Colombia and don’t want to pay a penny to get there, hop on this opportunity ASAP.
7. School for Field Studies (SFS)
Do you want to get up close and personal with different ecosystems around the planet? Do you want to study curious creatures, identify endemic plant species, or bounce ideas about slowing global warming in community with other tree-hugging-students abroad? Then consider signing up for one of the School for Field Studies’ (SFS) environmental study abroad programs! Hands-on doesn’t even begin to cover the immersive experience that awaits. And, thanks to their many needs-based scholarships, like the Roy A. Hunt Foundation award and the McKee Scholarship, your wallet won’t whimper as you sign the dotted line, either.
- Award: Multiple
- Amount: Varies
- More School for Field Studies' first gen study abroad scholarship info
8. SIT Study Abroad
With SIT Study Abroad, even graduate students interested in study abroad are welcome to apply for a variety of first gen and minority study abroad scholarships! SIT awarded 1.6 million dollars in financial aid to its participants in this year alone. Beyond Pell Grant matches (cha-ching!), SIT also offers study abroad scholarships specifically for Hispanic-serving institution attendees, HBCU attendees, and for students studying the Middle East or Islamic Studies. If you can demonstrate financial need, there's an SIT Fund scholarship for you. It’s exciting to see how SIT is helping equalize opportunities for a variety of students through its minority study abroad scholarships!
- Award: Multiple
- Amount: Varies
- More info on SIT minority study abroad scholarships
9. University of Auckland
Auckland might not be at the top of your “must-see cities bucket list,” but it really ought to be. The laid-back, waterside vibe of Lisbon marries cosmopolitan Melbourne in this world-class city. But don’t get us wrong: There’s plenty of nature to go around. A quick 360° turn and you’ll set your sights on volcanoes, craters, and oceans (not to mention hip coffee shops, the tallest tower in the southern hemisphere, and throngs of kiwis to boot). How’s THAT for student-life balance!? Directly-enroll at the University of Auckland to take advanced courses in a variety of subjects—all alongside fellow international students and local students alike.
10. University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC)
This might sound unbelievable, but you better believe it, baby—USAC offers over 2 million (yes, 2 million!) dollars in scholarships and discounts annually to help more students study abroad. Wow! While there are dozens of awards to apply to, we’re especially pleased to see the Diversity Excellence Scholarship available to minorities who want to study abroad. The award ranges from $500-$1000 and is available for programs year-round (perfect for those on the hunt for study abroad scholarships summer 2019, fall 2019, or—gasp—spring 2020!). Their handy list of scholarships will also help put you on the right track to a fully funded experience abroad.
- Award: Diversity Excellence Scholarship
- Amount: $500-$1000
- More USAC first gen study abroad scholarship info
11. DIS
Students who study abroad through DIS will be glad to know that over 50% of participants receive some kind of financial assistance from the organization. In addition to merit-based and financial need-based scholarship funds, DIS offers a Diversity Scholarship intended to support students who come from underrepresented backgrounds. Students with disabilities, LGBT community members, and those with unique ethnic, racial, or socioeconomic backgrounds are all encouraged to apply.
- Award: Merit-based, need-based, Diversity Scholarship
- Amount: $250-$1000
- More info on DIS Diversity Scholarship
12. American University in Cairo
American University in Cairo (AUC) offers more than 90 different scholarships to students thanks to outside donors. There are many unique scholarship and fellowship opportunities for underrepresented students to apply to, including for those who are refugees. The AUC Centennial Scholarship Fund, AUC Scholarship for Refugees, and the Cultural Scholarship would all be of interest to students from minority communities or unique backgrounds, and AUC scholarship options don’t end there! Awards and deadlines vary.
- Award: Multiple
- Amount: Small cash awards to full or partial semester
- More info on American University in Cairo scholarships
Bonus: More scholarships are available from FEA to participants of these programs
Find scholarships to help Hispanic students study abroad!
Any applicants to the above programs are likewise eligible to apply for Access Partner scholarships through FEA. Awards can range from up to $1,250 for summer programs, up to $5,000 for semester programs, and up to $10,000 for academic year programs. FEA also offers a variety of general and dedicated scholarships—you can check them out here!
This is yet another enticing opportunity to afford your study abroad trip. No more aims of figuring out “how to study abroad without money.” The scholarships and opportunities are out there. All that’s missing is your ability to proactively apply, stay organized (those deadlines can come in a jiffy!), and write the words that win.
Here are more scholarship resources to get you further down this rabbit hole (but hey, this is a pretty exciting and productive break from your homework, right?!):
- Our 5 Favorite African American Study Abroad Scholarships
- 5 Study Abroad Scholarships for Underrepresented Students
- 7 Study Abroad Scholarships for Hispanic Students
- 5 Awesome Asian American Grants & Scholarships to Study Abroad
Be sure to also check out our ebook library, including titles like The Complete Guide to Study Abroad Scholarships and The First Generation Students’ Study Abroad Guide.
[45 Grants and Scholarships for Study Abroad Around the World]
With the help of first gen & minority study abroad scholarships, you’ll be traveling in no time!
Stride towards your future with your best foot forward. This is happening!
Thanks to these forward-thinking study abroad programs who willingly—and tangibly—support the financial needs of underrepresented students, the landscape of participants in study abroad is shifting. Study abroad is no longer a question of if you can pay for it; it’s now a question of how you’re going to pay for it. Armed with a handful of first gen and minority study abroad scholarships, some savings (perhaps from #PAID for in no time.
Browse More Travel Scholarships
This article was written with support from the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA)’s Access Partner Program. FEA’s Access Partners join in the shared commitment to increase the number of underrepresented American college students study practices in international education, and actively engage in FEA’s mission. They are helping to make life-changing, international experiences accessible to all by supporting minority and first-generation college students.