One in three IFSA applicants receives funding through a scholarship or grant to help them study abroad. That’s how committed we are to putting this life-changing experience within reach for more students. With 14 different scholarships, there’s opportunity here for all.
IFSA SCHOLARSHIPS
DESIGNED TO: Help more students overcome financial challenges to study abroad
AWARDS: $500 for summer programs, $1,500 for semester programs, $2,500 for full-year programs
These need-based scholarships take into account that your study abroad program might cost more than tuition at your home college or university.
| Application Deadlines | Priority Deadline | Final Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester / Academic year | March 1 | April 1 |
| Spring semester / Calendar year | October 1 | November 1 |
| Summer | March 1 | April 1 |
| Winter | October 1 | November 1 |
DESIGNED TO: Give first-generation college students a chance to benefit from the life-changing experience of studying abroad
AWARDS: Up to $2,500
This achievement-based scholarship program offers first-generation college students significant financial, academic, and pre-professional support for study abroad on a winter, summer, semester, or year-long IFSA program.
Recipients receive up to $2,500 to help them cover the cost of airfare, visas and passports, and housing.
DEADLINES:
Summer/Fall & Academic Year: MARCH 1
Winter & Spring: OCTOBER 1
DESIGNED TO: Make study abroad accessible to students of high financial need and/or students from traditionally underrepresented groups, such as first-generation college students or minority students
AWARDS: Up to $1,250 for summer, $5,000 for semester, $10,000 for year-long programs
This need-based scholarship program, offered in collaboration with the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA), provides significant funding for minority and/or high financial need students seeking to experience study abroad. To apply, visit the FEA application website.
DEADLINES:
Summer/Fall & Academic Year: JANUARY 15
Spring: SEPTEMBER 15
All state school students (regardless of in-state or out-of-state status) will automatically receive a $2,000 grant for any IFSA semester program. The grant will be applied to the overall tuition/housing costs during billing. There is no application process; state school (including community college) students automatically receive the discount. The IFSA State School Grant may not be combined with the IFSA Minority Serving Institution Grant.
All minority serving institution (MSI) school students will automatically receive a $2,000 grant for any IFSA semester program. The grant will be applied to the overall tuition/housing costs during billing. There is no application process; students who attend a minority serving institution automatically receive the discount. The IFSA Minority Serving Institution Grant may not be combined with the IFSA State School Grant.
You can actually apply most federal financial aid toward study abroad. This includes financial programs like Guaranteed Student Loans (GSL/Stafford), Pell Grants, and Parent/PLUS Loans.
We recognize and support those who have served in our armed forces, and we are prepared to help facilitate your study abroad experience. Generally, veterans or their dependent students can apply the Post 9/11 GI Bill toward study abroad, although the amount will depend on the benefit type and whether study abroad is required for your major (in which case the VA may pay more).
It’s important to talk to your financial aid officer and study abroad office early on to determine which scholarships, grants, loans, and other tuition-assistance programs are transferable from your home university. Institutional aid like presidential or endowed scholarships may not apply, but you may be able to fill that gap with one of IFSA’s many scholarship and financial aid programs. As part of our scholarship determination process, please be prepared to send us your home campus award letter.
Build your resume through our exclusive Work-to-Study Grant. Worth up to $800, depending on the scope and involvement of the projects you choose to complete, the Work-to-Study Grant is available to all students, with special consideration to those already on federal work study at their home campus. Grant money will be distributed to the student via PayPal or direct deposit.
Students must apply for Work-to-Study positions, and are they selected by IFSA staff based on availability and skill set. Application requirements and details about the available projects for Spring 2021 are coming soon.
Some of the most immediate costs of study abroad can be the most daunting. Processing charges like housing deposits and airfare can be the most burdensome for your budget—especially when you’re dependent on financial aid to cover program costs. In an effort to help you pay those over time, and to minimize the stress of all those out-of-pocket expenses, IFSA is pleased to offer the UpFront Advance. Inspired by our award-winning partner, the University of Minnesota’s Bridging Loan program, UpFront allows you to bill certain fees to your IFSA student account. You can then pay these expenses with financial aid or with our monthly payment option.
The Upfront Advance covers the following expenses:
- Program deposit ($500)
- Airfare
This program is available for any IFSA semester and full year program. Download the Financial Footprint form and complete the instructions to apply.
The University of Auckland offers several scholarships (up to $7,500) to help IFSA students cover some of the upfront costs of studying abroad. All interested students should apply; however, students with high-financial need and first-generation college students (neither parent has a four-year degree) will be given preference in the selection process. You must be applying to IFSA’s University of Auckland program in order to be considered.
The Upfront Auckland Scholarship covers the following expenses:
Program deposit ($500)
Airfare
Cash (any remaining funding will be disbursed directly to you at the beginning of the program)
To apply for the IFSA Upfront Advance, complete the Financial Footprint form. To apply for the Upfront Auckland Scholarship, complete an IFSA scholarship application in the Student Portal.
Applications are reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis, until funding has been exhausted or until April 1 for fall/academic year and November 1 for spring/calendar year.
Spring/calendar year match deadline: JULY 1
Fall/academic year match deadline: JANUARY 1
The funds and matching scholarship money can be applied toward the cost of any IFSA semester or year-long program. Summer and winter students may also participate in Fill the GAP, but we do not offer a matching scholarship for summer or winter programs. Friends and family can also contribute to the account.
The scholarship will be awarded based on what is received by IFSA as of the matching deadline: January 1 for fall and academic year programs, and July 1 for spring and calendar year programs. We set these deadlines early to encourage students to begin saving early for study abroad. Students can continue saving after the matching deadline.
Students interested in taking part in Fill the GAP must be enrolled at an accredited U.S. undergraduate institution and submit a Fill The Gap enrollment form, including their personal contact information, parent information and anticipated study abroad semester/year.
There is no limit to the amount of money that can be contributed to the account.
IFSA will create an account for each participant and will document the names of contributors and their donations. In the event that a student is unable to study abroad through IFSA, we will send a refund check to the student.
Once you are accepted to an IFSA program, your GAP account and the matching IFSA scholarship will be applied in the following order:
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- Housing and meals
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- Housing supplemental fee (where applicable)
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- Tuition in certain cases
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- Airfare reimbursement (Please note that airfare reimbursements and any remaining funds will be refunded after program fees have been paid and the student has registered for classes abroad)
Fill the GAP funds cannot be used for:
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- Program deposits
-
- IFSA custom or partial-support programs
Download the Fill the GAP enrollment form to start saving today.
IFSA offers numerous scholarships that reflect our strong relationship with overseas partners and honor the legacy of our colleagues and students. These scholarships are specific to certain programs, countries, or terms:
Summer Term
Diverse International Women Of Color Summer Scholarship is a $500 award designed specifically to assist women of color who are hoping to study abroad on a summer program. Applications typically open around March 1 annually. Visit DIWCfund.org for more information about how to apply.
Australia 
Macquarie University offers 15 scholarships valued up to AUD$1,000 to study abroad students each semester. You must have a 3.0 GPA, already be accepted to the program and submit a personal statement which focuses on the definition of culture, what you are excited to discover while studying abroad and how you think this experience will benefit you personally, academically and professionally. Please contact your program advisor for instructions on how to submit your application.
University of New South Wales awards multiple scholarships exclusively for IFSA students. Awards range from AUD$1,000 to AUD$3,000. To apply, complete the IFSA Scholarship application in the Student Portal by the final scholarship deadline.
India
The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) offers a $5,000 semester award and a $2,500 summer award for study abroad in India, called the South India Term Abroad (SITA) Nallennam Scholarship and intended for students with high financial need and/or students from traditionally underrepresented groups.
Ireland
Education in Ireland is offering Inclusive Ireland Scholarships in partnership with Diversity Abroad. This award is specifically available to students who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) who are participating in a program in Ireland in the Fall of 2021. Learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Trinity College Dublin offers travel grants and scholarships between €1,500 and €3,000. Awards available to IFSA students include the Study Abroad STEM Scholarship, the Global Study Abroad Excellence Scholarships and the Trinity College Dublin Generation Study Abroad Travel Grant.
University College Dublin offers scholarships for students who have been accepted to study abroad in the UCD Lochlann Quinn School of Business. Two €1000 scholarships are awarded during the semester and two €500 scholarships are awarded to students on the Summer Internships in Dublin program. Semester students must have been accepted and confirmed their place on the program by the first week of October in order to be considered. Please contact your IFSA program advisor for details on how to apply.
New Zealand
UpFront Auckland: The University of Auckland offers several $5,000-7,500 scholarships exclusively to IFSA students to help cover some of the upfront costs of studying abroad (airfare, program deposit, cash deposit). See the IFSA Upfront Advance tab for more information.
University of Canterbury: Canterbury awards multiple scholarships exclusively for IFSA students. Awards range from NZ$1,500 to NZ$3,000, and the university also gives “general awards” to select students upon arrival.
University of Otago: Otago is offering IFSA first-generation college students the exclusive opportunity to apply for one of two full housing scholarships available for Fall semester only. Apply for the award by completing the IFSA scholarship application by April 1.
Education New Zealand offers US$2,000 Travel Awards to fund air travel to New Zealand. In addition, Excellence Awards gives US$500 toward the cost of study abroad at any New Zealand university.
Education New Zealand offers a full-tuition scholarship up to $15,000 for any semester program in New Zealand.
Education New Zealand has partnered with the U.S. Department of State to provide additional funds for the Gilman New Zealand Scholarship. Applicants must be receiving a Federal Pell—Grant to be considered. Learn more about the eligibility requirements and application processes.
The Victoria University of Wellington Study Abroad Scholarship is open to international students who plan to experience New Zealand culture through a study abroad programme at Victoria University of Wellington. The value of the scholarship is up to NZ$1,000 to each successful applicant as a one-off payment towards the student’s study abroad tuition fee.
New Zealand International Correspondent Scholarship: Students who want to build their resume while studying abroad in New Zealand should apply for projects in the New Zealand International Correspondent Scholarship program. Award amounts depend upon the scope and depth of projects completed. Scholarships are distributed via PayPal. Students must apply for open projects and will be selected by IFSA based availability and skill set. Application requirements and details for Spring 2020 will be posted soon.
United Kingdom
SCOTLAND: University of St. Andrews is offering two scholarships of £4,000 each semester. Contact your IFSA program advisor for application details.
THE FUND FOR EDUCATION ABROAD (FEA) received a gift of $50,000 from The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation (CTCF) to fund scholarships for American students to study in the United Kingdom. Named the Cyril Taylor Memorial Scholarship and available for programs in the summer of 2021, the 2021 fall semester and the 2021-2022 academic year, the gift will fund multiple scholarships this year and be administered by FEA. The named scholarship will fund both academic-year scholarships of up to $10,000, full semester scholarships of $5,000, and summer scholarships of up to $3,750 for deserving American undergraduates to study in the United Kingdom on programs that best meet their educational objectives. Students interested in applying for programs in 2020-2021 can submit applications beginning November 16, 2020.
