We believe that study abroad should be within reach of every student, so we offer a wide range of scholarships and funding opportunities for all our participants.
IFSA scholarships are primarily need-based and factor in any additional cost your study abroad program might have over home school tuition. The awards are $500 for summer programs, $1,500 for semester programs and $2,500 for full year programs. These scholarships may apply to any IFSA program, with the exception of our custom programs.
| 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 |
Offered in collaboration with the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA), the IFSA Diversity Scholarship is intended for students with high financial need and/or students from traditionally underrepresented groups, such as first generation college students or minority students. The scholarship is valued up to $10,000 for year-long study, $5,000 for semester, and $1,250 for summer. To apply, visit the FEA application website.
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.
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.
DEFER YOUR PAYMENT
Need to defer your payment? Work with your financial aid officer to complete and return this Financial Footprint form to us.
MAKE A PAYMENT ONLINE
Click here to make on online payment using a credit card.
PAYMENT PLAN
Sign up for an IFSA payment plan through CashNet Tuition Payment Plan:
- For new users the school is: Institute for Study Abroad, Inc.
- In the Student Information section, the student ID is the email address used to login to the IFSA student portal
- Payment in full is expected within the program term
- Please make sure you select the correct payment plan for your term
- You must choose the 5 Pay plan for a semester-long program
- The 10 Pay plan is limited to year-long programs only
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 or countries:
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
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.
First-generation college students have some of the lowest study abroad participation rates among U.S. college students, and IFSA wants to change that. Our achievement-based scholarship program offers first-generation college students significant financial, academic and preprofessional support for study abroad on a winter, summer, semester, or year-long IFSA program.
First-Generation Scholarship Deadlines
Summer/Fall/Academic Year: March 1st
Winter/Spring: October 1st
The First-Generation Scholarship recipients serve as International Correspondents for IFSA, sharing their perspectives on study abroad. The program awards up to $2,500* for study abroad-related expenses for students who are first-generation college students.
What’s Included
Reimbursements and expenses covered include:
- Airfare
- Travel Documentation such as visa application fees ($100-$700 value, depending on country) or passport fees
- Housing start-up costs scholarship
Depending on the cost of flights and visas, up to $500 is distributed via PayPal to offset housing costs or to help with start-up expenses abroad (i.e. books, transportation passes, linens).
*Winter and Summer students receive up to $1,500 toward airfare only.
Apply
To apply, download this form and complete the steps outlined.
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
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- IFSA custom or partial-support programs
Download the Fill the GAP enrollment form to start saving today.
Unpacked: Student Stories
