How To Fund Your Experience Abroad: Scholarships
Scholarships and resources listed in the article:
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
Foundation for Global Scholars’ GRIT Program
Go Overseas Study & Intern Scholarship
IIEPassport Study Abroad Funding
Note: The term “study abroad” includes a variety of international experiences including studying, interning, and volunteering abroad.
Here’s something obvious: money is one of the biggest barriers to study abroad.
Half the battle of going abroad is coming up with the money for program fees, housing, flights, and living costs. Additionally, there are travel and leisure costs which are essential to an international experience – what’s the point of going abroad if you’re going to stay home and watch Netflix all day?
For many, it’s considerably more than just a barrier to entry. It’s a deterrent. The assumption is that a majority of students would love to study abroad at some point in their college careers. But, instead of being seen as an academic and professional boost, it can be perceived as a luxury, something to be indulged by the privilege.
The good news? The international education industry is working hard to find ways to help combat the obstacle that is funding.
The solution to a student’s lack of funds? Simple. Provide funding!
While that’s certainly easier said than done, there is no shortage of organizations that are offering scholarship opportunities to students interested in going abroad, from government-funded initiatives and nonprofits to universities and for-profits.
One such opportunity is the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Education & Cultural Affairs, and administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE).
According to their website, the “Gilman Scholarship Program aims to diversify the kinds of students who study and intern abroad and the countries and regions where they go by offering awards to U.S. undergraduates who might otherwise not participate due to financial constraints.”
Photo Credit: Institute of International Education
The program will award over 2,800 scholarships, available to U.S. undergraduates this year.
Depending on factors such as length of study and student need, the scholarship awards vary. Additionally, Gilman Scholarship recipients receive access to State Department and IIE resources, including a significantly large network of alumni to further support international experiences and job opportunities.
We had the pleasure of speaking with the Director and Assistant Director of the Gilman Scholarship Program, Lindsay Calvert and Shawna Hurley, respectively.
Why should students apply for the Gilman Scholarship? Hurley responded, “You can potentially receive up to $5,000 from the Scholarship. It’s competitive, but it’s attainable. About one out of every three applicants is awarded a scholarship.”
Note: The Gilman Scholarship Program encourages students to apply to study or intern abroad in “non-traditional” locations. However, that doesn’t mean students who are thinking of studying or interning in a “traditional” study abroad destination should be discouraged. Applicants must identify why their program and location of choice will make an impact on them, articulate their academic and professional goals for their experience, and address why participation and achievement of identified goals cannot take place in another country.
While the Gilman Scholarship Program looks to increase diversity in the study and intern abroad space, another organization, the Foundation for Global Scholars, is on a mission to cultivate young leaders, stressing a focus on helping them gain leadership skills and cultural competence through these overseas experiences.
“The FGS scholarship program has been reimagined. In 2016, the new GRIT (Globally Remarkable International Talent) program will be introduced. This program will both prepare students for study abroad and financially support the international experience,” explained Jodi Reesman, Scholarship Director of the Foundation for Global Scholars.
Photo Credit: Foundation for Global Scholars
“This preparation – delivered through a four-day summit – will introduce scholars to skills that will enable them to maximize their experiences abroad and synthesize these experiences with their goals of addressing local and global challenges. GRIT was created as a result of observing the young adults we serve, specifically, that these persons want to make a positive global impact, but lack the resources and knowledge to do this consciously and sustainably.”
Another organization to watch for is Go Overseas. A review platform for abroad programs, their mission is to “empower more people to spend meaningful time overseas.”
Currently, they offer a Study & Intern Abroad Scholarship while they’ve run other opportunities within the study abroad sphere, such as the recent Study Abroad in New Zealand scholarship, as well.
Photo Credit: Go Overseas
The one universal tip for students in regards to scholarships is to make sure to apply.
“What do you have to lose?” said Anna Morris, the Study & Intern Abroad Director at Go Overseas. “It’s a little known secret that the applicant pool is always much smaller that you might imagine. Many, many students procrastinate and miss the deadline or don’t end up following through. Take the time to apply and you’ll be proud that you did.”
Hurley voiced the same opinion. “If you apply, you have a shot. If you don’t apply, you have no shot.”
The truth is, there are a wealth of scholarships out there. The hard work is sifting through all the scholarships to find the ones relevant to you.
Is that effort not worth it if that means the possibility of receiving money for your dream experience?
A good place to start your search is on sites like the IIEPassport Study Abroad Funding page and InternationalScholarships.com (these resources were suggested by Calvert and Morris, respectively).
Scholarship programs not only benefit the individual award winners, they also play a huge role in changing the landscape of international education through the power of networks.
The effects of an individual going through a scholarship program is immeasurable. Nowadays, inspiration is derived from a variety of sources. A student who’s unaware of abroad opportunities like international internship might discover them on social media or a peer who just returned from a summer abroad.
“There’s a community impact. They are sharing new experiences with their community, with new people who might not have ever thought these experiences possible,” said Hurley. “It’s opening people’s eyes.”
Photo Credit: Institute of International Education
“With many of our scholars, they don’t go to college thinking they would study abroad, but after they do, they come back telling other people in their community that an experience like that is possible!” said Calvert. “There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence of the ripple effect of each individual student that studies abroad. The fact that they did it proves to their peers that it’s possible.”
One of the main catalysts for increasing awareness for abroad programs is the internet. Given the content-thirsty world we live in, students are able to share their stories to an audience that clamoring to hear from them.
Sites like Go Overseas are built with a basis in peer-reviews. They have harnessed the power of the internet to make information about the vast pool of programs in the world accessible to anyone who seeks it.
Go Overseas is making programs more transparent, creating “ambassadors for a more understanding global community,” and inspiring prospective study abroad students to take that first step towards embarking on their next adventure.
“We’d like to think that our Go Overseas Community is a rewarding group to be involved in!” said Morris.
To go even further, the Foundation for Global Scholars is hoping to change more than the international education industry. They are hoping to change the world.
“Providing financial assistance is but one piece of who we are. We are directly engaged with the students to whom we award scholarships, providing a sounding board and encouragement while abroad and thereafter,” said Reesman. “We remain engaged with our scholars, supporting the personal journeys taken as a result of the study abroad experience, because study abroad is rarely a ‘one and done’ life experience.”
Photo Credit: Foundation for Global Scholars
They believe that study abroad isn’t just beneficial to the individual. Ultimately, a great program can nurture the future leaders of the world.
“Our changemaker awards are but one example of this. FGS creates a community of intentional and conscious global changemakers. We invest in impact; we invest in our future leaders,” Reesman added.
The bad news is there are many other barriers to studying abroad.
What are some of these barriers?
“General awareness of their options or alternatively information overload,” offered Morris.
“Program (major) requirements, which seem to be especially institution-specific or proprietary, create either a real or otherwise perceived-real-but-false barrier to studying off campus, most especially as pressures to not prolong the undergraduate experience increase,” said Reesman.
“Often, there are other obstacles for students with financial need. For example, they might have work or family obligations. An experience abroad could disrupt those obligations,” Calvert replied.
How can we solve these problems?
International educators need to show students that an experience abroad is more than just a luxury.
“We hope that students can realize that studying abroad is not something extra, but it’s something that can be critical for improving their long-term career prospects,” said Calvert.
“Interestingly, however, recent studies suggest that study abroad increases the probability of a four-year graduation, as discussed in the Inside Higher Ed article ‘Study Abroad, Graduate on Time’ by Elizabeth Redden.” added Reesman.
Hurley voiced similar sentiments. “Many people think that study or intern abroad is just an extra thing to do. But there’s a misconception that it will delay or set back your graduation. It can actually move you forward.”
The good news is there are conscious, coordinated efforts to increase the profile of study abroad.
For example, the Generation Study Abroad campaign (an initiative of the IIE) is doing just that. They hope to double the number of students studying abroad by the end of the decade.
“International experience is one of the most important components of a 21st century education, and study abroad should be viewed as an essential element of a college degree,” said IIE’s President Dr. Allan E. Goodman. “We believe that peace and prosperity depends on increasing the capacity of people to think and work on a global and intercultural basis.”
With every year that passes, more and more universities and institutions are making it a priority to improve their offerings in the space.
Given the current fervor to promote study abroad, international experiences might truly become an integral part of society’s educational framework.