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Everything You Need to Know About Scholarships

Truly, there are no good reasons not to pursue meaningful travel, and financial restraints should definitely not be one of them. After all, it's not a bad idea to consider financial aid for your travels—especially now, with academic and higher education program costs increasing every year. That's where travel scholarships abroad come in! It might be a little overwhelming to sift through all of the options available (though this guide to all things travel scholarships should help), but it's worth TOTALLY the effort, and we're here to help you every step of the way. After all, the more money you save, the more you'll have to spend on enjoying your wonderful life of travel.

USAC Scholarships Abroad

Free Funds Coming Your Way

We want to help you pay for your study abroad with a variety of discounts and scholarship options. Apply today.

University Studies Abroad Consortium

USAC Scholarships Abroad

Free Funds Coming Your Way

We want to help you pay for your study abroad with a variety of dis...

University Studies Abroad Consortium

USAC Scholarships Abroad

Free Funds Coming Your Way

We want to help you pay for your study abroad with a variety of discounts and scholarship options. Apply today.

University Studies Abroad Consortium

Featured Scholarships

Offering $6 Million in IES Abroad Scholarships & Aid

As far as IES Abroad is concerned, financial limitations shouldn't prevent you from studying abroad with them. That's why IES Abroad offers more than $6 million in scholarships and aid. Best of all, you can apply for scholarships and aid before you even apply to a program—with one simple application! But don’t wait, funds are limited and deadlines are approaching.

Application Deadline - Offered year round

Discover Middle East Scholarship

Created by a USAC alum, this scholarship is to allow more students to experience firsthand the challenges and growth of studying abroad in a non-traditional region that is often unfamiliar to and misunderstood by those in the United States. Degree-seeking students with a minimum 3.0 GPA attending the USAC Haifa, Israel program are eligible for this scholarship, which will be awarded each summer, fall, and spring semester. Preference will be given to students with little to no previous background and exposure to the Middle East.

Application Deadline - Offered year round

USAC Study Abroad Scholarships

USAC offers more than 50 affordable programs in 28 countries worldwide. In addition, USAC awards over $2 million in scholarships and discounts to assist students with their study abroad expenses. Scholarship awards typically range from $500-$2,500. USAC has a dedicated Scholarship Team who works closely with students throughout the scholarship application process and helps them to identify and apply for external scholarships as well.

Application Deadline - Offered year round

Boren Scholarships

The National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships offer a unique opportunity for U.S. students to study abroad. NSEP awards scholarships to American students for study of world regions critical to U.S. interests (including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America & the Caribbean, and the Middle East).

Application Deadline - Offered year round

FEA Rainbow Scholarship

This scholarship is available to deserving students who identify as LGBTQ+ attending a study abroad program of any length. All U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a U.S. institution of higher education are eligible to apply.

Application Deadline - Offered year round

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What Kinds of Travel Scholarships are There?

Just like college degrees and interests differ, so do scholarships abroad types. That means that there's bound to be something for you, whether you are a studious book nerd or an all-star football player. Regardless of the type, almost all scholarships are merit-based, so you'll need to stand out and make yourself shine!

Academic: These scholarships are the most report card-oriented. Grades, GPA's, and standardized test scores are the main deciding factors for academic scholarships.

What Kinds of Travel Scholarships are There?

Just like college degrees and interests differ, so do scholarships abroad types. That means that there's bound to be something for you, whether you are a studious book nerd or an all-star football player. Regardless of the type, almost all scholarships are merit-based, so you'll need to stand out and make yourself shine!

Academic: These scholarships are the most report card-oriented. Grades, GPA's, and standardized test scores are the main deciding factors for academic scholarships.
Demographic: These are travel scholarships given solely based on ethnicity, gender, or a variety of minority characteristics.
Destination-Based: Whether you are looking at programs in your home country or abroad, check out scholarship and financial aid organizations specific to the destination of your travels for some great finds!
Industry: Specific industries or career tracks offer scholarships for those seeking study within the field abroad. These may be offered through big businesses, local companies, memorial funds, or government-sponsored associations.
Need-Based: These are scholarships awarded to students based on demonstrated financial need, so they usually require bank statements and W2's from family units.

University:

Be sure to explore all of your options thoroughly. The more specific you get, the less candidates there are, and the higher your chances of being awarded are! More scholarship application tips here.

How To Plan For Travel Scholarships?

Unfortunately, many scholarships abroad cannot be awarded until you have been accepted into a specific program. However, that doesn't mean that you can't start doing some extra homework ahead of time. Here are some of the best ways you can plan ahead for your scholarship applications

1. Bring out your best. We all know that travel scholarships abroad are highly competitive. Use this as motivation to broaden your scope of activities and improve your game. Focus on grades, but also get active in extracurricular activities.

2. Start the search early. Whatever type of program you want to do abroad, start researching travel scholarships abroad options at least a couple of semesters before. The application window between getting accepted into a program and applying for financial aid is not very large, so it helps to already have options lined up at this point. That way, all you have to worry about then are the actual applications.

3. Stay organized. There's nothing worse than missing a deadline when applying for scholarships abroad, so grab a calendar and start color-coding your days. This way, as soon as you get accepted, you know where to send applications off first.

4. Read eligibility requirements thoroughly. There's no point in wasting time and writing the year's best essay if you don't actually qualify for the scholarship. Read the fine print, and, if you have any questions, contact the scholarship provider.

How To Find A Travel Scholarship?

There's no magic formula that'll match you with a scholarship that doesn't require an essay and will pay for your travels. In fact, the search for a relevant scholarship is sometimes the toughest step!

First, you need to understand academic financial terminology. Scholarship lingo might seem foreign, so it helps to get familiar with specific financial aid terms. Once you have a more clear concept of what you're applying for, searches will be easier to narrow down.

Here's where to look for travel scholarships:

Online resources. GoAbroad helps you filter for applicable scholarships based on the type of travel you're pursuing (high school, intern, study, etc!).
Campus Financial Aid Offices. Using your university's resources is not a bad idea. Bonus: They can answer your questions and point you in the right direction for additional resources.

Nonprofit Associations. The benevolent nature of nonprofits means they might be willing to help you out. Focus on the betterment of the self and community when talking to these guys.
Local Organizations. Small businesses, especially those that are relevant to the field of study you are interested in, are great possible providers of scholarships.

Apply to as many scholarships as possible! Statistically, the chances of winning smaller scholarships are bigger, so it's not a bad idea to snag a lot of these, instead of investing all of your time and energy into a single scholarship.

How To Win Travel Scholarships?

Stay organized and put your best foot forward! The chances of being considered if you forgot to include a page of the application or the postmark date is past the deadline are slim, so follow these steps to avoid wasting your time on scholarship applications:

Research Scholarship Providers. It is important to appeal to the scholarship committees reviewing your application. Invest some time in reading about the founders and/or mission. It will be easier to sell yourself if you are aware what they're looking for!
Read All the Instructions. Be sure to include all indicated information, supplementary materials, and understand what the directions are asking of you.
Write a Winning Essay. Consider the essay as an interview: add personality, passions, and a little razzle-dazzle. Make an outline, focus on vivid experiences, stay authentic, proofread, and get input from a (grammar-smart) friend.

Shine Bright. It's not attractive to come across as bragging, but it's important to be confident. Acknowledge your strengths (and recognize your weaknesses), and don't be afraid to talk about your qualifications.
Include a Letter of Recommendation. Some scholarships ask for these, some don't. Either way, it's not a bad thing to include. Select a relevant, respected professional to vouch for your accomplishments, remind them of all of your wonderful qualities and winning moments, and then follow up with a thank you note.

If at first you don't succeed, apply to another scholarship. Don't get discouraged, and don't give up!

Latest Program Reviews

Hard but extremely rich experience

July 27, 2026by: Marco Puxi - Italy

Program: Learn Spanish in Old Havana, Cuba

5

I booked a 2-week Spanish course (60 hours) in Havana Vieja, the old part of Havana. My teacher was Laritza, a young, highly motivated, professional and funny teacher. Apart from giving me a hard time in learning grammar (irregular verbs ARE a nightmare), she allowed several deep dive into Cuban history, culture, traditions and much more. This was extremely interesting! All people at the casa particular where I stayed are extremely helpful and friendly - within 2 hours and despite the jetlag they made me feel at home! They will do everything to make life as easy for you as possible - and this is really difficult given the continuous power cuts, the incredible head and air humidity. So having an aircon in your room is nice but does not help very much if there is no electricity ... At the end, you will turn to take your matress and take it out on the terrace, sleeping as everybody else outside. All in all a positive experience I will never forget.

Lucky with my placement

July 27, 2026by: Emelia Roy - United States

Program: AIFS Abroad Internships in Rome, Italy

4

After being ghosted multiple times by the employer I was originally matched with, I was placed with C.R.E.T.A Rome, a ceramics studio and artist residency studio. I am a graphic design major and was tasked with designing two catalogues for the upcoming shows of one of the studio's owners, a magnificent ceramicist. I worked in person 20 hours a week and 10-15 hours remote per week and this has been a very rewarding experience. The placement was perfect and I'm very grateful.

Hard but extremely rich experience

July 27, 2026by: Marco Puxi - Italy

Program: Learn Spanish in Old Havana, Cuba

5

I booked a 2-week Spanish course (60 hours) in Havana Vieja, the old part of Havana. My teacher was Laritza, a young, highly motivated, professional and funny teacher. Apart from giving me a hard time in learning grammar (irregular verbs ARE a nightmare), she allowed several deep dive into Cuban history, culture, traditions and much more. This was extremely interesting! All people at the casa particular where I stayed are extremely helpful and friendly - within 2 hours and despite the jetlag they made me feel at home! They will do everything to make life as easy for you as possible - and this is really difficult given the continuous power cuts, the incredible head and air humidity. So having an aircon in your room is nice but does not help very much if there is no electricity ... At the end, you will turn to take your matress and take it out on the terrace, sleeping as everybody else outside. All in all a positive experience I will never forget.

Lucky with my placement

July 27, 2026by: Emelia Roy - United States

Program: AIFS Abroad Internships in Rome, Italy

4

After being ghosted multiple times by the employer I was originally matched with, I was placed with C.R.E.T.A Rome, a ceramics studio and artist residency studio. I am a graphic design major and was tasked with designing two catalogues for the upcoming shows of one of the studio's owners, a magnificent ceramicist. I worked in person 20 hours a week and 10-15 hours remote per week and this has been a very rewarding experience. The placement was perfect and I'm very grateful.

View All Reviews

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