UMass Boston

Scholarships

While there is an abundance of study abroad scholarships you can apply for, it is important to look for study abroad funding early! Deadlines vary by program and many have earlier deadlines than your program deadline. We advise students to apply for as many study abroad funding opportunities as possible. Every year we have many UMass Boston students who receive study abroad scholarships. You can too!  

When choosing your funding options, it's important to remember:

* Start early * Ask for help * Seek multiple resources * Plan * Save * Get creative! *

Scholarship sources for study abroad may be merit-based, student-specific, destination-specific, program specific, and/or subject specific. In the interest of increasing who studies abroad, many scholarships aim to reach students traditionally underrepresented students in study abroad. Others are completely merit-based.  Many scholarships also encourage students who choose to study in non-traditional study abroad destinations (especially those outside Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand). Be sure to spend significant time in researching funding opportunities for the best chance at receiving funding towards your study abroad program. 

Below you will find scholarship resources and featured scholarship programs UMass Boston students have applied to in the past. Our office is happy to assist students in their applications and essays for these programs.

Meet two of our Gilman Scholars for Spring 2023: Valerie Rivera and Joanna Lam! 

Valerie_Rivera.jpeg

 

My name is Valerie Rivera and my Major is East Asian Studies w/ Japanese Language Minor. I will be studying in Saitama University this upcoming Spring 2023 Semester! I decided to go to Japan to improve my Japanese language skills and to finally immerse myself in the culture I've been learning about in Umass Boston.

Joanna_Lam.jpeg

 

My name is Joanna Lam and I will be studying in Seoul, South Korea at Korea University. I gravitated towards this school because of their Korea University Buddy Assistants (KUBA) for international students. I’ve never been away from my family for an extended period or lived in a foreign country and it reassured me a lot knowing that there will be someone to help me. I’m a junior majoring in Communication and Economics. I am interested in seeing how teaching styles and courses differs from the ones I’ve experience in the States. I am most looking forward to immersing myself in a different culture and eating authentic Korean dishes!

Study Abroad Scholarships Application Help:

USAC Tips, Advice and Webinars for your Scholarship Application: https://usac.edu/money-matters/scholarships-and-discounts/webinars

Featured Scholarship: Gilman International Scholarship:

The Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship supports Pell grant recipients for their study abroad term. Students traditionally underrepresented in study abroad are encouraged to apply. Students can receive up to $5,000 towards their program! 

Deadlines in March and October every year! 

Apply now!

If you have a Pell Grant and are studying abroad while learning one of the listed "Critical-Need Languages", you can apply for up to $8,000!

Summer 2023 Beacon Student Success Fellowship:

Do not miss to apply for the Beacon’s Student Success Fellowship for summer study abroad! This scholarship was awarded in the past several years to UMass Boston undergraduates who have secured an experiential learning opportunity (study abroad included) for up to $4,500. 

Application Deadline for Summer 2023: March 31, 2023

More information and application: https://www.umb.edu/academics/vpass/career_services/students/beacons_student_success_fellowship

Other Scholarship Opportunities to Study Abroad:

Below you will find: 

General Study Abroad Scholarships:

  • Benjamin A. Gilman: supports Pell grant recipients to study abroad. Students traditionally underrepresented in study abroad are encouraged to apply.
  • Boren Awards provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Preference is given to undergraduates studying abroad for at least 6 months.
  • Critical Language Scholarships: The CLS Program is a U.S. government interagency effort to expand dramatically the number of Americans studying and mastering critical need foreign languages. Students of diverse disciplines and majors are encouraged to apply.
  • Diversity Abroad Scholarships: for students participating in approved programs who are traditionally underrepresented in study abroad and are participating in Diversity Abroad member programs. 
  • The Diverse International Women of Color Summer Study Abroad Scholarship: This scholarship is intended to assist women of color who are exceptional in their studies and in need of financial assistance to study abroad. DIWC will award (3) $500 scholarships to women of color who have been accepted to a In-Person Summer Study Abroad Program. Application period from March-May each year.
  • Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship:This Fellowship is a fully funded summer study abroad program (4-weeks, 3-credits) designed for students of color as part of CIEE’s commitment to open doors for all students from all backgrounds. Location changes each summer!
  • Fulbright Scholar Program for scholarly work and teaching assistantships abroad.
  • Fund for Education Abroad: Apply for up $10,000 (depending on program length). Programs must be 28 days or longer. Spring application deadline is in September. Summer/Fall/Academic-Year application deadlines are in January of the same year.
  • Go Overseas Scholarships are awarded each academic year. The award for each scholarship is $1,000. The Go Overseas scholarship is open to current students who will be enrolled in a study abroad program during the coming academic year. Recipients must be successfully accepted into a study abroad program. 
  • General Federation of Women's Clubs of Massachusetts Scholarship for graduate or undergraduate study for summer session, full semester, or full year program. Applicants must be residents of Massachusetts.
  • The Gilman-McCain Scholarship: The Gilman-McCain Scholarship provides awards of $5,000 for child dependents of active duty service members to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs. Applicants must be recipients of any type of Title IV federal financial aid during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving Title IV federal financial aid during their study abroad program or internship.

See Go Overseas 40 Study Abroad Scholarships and Grants to Apply For! 

Location Specific Study Abroad Scholarships:

Asia-specific Scholarships:

  • Blakemore Asian Language Fellowships This program funds a year of advanced study of an Asian language in Asia for American citizens and permanent residents of the United States who have a degree and who plan to use an Asian language in their careers.
  • Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA) provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. Created to assist U.S. students with demonstrated financial need and limited prior experience in East and Southeast Asia.

Argentina

  • SABE (San Andrés Building Excellence) scholarship for undergraduate international students interested in studying in the Program in Latin American Studies at Universidad de San Andrés in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the Mar-Jul 2017 or Aug-Dec 2017 semesters. Partial and complete tuition scholarships (full tuition is $8000 USD) will be awarded based both on merit and need. The deadline to apply for the program and for the scholarship is Oct. 15 for semester 1 (March- July) and April 15 for semester 2 (August- December).  

Canada

  • Killam Undergraduate Fellowships for Americans offered by the Canada Fulbright Program. The program provides an opportunity for exceptional undergraduate students from universities in the United States to spend either one semester or a full academic year as an exchange student in Canada. Applicants must be U.S. citizens; full-time undergraduate students in good standing at a fully accredited degree granting college or university in the United States.

China

  • Chinese Government Scholarship: awards are intended for  undergraduate students to study one academic year in Chinese language combined with a selection of academic subjects,  attending AASCU member institutions in China (U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents). 
  • NEBHE - China Scholarship Program: The NECSP is a competitive scholarship award managed by the New England Board of Higher Education in collaboration with the Beijing Municipal Education Commission (BMEC) and is available to students currently enrolled in public or private New England colleges and universities who plan on studying in China for at least one academic year. Students must apply and be accepted to one of 49 Beijing area institutions, including UIBE and Tsinghua University.

France

  • Walter Jensen Scholarship for Study Abroad: Awarded to a future teacher of French to help pay for a semester or a year studying French abroad in an accredited program in any Francophone country. Student must be currently enrolled in an established teacher education program in French and must be sponsored by a member of the American Association of Teachers of French. Awards are based on financial need and can be used to cover tuition, fees, travel, or housing costs.

Germany

  • The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX) is a fellowship funded by the German Bundestag and U.S. Department of State, that annually provides 75 American and 75 German young professionals, between the ages of 18-24, the opportunity to spend one year in each other’s countries, studying, interning, and living with hosts on a cultural immersion program.  This funded fellowship opportunity annually covers basic living costs for all 150 participants.
  • DAAD Scholarships for graduate and undergraduate study in Germany
  • DAAD RISE Germany Summer Research Internships in Science and Engineering: Match with a university in Germany on specific research interests in STEM. Provides a monthly stipend for three months to help cover living costs. It also includes international travel costs. You must be a sophomore or above at the time of the internship, and German language skills are not required.
  • DAAD German Studies Research Grant: Offers German Studies Research Grants to highly-qualified undergraduate and graduate students who are nominated by their department/program chairs. The grant may be used for short-term research (one to two months) in Germany

Ireland

  • Inclusive Ireland Scholarship- Diversity Abroad scholarship for undergraduate students who identify as BIPOC, have at least a 3.0 GPA, and intend to study for a semester at a participating Irish institution (including University of Limerick).

Japan

  • Bridging Scholarship: The Bridging Project offers scholarships to American undergraduate students participating in study-abroad programs in Japan. The United States-Japan Bridging Foundation funds scholarships through AATJ to help students study abroad in Japan for a semester or an academic year.
  • Japanese Student Service Organization (JASSO) This program offers scholarships for international students who have interest in studying in Japan. There are many scholarships provided by various organizations that collaborate with JASSO. Deadlines are dependent on the host school in Japan. 
  • Morgan Stanley Scholarships for Study in Japan: Co-sponsors of the scholarships are the US-Japan Bridging Foundation and the American Association of Teachers of Japanese, which will coordinate the collection of applications and the initial selection process. The final selection of scholarship recipients will be made by Morgan Stanley management in Tokyo. Eligible students include juniors and seniors at US universities with an interest in policy, economics, or international finance who have been accepted for study in Japan.
  • Kin Chung Lam Scholarship for Study at Soka University, Japan: Funding for airfare, books, expenses not to exceed $3,000 for study for a semester or year-long at the exchange program at Soka University in Japan. Soka University also offers free university housing for two (2) UMass Boston students each year! Japanese language requirement: 1 college-level Japanese course.
  • US-Japan Council Toshizo Watanabe Endowed Scholarship Fund: Provides financial assistance (up to the full cost of attendance) to undergraduate and graduate students for a semester or year-long study abroad program in either the United States or Japan. Can be any credit-bearing university in Japan. Application deadline in March each year.

New Zealand

Indonesia

  • USINDO Summer Scholarship: An intensive 10-week language & culture studies fellowship held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia for U.S. university students and recent graduates.

Italy

  • Pescosolido Family Scholarship Foundation, Inc.: scholarships for study at accredited and acceptable educational institutions in Italy. Applicants should be residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and have exhibited ability and serious interest in, or commitment to, the study of the Italian language along with the civilization, culture and history of Italy. It is awarded once a year. The deadline is about the middle of May. 
  • Catherine Frisone Scott Center for Italian Cultural Studies at UMass Boston Travel Grant: Will you be traveling to Italy on a UMass Boston-approved program or for an independent project? If so, you are eligible to apply for a grant that you can put toward the cost of that program and travel. Winners will be listed on the Center’s webpage and Facebook page. Grants will be for $500.

Taiwan

  • Taiwan Ministry of Education (MOE) has established two scholarships to foster international education exchange between Taiwan and United States Citizens who are residents of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island or Vermont. 

UK

Graduate-level funding:

Other great resources for searching for study abroad funding, scholarships and grants are:

There are several funding options when it comes to financing your study abroad trip. In addition to scholarships, you can often apply your current financial aid package to your time abroad as well as student loans. See the Financial Aid page for further detail about Financial Aid & Study Abroad.