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Are there scholarships for summer courses and study abroad opportunities?
I’m a lower junior in college, I don’t have the highest gpa but I was wondering if there’s any additional scholarships other than Gilman and CIEE for study abroad extra funding. #spring25
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Keerthan’s Answer
1. National Scholarships That Don't Require High GPAs
Looking beyond Gilman and CIEE, these national organizations are great for students from different academic backgrounds:
Fund for Education Abroad (FEA): This is a top choice for you. FEA focuses on students who are often underrepresented in study abroad, like community college students, minority students, and first-generation college students. They consider financial need and personal essays more than GPA. They support summer, semester, and year-long programs.
Boren Scholarships: If you're interested in studying a "critical need" language like Arabic, Mandarin, Swahili, Japanese, or Hindi in an underrepresented region, Boren offers up to $8,000 for summer programs or $12,500 for a semester. They value your commitment to public service and national security over a perfect GPA.
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program: Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, this fully funded summer program covers tuition, airfare, housing, and a stipend. It focuses on intensive language learning, without a minimum GPA requirement. They evaluate you based on your essays and dedication to learning the language.
2. Provider-Specific & Demographic Scholarships
If you don't use CIEE, other study abroad providers offer large scholarship pools focusing on diversity and financial need:
USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium) Scholarships: Known for affordability, USAC offers over $2 million in scholarships and discounts annually. They have grants for "average joes" where enthusiasm, community involvement, and financial need are more important than GPA.
Diversity Abroad & BeGlobalii (Global Ambassadors Scholarship): They offer $500 to $1,000 grants for students who identify as diverse (economically, racially, or first-generation) in exchange for blogging or sharing their travel experiences on social media.
Tortuga Backpacks Study Abroad Scholarship: This private $1,000 scholarship is awarded twice a year. There's no GPA requirement; you just need to write a compelling essay about how travel fits into your life goals.
3. The Best Trick: Destination-Based Funding
Sometimes, foreign governments or regional organizations will pay you to study in their country, regardless of your GPA.
The Bridging Project (Japan): If you're interested in going to Japan for a summer or semester, this foundation awards grants of $2,500 to $4,000 to US undergraduates.
DAAD (Germany): For summer science research or language courses in Germany, the German Academic Exchange Service offers specific funding for undergraduates.
Strategic Tips for Landing a Grant with a Lower GPA
Nail the Essay: If your GPA isn't your strong point, make sure your essay is. Don't just say "I want to travel and see the world." Explain how a course in a specific country connects to your career goals, like your interest in physics, psychology, or tech.
Highlight Financial Need: If you qualify for a Pell Grant or receive university financial aid, emphasize that in your applications. Need-based aid is often prioritized.
Talk to Your Institutional Study Abroad Office: Many universities have hidden, donor-funded grants for study abroad that go unused because students don't apply. Ask an advisor, "Are there any university-specific travel grants without strict GPA cutoffs?"
Looking beyond Gilman and CIEE, these national organizations are great for students from different academic backgrounds:
Fund for Education Abroad (FEA): This is a top choice for you. FEA focuses on students who are often underrepresented in study abroad, like community college students, minority students, and first-generation college students. They consider financial need and personal essays more than GPA. They support summer, semester, and year-long programs.
Boren Scholarships: If you're interested in studying a "critical need" language like Arabic, Mandarin, Swahili, Japanese, or Hindi in an underrepresented region, Boren offers up to $8,000 for summer programs or $12,500 for a semester. They value your commitment to public service and national security over a perfect GPA.
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program: Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, this fully funded summer program covers tuition, airfare, housing, and a stipend. It focuses on intensive language learning, without a minimum GPA requirement. They evaluate you based on your essays and dedication to learning the language.
2. Provider-Specific & Demographic Scholarships
If you don't use CIEE, other study abroad providers offer large scholarship pools focusing on diversity and financial need:
USAC (University Studies Abroad Consortium) Scholarships: Known for affordability, USAC offers over $2 million in scholarships and discounts annually. They have grants for "average joes" where enthusiasm, community involvement, and financial need are more important than GPA.
Diversity Abroad & BeGlobalii (Global Ambassadors Scholarship): They offer $500 to $1,000 grants for students who identify as diverse (economically, racially, or first-generation) in exchange for blogging or sharing their travel experiences on social media.
Tortuga Backpacks Study Abroad Scholarship: This private $1,000 scholarship is awarded twice a year. There's no GPA requirement; you just need to write a compelling essay about how travel fits into your life goals.
3. The Best Trick: Destination-Based Funding
Sometimes, foreign governments or regional organizations will pay you to study in their country, regardless of your GPA.
The Bridging Project (Japan): If you're interested in going to Japan for a summer or semester, this foundation awards grants of $2,500 to $4,000 to US undergraduates.
DAAD (Germany): For summer science research or language courses in Germany, the German Academic Exchange Service offers specific funding for undergraduates.
Strategic Tips for Landing a Grant with a Lower GPA
Nail the Essay: If your GPA isn't your strong point, make sure your essay is. Don't just say "I want to travel and see the world." Explain how a course in a specific country connects to your career goals, like your interest in physics, psychology, or tech.
Highlight Financial Need: If you qualify for a Pell Grant or receive university financial aid, emphasize that in your applications. Need-based aid is often prioritized.
Talk to Your Institutional Study Abroad Office: Many universities have hidden, donor-funded grants for study abroad that go unused because students don't apply. Ask an advisor, "Are there any university-specific travel grants without strict GPA cutoffs?"
Pat Golden-Romero
Teach Hospitality/ Culinary Arts, College Admissions
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Pat’s Answer
Hi Angie, check with the college that you attend. They'll know about how to apply for any St. Abroad scholarships. Sometimes there may be Fin. Aid available to help- if you have a student loan the funds may be able to be added on. Check with the teacher leading the particular st. abroad trip you are interested in too. Colleges often have trips as part of a required course so if that is a destination you like then it could be part of your elective courses & this could covered under "tuition" for financial aid. good luck