General guidelines for your scholarship search:
Below are some of the larger and better-known programs through which a student may seek funding for study abroad.
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program offers scholarships of up to $5,000 to U.S. citizens and Pell grant (federal financial aid) recipients. Gilman encourages applications from students from diverse ethnic backgrounds; students going to non-traditional study abroad destinations; students in fields underrepresented in study abroad; and students with high financial need. Students studying a Critical Need Language (such as Mandarin Chinese or Turkish) are automatically considered for an additional $3,000 supplement for a total possible award of $8,000.
One in three Gilman applicants wins an award. Funding for fall, spring, and summer study is available. Application deadline is early March for summer or fall semester; early October for spring semester. Check website for application deadlines. A Gilman Info Session will be held on the SU campus on Friday, February 15, 2013 from 12:30 – 1:30pm at 111 Maxwell.
Visiting students should check with their study abroad office for additional pertinent information about applying for the Gilman.
The Turkish Coalition of America, for students participating on a study abroad program in Turkey. Specific scholarships are available to African-American, Native American, and Hispanic-American students. Scholarships also exist for students of Armenian, Bosnian, and Macedonian descent who plan to study abroad in Turkey. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. No deadline; rolling admissions.
The AASAP/UK Lord Acton Memorial Scholarship provides 1,000 British Pounds to a deserving study abroad undergraduate student who will be studying on a program offered by an AASAP/UK Full or Associate Member. (The SU-London program is a member so participants may apply for this award.) This merit-based scholarship is open to students with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Application deadline is early April.
The Fund for Education Abroad awards are intended to support students in high-quality, rigorous education abroad programs. FEA awards up to ten scholarships each year; awards for a semester can be up to $5,000. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled in a U.S. university or college. Application deadlines are due in early November to study during the following academic year.
Rainbow Scholarship - LGBT students who are applying for a scholarship through the Fund for Education Abroad (see above) may also choose to be considered for this award. FEA offers one scholarship per year (in an amount up to $5,000) to an LGBT student to take part in a high-quality study abroad program.
The NSEP Boren Award is a highly-competitive scholarship program offering $10,000 for a semester of study abroad and $20,000 for an academic year. Boren Scholarships are awarded with preference for countries, languages (Mandarin, Turkish), and topics of study critical to U.S. national security. Preference is given to students who will study abroad for longer periods of time, and who are highly motivated by the opportunity to work in the federal government. The NSEP Boren Award is open to undergraduates and graduates; students must be U.S. citizens at the time of application. Application deadline at SU is the end of January for study during the fall and/or spring of the following academic year. Summer-only programs (for $8,000 in funding) are limited to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students.
SU undergrad students should contact Prof. Francine D’Amico at (315) 443-2306. SU graduate students should contact Prof. Sue Wadley. Visiting students need to contact the Boren rep on their home campus.
The Critical Language Scholarship Program (CLS) provides fully-funded language instruction and cultural enrichment experiences for 7- 10 weeks overseas during the summer. The intensive summer language institutes entail 4- 5 hours of language instruction each day, 5 days a week for approximately one year’s worth of language study. The targeted critical languages include Chinese, Turkish, and a variety of others. Application deadline is in November. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and may be undergraduate or graduate students.
Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants are designed to help support undergraduates as they seek knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad. Open to any undergraduate student (you do not have to be a member) who has a cumulative GPA of at least 3.75 and who attends an institution with an active Phi Kappa Phi chapter. (SU has a chapter; visiting students should check if their home institution has a chapter.) Fifty grants are available at $1,000 each. Deadline is generally April 1.
Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan offers funding of $2,500/semester and $5,000/year to undergraduates who are U.S. citizens majoring in any field of study. Japanese language study is not a prerequisite. Deadline are early Ocober for study in the spring; early April for fall and acadmeic year. See website for exact dates.
The Morgan Stanley Scholarship offers two students scholarships of $7,500 who have an interest in economics and finance and who will study in Japan for the entire 2013-14 academic year. A research essay on a given topic is required. Deadline is early April for the following academic year.
Golden Key Study Abroad Scholarship offers a minimum of ten $1,000 scholarships to Golden Key members (collegiate honor society). Deadline is early March.
Global Scholars General Scholarships offer funding opportunities to both undergrads and grads. General award amounts vary and range in increments of $500 to $1,500. You must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen and must be enrolled in a North American college or university. Scholarship recipients will not receive their scholarship check before they begin their study abroad program. There are three application deadline dates per year; check website for exact application deadline for your period abroad.
Global Studies Foundation Grant for Student Travel and Study Abroad provides supplemental funds for U.S. citizens who are already studying abroad at an official study abroad program conducted by an accredited academic institution. Among the most significant selection criteria are academic performance, program merit, and potential to share their foreign experience with others. Non-traditional destinations (as defined by the U.S. Dept. of State and Defense) are preferred. Deadline is July 1.
STA Travel Scholar Award provides awards in increments of $2,500 to U.S. or Canadian citizens at the undergrad or grad level who are enrolled in a North American college or university. Eligible applicants must have a major (not a minor) in one of the following fields: photography; film and art; travel & tourism; international business; international studies; foreign language.
LIVFund awards two scholarships per month in the amount of $500 each. Scholarships are open to anyone 18 years or older who will be studying, interning, or volunteering in Latin America. Candidates may apply for the scholarship at any time beginning six months in advance of their program start date. Recipients are required to submit three entries to the LIVFund blog.
Corinne Jeannine Schillings Foundation offers study abroad scholarships to undergraduate female students who are Silver or Gold Award Girl Scouts and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Awards are available for semester and summer study.
Diversity Abroad offers five $500 awards each semester to winners of their video essay contest; applicants must submit a two-minute video essay answering the question: “How do you feel your experience abroad will prepare you for your future career?” The competition is open to those participating in a study abroad program offered by a Diversity Abroad partner organization. (Syracuse University is a partner organization, thus SU and visiting students participating on an SU Abroad program may apply for this scholarship.) Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and have a minimum 2.75 GPA. Economically disadvantaged students, ethnically diverse students, students with disabilities, first-generation college students, and students studying in non-traditional locations are encouraged to apply.
BG Scholarship application requires a short essay only. Applicants can be U.S. or international students with a minimum 2.0 GPA. One award per month is given in the amount of $300.
BrokerFish Scholarship offers a student of any nationality who has been accepted into a study abroad program the chance to win $1,000 by writing a 500-1000 word essay titled “What I Hope to Get from my Time Abroad.”
The Mark Twain Awards for Travel, offered by LetterBanc and Mortarboard, support deserving students who wish to enrich their education through exposure to people and places they would otherwise not encounter. Once awarded, the funds are unrestricted and can be used towards any local or international travel of any duration. Awards range between $500-$2,500. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so early submissions are strongly encouraged. To apply, create a username and password at http://letterbanc.com and then copy this link into your browser: http://www.letterbanc.com/submissions. You will be asked to submit a brief 250 word statement and some additional information. Finalists will be invited to share further details about their plans. For further information, contact danielzoughbie@letterbanc.com
Pacific Prime Global Diversity Scholarships awards a total of three scholarships of $1,000 each to students about to or currently studying internationally. Applicants must write a 700-1,500 word essay touching on some (or all) of the following topics: health, travel, diversity, education.
University Language Services Submit a photo along with a description of no more than 200 words describing what makes you glad you decided to study abroad. You could win their top prize of $500.
Here are some quick guidelines for writing a good essay. Remember, if you’re asking someone to give you thousands of dollars, you need to put thought, time, and energy into your application! Ask someone to proofread your work. (And don’t trust spellcheck!)
http://nationalscholarships.syr.edu
http://www.gocollege.com/financial-aid/scholarships/apply/essay-how-to.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Write-An-Effective-Scholarship-Essay&id=481711
http://www.internationalstudent.com/essay_writing/scholarship_essaysample.shtml