Money is the number one reason US students skip study abroad, which is a shame, because the dedicated study abroad scholarships for US students are far more generous than most people realize. Federal awards, nonprofit grants and provider-specific money exist precisely so that cost does not decide who goes abroad, and Pell-eligible students in particular have some of the best-funded options in the world.
This is the full list worth knowing in 2026: who funds what, who qualifies, how much, and how to stack the awards together.
Key takeaways
- The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship is the big one: up to $5,000, or $8,000 for critical languages or STEM, for Pell Grant recipients.
- Boren Awards fund up to $25,000 for critical-language study in exchange for federal service.
- The Fund for Education Abroad gives up to $5,000, prioritizing underrepresented students.
- Fulbright US Student grants fund a year abroad after graduation, and CLS pays for summer language study.
- Providers such as CIEE, SIT, API and IES, plus most universities, run their own study abroad grants.
- Your Pell Grant and federal loans travel with you on approved programs, money you are already entitled to.
Every one of those lines is covered in detail below, with the exact award amounts, the eligibility conditions and the practical steps for applying without missing a deadline.
Federal scholarships for study abroad
Which federal scholarship should a US student apply for first?
Start with the awards the US government runs specifically for students going abroad. Three dominate: the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship, the Boren Awards and the Critical Language Scholarship, with the Fulbright US Student Program as the strongest option after graduation. They are the largest and most predictable pots of study abroad scholarships for US students, all of them have published deadlines, and none of them require you to have a perfect transcript. If you can only apply for two things this cycle, make them Gilman and the closest nonprofit award your university lists.
What does the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship pay?
If you receive a Pell Grant, Gilman (gilmanscholarship.org) is the single most important award you can apply for. It pays up to $5,000 for a semester or summer program and up to $8,000 when you study a critical language or major in STEM. It is a federal program for US undergraduates, applications open twice a year, and the success rate is far better than for most named scholarships, simply because so many eligible students never apply.
How much do Boren Awards pay, and what is the catch?
Boren (borenawards.org) funds study abroad tied to critical languages and national security priorities, with undergraduate scholarships up to $25,000. Recipients commit to working in the federal government for a year after graduation. It is competitive, but for students learning Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Portuguese or similar languages, it is the most generous US award available.
What do the Fulbright US Student Program and CLS fund?
For graduating seniors and recent graduates, the Fulbright US Student Program (usstudentprograms.org) funds a year of research or English teaching abroad, with deadlines typically in early October. The Critical Language Scholarship (clscholarship.org) covers an intensive summer of language study in a critical language, fully funded and with no service requirement.
Nonprofit and foundation awards
Which nonprofit grants fund study abroad for US students?
The Fund for Education Abroad (fundforeducationabroad.org) awards up to $5,000 with a strong commitment to students from underrepresented backgrounds, and it runs special grants including the Rainbow Scholarship for LGBTQ+ students. Phi Kappa Phi offers smaller study abroad grants to its members. These nonprofit awards are the second pillar of study abroad scholarships for US students, because they sit outside the federal system entirely and therefore do not compete with your Gilman application.
Where should I search for scholarship deadlines?
Rather than browsing random scholarship databases, stick to vetted lists and the reputable names above, which have predictable deadlines and clear eligibility rules. Our scholarship list tracks the main cycles. A short, curated list you actually finish beats a hundred-entry database you abandon in week two, especially when every essay prompt takes a weekend to write properly.
Provider and university scholarships
What do CIEE, SIT, API and IES Abroad pay?
Every major provider runs its own funding. CIEE, SIT, API Abroad and IES Abroad all publish grant programs, often $500 to $2,000, and many offer early-booking discounts worth pursuing. These provider awards are the fastest money in the whole study abroad scholarships for US students stack, because the application is usually short and the decision comes back quickly.
Does my university offer study abroad funding of its own?
Your own university is next: study abroad offices frequently hold small awards for students studying at partner institutions, and Honors colleges and academic departments have travel funds that go unclaimed every year. Ask directly rather than assuming nothing exists. The unclaimed funds are real, they are usually need-blind, and almost nobody outside that office knows they exist.
Use the federal aid you already have
Does my Pell Grant still work on an approved study abroad program?
Before hunting for new money, remember the money you already qualify for. Federal Pell Grants and Stafford loans apply to approved, credit-bearing study abroad programs, so the rules treat studying abroad almost like a semester on campus. This is the single most underused element of study abroad scholarships for US students: not a scholarship at all, but aid you were already granted that many students assume expires at the airport.
How do I turn the aid I already have into a workable plan?
A single conversation with your financial aid office can unlock several thousand dollars you were not counting on. The fund your studies abroad guide explains how to combine aid, grants and savings into one workable plan. Take a printed cost estimate from your provider to that meeting, because a specific number gets a specific answer.
For Canadian, British and Australian students
What funding is available to Canadian students going abroad?
Most of the awards above are for US citizens, but the equivalent options exist elsewhere. Canadian students should check their university's exchange scholarships and provincial loan programs, which often follow approved study abroad, and the Global Skills Opportunity programme, which funds outbound mobility for underrepresented students.
What can British and Australian students claim?
British students can apply to the UK's Turing Scheme, which funds study and work periods abroad, and Australian students can draw on OS-HELP loans for overseas study or on New Colombo Plan Mobility Grants for Indo-Pacific study and internships. Our study abroad hub points students of every nationality to the right starting place.
Study Abroad Scholarships for US Students: what this guide covers
This guide explains everything a Pakistani student needs to know about study abroad scholarships for US students, including eligibility, costs, timelines and practical steps. Use the sections above to find the exact information you need, or bookmark this page and return as your application progresses. Every question-style heading below is written to be searched directly, so you can jump to the one answer you need without reading end to end.
How to apply and stack awards
How early should I start applying for study abroad funding?
Apply early and apply to several: Gilman, the Fund for Education Abroad and your university's grant are usually combinable, and each uses essays that take time to polish. File federal and nonprofit applications in their fall and spring cycles, and provider applications as soon as they open. In practice, a Pell-eligible student can assemble $8,000 to $13,000 from Gilman, FEA and provider grants on top of existing aid, enough to cover most of a European semester.
Can study abroad scholarships for US students be combined with each other?
Almost always, yes. The majority of study abroad funding sources are designed to complement rather than duplicate one another, and only a small number impose restrictions such as requiring a specific provider or destination. Read the combining clause in each award before you accept anything, and if the wording is unclear, ask the administrator directly in writing.
Federal Awards Specifically for US Students Going Abroad
The US federal government funds several scholarships exclusively for American students studying or interning abroad. The most prominent is the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which provides up to $5,000 for semester or summer study abroad, with an additional $3,000 available for students studying critical languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean or Russian. Gilman is specifically for students receiving a Federal Pell Grant, which means it targets students with demonstrated financial need. The programme is administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE) and awards several thousand scholarships each cycle.
What funding and benefits does study abroad scholarships for US students provide?
The Boren Awards, funded through the National Security Education Program, offer a different kind of support. Boren Scholarships provide up to $25,000 for undergraduate study abroad in regions critical to US interests, including Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Boren Fellowships support graduate students with up to $30,000. In exchange, recipients commit to working in a federal national security role for at least one year after graduation. The service requirement is meaningful: it opens doors to agencies like the State Department, USAID, the intelligence community and the Department of Defence.
What does study abroad scholarships for US students cover?
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Programme funds intensive summer language study in thirteen languages deemed critical to US national security, from Swahili and Hindi to Azerbaijani and Indonesian. CLS covers all programme costs including travel, housing, meals and instruction, making it one of the most generously funded summer programmes available to US undergraduates and graduates. No service commitment is required, though recipients are encouraged to pursue careers related to their language study.
What Study abroad scholarships for US students tips should you follow?
The David L. Boren Scholarship and Fellowship, while sometimes confused with the Gilman, serve a distinct purpose: they fund overseas study in areas and languages that are underrepresented in traditional study abroad. Students targeting Western Europe, Australia or New Zealand will not qualify for Boren, but those heading to the Middle East, Central Asia or sub-Saharan Africa will find one of the most generous federal funding sources available.
Which study abroad scholarships for US students tips actually work?
The Fulbright US Student Programme, while primarily a post-graduation award, also funds research and English teaching assistantships abroad. The Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship places US graduates in classrooms overseas for a year, providing a stipend, health insurance and travel support. The Fulbright Study/Research Award funds independent research projects in over 140 countries. Both are highly competitive but provide transformative international experience.
Who administers the biggest federal award for study abroad?
The Institute of International Education administers the Gilman Scholarship, awarding several thousand awards each cycle to Pell-eligible undergraduates. Because the pool is large and the eligibility bar is simply receiving a Pell Grant, the effective competition rate is far lower than the applicant numbers suggest, and a substantial share of students who could win never submit an application at all.
Do my federal aid awards follow me overseas?
A critical and frequently overlooked fact is that federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, Direct Loans and Federal Work-Study, can typically be used for approved study abroad programmes. The key requirement is that the programme must be approved by your home university and must count toward your degree. If your study abroad office has signed off on the programme, your FAFSA-based aid generally follows you abroad.
Nonprofit and Foundation Scholarships for US Students
Outside the federal government, a robust ecosystem of nonprofit and foundation scholarships supports US students going abroad. The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) awards scholarships of up to $10,000 for study abroad programmes lasting four weeks or more. FEA particularly values applicants from underrepresented groups, including first-generation college students, minority students and those attending community colleges. The application typically opens in the autumn and requires a personal essay, a study abroad plan and a financial need statement. These nonprofit awards are essential to the wider category of study abroad scholarships for US students because they add money where federal grants run out.
What are the study abroad scholarships for US students requirements?
The Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship targets students who are already Pell Grant recipients and plan to study abroad for a semester or year. Awards of $1,000 to $10,000 are given, and the application is relatively straightforward, making it a good option for students who want to apply for multiple scholarships simultaneously without exhausting themselves on essay requirements.
How do you apply for study abroad scholarships for US students?
The Freeman-Asia Scholarship supports US citizens and permanent residents who plan to study in East or Southeast Asia. Awards range from $3,000 for summer programmes to $7,000 for semester-length study, and the programme particularly values applicants who demonstrate a clear plan for how their Asian studies will contribute to their career and to US-Asia relations. The application requires a study plan, a personal statement and a financial need analysis.
What is Study abroad scholarships for US students 2026?
The Diversity Abroad Network administers several scholarships aimed at increasing participation in study abroad among students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. These awards vary in amount and are often paired with mentoring and professional development support, which adds value beyond the financial award itself.
The Rhodes, Marshall and Gates Cambridge Scholarships, while primarily for postgraduate study in the UK, also represent significant funding opportunities for US students who want to study abroad after completing their undergraduate degree. These are covered in detail in separate guides, but it is worth noting that they represent some of the most prestigious and generously funded study abroad opportunities available to American students.
Study abroad scholarships for US students eligibility: who qualifies?
The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship deserves special attention because it is the largest and most widely accessed federal study abroad award. With thousands of scholarships awarded each year, it represents the single most important funding source for Pell-eligible students who want to study abroad. The application cycle opens twice a year, for summer and for semester programmes, and students who are rejected in one cycle can reapply in the next.
How much does study abroad scholarships for US students cost?
This means that students who qualify for Pell Grants may be able to stack federal aid with external scholarships, dramatically reducing the out-of-pocket cost of studying abroad. For example, a student receiving $5,000 in Pell Grant aid and $5,000 from the Gilman Scholarship has already covered $10,000 in programme costs before applying to any additional scholarships or using loans.
Private student loans are also an option for study abroad, though they should be used carefully. Interest rates and repayment terms vary by lender, and students should exhaust all grant and scholarship options before turning to loans. Your university's financial aid office can advise on which loan programmes are compatible with your specific study abroad arrangement.
Study abroad scholarships for US students visa process
Federal Work-Study does not usually transfer abroad, since you will not be working at your home institution, but some study abroad programmes offer on-site part-time work opportunities that can help offset living costs. The specifics depend on your destination country's visa rules, which typically restrict how many hours a student visa holder can work per week.
Some universities also offer their own financial aid for study abroad, which may include tuition waivers, need-based grants or merit scholarships. These awards vary by institution, and the best way to find them is through your study abroad office or your university's financial aid office. Some universities guarantee that your existing financial aid package applies to approved study abroad programmes at no additional cost, while others adjust the package based on the cost of living in your destination country.
University-Specific and Provider-Specific Scholarships
What do IES Abroad and CIEE actually award?
Many study abroad programme providers offer their own scholarships, which are separate from any federal or nonprofit funding you might receive. The Institute for the International Education of Students (IES Abroad), one of the largest study abroad providers, offers need-based scholarships of $1,000 to $5,000 as well as merit-based awards. CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange) runs similar scholarship programmes, with awards ranging from $2,000 to $8,000 for semester and summer programmes. Because provider decisions often come within weeks, these are the awards worth applying for first while federal money is still pending.
Can a foreign university waive my tuition fees?
Direct enrollment at a foreign university often comes with its own financial support. Many European universities, particularly in the UK, Scotland and Ireland, offer tuition waivers or partial scholarships to visiting students from partner institutions in the US. Your study abroad office is the best source of information on which partnerships carry financial support, because these arrangements are typically negotiated institution to institution and are not widely advertised.
How much can small university-level awards add up to?
Your home university may also offer study abroad scholarships of its own. These are often smaller than federal awards, ranging from $500 to $3,000, but they are frequently less competitive because the applicant pool is limited to your own student body. Check with your study abroad office, your department and your college's advising centre for award opportunities that may not appear in online scholarship databases.
What is the stacking strategy for small awards?
The strategy of stacking multiple smaller awards is worth emphasising. A student might receive $2,000 from their university's study abroad office, $3,000 from a provider scholarship, $5,000 from the Gilman and use $5,000 in Pell Grant aid, totalling $15,000 in non-loan funding. This kind of layering is how students who would otherwise assume study abroad is unaffordable make it work financially, and it is the core strategy behind most of the funding examples in this guide.
What do AIFS and API Abroad offer?
The AIFS Study Abroad Scholarship and the API Scholarship are additional provider-specific awards worth investigating. AIFS offers scholarships of up to $3,000 for its programmes in over 20 countries, and API provides scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,500 for students in its study and intern abroad programmes. These awards often have fewer applicants than national scholarships, which improves your odds of winning.
Scholarships for Non-US Students Planning to Study Abroad
What funding exists for Canadian and British students?
Students from countries other than the United States have their own set of study abroad scholarships, and while this guide focuses on US students, it is useful to note the major international alternatives for context. Canadian students can access the Global Skills Opportunity programme, which funds outbound mobility for underrepresented students. British students benefit from the Turing Scheme, which replaced Erasmus+ funding after Brexit and provides government grants for study and work placements abroad.
What can Australian students apply for?
Australian students can apply for the New Colombo Plan Mobility Grants, which fund study and internships in the Indo-Pacific region. These government-funded programmes reflect a global trend: most major economies now recognise that outward student mobility builds the international competence their workforce needs.
Which fully funded routes exist for Pakistani students?
For Pakistani students, the major fully funded routes include the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (for study in Europe), the Fulbright Foreign Student Program (for study in the US), the Commonwealth Scholarship (for study in the UK) and the Turkiye Burslari (for study in Turkey). These are covered in detail in separate guides on this site, but the principle is the same: government-funded scholarships exist in most countries and are the primary route for students who cannot self-fund international education.
Where else should international students look for funding?
The takeaway for all international students is to check with their home country's education ministry, their prospective host university and independent scholarship databases such as ScholarshipPortal, DAAD and Studyportals. The funding landscape is large, but it requires proactive research to navigate.
Should developing-country students check for bilateral agreements?
Students from developing countries should also investigate whether their home country has bilateral scholarship agreements with target study destinations. Many countries, including Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Kenya, have government-to-government scholarship schemes that are not widely known but provide substantial funding for students who meet the eligibility criteria. A short email to your ministry's scholarship cell can reveal schemes that never appear in public search results.
Do good grades decide who wins these scholarships?
Winning study abroad scholarships requires more than good grades. The application strategy matters as much as the academic record, and students who approach the process systematically tend to win more funding than those who apply randomly. Treat the application as a course assignment with a deadline, not as a formality to be completed the night before it closes.
Stacking Study Abroad Scholarships for US Students: How to Combine Multiple Awards
Why is stacking the most effective strategy?
The single most effective strategy for funding study abroad is stacking multiple scholarships together, rather than relying on one large award. Most students assume that scholarships are mutually exclusive, but in reality the majority of study abroad funding sources can be combined. A student who receives $5,000 from the Gilman Scholarship, $3,000 from a provider scholarship, $2,000 from their university's study abroad office and $5,000 in Pell Grant aid has raised $15,000 in non-loan funding, which is enough to cover the full cost of many semester programmes in Europe and a substantial portion of the cost in more expensive destinations.
Which awards can legally be combined?
The key to successful stacking is understanding each scholarship's rules about combining awards. The Gilman Scholarship, for example, can be combined with most other forms of financial aid, including federal grants, university scholarships and provider awards. Some provider scholarships have similar rules, while others may reduce their award if you receive external funding. Checking the fine print of each award before you commit prevents unpleasant surprises, and it is far easier to check rules now than to negotiate a clawback later.
How do you manage different deadlines and notification dates?
Timing is the practical challenge of stacking. Different scholarships have different deadlines, application requirements and notification timelines, which means you may receive some awards before you hear back from others. Managing this uncertainty requires keeping a detailed spreadsheet of every application, its deadline, its required documents and its notification date. Submitting applications in order of deadline and tracking which ones you have received or been rejected from allows you to make informed decisions about your study abroad plans.
What is the practical order of operations once awards arrive?
A practical approach is to apply for every scholarship you are eligible for simultaneously, accept every award you receive, and then reconcile any conflicts before you finalise your study abroad programme. Some scholarships may require you to study at a specific provider or in a specific country, which could limit your options. Understanding these constraints early allows you to choose a programme that satisfies all your award requirements rather than being forced to give up an award because your programme does not qualify.
What Happens After You Win: Managing Multiple Awards
Is it a problem to win several study abroad awards at once?
Winning multiple scholarships is a wonderful problem to have, but it requires careful management to ensure that accepting one award does not disqualify you from another. Most study abroad scholarships allow you to combine them with other forms of financial aid, but the specific rules vary, and failing to understand these rules can result in an award being reduced or revoked.
What should you check in the terms and conditions?
The first step after receiving a scholarship offer is to read the terms and conditions carefully, paying particular attention to any clauses about combining awards, notification requirements and conditions of acceptance. Some scholarships require you to notify them within a specified period if you receive another award, and some may reduce their payout if your total funding exceeds the total cost of your programme.
Should you ask funders directly about combining rules?
Contacting the scholarship administrator directly to ask about combining rules is always appropriate and demonstrates the kind of responsible behaviour that funders value. Keep the reply, because if a question comes up later about your award total, the written answer is the thing that settles it.
How do you budget several awards without leaving gaps?
Once you have confirmed that your awards are compatible, creating a budget that allocates each award to specific costs, such as tuition, housing, flights and personal expenses, ensures that you have sufficient funds for every category and prevents the situation where one category is over-funded while another is short.
What does the Gilman Scholarship essay ask you to write?
The Gilman Scholarship essay is the most important component of your application, and understanding what reviewers are looking for gives you a significant advantage over the thousands of other applicants competing for the same awards. The essay prompt asks you to describe how your study abroad programme will help you achieve your academic and career goals and how you will share your experience with your community after you return.
How do you write a strong, winning Gilman essay?
This two-part structure is important: reviewers want to see both forward-looking ambition and a commitment to giving back, which reflects the programme's broader mission of building international competence across the US student population. The strongest Gilman essays are specific, concrete and personal. Rather than writing in general terms about the importance of cultural exchange, describe a particular skill you will develop, a particular course you will take or a particular project you will complete that advances your career goals. Then explain how you will share that experience with your community, whether through a presentation at your university, a blog, a mentorship programme or a community event.
Who does the Gilman programme prioritise?
The Gilman programme values applicants from underrepresented backgrounds, including first-generation college students, students with disabilities, students in underrepresented fields and students from minority backgrounds. If any of these categories apply to you, the essay is an opportunity to explain how your background shapes your perspective and how studying abroad will be particularly transformative for someone with your experiences.
How long should the Gilman essay be, and who should review it?
Keep the essay within the word limit, typically 3,000 to 4,000 characters, and revise it multiple times before submission. A clear, well-structured essay that directly answers the prompt is far more compelling than a beautifully written essay that wanders off topic. Having a writing centre advisor, professor or peer review your essay before you submit it is a small investment that can make the difference between winning and losing the award.
Scholarship Deadlines: A Month-by-Month Calendar
When do the major federal deadlines fall?
Missing a scholarship deadline is the single most common reason qualified students miss out on study abroad funding, and maintaining a clear calendar of deadlines is the simplest way to prevent this avoidable mistake. The major federal scholarship deadlines cluster in the autumn and early winter, with the Gilman Scholarship typically closing in October for summer programmes and in March for autumn and spring programmes. The Boren Awards close in January or February, and the Critical Language Scholarship closes in November.
When do nonprofit, provider and university deadlines fall?
Nonprofit awards like the Fund for Education Abroad typically close in the autumn, between September and December, while provider-specific scholarships may have rolling deadlines or deadlines that vary by programme start date. University-level scholarships often have the earliest deadlines, with some closing as early as October for the following academic year, which means the office you forget to contact in September is the office that already gave the money away.
How do you build a deadline tracking system?
A practical approach is to create a spreadsheet in January that lists every scholarship you plan to apply for, its deadline, the required documents, the essay prompts and the submission status. Update this spreadsheet weekly and set calendar reminders for two weeks before each deadline, one week before and on the day itself.
What is the three-stage reminder system?
The two-week reminder is your signal to finalise your essay and request recommendation letters; the one-week reminder is your signal to proofread and submit; and the day-of reminder is your backup in case you have not yet submitted. This three-stage reminder system, combined with a well-maintained spreadsheet, virtually eliminates the risk of missing a deadline. It also allows you to prioritise your effort: if two scholarships have the same deadline, you can allocate more time to the one with the higher award value or the better fit for your profile.
Scholarship Application Mistakes That Cost Students Funding
Why is submitting a generic essay a costly mistake?
Every scholarship cycle, talented students lose funding not because they lacked qualifications but because of avoidable mistakes in their applications. The most frequent error is submitting a generic, one-size-fits-all essay that does not address the specific scholarship's values, criteria or prompt. Reviewers can immediately tell when an essay has been recycled from another application, and it signals a lack of genuine interest in that particular award.
What happens if you ignore the application instructions?
A second common mistake is ignoring the instructions. If a scholarship specifies a word limit, a font size, a file format or a set of required documents, deviating from those specifications signals that you cannot follow directions, which is not the impression you want to make. Read the instructions twice, and treat a checklist of requirements as the final step before you upload anything.
When should you request recommendation letters?
A third mistake is waiting until the deadline to request recommendation letters. Professors and supervisors need time to write thoughtful letters, and a request sent the day before the deadline forces your recommender to rush, which usually results in a weaker letter. Giving recommenders at least three weeks notice and providing them with your resume, your study plan and a summary of the scholarship's criteria helps them write letters that are specific and aligned with what the reviewers are looking for.
Why does proofreading matter so much?
A fourth mistake is failing to proofread. Spelling errors, grammatical mistakes and inconsistent formatting undermine the impression of academic excellence that you are trying to convey, and they are entirely preventable with a careful review before submission. Read your essay aloud once, because your ear catches errors that your eye slides past.
Is it a mistake to apply when you feel unqualified?
A fifth mistake is not applying because you assume you are not competitive. Many students skip scholarships because they believe the award is for students with better grades or more impressive resumes, but scholarships like the Gilman and FEA are specifically designed for students with financial need, and your financial background may be a strength, not a weakness, in the eyes of the reviewer.
What is the real lesson about process and talent?
The overarching lesson is that scholarship success is as much about process as it is about talent, and students who treat the application with the same seriousness they bring to their coursework consistently outperform those who do not. The students who win are rarely the most qualified on paper; they are the ones who actually submitted.
How do I get the most from my university study abroad office?
Your university's study abroad office is one of the most underutilised resources available to US students, and learning to use it effectively can save you time, money and frustration. The office maintains a database of approved programmes, which is the safest place to start your search, because programmes on the approved list have already been vetted for credit transfer and academic quality. The office also provides pre-departure orientation sessions, which cover everything from health and safety to credit transfer to cultural adjustment, and attending these sessions is an investment of a few hours that pays off in preventing avoidable problems abroad. The study abroad advisor can also help you identify scholarships specific to your university, because many institutions fund study abroad through alumni donations, departmental budgets and institutional partnerships that are not advertised publicly.
Why should I build a relationship with my advisor early?
Building a relationship with your study abroad advisor early, ideally a year before you plan to go, means you can receive guidance throughout the entire process, from choosing a programme to applying for funding to managing the logistics of your departure. Most students who use their study abroad office effectively report that the process is far less stressful and the financial outcomes are significantly better than those of students who navigate the process alone.
Official sources and references
- scholars4dev.com โ official information and resources.
- topuniversities.com โ official information and resources.
- timeshighereducation.com โ official information and resources.
Study-abroad funds for US students
The main funding layers for US undergraduates studying abroad.
| Source | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Federal grants/loans | Up to cost of attendance | Must apply by FAFSA |
| Gilman | Up to $5,000 | Needs + at least 4 weeks |
| Boren | Up to $25,000 | Critical languages |
| Fulbright US | Grant | Graduate/research |
| School travel grants | Varies | Office of Global Ed |
Related reading
- Scholarships for Pakistani Students Abroad (2026)
- fully funded scholarships complete guide
- How to Find Scholarships You're Eligible For
