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

Federal scholarships for study abroad

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

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.

Boren Awards

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.

Fulbright US Student Program and CLS

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

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. 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.

Provider and university scholarships

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. 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.

Use the federal aid you already have

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. 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.

For Canadian, British and Australian students

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. British students can apply to the UK's Turing Scheme, which funds study and work periods abroad. Australian students can draw on OS-HELP loans for overseas study. Our study abroad hub points students of every nationality to the right starting place.

How to apply and stack awards

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.