How to Apply for Scholarships to Study Abroad

Studying abroad is the experience of a lifetime. It gives students a chance to step outside of their comfort zone and explore a culture different than their own.

Unfortunately, many students believe that they can’t afford to study abroad. Studying abroad is expensive, but there are scholarships available to make it affordable.

Here are just a few ways that you can receive scholarships to study abroad!

Study Abroad Office

A great starting point to finding study abroad scholarships is from your home university. Most colleges and universities have a study abroad office.

The study abroad office should be able to offer you several opportunities. They might offer students subsidized study abroad programs. They also might have a partnership with a school abroad or have a branch in another country. If you receive financial aid from your school, check to see if you can apply that money to study abroad.

Start by scheduling a visit with an advisor in your school’s study abroad office. They should be able to help you move forward from there.

Do Your Research

After checking with your school’s study abroad office, the next step is good old Google. This is going to take some work on your part.

Instead of performing a general search for scholarships abroad, get specific. Think about what’s

important to you. For example:

• Is there something specific you want to study?
  

• Is there somewhere specific you want to study?

Depending on where and what you want to study, you will find different scholarships.

Do you want to continue studying your major while abroad? Search for study abroad scholarships according to your major.

For example, a medical student can search for medical study abroad scholarships. The NIH offers Marshall Scholarships. These scholarships award scientists and medical students to study in the UK.

Another option to find scholarships is to search for universities in the country you want to study in. Institutions throughout the world want to include more diversity in their student body. For this reason, they offer scholarships to international students.

Depending on the country you wish to study in, finding a scholarship may look a bit different. Here are things to consider for a few of the most popular study abroad destinations.

How to Apply for Scholarships to Study Abroad in Australia

Beaches. Surfing. Sun. What’s not to like? These are only some of the reasons the land down under is a very popular place to study abroad.

The best way to find scholarships in Australia is to look at Australian universities. Many universities offer scholarships to international students wishing to study abroad. The University of Melbourne, Australian National University, La Trobe University, and Macquarie University all offer scholarships.

Another great place to check for scholarships is with the Australian government. One such program is Destination Australia. International students can win up to $15,000 to study at an Australian university.

How to Apply for Scholarships to Study Abroad in the UK

If Harry Potter, and the royal family, are more your cup of afternoon tea, you might consider studying in the UK. And not only for those reasons! You can find many scholarship to study abroad there.

To win a scholarship to study in the UK, you need to be in very good academic standing as the competition is tough.

Over 1,500 students win a Chevening Scholarship. This awards students scholarships for a master’s degree at any of the UK’s top universities. The Commonwealth Scholarships also award students to pursue their master’s or PhD.

A great institution to check with is the American Institute for Foreign Study. They offer several programs in English and scholarships.

Scholarships to Study Abroad in Asia

If you’re thinking of studying abroad in Asia, there are several government scholarships you can apply to. The National Security Education Program awards Boren Scholarships. Students can use these scholarships to study abroad all over the world, including Asian countries. The scholarship covers all study abroad fees and even airfare.

Another program that the government funds is the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students. They must be receiving Federal Pell Grant funding to study abroad. Around 2,300 students win a scholarship of up to $5,000.

How to Apply for Scholarships to Study Abroad in India

India is another popular study abroad destination.

Students can look into the School for International Training. SIT offers several opportunities for students wishing to study abroad. 

There are also several American Universities which offer study abroad programs in India. The University of Pittsburgh and the University of New York-Stony Brook both offer study abroad programs in India.

How to Apply for Scholarships to Study Abroad in Singapore

There are several organizations that award students scholarships to study in Singapore. The Singapore Millennium Foundation offers research grants to students to study in Singapore.

Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarships are also awarded to students wishing to study in Singapore. Students must show academic merit and financial need. Students must also give a presentation on their abroad program to a Rotary audience.

How to Apply for Scholarships to Study Abroad in Malaysia

Malaysia is becoming one of the most popular study abroad destinations. It is a modern country which offers comfortable living facilities and quality education.

Freeman Asia awards scholarships to undergraduate students to study in Malaysia. They can receive up to $7,000.

Final Thoughts 

Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity to learn, grow, and discover the world. Don’t dismiss your study abroad dreams because of high costs. Studying abroad may be expensive, but there are plenty of ways that you get financial aid to pay for all or some of the costs.