Scholarships

There are many scholarships designed specifically for education abroad. We strongly encourage you to consider applying as Rochester students have won these scholarships in the past. Both merit and need-based scholarships are available, so even if you can easily afford to pay for your term abroad, you should still consider applying. Studying abroad has associated out-of-pocket costs that you must prepare (and save!) for, even if you do receive a scholarship.

Special note for international students—Many national or federally sponsored scholarships (such as the Gilman and Boren awards) require U.S. citizenship or Permanent Resident status.  Be sure to carefully read eligibility requirements.

Many education abroad programs additionally offer scholarships to participants, regardless of citizenship (CIEE and IES Abroad, for example). Engineering majors may apply for a Hajim International Experience scholarship for summer, semester or academic year research, study, or internships.

Spend some time perusing the resources below for options.

Application Requirements

Scholarship application and eligibility requirements vary and researching and applying for scholarships will require time and effort on your part. Some applications require no more than a simple application form and a copy of your financial aid paperwork, while others may require these, a transcript, essays, and letters of recommendation. Scholarships represent an honor that will enhance your résumé and can be well worth the effort.

Recipient RequirementsIn order to promote education abroad opportunities, some University of Rochester and external scholarships require follow-up projects or other ‘give back’ by recipients. Students who do not complete the requirement by the stated deadline will have their scholarship rescinded.

For additional information, view the scholarships for rochester students information meeting presentation.

General Scholarships

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

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Description: Enables students who have limited financial means to participate in study abroad opportunities worldwide.

Eligibility: Students must be US Citizens receiving a Federal Pell Grant at the time of application and cannot be studying abroad in a country currently under a US Department of State Travel advisory of Level 3 or 4, or in Cuba. Summer programs must be at least three weeks long.

Deadline:

  • Summer: early October
  • Fall and full year: early March
  • Spring: early October

For tips on applying see the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship website.

Boren Scholarship

Description: This program is a US government program to promote study, and the study of critical languages, in certain non-western countries. Boren Scholarship recipients commit to working for at least one year in the federal government.

Eligibility: Must be a US citizen applying to a study abroad program in a country outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Summer scholarships are for STEM students only.

Deadline: early February for summer, fall, spring, and full year programs

For more information see the Boren Scholarship website.

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Region Specific Scholarships

Critical Language Scholarships

Description: This is a fully funded summer abroad program to help students gain mastery over one of the following critical languages:

  • Azerbaijani
  • Bangla
  • Hindi
  • Indonesian
  • Korean
  • Punjabi
  • Swahili
  • Turkish
  • Urdu
  • Arabic
  • Persian
  • Chinese
  • Japanese
  • Russian

Eligibility: Must be a US citizen and student can apply to one language only. Students must have at least one or two years of academic experience in these languages to be eligible.

Deadline: mid-November

See the Critical Language Scholarships website for more information.

Drucker Scholarship

Description: $5000 scholarship to study in Japan. Two scholarships are available each academic year.

Eligibility: University of Rochester undergraduates participating in University of Rochester semester programs in Japan. Preference will be given to students participating in a program at Waseda University or Meiji Gakuin University.

Application: No separate application is needed. Applicants to University of Rochester programs in Japan will be notified of a decision, through the Education Abroad Portal, by October 15 (for spring programs) and by March 15 (for fall programs).

Service Requirement: Recipients are required to write a letter to the donor after the study abroad semester. Letter must be accompanied with photos of students time abroad.

Freeman-Asia Scholarship

Description: Sponsored by the Institute for International Education, this scholarship is for study in the following locations:

  • Cambodia
  • China
  • Hong Kong
  • Indonesia
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Laos
  • Macao
  • Malaysia
  • Mongolia
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Taiwan
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam

Eligibility: US citizen or permanent resident, currently receiving need-based financial aid or can demonstrate a verifiable need for financial assistance.

Deadline: April 2nd, 2024 for summer, fall, full year, and spring

See the Freeman-Asia Scholarship website for more information.

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

Description: This is a merit-based scholarship for funding study, senior thesis research, and/or internships in Germany.

Eligibility: Sophomores and juniors looking to go abroad in Germany next year who demonstrate an interest in contemporary German and European affairs.

Deadline: end of January

See the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) website for more information.

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Program Specific Scholarships

Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE)

Description:CIEE offers both merit-based and need-based scholarships for students who are applying to participate in a study abroad program sponsored by CIEE.

Eligibility: varies by scholarship

Deadline: varies by scholarship

See the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) website for more information.

Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS)

Description: The institute offers four different scholarships for students to study with DIS in Denmark:

  • Need-Based Scholarship: Awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need.
  • Diversity Scholarship: Awarded to support students from populations that are underrepresented in study abroad such as those from diverse ethnic, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, and educational backgrounds, including first-generation college students.
  • The Anders Uhrskov Leadership Scholarship: This merit-based award is for students who have demonstrated leadership on their college campuses at home and who are dedicated to enhancing and building upon their global leadership by studying with DIS. (up to $10,000) (Awarded to a University of Rochester student in 2016!)
  • Jacob Buksti Memorial Scholarship: This merit-based award is for political science, international relations, economics, or related majors looking to pursue a career in politics. ($10,000)

Eligibility: Varies by scholarship

Deadlines:

  • Fall/full academic year: early May
  • Spring: mid-October
  • Summer: early April

See the Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS) website for more information.

Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship (CIEE)

Description: Sixteen students of color (nationwide) will be awarded a fully-funded, four-week fellowship in Ireland to follow in the footsteps of famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Each student’s program fee and travel costs will be covered for this four-week summer study abroad program.

Eligibility: Applicants must be current undergraduate freshman, sophomore, or junior and have a minimum 3.0 GPA. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership potential, communication skills, and history of service. 

Deadline: Applications are due in February (exact date varies, check application details for current deadline).

Learn more about this prestigious opportunity here. 

Hajim International Experience

Description: The Hajim International Experience Scholarship funded by The Hajim Dean’s Office offers grants for undergraduate students to pursue academic studies or credit-bearing, career-oriented and research internships abroad. Such international exchange is intended to better prepare Hajim students to assume significant roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world.

Eligibility: You must be enrolled in a Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences major, in good academic standing, have applied or intend to apply to one of the listed qualifying experiences, and complete an application and statement of purpose essay.

Deadline: All applications are due Thursday, December 14th, 2023 at 5 pm. Turn in your applications to rohan.palma@rochester.edu or at the Center for Education Abroad Office in 2-131 Dewey Hall. 

Access the application here. 

Hebrew University

Description: Hebrew University offers a variety of need-based and merit-based scholarships for students who plan to study abroad at its Rothberg International School.

  • Merit Scholarships: This scholarship award is in the amount of $6,000 for one year of study, and $3,000 for one semester of study.
  • Spring in Jerusalem Honors Program Scholarship: A limited number of merit awards are offered to highly qualified, motivated candidates participating in the Spring in Jerusalem Honors Program from universities throughout the United States.
  • Art Merit Scholarship: This scholarship award is in the amount of $6,000 for one year of study, and $3,000 for one semester of study.
  • Louis Levine Scholarship: The Louis Levine Scholarship is awarded to an outstanding student with a keen desire to further scientific knowledge in our ever-changing world.

Eligibility: varies by scholarship

Deadline: varies by scholarship

See the Hebrew University website for more information.

IES Abroad Scholarships & Financial Aid

Description: IES Abroad’s financial aid is designed to take the guessing out of study abroad financial aid and make it more equitable for all. With IES Abroad’s financial aid, you can apply for all IES Abroad financial aid with one single application, and you will know your total IES Abroad aid amount within five days of applying!

You can apply for IES Abroad aid even before you’ve applied for one of their programs on the IES Abroad website here: www.IESabroad.org/aid. Apply by November 1, 2023.

 

See the IES abroad website for more information.

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Additional Funding Resources

Crowdsourcing

Increasingly, students are finding non-traditional ways to finance their abroad experience including crowdsourcing using:

Note: The money received through crowdfunding is considered taxable income. Before making a request, you need to consider how receiving such funds will affect you.

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