Scholarships and Financial Aid for Education Abroad & Domestic Programs, Emerson College

Scholarships and Financial Aid for Education Abroad & Domestic Programs

Education Abroad Assistance Fund

This is a need-based award for Education Abroad & Domestic Programs that students can apply for via the Student Financial Services (SFS) portal. Students with demonstrated financial need can apply for this fund when applying for Global Pathways programs.

Let’s Go Fund

The Let's Go Fund is a need-based award for Global Pathways programs. Students can apply via the Student Financial Services (SFS) portal and must complete a FAFSA(if eligible) and a summer aid application for their program's academic year. Deadline to apply for summer funding is typically the end of February.

Kevin Bright Scholarship Fund

This award is an undergraduate need-based scholarship applicable to students going to Emerson Los Angeles (ELA). Students can apply through the SFS portal and must complete a FAFSA for the academic year that their program will take place to determine eligibility. Students who are not eligible to complete a FAFSA should follow instructions outlined on the SFS Portal. Applications are open twice per year. Deadlines can be found at the link above.

Emerson Enhancement Fund

The Emerson Enhancement Fund (EEF) invites Emerson College students with an identified financial need to enrich their collegiate experience by securing additional funding for extra-curricular programming, event attendance, creative and/or research projects. Awards can range from $250 to $4,000. This is a competitive, application-based fund and students must have demonstrated financial need to apply. Previous EEF recipients are not eligible to reapply in future semesters. Students may apply for EEF via their SFS portal at specific times of year. More information and deadlines can be found at the link above.

Student Government Association

If you’re a student, an organization, or even a member of SGA, use this as a database of information to support you during your time at Emerson. Graduate Students may be able to apply for funding for specific professional development opportunities through the GSA.

Outside Scholarships for Education Abroad & Domestic Programs

D.C. Program

The Washington Center (TWC) offers a variety of financial assistance opportunities to help students make a summer or semester in D.C. a reality.

Gilman Scholarship

The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide. The Gilman Scholarship enables American students to gain proficiency in diverse languages and cultures, skills that are critically important to their academic and career development. Scholarships of up to $5,000 are awarded based on need and application merit. An additional $3,000 Critical Need Language Award is available to students studying critical need languages, as determined by the U.S. Department of State.

Gilman-McCain Scholarship

The John S. McCain International Scholarship for Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship) provides awards of $5,000 for child and spousal dependents of active or activated United States military personnel during the time of application (including Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Space Force, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and USPHS Commissioned Corps) to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs. Applicants must be recipients of any type of Title IV federal financial aid during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving Title IV federal financial aid during their study abroad program or internship.

Fund for Education Abroad

FEA invests in deserving U.S. undergraduates who are least likely to study abroad. To be eligible for an FEA scholarship, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a college or university in the U.S., and you must be receiving academic credit at your home institution for your internship or study abroad program. Scholarships range from $1,000-$10,000, depending on program length.

Boren Scholarship

The Boren Scholarship provides unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. In exchange for funding, Boren Scholars commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation. Award amounts range from $8,000-$25,000, depending on length of study. Programs must be 8 weeks or longer.

Hosteling International Scholarships

HI’s Explore the World Travel Scholarship awards 25 General Explore the World Scholarships of $2,000 each for young Americans with demonstrated financial need to take an international trip that includes an educational or service component. Eligible applicants must be 18-30 years old, a US citizen, permanent resident or green card holder, and have a demonstrated financial need.

Through their First Passport Edition, 5 additional scholarships will be awarded to young Americans who have never had a passport. Recipients get a $3,000 stipend for travel using hostels, additional funds to cover passport fees, and a travel mentor to help plan their first trip abroad. These awards will go to completely new travelers who must meet the above requirements and also do not currently hold a U.S. passport.

Explore America Travel Scholarship

HI USA's Explore America program helps young Americans kickstart their travel dreams. Recipients are awarded a $1500 travel stipend and 4-7 free nights at a participating HI USA hostel of their choice. Eligible applicants must be 18-30 years old, a US citizen or permanent resident (including DACA recipients), and have a demonstrated financial need.

The Going Abroad Scholarship

Each year, four outstanding students will win $1,500 scholarships toward their upcoming study abroad program. The Going Study Abroad Scholarship is open to any citizen and/or resident of the United States (and its territories and possessions) who is enrolled full-time at an accredited institution of higher learning, at either the undergraduate or graduate level. The deadline for the Fall semester scholarship is March 15 at 11:59pm PST. The deadline for the Spring semester scholarship is October 15 at 11:59pm PST

Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship

This $1,000 scholarship is awarded biannually to passionate students who want to explore the world. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or currently studying in the US on a student visa, be a full-time undergraduate student in good academic standing at a four-year, degree-granting college or university in the U.S., and have applied to or been accepted into a study abroad program eligible for credit by your college or university. Awardees will also receive a travel backpack.

First Trip Scholarship

First trip provides up to $1,500 for travel to non-traditional study abroad locations for students who have never been abroad before. Supplemental scholarships are also available on top of this. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but it is recommended to apply at least 3 months in advance of departure date. Some non-traditional locations include Costa Rica, Mexico, China, Thailand, India, Morocco, South Africa, Vietnam, and many more!

Brenda Brown Passport Scholarship

This scholarship helps cover the cost of a first-time passport. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, have never owned a passport before, and be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.

Diversity Abroad Global Ambassadors Scholarship

The Global Ambassadors Program offers a $1,000 stipend for current undergraduate students and recent graduates who are planning to spend a semester or quarter studying, interning, volunteering, or teaching abroad or away. Global Ambassadors will serve as global correspondents, sharing their experiences to motivate other diverse students to go abroad/away and challenge them to rethink how study abroad experiences can be for everyone. Students from the following backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply: economically disadvantaged, ethnic & racially diverse, first-generation, LGBTQIA+, and students with disabilities. The fall application deadline is April 15.

First-Generation Global Scholars

First-Generation Global Scholars offers scholarships of $1,000 to support first-generation students or recent graduates planning to study away. Applicants must be currently enrolled full-time at a 2-year or 4-year college or university based in the United States or a recent graduate (1-3 years out). Study Away programs are identified as any program/internship in which students complete coursework for credit in a different state or country from their home institution.

Diverse International Women of Color Scholarship

The Diverse International Women of Color Study Abroad Scholarship is intended to assist women of color who are exceptional in their studies and in need of financial assistance to study abroad. DIWC will award $500 scholarships to women of color who have been accepted to an in-person study abroad program. Eligibility requirements: Be a woman of color but not limited to Black or African-American, Native American, Hispanic/Latina and Asian, a student and attend college or university in the United States, have a GPA of 2.7 or higher, accepted to study or intern abroad.

beGirl.world

beGirl.world Global Scholars will award one $2,000 scholarship to black female identifying college students who have been accepted to a study abroad program. The national scholarship is for one black female-identifying college student who is enrolled at an accredited college or university in the United States of America, Puerto Rico or the US Virgin Islands. Applicants must be female-identifying, at least 18 years of age at time of application, a U.S. citizen, and accepted into a study abroad program at time of application

Freeman-ASIA

Freeman Awards for Study in Asia is designed to support U.S.-based undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are planning to study overseas in East or Southeast Asia for 8 weeks or longer. The program’s goal is to increase the number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents with first-hand exposure to and understanding of Asia and its peoples and cultures. Award amounts range from $3,000-$7,000, depending on length of study.

U.S./Japan Bridging Scholarship

The Bridging Project offers scholarships to American undergraduate students participating in credit-bearing study-abroad programs in Japan for a semester or an academic year. Students can receive up to $2,500 for a semester and $4,500 for an academic year.

Watanabe Scholarship

The Toshizo Watanabe Endowed Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to American undergraduate and graduate students pursuing study abroad programs or international study in Japan. Students must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, currently in good academic standing, be enrolled in an exchange program or credit-bearing course of study at a university or approved academic center in Japan in the upcoming academic year, and demonstrate financial need for international study. Preference given to applicants who have been raised by a single parent or an orphan, are the first in family to attend or graduate from college, and applicants without international study experience or experience living abroad.

German Academic Exchange Service - DAAD

With more than 60,000 scholarships granted each year, DAAD claims that it is the largest academic exchange organization in the world. This service offers several scholarship programs, including one for highly qualified undergraduate students for study abroad, university language or summer courses, senior thesis research and/or internships in the Federal Republic of Germany.

*Available for both undergraduate and graduate students

**Many non-affiliated programs such as Arcadia Abroad, BU, CEA CAPA, CIEE, IFSA, etc. also have their own scholarships available.

Fully-Funded Programs

Critical Language Scholarship Program

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a summer study abroad opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages essential to America’s engagement with the world. The CLS Program is part of a U.S. government effort to expand dramatically the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages. Students of diverse disciplines and majors are encouraged to apply. Participants are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period, and later apply their critical language skills in their future professional careers.
*Available for both undergraduate and graduate students

The Douglass-O’Connell Global Internship

The Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship honors the legacy of the abolitionist and statesman with a fully funded 8-week summer internship program. 10 exceptional student leaders will be selected to participate in a work placement in an Irish organization and receive academic credit in Irish history and culture with a special exploration of the influence Daniel O’Connell had on Frederick Douglass and their lifetime legacies as successful businessmen and leaders of social change.

Future Nobel Laureates

During this fully-funded program, the selected students will participate in and receive credit for an online project-based course in intercultural communication and travel to Sweden for an international field experience, where they will attend sessions at the 2024 Nobel Week Dialogue: a collaborative event that brings some of the world's leading scientists, policy-makers, and thinkers together to explore scientific topics through a global lens. Led by distinguished international faculty leaders, scholarship recipients will tackle global challenges through action learning projects. Applicants must be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student in good standing at an institution of higher education; be fluent in written and spoken English; have access to reliable internet service, be available to participate in an online course that may include live sessions in early morning or late evening times; and be available to travel to Sweden December 6-12, 2024. Students from first-generation families are strongly encouraged to apply. Application deadline is May 12, 2024.

Fulbright Summer Institutes

The US-UK Fulbright Commission offers special Summer Institutes for US citizens to study in the UK. These summer programs provide the opportunity for US undergraduates, with at least two years of undergraduate study left to complete, to come to the UK on a three, four, five or six week academic and cultural summer program.

Fulbright Mitacs Globalink

The Fulbright-MITACS Globalink is intended for US Students interested in coming to Canada to undertake advanced research projects for 10 to 12 weeks (between May and August) in their area of interest. Projects will be drawn from a broad cross-section of research topics covering all academic disciplines and students will be placed with a university research project and undertake research projects under the supervision of a professor. Students will be given the opportunity to take part in professional training as well as extensive opportunity for cultural, social, and recreational experiences.

Rangel Summer Enrichment Program

This is a six-week summer program designed to provide undergraduate students with a deeper appreciation of current issues and trends in international affairs, a greater understanding of career opportunities in international affairs, and the enhanced knowledge and skills to pursue such careers. Students live at Howard University, attend classes, and participate in a variety of programs with foreign affairs professionals at Howard and at diverse locations around Washington, DC. The program provides two courses and a seminar that focuses on enhancing knowledge and skills related to U.S. foreign policy, economics, and writing. The program covers the costs for tuition, travel, housing, two meals per day, and a stipend of $3,300.

Humanity in Action Internships

Selected Fellows perform research on minority rights, intolerance, and democracy for five weeks every summer in Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Paris and Warsaw. Promotes collective exploration of social issues related to discrimination while encouraging informed dialogue. Available to students and recent graduates from the United States, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Turkey and Ukraine.

Blakemore Freeman Fellowships

Blakemore Freeman Fellowships are awarded for one academic year (two semesters or three quarters) of advanced level language study in East or Southeast Asia. Eligible languages are Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Khmer, Thai, and Vietnamese. Fellowships cover tuition, and a stipend for related educational expenses, basic living costs and transportation. The Blakemore Foundation makes grants for study only at specific language programs. To be eligible for a Blakemore Freeman Fellowship, an applicant must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, be pursuing a professional, business, or academic career that involves the regular use of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, or Khmer, have at least a bachelor's degree by the start of the grant, be at or near an advanced level in the language (must have completed the third year of language classes at the college level, through formal classroom study at a college or university and/or in rigorous college-level language programs), and be able to devote oneself exclusively to full-time intensive language study during the term of the grant. Grants are not made for part-time study or research.

Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange

The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals is a fellowship funded by the German Bundestag and U.S. Department of State, that annually provides 75 American and 75 German young professionals, between the ages of 18½–24, the opportunity to spend one year in each other’s countries, studying, interning, and living with hosts on a cultural immersion program. The program consists of three phases: Two months of intensive German language training, one semester of classes in one’s academic or career field at a university, technical or professional school, and three to five month internship in one’s career field. CBYX is open to candidates in all career fields, and applicants from a broad range of backgrounds are selected for the program each year. This funded fellowship opportunity annually covers basic living costs for all participants including round-trip international airfare, tuition, housing, monthly stipend to cover basic costs of living, program-related travel within Germany, and international health insurance.

PPIA Junior Summer Institute

The PPIA Junior Summer Institute (JSI) Fellowship Program is a rigorous 7 week academic graduate-level preparation program for undergraduate juniors committed to public service careers. The purpose of the JSI Fellowship is to prepare students to obtain a Master’s or a joint degree in public policy, public administration, international affairs, or a related field. In addition to the opportunities that this network provides for mentoring and career development, our alumni network has the opportunity to receive financial support for their graduate school education if they attend one of the programs in our Graduate School Consortium. The JSI curriculum includes economics, statistics, domestic/international policy issues, and leadership topics, all designed to sharpen the students’ quantitative, analytic, and communication skills.

Scholarships and Financial Aid for Education Abroad & Domestic Programs