Students from across IU received over $9 million last year in scholarships, fellowships, grants, and federal loans to fund international opportunities. The biggest advantage to applying for scholarships, fellowships, and grants is that it doesn't need to be paid back! It is free money to help you study abroad. Eligibility requirements for each funding source vary, but may include:
type of overseas experience
location of program
term of study
major/concentration
diversity characteristics
grade point average
evidence of financial need
SPH-B abroad scholarship Amount of Award: $500 - $1000
The SPH-B Study Abroad Scholarship is designed to support students participating in an SPH-B-led international program during spring, summer, or semester terms. To be eligible, students must have:
A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.8
A minimum GPA of 3.0 in their major
This scholarship aims to reduce financial barriers and encourage global learning experiences that align with students’ academic and professional goals.
Indiana University scholarships
Amount of Award: Varies Many academic departments across campus offer students from their departments scholarships for study abroad that may be used toward any IU approved overseas experiences.
If you are a major or minor in a department other than O'Neill, make sure to check with your department to discover additional funding opportunities:
Amount of Award: $500-$4,000 Eligible students must enrolled at IU Bloomington full-time and be in any one of the following programs:
21st Century Scholars Program
Groups Scholars Program
Hudson & Holland Scholars Program
Academic Support Center (OVPDEMA-funded tutors only)
FASE Mentoring Program (FASE mentors only)
To be eligible, students must be in good disciplinary and academic standing and maintain academic progress toward degree completion to receive the scholarship. They should have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
The Hutton Honors College has numerous opportunities available to help students study abroad. All IU Bloomington undergraduate students are welcome to apply (you do not need to be a Hutton Honors student); however, most scholarships have a strict GPA requirement: cumulative GPA of 3.40 or major GPA of 3.70 to be eligible.
Application deadlines:
Winter Break programs - Last Friday in October
Spring Break programs - Last Friday in October
Summer programs - Friday before spring break
Fall Semester Exchanges - Friday before spring break
Spring Semester Exchanges - Last Friday in October
Amount of Award: Up to $3,000
Awarded annually to IU sophomores or juniors who are members of the Indiana University Student Foundation, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, have financial need, and are participating in an IU-approved, credit-bearing overseas study program as part of an educational experience for a semester, academic year, or summer study.
Amount of Award: $500
This scholarship, offered through the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, gives scholarships to fund IU-Bloomington students who are participating in service-learning courses that require international travel.
Amount of Award: Maximum of $1000
The Alternative Break Grantis designed to support students in participating in a service-focused experience during their spring break, winter break, or Thanksgiving break. Applicants for this grant must have a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher or a GPA of 3.7 or higher in their major. Please direct all inquiries to hiep@iu.edu Deadline: Thanksgiving Break: First Friday in October Winter Break: First Friday in December Spring Break: First Friday in February
Additional Funding Opportunities
Award Amount: Up to $5,000
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to our national security and economic competitiveness.
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. Program must be at least 3 weeks in length.
Applications will not be considered for a country with a travel advisory of 3 or 4.
The Gilman-McCain Scholarship is a congressionally funded initiative of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and named after the late senator John S. McCain from Arizona.
It provides awards of $5,000 for undergraduate child dependents of active duty service members to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs. Developed under the framework of the State Department’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, the John McCain International Scholarship for the Children of Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship) is open to eligible students enrolled at accredited U.S. colleges and universities who receive any type of Title IV federal financial aid.
Deadlines vary, please see website for more information.
Fund for Education Abroad Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Semester - up to $5,000
Summer Programs - prorated by number of weeks in-country (with a minimum of $1,250)
The mission of the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the US study abroad population. FEA makes life-changing, international experiences accessible to all by supporting minority, community college, and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programs. Eligibility Requirements
U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a college or university in the U.S. (graduate students are not eligible)
Study abroad program must be eligible for credit at the student’s home institution
Study abroad program must be at least 4 weeks (28 days) in country/countries
Preferences: FEA gives preference to students with demonstrated financial need, and strongly encourages students to apply who represent a group that is traditionally underrepresented in education abroad. These groups include, but are not limited to:
First-generation college students
Minority students
To be considered for summer financial aid, you must have filed your FAFSA and meet the eligibility requirements:
You must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours
If you’re an undergraduate student who received a less-than-full-time Pell Grant during the academic year, you may be eligible for one in the summer. For additional information please visit Student Central.
To be considered for summer financial aid, you must have filed your FAFSA and meet the eligibility requirements:
You must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours
If you aren’t eligible for scholarships / federal aid or weren’t awarded as much funding as you actually need, you or your parents might consider taking out a private student loan through a bank, credit union, or other lender. You should always consider federal student loans before private loans:
Federal loans are usually much more affordable.
Federal loans allow you to put off repaying them until after you graduate.
Before you apply for a private loan, complete your FAFSA to see if you qualify for a federal loan. For additional information please visit Student Central.
