Outside Scholarships
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There are a number of scholarship opportunities outside of Penn that can help to offset the cost of going abroad. We encourage you to explore the outside scholarship opportunities listed below. While some scholarships are for students going abroad to particular countries, specific program types, or to pursue specific academic disciplines, there are outside funding sources available for students with any background or interest area.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
This program offers a competition for awards for study abroad, for US citizen students who are receiving federal Pell Grant funding at a 2-year or 4-year college or university. Award amounts are $3,000 for summer programs and $5,000 for a semester or academic year. Interested students should contact the appropriate Global Programs Manager or the Director of Penn Abroad. Deadlines are typically in very early March for summer and fall study abroad, and early October for spring study abroad (see Gilman website for exact dates). To be competitive, applicants should have their essays reviewed by Penn Abroad in advance of the deadline.
David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships for Study Abroad
Under the auspices of the National Security Education Program, the Boren Scholarship supports undergraduate study abroad focusing on geographical areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to US national security (excludes study in the US, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand).These US government grants entail a service obligation. To be competitive, applicants should meet with and submit drafts of their essays to the Director of Penn Abroad by early December. Penn's campus deadline is typically in mid-January for the following academic year.
Diversity Abroad Ambassador Scholarship
Diversity Abroad offers ten $500 scholarships for full-time undergraduate students studying abroad every year. Economically disadvantaged students, African-American/Black, Asian, Hispanic/Latino, Multiracial/ethnic or Indigenous/Native-American, students with disabilities, and first-generation college students are strongly encouraged to apply. See the scholarship website for application information and exact dates.
Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships
The Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships program provide allocations of academic year and summer fellowships to institutions of higher education. The FLAS fellowship assists meritorious undergraduate and graduate students undergoing training in modern foreign languages and related areas.
FLAS fellowships are funded by the U.S. Department of Education and administered by the University of Pennsylvania’s Title VI National Resource Centers to assist students in acquiring foreign language and either area or international studies competencies, including the international aspects of professional or other fields of study. FLAS awards are available only for specific languages and are contingent on federal funding. Please direct any questions to the FLAS Coordinator of your chosen language.
To learn more about FLAS, visit the FLAS Frequently Asked Questions page. For instructions on how to apply, please see the Application & Instructions page.
Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) Scholarship
Fund for Education Abroad awards are intended to support students planning to participate in high-quality, rigorous education abroad programs that are at least 4 weeks in duration. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled as undergraduates in US universities/colleges with a strong preference for underrepresented students.
National Security Education Program (NSEP) Undergraduate Scholarships
NSEP's initiatives provide professionals with language and cultural skills to prepare them for federal government service. Their nine initiatives connect the US education community, government agencies with national security interests, and individuals impassioned to learn a less commonly taught language and culture.
Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowships
The Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowships provide undergraduate and graduate funding for participants to prepare academically and professionally to enter the US Department of State Foreign Service. This fellowships particularly target women and members of minority groups historically underrepresented in the foreign service. It is administered by the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation (http://www.woodrow.org/).
Go Overseas Scholarships
The Go Overseas scholarships are available to students currently enrolled in, or in the process of applying to, study abroad programs for a semester or summer. Each scholarship is $500.
AASAP/UK Lord Acton Memorial Scholarship
The AASAP/UK Lord Acton Memorial Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship awarded to a student planning to study in the UK. The applicant selected must demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the value of an international educational experience and agree to share how the scholarship helped to fulfill their academic and personal ambitions. The award is £500 for a semester abroad or £1,000 for a full year.
Amici Prize
This prize offsets expenses for undergraduate research in Italian Studies conducted in conjunction with one of Penn's summer or academic year study abroad programs in Italy. Contact the Center for Italian Studies, 549 Williams Hall.
Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan
The Association of Teachers of Japanese (ATJ) offers grants for undergraduates in any field to study abroad in Japan. Interested students should contact the appropriate Global Programs Manager in the Penn Abroad office. Deadlines are typically in early April for fall study abroad, and early October for spring study abroad (see Bridging website for exact dates).
British Universities Transatlantic Exchange Association (BUTEX) North American Scholarships
BUTEX offers eight scholarships to North American students studying at a university in the United Kingdom. The value of each scholarship is £500 and will be paid to the winners once they have arrived and registered at their host university. Interested students should contact the appropriate Global Programs Manager in the Penn Abroad office.
DAAD/German Academic Exchange Service Prizes and Scholarships
Prizes for stays of two to three months in Germany in conjunction with independent senior thesis research, language or other summer courses at a German university, or internship/practicum at a German institution or company. Scholarships available for an undergraduate semester or academic year abroad (four to ten months at a German university). Interested students should contact the appropriate Global Programs Manager in the Penn Abroad office.
The Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA)
Provides scholarships for US undergraduate students (citizens or permanent residents) with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. The Freeman Foundation’s major objectives are to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the United States and the countries of East Asia. Semester awards range up to $5,000 and academic year awards range up to $7,000 and are meant to offset the costs of expenses including airfare, basic living costs, local transportation, books, etc. Freeman-ASIA Award recipients must propose a service project outlined in their Freeman-ASIA application. Within the first semester of their return from their program abroad, recipients must fulfill their service project requirements.
Hilda Specter Morgenstern Merit Scholarship
The family of Hilda Specter Morgenstern created the scholarship to remember the ideals of a strong and vibrant American Jewish woman who valued Judaism, Israel, education and the administration of public policy for good.
Inclusive Ireland Scholarships
Education in Ireland is proud to partner with Diversity Abroad to announce the creation of the Inclusive Ireland Scholarship Programme. This 3,000 euro award is open to undergraduate students in the United States who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour).
Monbukagakusho Scholarship
One-year scholarship offered by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture for advanced Japanese language and culture study at a Japanese university. Interested students should contact the appropriate Global Programs Manager in the Penn Abroad office.
