Best Study Abroad Scholarships to Apply for in 2025

About study abroad scholarships

Studying abroad is a rewarding experience, which gives students of any education level the chance to learn about new cultures and immerse themselves in a new environment. Study abroad programs are of great interest to many people since it gives them the chance to travel the world and gain new experiences, all while pursuing higher education.

And yet, while it is usually agreed upon that studying abroad brings incredible benefits, there are many students who choose not to get involved in a study abroad program because of the cost. Studying abroad costs extra, but it doesn't have to be as overwhelming as many students believe it is. Financial aid programs and various scholarships can be applied to study abroad opportunities as well as the traditional tuition and room and board of attending college in your home country.

Study abroad scholarships often encompass many aspects of a study abroad program, including travel expenses, living space, school expenses, and much more. Depending on the scholarship, you may be eligible to receive funding for some or all of these expenses.

The COVID-19 pandemic made studying abroad difficult during the past couple of school years, with a decline in new international students coming to the United States of over 46% from the 2019-2020 school year to the 2020-2021 school year. However, as measures have been taken to limit the spread of the pandemic, international programs are opening again, usually accompanied by new changes and protocols. The 2021-2022 school year saw some rebound in students coming to the United States, with a 68% increase of new international students arriving for the school year.

As United States institutions begin to gradually let in international students and send students of their own to study in different countries, most universities remain optimistic about how the number of study abroad opportunities will open back up, with many believing that the fall of 2022 will bring the most stability the nation has seen in its study abroad programs since before the pandemic.

As you consider whether or not you want to pursue a study abroad program, remember that 84% of students who have been involved in a study abroad program believe they earned skills valuable for their future careers during their experience. The skills and memories you cultivate during study abroad experiences are significant. COVID-19 precautions may still be present, and money may still be a concern, but the benefits outweigh the complications, especially when there are ways for study abroad students to be prepared mentally and financially.

Most college campuses have study abroad offices where students can meet with a study abroad advisor to learn about the various programs, costs, languages, and financial aid or scholarships available for long-term or short-term study abroad programs

Can you get a scholarship to study abroad?

The study abroad scholarships offered by Bold.org help a wide range of students, from high school students interested in international experiences to undergraduate and graduate students seeking to enhance their college experience. Opportunities on Bold.org are included on this page, but the scholarships available for studying abroad extend beyond what Bold.org offers.

Financial assistance can be found in several places, such as through your school. University students can speak with their advisors and financial office at their institution to see what is available through local programs. At the same time, students can look on a larger scale at programs such as the National Security Education Program and the Gilman International Scholarship Program. The National Security Education Program seeks to help cultivate cultural knowledge in United States students, helping to promote a more well-rounded and diverse workplace culture. The Gilman International Scholarship Program helps give students the opportunity to immerse themselves in other cultures to help better their overall education. Other options, such as Federal Pell Grant funding, serve the same function of helping encourage the success of students studying abroad.

Study abroad scholarships are helpful for high school students, undergraduate students, and graduate students, giving them the opportunity to join study abroad programs that will better their education and therefore the future workforce and economy.

How to apply for study abroad scholarships

At Bold.org, applying for scholarships is simple and only takes a few quick steps. To gain access to the exclusive study abroad scholarships offered through Bold.org, you must first create an account. Click on any of the scholarships listed here to be redirected to where you can make your free Bold.org profile. Fill in your profile with information about yourself, including educational experiences, background, interests, and other important elements about your personal or schooling experience.

Once you have thoroughly filled out a profile that best represents where you are at, it is time to look for the best study abroad scholarships for you to apply for. The scholarship search page has filters that help you narrow down scholarships to the ones applicable to you. The education filter helps you choose between high school students, college students, etc. and the category filter has options such as "Study Abroad," which provides a list of scholarships that fall into these categories.

Take a look at scholarships you are eligible for, and decide which ones are right for you. The bookmark feature lets you set aside scholarships you'll come back to later. With your scholarships all picked out, it's time to apply. The application process is simple, often including a short essay answering questions about you, your experiences, and your interest in the subject. Applications for scholarships and grants vary based on the donor's preferences for the scholarship, but as long as you meet all of the requirements for the specific scholarship, you are able to begin seeking financial assistance for your study abroad program.

How to get a study abroad scholarship

In order to maximize your chances of getting scholarships for studying abroad, it is important to find the opportunities that are best for you and put your all into them. Your scholarship search is ultimately up to you, but as you go along, keep in mind that not all scholarships are the best ones for you to apply for. Scholarships with more eligibility requirements that you satisfy have a narrower pool of applicants, giving you a better chance at winning.

Don't be discouraged if you don't win at first. It takes time to cultivate your writing skills and to understand the scholarship process. Even if you have an incredible application, there may be others out there that are better. That doesn't mean your application isn't great! It just means you haven't found the opportunity that you are best fit for yet. The most important thing is to continue putting yourself out there because the more shots you take, the more likely you are to be successful with at least one of them.

Use your resources - whether that be through your school or places like Bold.org - and put time into your applications. You only get as much out of your experience as you put into it.

Best study abroad scholarships

Bold.org offers a wide variety of study abroad scholarships meant to help students get the most out of their international experiences. Some of these scholarships are specific to college students, some to high schoolers, and others to any student studying abroad. Take a look at the eligibility requirements to find out which scholarships you can apply for.

While study abroad scholarships and grants are offered through schools and their programs during specific times of the year, Bold.org has scholarships open that you can begin applying for today. Take a look at some of our study abroad scholarships that are open to current students:

1. International Studies Scholarship
2. Across Cultures No-Essay Scholarship
3. Crenati Foundation Supporting International Students Scholarship
4. Carlynn’s No-Essay Coming to America Scholarship
5. Expand Your Horizons Scholarship

Between these scholarships and other study abroad scholarship opportunities, you can help finance international studies and gain a great experience with less stress.

High school study abroad scholarships

High school study abroad programs look different from the traditional idea of studying abroad for college students. High schoolers are still working to earn their rounded education, meaning that their study abroad can't be as specialized yet. However, options such as international exchange programs exist to give high school students an immersive international experience.

Other study abroad scholarships for high school students are geared toward high schoolers preparing to enter college. The Verto Semester Abroad Scholarship is a prime example of this in that it is open to high school seniors. This scholarship seeks to help students kick off their college education with a semester in various other countries.

Between the listed scholarships and programs through your school, you can study abroad as a high schooler and gain life-changing experiences even before your college education.

College study abroad scholarships

In the United States, about 11% of undergraduate students study abroad at some point during their higher education. College is the most popular time for studying abroad because there are more program options and students have more freedom with school schedules. Many universities highly encourage study abroad programs, since they give college students unique experiences and fresh perspectives that help enhance their degrees.

Since undergraduate or graduate students participate in more study abroad programs, they have the most scholarship money available for them. More scholarships relate to international programs since there are degrees specifically for studying other countries.

While pursuing an international studies degree isn't inherently studying abroad, students involved in this major already have an interest in international affairs and therefore may choose to study abroad during their college careers. The International Studies Scholarship helps students studying international studies with funding for their education, both here and abroad, depending on where they are at.

Talk to the international and financial offices at your university to see what scholarships are offered for students studying abroad. In the meantime, utilize the opportunities available on Bold.org for college students considering a study abroad program.

Frequently asked questions about study abroad scholarships

As you begin looking for scholarships to help fund your study abroad program, there are important questions you may find yourself asking. We've included some of the most frequently asked questions students have when seeking out study abroad scholarships.

How to write a study abroad scholarship essay

One of the most important parts of any scholarship application is the essay portion. Your scholarship essay can make or break your application. Our list of tips on how to write a scholarship essay gives advice on the best way to tackle essay prompts, prepare to write your submission, and make your writing stand out from other applications.

Are there full-ride study abroad scholarships?

Full-ride scholarships are rare in general, so Bold.org does not currently offer full-ride study abroad scholarships. However, that doesn't mean they don't exist; study abroad programs have full-ride scholarships that can cover the cost of a full semester studying abroad. They may be more difficult to find, but by doing a little bit of research online and with your advisor, you might be able to find opportunities that can cover the complete cost of your international studies.

While not technically a full-ride scholarship, you can earn several scholarships through Bold.org that together can cover the cost of studying abroad. Use the resources on Bold.org to find the best scholarship opportunities for where you are at in life, and pursue them passionately in order to save up as much financial aid as possible.