Scholarship Opportunities
SHSU Study Abroad Scholarship
The Global Engagement Center offers a merit-based scholarship to assist qualifying students cover some of the expenses of studying abroad. Each year we give out around $100,000 in scholarships. The funds are limited and scholarships are awarded on a first come, first serve basis. We highly recommend you apply early after you have submitted your study abroad application. Contact the Study Abroad Advisor, Study Abroad for more info.
Scholarship awards:
Spring and Fall 2023
- Bearkats Abroad $1,200
- Bearkats Abroad Ambassador: $2,000
To receive the scholarship, applicants must adhere to the following requirements:
- Undergrads: Have a 2.75 or better SHSU GPA. Graduates: Have a 3.5 or better SHSU GPA.
- Be participating in an authorized study abroad program and be receiving academic credit for that program
- All scholarships will be awarded one month before travel.
- Submit the scholarship application during the times below, along with a copy of your unofficial transcript.:
- Fall Semester: February1 - May 1 (deadline)
- Winter Break: September 1 - November 1 (deadline)
- Spring Semester: May 1 - November 1 (deadline)
- Summer Semester: November 1 - February 1 (deadline)
- If awarded the scholarship, submit the Scholarship Award Response, provided by the Study Abroad Coordinator, as soon as possible.
- For affiliated programs, students must have submitted the Course Equivalency Form and show proof that they have been accepted to the university abroad to the Study Abroad Coordinator before the scholarship is disbursed.
Some departments and colleges also offer scholarships for students participating in study abroad programs. To find out more about these opportunities, speak with the department.
*You may apply for all SHSU scholarships, but are only eligible to receive up to two SHSU Study Abroad Scholarships, per program.
Non-SHSU Study Abroad Scholarships
*Please verify application deadline information by visiting the website of each scholarship organization below. Not all deadlines will be the same.
*Not all scholarships will disburse before program fees are due; therefore, students should expect to pay at least some of their study abroad costs before being able to access scholarship awards.
*The below list is meant as an information tool and should not be taken as an official endorsement of a particular scholarship by SHSU.
| Scholarship | Amount | Description |
| The Gilman Scholarship Program | Up to $5,000 | Awards of up to $5,000 to support U.S. citizen undergraduate receiving Federal Pell Grant funding. Students studying in Critical Need Language countries may receive a $3,000 supplement for a total possible award of $8,000. Applicants must be studying abroad for at least 3 weeks. |
| Gilman-McCain Scholarship | $5,000 | The U.S. Department of State’s Gilman-McCain Scholarship provides awards of $5,000 for undergraduate child dependents of active duty service members and who receive any type of Title IV federal financial aid to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs. |
| Boren Scholarships | Up to $20,000 | This scholarship supports U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Recipients must agree to seek work in the federal government for at least one year in a position related to national security. |
| Boren Fellowship | Up to $30,000 | This scholarship supports U.S. graduate students to study less commonly taught languages in Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Recipients must agree to seek work in the federal government for at least one year in a position related to national security. |
| Fund for Education Abroad | Up to $10,000 | Fund for Education Abroad Scholarship applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled as undergraduates in US universities/colleges who plan to study abroad for at least four weeks (a minimum of 30 days) during summer or semester abroad programs. |
| Fund for Education Abroad – Rainbow | Up to $10,000 | The FEA Rainbow Scholarship will be awarded to a deserving LGBTQI student who aims to participate in a high-quality, rigorous education abroad program. |
| Critical Language Scholarship Program | Covers all program costs | The CLS Program is open to undergraduate and graduate students from any major who are U.S. citizens. The Program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and provides full funding for students to participate in a 7-10 week critical language summer program. Eligibility requirements vary depending on language of study. |
| Go Overseas Scholarship | Varies | Varies |
| Tortuga Backpacks Study Abroad Scholarship | $1,000 + backpack | The Tortuga Backpacks Study Abroad Scholarship is awarded to passionate students who want to see the world. The winner will receive $1,000 for a semester abroad plus a travel backpack. Requirements: U.S. citizen or student visa holder, full-time undergraduate student in good standing, applied to or been accepted into a study abroad program. |
| Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Grants | $1,000 | PKP Grants help support undergraduates as they seek knowledge and experience in their academic fields. Forty-five $1,000 grants are awarded annually. Society Membership not required. |
| Rotary Foundation Grants | Varies | Rotary Grants support a wide variety of projects, scholarships, and training around the world. Depending on the type of grant, students may need to apply up to a year and half before going abroad. Award amounts vary depending on the type of grant. |
| Study Abroad in Japan: Bridging Scholarships | Variable, usually between $2,500 – $4,000 | The American Association of Teachers of Japanese offers scholarships to American undergraduate students participating in study-abroad programs in Japan. They award up to 100 scholarships each year to assist students with the travel and living expenses they will incur while studying abroad in Japan for a semester or academic year. Bridging Scholarship recipients receive a stipend of $2,500 (for students on semester-long programs) or $4,000 (for students on academic year programs). |
| Freeman-ASIA Scholarship | Up to $7,000 | Freeman-ASIA provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. A Freeman-ASIA Award provides need-based funding to assist the recipient with the cost of the study abroad program and related expenses, including airfare, basic living costs, local transportation, books, etc. Awards between $3,000-$7,000 depending on program length. |
| BUTEX Scholarships: Study Abroad in the U.K. | £500 | The Scholarship is open to all undergraduate students who are studying abroad at a university in the U.K. that is affiliated with the British Universities Transatlantic Exchange Association (BUTEX). You must be studying abroad between September 2015 and August 2016 for a minimum of one semester. The value of each scholarship is £500 and will be paid to the winners once they have arrived and registered at their host university. |
| German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) | Varies | DAAD offers a variety of grants and scholarships for study abroad and international internships in Germany. |
| Diversity Abroad | Varies | Minority, Low Income and First Generation students are encouraged to apply. |
| Fulbright Student Program | Varies | The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers research, study and teaching opportunities in over 140 countries to recent graduates and graduate students. |
| Japan Student Services Organization | Varies | |
| Marshall Scholarship | Tuition, housing, and stipend | Full scholarship for one year of graduate level study in the United Kingdom for US college graduates (12 month masters degree program available). |
| Mitchell Scholarship | Tuition, housing, and stipend | Graduate/post-graduate study in Ireland for US college graduates. Includes one year of tuition, housing, living stipend and travel stipend. (12 month masters degree program available). |
Affiliated Program Study Abroad Scholarships:
| Provider | Description |
| AIFS | Automatic $400 grant (semester) or $200 (summer) for SHSU students who attend an AIFS study abroad program, since SHSU is affiliated with AIFS. Other study abroad scholarships & grants are available. |
| API | Students may apply for multiple API scholarships (though may only be awarded one) and are encouraged to refer to the list of additional scholarship and funding resources included on their website. Additionally, API gives SHSU a $1,000 award to one or more students participating in their programs as part of the affiliation agreement. |
| ISA | As affiliate partners, SHSU students will get an automatic $200 discount on all ISA programs and are eligible to apply for the Carlos Casteneda semester scholarship of $2,000, which is only available to students from affiliated universities. There are additional ISA scholarships. |
Online Directories of Study Abroad Scholarships:
StudyAbroad.com
Browse study abroad scholarships based on a list of merit-based, student-specific, destination-specific, program-specific, and subject-specific.
Website: http://www.studyabroad.com/scholarships.aspx
GoAbroad.com
Search for general study abroad scholarships, grants and fellowships as well as study abroad scholarships in diversity and for nontraditional countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and the Caribbean.
Website: http://www.goabroad.com/scholarships-abroad
FastWeb.com
Sign up and search for scholarships with this free scholarship matching service. Get student financial aid and find money to pay for your study abroad experience.
Website: www.fastweb.com
Private Loans:
If you are ineligible for Financial Aid and need additional funds, apply for Educational Loans. You can do so through a private lender such as Wells Fargo, Sally Mae or Wachovia.
Crowdfunding/Fundraising:
Fund My Travel
Create your own Travel Campaign and start raising funds now.
Website: https://www.fundmytravel.com/
Go Fund Me
Create your own personal fundraising website.
Website: http://www.gofundme.com/
MyTab
MyTab is an online travel registry. Family and friends can contribute to the cost of your travel.
Website: https://wefunder.com/mytabco