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Scholarships

Scholarships for studying abroad are available both locally and nationally.  Accessing information about these scholarships requires time and effort.  Scholarship deadlines vary, they target different areas of the world, and additional limitations such as financial need, type of student, etc. may apply. If you are interested in applying for scholarships, you must start early and seek the necessary information.  Our Scholarship Coordinator can assist you with researching and applying for scholarships.  To schedule an appointment, call 298-2504.

 

Scholarship handout (PDF)

WIU Scholarships

Applicants must be Western Illinois University students participating in a Center for International Studies-approved international study abroad programs.  Financial need will be a consideration to be eligible for this award.  A minimum grade point average of 3.0 is required.

 

Applicants must be participating in an exchange program and pursuing an undergraduate degree at Western Illinois University.  Scholarship criteria includes demonstrated financial need and merit.

 

Primary recipients of this scholarship will be those entering "helping professions".  Preference will be given to students who are pursuing a degree in the College of Education and Human Services.  Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0.


 

Applicants m ust be a student in one of the following majors: Accountancy, Computer Science, Engineering, Engineering Technology, Finance, Information Systems, Marketing, Network Technologies or Supply Chain Management.   Must be a full-time undergraduate student at the sophomore level or above (30 s.h. earned), in good judicial standing. Minimum GPA of 2.8; preference will be given to those who show high academic performance. See application for additional scholarship criteria.

 

  • Group Programs Travel Grants  

Applicants must be degree-seeking students at Western Illinois University participating in a WIU group study abroad program. Financial need will be a consideration to be eligible for this award.  Grant amounts and application deadlines vary between programs. Refer to the specific program you are interested in for this information.  Program listings are found on the Group Programs page. 

 

Awarded by the Centennial Honors College. Applicants must be qualified Honors students participating in a study abroad program. Additional information can be requested from the Centennial Honors College.

 

If you are studying abroad on one of our affiliate programs, don't forget to check out the scholarship opportunities offered by the program provider.  Some providers even offer scholarships for specific programs.  Speak with your Study Abroad adviser or the Scholarship Coordinator for more information.

 

National Scholarships 

This program provides students who have limited financial means the opportunity to participate in undergraduate study abroad opportunities worldwide through awards of up to $5,000 for undergraduate students to participate in study abroad programs of up to one academic year. To be eligible to apply, students must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant at the time of application and cannot be studying abroad in a country currently under a U.S. Department of State Travel Warning or in Cuba.

 

The US-Japan Bridging Foundation awards scholarships to US undergraduate students to study for one semester or academic year in Japan.  The Foundation aims to expand the opportunities for study abroad in Japan to help prepare America's young people to assume future global leadership roles.  Students must be accepted in a program in Japan, and provide the tuition.  Bridging Scholars are chosen by a volunteer committee and awarded scholarships with up to $5,000 for the academic year, which provide for travel and daily cost-of-living expenses.
 

Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) institutes provide fully-funded group-based intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences for seven to ten weeks.  Must be studying one of the following languages: Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla/Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Turkish, or Urdu.

 

These scholarships provide funding for American students to study abroad in Asia, Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, the Newly Independent States, Latin American and the Caribbean, and the Middle East.  Award amounts range from a maximum of $10,000 a semester to $20,000 for an academic year.

 

Applicants must meet one of the stated diversity criteria. Diversity Abroad / GlobaLinks Learning Abroad Scholarship amounts are in increments of $1,000.  Scholarship winners are required to blog while abroad and must submit a video.

 

Open to U.S. citizens with at least 2 years of undergraduate study remaining.  Minimum 3.5 GPA.  Programs available in several universities throughout the UK in a variety of academic programs including but not limited to Art, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Archaeology, Literature, Journalism, History, Political Science, and Business.

 

Awards of $500-$1,500 available.  April 30, 2012 deadline for programs that begin May 1, 2012 - August 31, 2012 and August 31, 2012 deadline for programs that begin September 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012.

 

Applicants must receive need-based financial aid, have a minimum GPA of 2.8, and be studying abroad in Asia or Southeast Asia.  Awards are available for summer, semester and year in the amounts of $3,000, $5,000 and $7,000.  Deadline for summer 2012 programs is February 15, 2012 and for fall 2012/academic year programs is April 4, 2012.

 

 

Preference will be given to non-traditional study abroad destinations and programs that include a language component and volunteering or service learning.  Program must be a minimum of four weeks; deadline for Fall 2013, Spring 2014, Summer 2014 will be in November 2012.

 

Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants are designed to help support undergraduates as they seek knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad. Forty-five $1,000 grants are awarded each year.

 

The Rotary Foundation's oldest and best-known program is Ambassadorial Scholarships, established in 1947. Today, the Ambassadorial Scholarships Program of The Rotary Foundation is the world's largest privately funded international scholarship program.

 

Scholarships for Further Study:

After you have received your degree from WIU, you may wish to pursue further study or graduate school abroad.  Consider applying for one of the following prestigious awards.

 

The Rhodes Scholarship is for American students who wish to pursue a degree at Oxford University in England.  Rhodes Scholars can be from any academic discipline as long as that discipline is available at Oxford University in England.  Scholars are elected for two years of study with the possibility of renewal for a third year.  All educational costs, such as matriculation, tuition, laboratory and certain other fees, are paid on the Scholar's behalf by the Rhodes Trustees.  . 

 

Sponsored by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the U.S. Student Program enables Americans to encounter a wide variety of different cultures, while developing international experience and building leadership skills.  Applicants must be U.S. citizens, have a bachelor's degree at the time of the grant, have sufficient proficiency in the host country language to communicate and carry out the proposed study, and be in good health.

 

Additional scholarship resources: