Funding for Study Abroad and Study Away
Looking for resources to help you finance a Global Ed opportunity? Below are some resources to explore. And for inspiration, explore the list of previous recipients of national scholarships and H-SC funding.
Hampden-Sydney Funding
Students intending to participate in an approved Global Ed study abroad or study away program may apply for funding from the College. Students complete one application and are considered for all H-SC funding sources that are relevant to their profile and program type, including Compass, Classics Department, Schug Awards, and the Hurt Scholars program.
Funding is disbursed directly to H-SC student accounts after students have submitted all required Global Ed pre-departure materials.
Application and Funding Process
For details about H-SC funding, including application deadlines, review the information for your specific program type below.
- apply for funding within the VIA program application
- applications are due the first WED of classes in January
- program acceptance status and funding offers are emailed in most cases by January 25
- VIA funding offer acceptance and program commitment form is due February 1
- funding is disbursed in April to H-SC student accounts after:
- confirmation of course registration
- completion of required H-SC pre-departure materials
- apply for funding within the VPO application, due February 1
- applicants are considered for all relevant H-SC and VPO funding
- program admission and funding offers are emailed in most cases by March 5
- VIA funding offer acceptance and program commitment form is due March 10
- H-SC and VPO funding is disbursed in April to H-SC student accounts after:
- confirmation of course registration
- completion of required H-SC pre-departure materials
- apply for funding in VIA by first Wednesday of classes in January
- funding offers are emailed in most cases by January 25
- funding offer acceptance confirmation due February 1
- funding is disbursed to H-SC student accounts during the Spring semester:
- after completion of required H-SC pre-departure materials
- after confirmation of acceptance by program provider
- summer program students may request a check of available funds:
- after funds are disbursed and applied to any outstanding student account balance
- by submitting a written ‘refund request’ to the Business Office at least two weeks before receipt of funds is needed
Apply for funding in VIA by:
- October 5 – Spring programs
- March 5 – Fall or Full-Year programs
Funding offers are emailed in most cases by:
- October 20 – Spring programs
- March 25 – Fall or Full-Year programs
VIA funding offer acceptance confirmation form due:
- October 25 – Spring programs
- April 1 – Fall or Full-Year programs
Funding is disbursed to H-SC student accounts:
- after completion of required H-SC pre-departure materials
- after confirmation of acceptance by program provider
- January 25 – Spring programs
- September 15 – Fall programs
Semester program students may request a funding advance check:
- after confirmation of acceptance by program provider
- by submitting the VIA Funding Advance Request Form at least two weeks before receipt of funds is needed
- requests of up to $2,500 of awarded funding may be approved
- checks are issued in most cases no earlier than 60 days before program start date
Outside Sources of Aid
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
Applicants must be Pell Grant recipients. The Gilman International Scholarship Program aims to diversify the kind of students who study abroad and the countries and regions where they go. The program serves students who have been under-represented in study abroad which includes but is not limited to: students with high financial need, community college students, students in under-represented fields such as the sciences and engineering, students from diverse ethnic backgrounds, students attending minority-serving institutions, and students with disabilities.
Campus Contact: Dr. Widdows, Director of Global Education and Study Abroad
Application Due: Early October (for any program that begins the following calendar year); early March (for programs starting between May 1 and April 30 of the following year)
Boren Undergraduate Scholarship
Boren Scholarships, an initiative of the National Security Education Program, provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate students to study less commonly taught languages in world regions critical to U.S. interests, and underrepresented in study abroad, including Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded.
Campus Contact: Dr. Dinmore, Office of Fellowship Advising
Application Due: Mid-January (H-SC deadline); early February (Boren deadline)
Critical Language Scholarships for Intensive Summer Institutes
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) is for selected students studying at overseas intensive summer language institutes in thirteen critical need foreign languages. CLS institutes provide fully-funded group-based intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences for seven to ten weeks for U.S. citizen undergraduate and graduate students. Students may apply for one language, and will be placed at institute sites based on language evaluations after selection.
Campus Contact: Dr. Dinmore, Office of Fellowship Advising
Application Due: Mid-November (summer programs)
DAAD Scholarship (Germany)
Highly qualified undergraduate students are invited to apply for scholarships funding study, senior thesis research and/or internships in Germany. The goal of this program is to support study abroad in Germany and at German universities.
Campus Contact: Dr. Dinmore, Office of Fellowship Advising
Application Due: varies by scholarship
Freeman-Asia (most countries 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 are given for each semester.
Campus Contact: Dr. Dinmore, Office of Fellowship Advising
Application Due: Early April
Fulbright U.S. Student Program for Graduating Seniors
Through a competitive application process, the Fulbright Commission offers seniors and recent alumni opportunities for an ETA (English Teaching Assistantship), or research grant. Grants available in a variety of countries with financial coverage.
Campus Contact: Dr. Dinmore, Office of Fellowship Advising
Application Due: early September (H-SC deadline); early-mid October (Fulbright deadline)
Fulbright UK Summer Institutes
The US-UK Fulbright Commission offers three Special Summer Program scholarships for US citizens to come to the UK. These summer programs provide the opportunity for US undergraduates (aged over 18), who have completed no more than two years of university study, to come to the UK on a four, five or six week academic and cultural summer program.
Campus Contact: Dr. Dinmore, Office of Fellowship Advising
Application Due: Early February
The Fund for Education Abroad
The FEA's mission is to expand the opportunities for US students to participate in education abroad programs through scholarships and grants. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply; special consideration given to applicants who are first generation and minority college students.
Campus Contact: Dr. Widdows, Director of Global Education and Study Abroad
Application Due: Mid-September (spring programs); Mid-January (summer, fall, full-year programs)
Japan Bridging Scholarship
Undergraduate students majoring in any field of study and attending any recognized exchange or independent program in Japan are eligible to apply for these scholarships. Recipients of Bridging Scholarships will receive stipends of $2,500 or $4,000, depending on the length of their study program in Japan.
Campus Contact: Dr. Widdows, Director of Global Education and Study Abroad
Application Due: Mid-October (spring programs); early April (fall/full-year programs)
Rainbow Scholarship
The Rainbow Scholarship is awarded annually to selected LGBTQI students by the Forum for Education Abroad. U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA students whose study abroad programs are 4 weeks or longer are eligible to apply. Awards are up to $10,000.
Campus Contact: Dr. Widdows, Director of Global Education and Study Abroad
Application Due: Mid-September (spring programs); Mid-January (summer, fall, full-year programs)
Schwarzman Scholars Program in China
The 200 scholars chosen annually for this highly selective program will work towards a one-year Master's Degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing-one of China's most prestigious universities. As individuals who want to have a positive impact on the world, the Stephen A. Schwarzman Scholars will be selected based on their academic credentials, extracurricular interests and leadership potential.
Campus Contact: Dr. Dinmore, Office of Fellowship Advising
Application Due: Mid-September of applicant's senior year
St. Andrew's Society of North Carolina
Students of Scottish heritage who are residents of North Carolina intending to study abroad in Scotland are eligible to apply.
Campus Contact: Dr. Widdows, Director of Global Education and Study Abroad
Application Due: November 1 (paper application; priority deadline)
Sullivan Scholarship (Prague, Rome, Ralleigh programs in July or August)
Created by the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation and a Board of Advisors from renowned universities, the Sullivan SE Certificate develops students' entrepreneurship and leadership skills to prepare them to be change agents in their communities and professional careers. You can combine courses through Leadership exchange with courses at your home campus to complete the minor.
Campus Contact: Dr. Widdows, Director of Global Education and Study Abroad
Application Due: Rolling (for applicants to Sullivan summer programs)
Toshizo Watanabe Endowed Scholarship
For students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents who will be studying abroad for a semester or academic year at an accredited institution of higher education in Japan.
Campus Contact: Dr. Widdows, Director of Global Education and Study Abroad
Application Due: Mid-February (for programs starting the following fall or spring)
Scholarships for U.S. College and University Students
Maintained by the U.S. State Department, this list includes multiple government-sponsored scholarships.
Language Program Scholarships
User-friendly search engine of federally-funded language programs and scholarships. Some of those programs have been highlighted on this Global Ed page.
Application Due: varies by scholarship
HealthCare Scholarships
Information on the benefits of studying abroad to pre-health majors and links to relevant scholarships.
Application Due: varies by scholarship
IIEPassport and Study Abroad Funding
Link to scholarships that are broken down by major, region, and country.
Application Due: varies by scholarship
MoneyGeek's Guide to Paying for Your Study Abroad
In addition to providing a listing of many different scholarships, this guide will introduce you to the costs of studying abroad, factors to consider in your planning and the different financing options that may be available to students hoping to study abroad, whether it's for a summer, a semester or an entire degree program.