Scholarships

Global Education / Study Abroad Scholarships

There are many scholarships available to support study abroad. CU Denver study abroad students have been awarded generous scholarships from the U.S. Government, foreign governments, and private foundations. Additionally, CU Denver offers scholarships for students participating on CU Denver programs.

The key is to plan ahead and begin researching now the array of study abroad scholarships. Be sure to note their application deadlines, eligibility requirements, and amounts. Scholarships may be specific to your program destination, field of study, program length, and foreign language of study. In addition to browsing the scholarships included on this site, be sure to ask your third-party program provider about their own scholarships available to students.

Students are also strongly encouraged to work with the CU Denver Writing Center when preparing essays for scholarship applications. Their helpful tips and edits will ensure you’re submitting the best version of your essay!

Graduate Students

Fulbright Program

One of the most prestigious and well-renowned programs in the field of international education, the Fulbright Program offers comprehensive funding to a wide array of students (primarily graduate and post-graduate), scholars, teachers, and professionals to engage in studies and projects abroad.

Due to the wide variety of scholarships available through the Fulbright Program, we recommend that you visit the Fulbright Program’s website for more information regarding eligibility.

Rotary International Peace Fellowship

In order to fulfill its mission of developing leaders who promote cooperation, peace, and conflict resolution, Rotary International’s Peace Fellowship provides full funding to students who pursue master’s degrees in disciplines related to peace and security at International Christian University (Japan), University of Bradford (England), University of Queensland (Australia), Uppsala University (Sweden), Duke University (USA), and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (USA).

Eligible candidates:

Proficiency in English; proficiency in a second language is strongly recommended
Strong commitment to international understanding and peace as demonstrated through professional and academic achievements and personal or community service
Excellent leadership skills
Minimum three years of related full-time work or volunteer experience, bachelor's degree
May not be:

Active and honorary Rotary members
Employees of a Rotary club or district, Rotary International, or other Rotary entity
Spouses, lineal descendants (children or grandchildren by blood or legal adoption), spouses of lineal descendants, or ancestors (parents or grandparents by blood) of any living person in these categories
Former Rotary members and their relatives as described above (within 36 months of their resignation)

Boren Fellowship

Graduate students whose academic plans involve a taking part in a program abroad in fields critical to U.S. security, carried out in a non-typical destination, with a strong language immersion component, are ideal candidates for the Boren Scholarship, a prestigious grant which can be used to fund a minimum of 12 weeks and a maximum one-year period of study and research abroad.

Eligible candidates:

U.S. citizen at the time of application
Either matriculated in or applying to a graduate degree program at a U.S. college or university located within the United States and accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Boren Fellows must remain matriculated in their graduate programs for the duration of the fellowship and may not graduate until the fellowship is complete.
Planning an overseas program that meets home institution standards in a country outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. Boren Fellowships are not for study in the United States.

Undergraduate Students

Boren Scholarship

Open to undergraduate students only

Undergraduate students whose study abroad plans involve a program in fields critical to U.S. security, carried out in a non-typical destination, with a strong language immersion component, are ideal candidates for the Boren Scholarship, a prestigious grant which can be used to fund a summer, semester, or academic year study abroad program.

Eligible candidates:

U.S. citizen at the time of application
High school graduate, or have earned a GED
Matriculated in an undergraduate degree program located within the United States accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Boren Scholars must remain matriculated in their undergraduate programs for the duration of the scholarship and may not graduate until the scholarship is complete.
Applying to a study abroad program that meets home institution standards in a country outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. Boren Scholarships are not for study in the United States.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad. The Gilman scholarship offers up to $5000 to undergraduate students from groups often under-represented in study abroad, who study or intern in non-typical destinations. An additional $3000 stipend is available to recipients who take part in a critical needs language program. Learn more here.

To be eligible for a Gilman Scholarship, an applicant must:

Be a citizen of the United States;
Be an undergraduate student in good standing at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States (including both two-year and four-year institutions);
Be receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of their study abroad program or internship;
Be in the process of applying to, or accepted for, a study abroad or internship program of at least two weeks for community college students and three weeks for students from four-year institutions, in a single country and eligible for credit from the student’s home institution. Proof of program acceptance is required prior to award disbursement;
Apply for credit-bearing study abroad programs in a country with an overall Travel Advisory Level 1 or 2, according to the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory System. However, certain areas within these countries may be designated within the Travel Advisory as either “Do not travel to” (Level 4) or “Reconsider travel to” (Level 3) locations, as such; students will not be allowed to travel to these areas. Moreover, students are not eligible to apply for programs in a country with an overall Level 3 or 4 Travel Advisory.
Gilman Scholarship recipients can only receive the scholarship once.

Fund for Education Abroad (FEA)

FEA offers students studying abroad a number of scholarships, including dedicated scholarships for student-athletes and LGBTQI students, and aims to serve students from groups traditionally under-represented in study abroad.

Eligible candidates:

U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the U.S. (as of May 2015, we welcome applications from DACA students)
Currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a college or university in the U.S.
Study abroad program must be eligible for credit at the student’s educational institution
Study abroad program must include at least 4 weeks (30 days) in country/countries

FEA Preferences:

Academically rigorous and immersive study abroad program
Study of the host country language (if not English)
Study abroad program with a sustainable service-learning / volunteering component
Non-traditional destination
Student demonstrates financial need
FEA strongly encourages students to apply who represent a group that is traditionally underrepresented in education abroad. Those groups include, but are not limited to:

Minorities
First-generation college students
Community college students
Students with disabilities
Student Athletes
Veterans
Returning learners

Tortuga Backpacks Study Abroad Scholarship

Tortuga Backpacks’ mission is to help people take amazing trips, and aim to do so by awarding scholarship recipients a $1000 scholarship and a Tortuga backpack.

Eligible candidates:

U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or currently studying in the US on a student visa
Are a full-time undergraduate student in good academic standing at a four-year, degree-granting college or university in the U.S.
Have applied to or been accepted into a study abroad program eligible for credit by your college or university

Scholarship Universe

Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships listed in the university's portal. Explore your options and find a scholarship that's right for you.

Please note: the Reynolds Scholarship for Business students can now be accessed through ScholarshipUniverse.

Language-Specific Scholarships

Critical Languages Scholarship Program

Open to undergraduate and graduate students

The Critical Languages Scholarship Program is a summer language and cultural immersion program open to students of all majors who are interested in learning a critical language and intend to continue improving and using their language skills after completion of the program.

Eligible candidates:

Are U.S. citizens

Non-citizens including Permanent Residents are not eligible, even if they anticipate naturalization by the beginning of the program.

Are enrolled in an accredited U.S. degree-granting program at the undergraduate (associate’s, bachelor’s) or graduate (master’s, doctoral, professional degree) level.

Your program must result in a degree. Applicants who are taking stand-alone or continuing education classes are not eligible.
Your institution must be an accredited U.S. institution. Students earning degrees at foreign colleges or universities that are not based in the U.S. or its territories are not eligible.
You must be enrolled at your home college or university in the Fall Semester of 2021. Please read the following information carefully:

If you are not taking classes at your home institution in the fall semester, please confirm that you are, in fact, enrolled. Institutions have different requirements to maintain enrollment status and you will be required to provide a signed letter from your registrar stating that you were enrolled during the fall semester.
If you are taking a leave of absence to participate in an organized semester- or year-long study abroad program, or to participate in a substantive internship program, you may still be considered eligible. You will be required to submit documentation of your study abroad or internship program. Decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
In either case, you must submit a signed letter from your home college or university in the U.S. explaining your situation and your intention to re-enroll following the completion of your study abroad or internship program.

Scholarships Based On Major

The Frank Huntington Beebe Fund for Musicians

The Frank Huntington Beebe Fund is a $22,000 all-inclusive fund for young musicians and composers to study and perform abroad for one year.

Eligible candidates:

Are based in the U.S. (applicants do not have to be U.S. citizens)
Must propose a strong, well-planned project of study that will enhance the applicant's life in music
Must demonstrate a solid base of accomplishment in order to be considered
Must not have reached the age of 30 by July 1, 2021
May not combine the Beebe grant with other comparable grants, such as the Fulbright grant

Center for Global Health

Scholarships from the Center for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, are open to most students who are studying and conducting research abroad.

Location-Specific Scholarships

Asia and the Pacific

Freeman-ASIA Scholarship

Asia

Open to undergraduate students only

The Freeman-ASIA scholarship is designed to aid undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to fund their study abroad in Asia.

Eligible candidates:

Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at the time of application.
Must currently receive need-based financial aid or demonstrate a verifiable need for financial assistance to participate in the proposed study abroad program. The applicant is required to submit the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) figure, calculated through FAFSA, with the statement of financial need through the online Freeman-ASIA application.
Must be an undergraduate student with a minimum GPA of 2.8, pursuing his or her first bachelor's degree (or associate's degree), at a two-year or a four-year institution of higher education in the United States.
Must apply through the U.S. home campus and have at least one term of enrollment remaining at the home institution in the U.S. upon returning from studying abroad in Asia.
Must have applied or have been accepted to a study abroad based program in: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. A multi-country program is eligible only if the applicant will spend at least 8 weeks in one of the countries stated above and will have intensive language study during that period.
Must have applied to or have been accepted by a study abroad based program that awards academic credits through the home campus or other U.S. accredited college or university. The proposed length of study in the host country must be a minimum of 8 weeks for a summer term, 10 weeks for a quarter term, and 12 weeks for a semester term.
Must have little or no previous experience in the country in which he or she plans to study. A summer term applicant must not have spent more than 4 weeks in the proposed country of study within the last 5 years. A semester or an academic year term applicant must not have spent more than 6 weeks in the proposed country of study within the last 5 years.
Must submit the online Freeman-ASIA Student Impact Survey within one month of returning to the United States and must initiate his/her service project to promote study abroad opportunities in Asia on the college campus and/or in the local community.
Must submit the Freeman-ASIA Final Service Report on the implementation of his/her service project at the end of the term following his/her return to the United States.
Must not be a previous Freeman-ASIA award recipient.

EDU United States to Australian Fellowships

Australia

Open to graduate students only

The American Australian Association offers fellowships between $30,000 and $40,000, meant to cover one year of study, for graduate students studying biophotonics, marine sciences, engineering, technology, sciences, mathematics, sustainability, or medicine.

Eligible candidates:

Must be US citizen or permanent resident of US
Must be studying at a graduate or post-graduate level
Must be accepted to or affiliated with an Australian educational institution for full time study or research

United States-Japan Bridging Foundation Scholarship

Japan

Open to undergraduate students only

The United States-Japan Bridging Foundation, in collaboration with the American Association of Teachers of Japanese, offers scholarships to undergraduate students of all majors to students enrolled in study abroad programs in Japan for one semester ($2500) or one year ($4000).

Eligible candidates:

Are U.S. citizens
Must be enrolled as undergraduates in a college or university in the United States before and during the time they are studying abroad
Must earn credit that will transfer to their home campus in the US.
Will be expected to send a brief report about his or her study in Japan to the ATJ office within 60 days of returning from abroad.

Turkish Coalition of America Study Abroad Scholarships for Students of Minority and Heritage Communities

Turkey, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Turkish Coalition of America offers scholarships of $500 to $2000 to students from minority backgrounds who wish to study abroad in Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), or Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), in order to encourage a cross-cultural connections and a greater understanding of diversity in America.

Eligible candidates:

U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Of African, Armenian, Bosnian, Filipino, Hispanic/Latino, Macedonian, or Native American descent
Enrolled full-time and in good standing at an accredited U.S. college or university
Accepted into a language program or study abroad program at a university in Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, or Bosnia and Herzegovina
Willing to share your experiences in Turkey with your peers and the TCA community – especially via TCA's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/TurkishCoalitionofAmerica

Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis

Europe

The French Embassy Benjamin Franklin - Generation Study Abroad Scholarship

France

Unlike previous application cycles, when student could apply directly via our online application platform, the next call for applications will be made by IIE and will be open to U.S. campuses involved in Generation Study Abroad. Selected partner campuses will in turn be responsible for nominating qualified students for the French Embassy-Benjamin Franklin - Generation Study Abroad Scholarship Program.

• Provides successful candidates with a scholarship of $2,500 to support their travel to France.
• Scholarships can be used for the cost of tuition, books, travel related to study, or internships abroad.
• Offers selected students the opportunity to access the France Alumni Network once they have completed their Study Abroad in France.

Eligible candidates:

Candidates must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents enrolled in an American University.
Candidates must enrolled in an undergraduate degree program.
Candidates must plan to do their study abroad experience within a French institution.

Walter Jensen Scholarship for Study Abroad

France, French-speaking countries

In memory of the late Walter Jensen, the American Association of French Teachers offers one scholarship of $2000 to aspiring French teachers.

Eligible candidates:

Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application
Must be enrolled in an established teacher education program (B.A., B.S., or M.A.T.) in French
Must be a non-native speaker of French
Must be sponsored by an AATF member teacher

DAAD: German Academic Exchange Service

Germany

The German Government’s Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD) generously sponsors a range of scholarships, awards and fellowships for undergraduates, graduates and post-graduates at German universities and research institutes, most of which do not require German language ability.

Due to the wide variety of scholarships available through DAAD, we recommend that you visit the DAAD website for more information regarding eligibility.

NORAM Scholarships for Americans

Norway

Open to graduate & post-graduate students only

The Norway-America Association (NORAM) offers graduates and post-graduates scholarships varying from $1500 to $5000 to undertake projects meant to strengthen understanding and friendship between the United States and Norway.

Eligible candidates:

Must be a U.S. citizen, planning to study/ or currently studying in Norway
Must have completed a bachelor degree before the application deadline
Students can apply without being accepted to an institution before the application deadline, but must submit documentation of admission/invitation if awarded a scholarship
The program period has to be a minimum of three months.
Applicants who are awarded/have applied for funding from other sources for the same application period applied must notify NORAM

American-Scandinavian Foundation Fellowships and Grants

Scandinavia

Open to graduate students only

Graduate students of all fields who have a moderate grasp of any Scandinavian language are eligible for fellowships (up to $23,000) and grants (up to $5,000) to use in carrying out research, study, or creative arts projects in one or more Scandinavian country for up to one year.

Eligible candidates:

Must have a well-defined research, study or creative arts project that makes a stay in Scandinavia essential
Must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents
Must have completed their undergraduate education by the start of their project in Scandinavia
Team projects are eligible, but each member must apply as an individual, submitting a separate, fully-documented application
First priority will be given to applicants who have not previously received an ASF award. Only in exceptional cases will a third award be considered
The ASF considers it desirable that all candidates have at least some ability in the language of the host country, even if it is not essential for the execution of the research plan

For projects that require a command of one or more Scandinavian (or other) languages, candidates should defer application until they have the necessary proficiency

American Women's Club (AWC) Stockholm Scholarship

Sweden

American students enrolled in a one-year study abroad program in Sweden are eligible for scholarships of varying amounts from AWC Stockholm.

Eligible candidates:

Must be American citizens.
Must be either a resident in the US and attending an accredited Swedish university or a resident in Sweden and attending an accredited US institute of higher education (college, university or graduate school)
The course of study must be for at least one year
Both female and male applicants are welcome

British Universities Transatlantic Exchange Association (BUTEX) Scholarship

United Kingdom

Students studying in the UK for a minimum of one semester are eligible for the BUTEX Scholarship, a £500 grant that is paid out once recipients have arrived and registered at their university in the UK.

Eligible candidates:

Must have been offered a study abroad or exchange place which is not eligible for an ERASMUS grant
Your study abroad or exchange placement must be for the UK academic year 2021 / 2022 (i.e. your studies should fall between July 2021 and August 2022)
Your place must be for a minimum of one semester

Marshall Scholarship

United Kingdom

Open to prospective graduate students

Funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office and are overseen by the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission, the Marshall Scholarship is a prestigious award that provides up to two years’ funding for graduate studies in the United Kingdom.

Eligible candidates:

Must be citizens of the United States of America (at the time they apply for a scholarship)
(By the time they take up their scholarship- i.e. September 2021) hold their first undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the United States
Have obtained a grade point average of not less than 3.7 on their undergraduate degree (Applicants must have a GPA of 3.7 at the time of application)
Have graduated from their first undergraduate college or university after April 2020
Have not studied for, or hold a degree or degree-equivalent qualification from a British University.

North and South America

Top 10 Scholarships in Canada for International Students

Canada

This website lists some of the university-specific scholarships open to both undergraduate and graduate students applying to study in Canada.

OAS Scholarships

Organization of American States

Open to undergraduate and graduate students

IIE Passport Scholarship

Deadline: October 15, 2022

Flyer: IIE Passport Grant for Study Abroad
Free passports for 25 first-year and Federal Pell Grant eligible students with diverse identities who are interested in studying abroad and have never had a US passport. The Institute of International Education (IIE) will confirm your eligibility. Learn more and apply at studyabroad.ucdenver.edu/?go=PassportGrant