Financial Resources for International Study

The cost of study abroad varies among different programs based on the cost associated with traveling to a specific location, the duration of the program, the sponsoring institution, etc. The good news is that there are several financial resources available to you; you just need to dedicate some time to inquire about your options.

Study abroad can be very affordable, especially if you qualify for any of the following resources:

• In most cases, you can use any financial aid you are currently receiving to participate in a Texas State study abroad program. Contact the Texas State Office of Financial Aid for more information about this option.
   
• If you are an undergraduate student enrolled at Texas State with a GPA of 2.75 or higher or a Texas State graduate student with a GPA of 3.25 or higher, you can apply for the International Education Fee Scholarship (IEFS). Each year Texas State students receive this scholarship, with about $200,000 available annually for study abroad. Read more about the IEFS and apply by downloading IEFS Information and Application.

Notes:

• Students who apply to study abroad in a country for which the U.S. Department of State has issued a travel warning are not eligible for the IEFS.
   
• The IEFS Committee reserves the right to suspend awards to students who have selected programs that are deemed to follow insufficient academic quality and/or health and safety practices. Suspension of awards will be removed once the issues have been satisfactorily resolved to the university's administration and the IEFS Committee. You are advised to check with the Study Abroad Office to obtain the most current information
  
  Note: If you do not already have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer, you will need to download it to open these documents. If you are unable to do so, you may also contact our office to request the IEFS application materials be sent to you.

Gilman International Scholarship Program

Foundations and Private and Public Organizations

In addition to the financial assistance you can pursue at Texas State, there are resources such as foundations and private and public organizations that provide financial assistance for study abroad. Private organizations and associations related to your field of study or destination are worth consulting, as well as ethnic organizations.

The following resources contain useful information on this financial assistance:

Online

• FinAid: The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid
• www.ed.gov/index.jhtml
• FastWeb
• StudyAbroad.com
• StudyAbroadFunding.org - More Scholarships Have Been Added

Publications

• A Student’s Guide to Scholarships, Grants, and Funding Publications in International Education and Other Disciplines, Michigan State University, Rm.209, Office of International Studies and Programs, East Lansing, Michigan (April 1997). Contains 79 pages of annotated bibliographical information on references and websites.
• Scholarships, Fellowships and Grants for Programs Abroad (American Collegiate Service, 1989).
• Marie O’Sullivan, ed., Financial Resources for International Study, Institute of International Education, New York(1996).
• Worldwide College Scholarship Directory, Dan Cassidy.

Boren Awards for International Study

The Institute of International Education is pleased to announce the opening of the 2009-10 academic year competition for NSEP David L. Boren Scholarships for undergraduate students and NSEP David L. Boren Fellowships for graduate students.

Scholarship Application Deadline – February 11, 2009

Fellowship Endorsement Deadline – January 29, 2009

Boren Scholarships and Fellowships provide unique funding opportunities for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to add an important international and language component to their educations. Boren Scholarships and Fellowships focus on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study that are critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad.

Boren Scholarships provide up to $20,000 for an academic year’s study abroad. Boren Fellowships provide up to $30,000 for language study and international research.

Applications and detailed information on the Boren Scholarships and Fellowships are now available on www.borenawards.org.