Penn State Education Abroad Scholarships

The Grant-in-Aid Scholarship is issued through the Education Abroad office for students studying on approved Penn State programs. Penn State students participating in officially sponsored Education Abroad programs are eligible to apply. This scholarship is not guaranteed and is competitive.

Scholarship Description

Penn State Education Abroad offers named scholarships and trustee awards to qualified Penn State undergraduate students participating in semester Education Abroad (EA) programs. Based on specific donor requirements, merit, and/or financial need, awards are made during each of the three semesters (summer, fall, spring) during the academic year.

Named scholarships are made available to regularly enrolled undergraduate students, who have been accepted into an Education Abroad program and meet the eligibility requirements of the scholarship.

• Whitney Frankenberry Scholarship in International Programs
• Charles and Lillian Binder Foreign Studies Grant-in-Aid
• Graham B. and Sandra K. Spanier International Education Endowment
• Janis Jacobs Study Abroad Fund
• Judy Shepherd Education Abroad Award
• Mel and Nancy Brown Family Endowment for Education Abroad
• Michael and Grace Adewumi Trustee Scholarship in Global Programs
• Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos Study Abroad Trustee Scholarship
• Middle East Foreign Studies Grant
• Semmer Scholarship for Education Abroad in Memory of Geoff Blatt
• Sung and Fumi Lee Scholarship

Grant-in-Aid awards are made available to regularly enrolled undergraduate students, who have been accepted into an Education Abroad program and have demonstrated unmet financial need according to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA).

• Alumni Association Undergraduate International Education Endowment
• Study Abroad Grant-in-Aid
• Penn State Alumni Association Education Abroad Scholarship

Eligibility

Full-time undergraduate Penn State students who are enrolled or planning to enroll in an officially recognized semester Education Abroad program are eligible. Applicants must have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the Office of Student Aid, at the time of the application deadline, to be considered for need-based aid.

Application Deadlines

• February 1 – summer programs
• March 1 – academic year and fall programs
• September 10 – spring programs

Award Amount

Awarded amounts will vary based on scholarship availability, scholarship requirements, and demonstrated unmet need.

• Academic Year: $1,000-$2,000
• Fall: $500-$1,500  
• Spring: $500-$1,500
• Summer: $500

How to Apply

Scholarship applications are available through your program application. After you have chosen a study abroad program, you should click "Apply Now" on the program page which will open a program application. The scholarship applications will be available in the questionnaire section of your program application. Please carefully read the eligibility requirements for each scholarship before completing the scholarship application questionnaire.

Award Recipient Selection

Recipients shall be selected by the Education Abroad Scholarship Committee. Factors considered, in consultation with the Office of Student Aid, are: financial need, demonstrated academic success (merit), duration of program of study, etc. Awards are made during each of the three semesters during the academic year. Awards are made one time only and are not negotiable.

Award Notification & Distribution

Notification of scholarship decision will be by email. Notification will occur before a student is expected to commit to their Education Abroad program. Awards will be distributed to the student’s account via the Office of the Bursar. An award may result in a decrease in the student’s loan amount. The award will be removed from the student's bursar account if the student changes program locations, withdraws from the program, does not participate in the program, or the program is canceled. Awards are made one time only and are not negotiable.

The Diversity Grant-in-Aid Scholarship is issued through the Education Abroad office for students studying on approved Penn State programs. Penn State students participating in officially sponsored Education Abroad programs are eligible to apply.  This scholarship is not guaranteed and is competitive.

Scholarship Description

Penn State Education Abroad offers Diversity Grant-in-Aid awards to qualified Penn State undergraduate students participating in semester Education Abroad programs. Diversity Grant-in-Aid awards are available to individuals with disabilities and/or members of ethnic minority groups. Awards are made during each of the three semesters (summer, fall, spring) during the academic year.  Funding for this award is available in part from the University’s Equal Opportunity Planning Committee.

Eligibility

Full-time, undergraduate Penn State students who have enrolled in an officially recognized semester Education Abroad program and are a member of a traditionally underrepresented group in the Penn State system of higher education (please visit the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity website for more information) and/or has a documented disability (covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990). Applicants must also be a United States citizen/permanent resident and have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the Office of Student Aid, at the time of the application deadline, to be considered for need-based aid. To be considered for an award from the Diversity Grant-in-Aid fund, the student must also complete the Education Abroad Grant-in-Aid application. Individuals who wish to be considered for a DGIA award based on a documented disability must be registered with the Penn State Office for Disability Services and must submit an Academic Adjustment letter to the Education Abroad office by the application deadline. 

Application Deadlines

• February 1 – summer programs
• March 1 – academic year and fall programs
• September 10 – spring programs

Award Amount

Awarded amounts will vary based on scholarship availability, scholarship requirements, and demonstrated unmet need.

• Academic Year: $1,000-$2,000
• Fall: $500-$1,500  
• Spring: $500-$1,500
• Summer: $500

How to Apply

Scholarship applications are available through your program application. After you have chosen a study abroad program, you should click "Apply Now" on the program page which will open a program application. The scholarship applications will be available in the questionnaire section of your program application. Please carefully read the eligibility requirements for each scholarship before completing the scholarship application questionnaire.

Award Recipient Selection

Recipients shall be selected by the Education Abroad Scholarship Committee. Factors considered, in consultation with the Office of Student Aid, are: financial need, demonstrated academic success (merit), duration of program of study, etc. Awards are made during each of the three semesters during the academic year. Awards are made one time only and are not negotiable.

Award Notification & Distribution

Notification of scholarship decision will be by email. Notification will occur before a student is expected to commit to their Education Abroad program. Awards will be distributed to the student’s account via the Office of the Bursar. An award may result in a decrease in the student’s loan amount. The award will be removed from the student's bursar account if the student withdraws from the program, does not participate in the program, or the program is canceled. Awards are made one time only and are not negotiable.

The Africa and Latin America Grant-in-Aid Scholarship is issued through the Education Abroad office for students studying on approved Penn State programs. Penn State students participating in officially sponsored Education Abroad programs are eligible to apply. This scholarship is not guaranteed and is competitive.

Scholarship Description

Penn State Education Abroad offers Africa and Latin America Grant-in-Aid to provide recognition and financial incentive to Penn State undergraduate students who are participating in semester Education Abroad programs in an African or Latin American country. Awards are made during each of the three semesters (summer, fall, spring) during the academic year. Funding for this award is available in part from the University’s Equal Opportunity Planning Committee and the University Office of Global Programs.

Eligibility

Full-time, undergraduate Penn State students who are enrolled in an officially recognized semester Education Abroad program in a Sub-Saharan African or Latin American country. Applicants must also be a United States citizen/permanent resident and have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the Office of Student Aid, at the time of the application deadline, to be considered for need-based aid. 

Application Deadlines

• February 1 – summer programs
• March 1 – academic year and fall programs
• September 10 – spring programs

Award Amount

Awarded amounts will vary based on scholarship availability, scholarship requirements, and demonstrated unmet need.

• Academic Year: $2,000
• Fall: $1,000-$1,500
• Spring: $1,000-$1,500
• Summer: $500-$1,500

How to Apply

Scholarship applications are available through your program application. After you have chosen a study abroad program, you should click "Apply Now" on the program page which will open a program application. The scholarship applications will be available in the questionnaire section of your program application. Please carefully read the eligibility requirements for each scholarship before completing the scholarship application questionnaire.

Award Recipient Selection

Recipients shall be selected by the Education Abroad Scholarship Committee. Factors considered, in consultation with the Office of Student Aid, are: financial need, demonstrated academic success (merit), duration of program of study, etc. Awards are made during each of the three semesters during the academic year. Awards are made one time only and are not negotiable.

Award Notification & Distribution

Notification of scholarship decision will be by email. Notification will occur before a student is expected to commit to their Education Abroad program. Awards will be distributed to the student’s account via the Office of the Bursar. An award may result in a decrease in the student’s loan amount. The award will be removed from the student's bursar account if the student changes program locations, withdraws from the program, does not participate in the program, or the program is canceled. Awards are made one time only and are not negotiable.

The Whole World Scholarship is issued through the Education Abroad office for students studying on approved Penn State programs. Penn State students participating in officially sponsored Education Abroad programs are eligible to apply.  This scholarship is not guaranteed and is competitive.

Scholarship Description

Penn State Education Abroad offers the Whole World Scholarship to provide recognition and financial incentive to Penn State undergraduate students who are participating in select semester Education Abroad (EA) programs. Programs are in non-traditional locations such as East Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. Awards are made during each of the three semesters (Summer, Fall, Spring) during the academic year.

A list of eligible Education Abroad programs is available.

Eligibility

Full-time undergraduate Penn State students who are enrolled in an officially recognized semester Education Abroad (EA) program in non-traditional locations (list of eligible Education Abroad programs) are eligible. Applicants must also be United States citizens/permanent residents and have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the Office of Student Aid. 

Application Deadlines

• February 1 – summer programs
• March 1 – academic year and fall programs
• September 10 – spring programs

Award Amount

• Academic Year: $2,000
• Fall: $1,000  
• Spring: $1,000
• Summer: $500

How to Apply

Scholarship applications are available through your program application. After you have chosen a study abroad program, you should click "Apply Now" on the program page which will open a program application. The scholarship applications will be available in the questionnaire section of your program application. Please carefully read the eligibility requirements for each scholarship before completing the scholarship application questionnaire.

Award Recipient Selection

Recipients shall be selected by the Education Abroad Scholarship Committee. Factors considered, in consultation with the Office of Student Aid, are: financial need, demonstrated academic success (merit), duration of program of study, etc. Awards are made during each of the three semesters during the academic year. Awards are made one time only and are not negotiable.

Award Notification & Distribution

Notification of scholarship decision will be by email. Notification will occur before a student is expected to commit to their Education Abroad program. Awards will be distributed to the student’s account via the Office of the Bursar. An award may result in a decrease in the student’s loan amount. The award will be removed from the student's bursar account if the student withdraws from the program, does not participate in the program, or the program is canceled. Awards are made one time only and are not negotiable.

The Embedded Programs Scholarship is issued through the Education Abroad Office for students studying on approved Penn State embedded programs.  An embedded program is a residentially-taught course with an international travel component included within the class. 

Scholarship Description

The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial support to full-time undergraduate and graduate students from the Pennsylvania State University who are currently enrolled in a course with an international travel component (an embedded program). Qualifying embedded programs must include a travel component that involves two Penn State faculty leaders and is, at minimum, one week in duration.  This scholarship is not guaranteed and is competitive.

Eligibility

Full-time undergraduate and graduate students who are currently enrolled in a course with an international travel component (an embedded program).  All applicants must have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the Office of Student Aid at Penn State.  Your FAFSA must already be on file for the semester of travel.  

Application Deadlines

All scholarship applications are to be submitted via online web form using the link associated with the proper date of travel as described in the deadlines table in this section.  No paper scholarship applications will be accepted.

Deadlines and links to embedded programs scholarship

Course Term	Program Travel Dates	Scholarship Application Due Date	Apply Now
Fall	Late August through December graduation	October 1	Fall embedded programs scholarship application (opens in new tab)
Winter (Dec. - Feb.)	December graduation through end of February	October 1	Winter (Dec.-Feb.) embedded programs scholarship application (opens in new tab)
Spring (March - May)	March through May graduation (most common travel time is spring break)	January 15	Spring (March-May) embedded programs scholarship application (opens in new tab)
Summer	May graduation through August graduation	March 15	Summer embedded programs scholarship application (opens in new tab)

Award Amount

• $1,000—undergraduate students
• $500—graduate students

Award Recipient Selection

Recipients shall be selected by the Education Abroad Scholarship Committee. The primary factor considered, in consultation with the Office of Student Aid, is the applicant’s financial need.  Because of the volume of applications, awards usually go to students with the highest level of financial need as determined by the Office of Student Aid.  Among those with the highest need, preference may be given to students with higher cumulative grade point averages and/or to those with no prior international experience. Recipients who do not provide accurate information or do not apply for the scholarship associated with the correct term and dates of travel will not be considered. 

Award Notification & Distribution

Applicants will be notified via email one month after the application deadline. Awards will be distributed to the student’s account via the Office of the Bursar, and may not be disbursed to a student's account until at least two months after the application deadline.  An award may result in an adjustment of student aid eligibility or loan disbursement.  Please consult with Office of Student Aid for any questions relating to aid eligibility and loans. The award may be removed from your bursar account if you withdraw from the program, do not participate in the program or the program is cancelled. Awards are non-renewable. 

Please note: The number of applications for the scholarship far exceeds the availability of funds.  We encourage all students to apply, but applicants should be aware that the likelihood of being awarded is relatively low due to the volume of applications.

Penn State Global is pleased to announce the Back to the World Initiative. This initiative is intended to increase global engagement among students across the commonwealth through enhanced funding and outreach. Penn State Global has allocated a significant amount of funding towards students' involvement in education abroad experiences over the 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years. Students from any campus participating on any type of approved Penn State education abroad program will have increased access to funding for their experience. To learn more about the specific scholarship and funding opportunities, please visit our Back to the World Website.

Funding Opportunities Include:

• Back to the World Education Abroad Fair Award
• Back to the World Customized Programs Award
• Back to the World Writing and Video Contest Award
• Back to the World General Award
• Back to the World Passport Award
• Give Back to the World: Sustainability Scholars Program Award

CIEE has generously provided scholarships for students that participate in CIEE programs. Eligibility requirements may vary but are based on program location and semester, as well as being a full-time degree-seeking Penn State undergraduate student and financial need. Applicants must also be United States citizens/permanent residents and have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the Office of Student Aid. 

Special Discount Guarantee - January 2024-December 2024

CIEE has generously agreed to guarantee the following minimum discounts to Penn State students participating in any Penn State approved CIEE program from January 2024-December 2024.

• $2500 program discount for students participating in traditional semester program or three (3) block Open Campus program (fall/spring)
• $1,250 program discount for students participating in any two (2) block Open Campus program (fall/spring)
• $500 discount for students participating in any one (1) block Open Campus program (fall/spring)
• $500 discount on any CIEE summer program*

Note about summer programs: Consecutive summer sessions receive a 20% discount in the 2nd and 3rd session. Only the 1st session will be discounted at the discount rate listed here.

Application Deadlines

All students participating in the designated programs will receive the discount; there is no separate scholarship application.  The deadlines listed here reflect the program application deadline for admission. Only those with applications on file by the deadline will be considered for this funding source.

• February 1 – summer programs
• March 1 – academic year and fall programs
• September 10 – spring programs

How to Apply

There is no application for these program discounts. 

 

IES has generously provided scholarships for students that participate in IES programs. Eligibility requirements may vary but are based on program location and semester, as well as being a full-time degree-seeking Penn State undergraduate student and financial need. Applicants must also be United States citizens/permanent residents and have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the Office of Student Aid.  

Scholarship Description

IES has generously provided scholarships for students that participate in IES programs. Award amounts are $500 or $1,500 depending on the semester.  These funds are intended for students who, for financial reasons, may not otherwise be able to participate in an IES program. All students participating in the designated programs will be considered for these scholarships, there is no additional scholarship application.  Eligibility requirements may vary but are based on program location and semester, as well as being a full-time degree-seeking Penn State undergraduate student and financial need.  Applicants must also be United States citizens/permanent residents and have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the Office of Student Aid.  Financial need is established via the FAFSA on file with Penn State.  Scholarships are not guaranteed and will be competitive. 

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements may vary but are based on program location and semester, as well as being a full-time degree-seeking Penn State undergraduate student and financial need.  Applicants must also be United States citizens/permanent residents and have a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file with the Office of Student Aid.  Financial need is established via the FAFSA on file with Penn State. Scholarships are not guaranteed and will be competitive.

Application Deadlines

• February 1 – summer programs
• March 1 – academic year and fall programs
• September 10 – spring programs

Award Amount

Awards range from $500-$2,000, depending on the program selected and the term.

How to Apply

There is no application for these scholarships. Global Programs will assess scholarship opportunities for all the qualified students on the IES Abroad designated programs and/or preferred programs.

Award Recipient Selection

Recipients shall be selected by the Education Abroad Scholarship Committee. Factors considered, in consultation with the Office of Student Aid, are: financial need, demonstrated academic success (merit), duration of program of study, etc. Awards are made during each of the three semesters during the academic year. Awards are made one time only and are not negotiable.

Award Notification & Distribution

Notification of scholarship decision will be by email. Notification will occur before a student is expected to commit to their Education Abroad program. Awards will be distributed to the student’s account via the Office of the Bursar. An award may result in a decrease in the student’s loan amount. The award will be removed from the student's bursar account if the student withdraws from the program, does not participate in the program, or the program is cancelled. Awards are made one time only and are not negotiable.

Eligible Programs

Please review the list of IES Abroad programs eligible for this funding.