Scholarships and Financial Aid
Financial assistance and scholarships are available
Many of the scholarship opportunities available to NKU students wishing to study abroad are listed below. Students who are interested in exploring other financial aid and loan options for study abroad are encouraged to meet with a financial aid coordinator in the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
NKU International Study Scholarship
Northern Kentucky University provides the International Study Scholarship, a fund established by President James Votruba to increase international awareness on campus by making the opportunity for education abroad available to a greater number of students. NKU students may be awarded up to $1,500 based on the cost of the program. The scholarship is based primarily on financial need, as determined by the FAFSA, but also considers academic performance. Students may pick up the scholarship application at University Center 415 or access it through the above link.
Beyond the Classroom Award
Through the generosity of Dr. Joan Ferrante, NKU Professor of Sociology, the Beyond the Classroom Award for study abroad is made available to students in any academic discipline who have completed Sociology 100 with the textbook Sociology: A Global Perspective or Seeing Sociology: An Introduction. Scholarships of varying amounts up to $1,000 will be awarded to selected applicants. Applicants must have completed one semester at NKU and be an NKU student in good standing. Preference will be given to students participating in short-term (1-2 week) study abroad programs. Students may pick up the Beyond the Classroom Award application at University Center 415 or access it through the above link.
NKU Departmental Study Abroad Scholarships
Students should check with their academic department to see if study abroad scholarships are available to students in that particular major or minor. Several departments, such as the Department of World Languages & Literatures, offer such scholarships.
Presidential/Zalla Fellowship
NKU students in the Honors program are eligible to apply for this award to assist with study abroad travel. Students must have completed two Honors courses, or be enrolled in your second Honors course when applying. Contact the Honors Program for more information and how to apply.
Scholarships from Program Providers (KIIS & CCSA)
Students should check with their study abroad program provider to see if scholarships are available to participating students. Both the Kentucky Institute for International Studies (KIIS) and the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad (CCSA) offer scholarships for students participating in their programs.
Foundation for Global Scholars
The Foundation for Global Scholars is a 501C(3) non-profit organization which provides scholarships for students studying abroad. In each academic year, the Foundation awards more than $400,000 in scholarships and grants to help students that may otherwise be unable to study abroad and ensure that students have an affordable international experience. The Foundation may award funds to students who are from specific academic majors, who demonstrate diverse backgrounds or participation, and/or who are from specific universities or colleges. The Foundation may also have a general pool of scholarship funds to available to qualified students. Click the link for more information.
Go! Study Abroad Scholarship
GO! Overseas supports international education through scholarships available to students participating in study abroad programs. Scholarships are awarded each year and are based on the creativity and analytical thinking displayed through writing samples and/or video submissions. The amount of this award is $1,000.
Go! Teach Abroad Scholarship
The Go! Teach Abroad Scholarship is open to all current and aspiring teachers. The sole purpose of this award is to assist in the funding of participation in a teaching program abroad, or supplement the costs of purchasing materials for use in the classroom. The amount of this award is $1,000. Click the link for more information.
Bridging Scholarships for Study Abroad in Japan
Undergraduate students majoring in any field of study are eligible to apply. Japanese language study is not a prerequisite. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and be enrolled in a college or university in the U.S. Scholarship awards are $2,500 for a semester program and $4,000 for an academic year program.
US-Ireland Alliance George J. Mitchell Scholarship
Applicants for this scholarship must be U.S. citizens between the ages of 18 and 30. Scholars are eligible to attend institutions of higher learning, including the seven universities in Ireland and the two universities in Northern Ireland, for one academic year of graduate study. Each scholar will receive a stipend of $11,000, in addition to tuition and room provided by the participating university.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
Undergraduate students whom are U.S. citizens receiving federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university are eligible for this award. These scholarships amount to up to $5,000 for a semester or an academic year used only to cover eligible study abroad program costs and related expenses.
Freeman-ASIA Awards for Study in Asia
Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and must be enrolled as undergraduates in good academic standing at accredited U.S. colleges or universities. Applicants must be receiving financial aid to be eligible for the award. Awards are available for study in one or more of the following countries: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, or Vietnam. The program of study must be a minimum of eight weeks. The award amounts are as follows: $3,000 for a summer program, $5,000 for a semester program, and $7,000 for an academic year program.
British Marshall Scholarship
Applicants must be U.S. citizens who hold a first degree from an accredited four-year college or university in the United States with a minimum GPA of 3.7. There are no restrictions to the field of academic study. The Marshall scholarship funds further study at a British university or business school for a period of two academic years.
Boren Awards for International Study
Applicants must be U.S. citizens matriculating from a U.S. post-secondary institution applying for a study abroad program of at least one academic term. Programs of an academic year in length are strongly encouraged. NSEP Scholarships can be applied to programs in all countries, except Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Preference is given to applications for study in areas deemed critical to national security. Study of a foreign language appropriate to the country of the program is required.
Rotary Foundation Scholarship
Applicants must be citizens of countries in which there is a Rotary Club and have completed at least two years of university coursework. Three types of awards exist: academic year (funding provided for one academic year), multi-year (funding provided for two years of degree-oriented study), and cultural (three or six months of intensive language study and cultural immersion).
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
Several opportunities exist through the Fulbright program. For specific information, contact Dr. Carol Anne Constabile-Heming in the Department of World Languages and Literatures, LA 503, by phone at 859-572-7650, or by email at costabilec1@nku.edu.
The Cincinnati Branch of the English Speaking Union Travel-Study Grant
This travel grant of up to $2,000 is designed to assist individuals for research or study in the fields of business, humanities, science, engineering, liberal, fine or applied arts who wish to study or conduct research in the U.S. or in the countries of the British Commonwealth. Qualified undergraduate and post-graduate students are eligible to apply. Students may pick up the travel-study grant application at the Office of Education Abroad in University Center 415 or access it through the above link.
To search for additional scholarships, check out IIEPassport's Study Abroad Funding database or StudyAbroad.com's database.