Scholarships

The Education Abroad office offers a variety of diverse programs for students to participate in year-round. There are a number of scholarship opportunities available to support KSU students and their education abroad experiences. Traditional financial aid opportunities are also available.

For questions about the scholarships listed below, please contact your education abroad advisor or send an email to educationabroad@kennesaw.edu.

Scholarships

  • The DGA Staff believe in the importance of international education and support our students' efforts to have international experiences during their academic careers.

    Award Amount: $500 scholarship

    Eligibility Requirements:

    • Minimum 2.75 GPA 
    • Must be a full-time undergraduate student
    • Participating in a KSU study abroad program
    • Must be able to demonstrate financial need

  • The Michele Miller Scholarship was created to provide support for International students enrolled in a degree program at Kennesaw State University. 

    Award Amount:
    Two $1000 scholarships

    Eligibility Requirements:

    • Minimum 3.0 GPA 
    • Undergraduate or graduate student
    • Enrolled full or part-time
    • International student with appropriate visa
    • Renewable to the same student with new scholarship application each year for a maximum of four years or through graduation

  • The Christina and Thomas Emerson Scholarship for the Advancement of International Education provides financial assistance to support students who desire to participate in a Kennesaw State summer education abroad program outside of Western Europe, that includes a formal community engagement component.

    Eligibility Requirements:

    • Minimum 3.0 GPA required
    • Must be a full-time undergraduate student
    • Must participate in a summer education abroad program outside of Western Europe
    • Program must include community engagement component
    • Academic reference letter (optional)
    • Must be able to demonstrate financial need

    For more information regarding the Emerson Scholarship or to apply, please click here to visit the Emerson Scholarship page.

  • The Clark Family Study Abroad Scholarship is to provide financial support to students who are pursuing a degree in the Coles College of Business.

    Award Amount: Four $500 scholarships

    Eligibility Requirements:

    • Must be an undergraduate student (full or part-time)
    • Coles College student
    • Participating in a KSU study abroad program
    • Preference for a student from a single-parent household

  • The Barry and Sylvia Hyman Endowed International Education Scholarship was established in honor of Dr. E. Howard Shealy for his years of exceptional service to the study abroad program in Montepulciano, Italy. This scholarship will provide financial assistance to students properly enrolled in the Great Books Honors Program to study abroad in Italy. Recipients are awarded towards the fees associated with their education abroad program.

    To apply for this scholarship log on to Owl Express, click the Financial Aid tab, and then click "KSU Scholarship Application."

    For more information regarding the scholarship, contact honors@kennesaw.edu or visit the Honors College Scholarship webpage.

  • The Robin Schmidt Shore Endowed Scholarship will provide financial assistance to freshman students admitted to the Great Books Honors Program to study abroad in Italy. Recipients are awarded towards the fees associated with their education abroad program.

    To apply for this scholarship log on to Owl Express, click the Financial Aid tab, and then click "KSU Scholarship Application."

    For more information regarding the scholarship, contact honors@kennesaw.edu or visit the Honors College Scholarship webpage.

  • The Takada  Scholarship for International Education provides financial assistance to support students who desire to participate in a Kennesaw State summer education abroad program outside of Western Europe.

    Eligibility Requirements:

    • Minimum 3.0 GPA required
    • Must be a full-time undergraduate student
    • Must participate in a summer education abroad program outside of Western Europe
    • Must be able to demonstrate financial need

    For more information regarding the Takada Scholarship or to apply, please click here to visit the Takada Scholarship page.

  • Study abroad scholarships are available for students who are involved with the Coles College Student Managed Investment Fund (SMIF).

    Eligibility Requirements:

    • Must be a SMIF student
    • Coles College student
    • Participating in a KSU study abroad program

  • The True Family Scholarship seeks to support students who want the opportunity to fully engage in new and diverse cultural experiences abroad. Participation in study abroad programs helps to develop a foundation for living and working in a global society. Through intensive cultural immersion opportunities, students may have a better understanding of the world that we live in and can have transformative life experiences which help them to become good global citizens.

    Award Amounts:

    • Eight $500 scholarships
      • Preference: Two students studying in Europe
      • Preference: Two students studying in the Americas
      • Preference: Two students studying in Africa or the Middle East
      • Preference: Two students studying in Asia of Australia/Oceania

    Eligibility Requirements:

    • Minimum 3.0 GPA 
    • Must be an undergraduate or graduate student (full or part-time)
    • Participating in a KSU study abroad program
       

  • For students going on ISEP programs, search scholarships here.

  • Below you will find a listing of external scholarships that award money to students participating in education abroad programs.

      • Up to $5,000
      • For education abroad programs lasting at least 3 weeks in one country
      • Must be a U.S. citizen undergraduate student
      • Must be a Pell Grant recipient
      • Additional $3,000 available to those studying a Critical Need Language
      • Application deadlines:Summer, Fall, & Academic Year programs: first Tuesday in March
      • Spring & Early Summer programs: first Tuesday in October

      Please contact the Education Abroad Office at educationabroad@kennesaw.edu for Gilman Scholarship approval and counseling.

      More Info:
      Gilman Scholarship
      Gilman-McCain Scholarship

      • Covers the cost of your study abroad program (including tuition & fees)
      • Must be a U.S. citizen
      • Preference is given to students going abroad for one year, but semester and summer programs are eligible (minimum of 8 weeks abroad)
      • Ideal candidate is studying an underrepresented language and culture while studying abroad
      • Within three years of graduation, the recipients must work for one year in the Department of Defense, Homeland Security, State, or Intelligence Community
      • Current application deadline is February 2, 2022 by 5 p.m.

      Please contact Michelle Miles for Boren Scholarship approval and counseling.

      Email: mmiles18@kennesaw.edu
      Phone: 470-578-4761

      More Info

      • Award amounts vary depending on scholarship
      • For any education abroad program - including scholarships for teaching and volunteering abroad
      • Many location-specific scholarship opportunities
      • Application deadlines vary

      More Info

      • $1,000
      • For any education abroad program occurring between May 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023
      • Must have a 3.75 GPA
      • Available to undergraduate students
      • The next application cycle will begin December 15, 2021. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2022.

      More Info

      • Up to $5,000
      • Undergraduate award based on academic merit and relevance of education abroad to field of study
      • Must be a Golden Key member (see website for details).

      More Info

      • Grants range from $12,000 to $26,000
      • Requirements & deadlines vary based on type of scholarship
      • Minimum of three months studying abroad

      More Info

      • Summer 2022/Fall 2022/AY 22-23 application will open on January 17, 2021
      • General and dedicated scholarships up to $10,000
      • Must be a U.S. citizen of permanent resident
      • Minimum four-week program duration
      • Work to support education abroad on campus
      • Preference given to program that includes language and/or substantial service-learning components
      • Preference given to non-traditional destination
      • Applicants are considered for multiple scholarships based on their responses in a single application. Example of an FEA sub-scholarship:
        • Rainbow Scholarship
          • Available to LGBTQ+ students participating on rigorous education abroad programs lasting a minimum of 4 weeks
          • Applicants must self-identify on the scholarship application (No assumptions about an applicants's sexual orientation and/or gender identity will be made from their application)
          • Application will be completed through the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA)

      More Info

      • Covers the full cost of the education abroad program
      • Must be able to demonstrate financial need
      • Preference is given to applicants raised by a single parent or applicants that have lost both parents
      • Application deadline: March 7, 2022

      More Info

      • $1,000 scholarship award (award recipients will also receive a travel backpack)
      • Application includes a 500-word essay
      • Spring 2023 Deadline: Nov. 15, 2022 | Fall 2022 Deadline: April 15, 2022

      More Info

      • General scholarship for future female leaders
      • $10,000 Award
      • Deadline: TBD

      More Info

    Region Specific Scholarships

      • For study abroad in Europe

      More Info

      • For students studying, interning, researching, abroad in Germany
      • Application deadlines & award amounts vary

      More Info

      • Database of scholarships for students studying abroad in Australia

      More Info

      • Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
      • Deadline: March 29, 2022
      • Must be an undergraduate studying in East or Southeast Asia
      • Minimum 2.8 GPA
      • Based on a demonstrated financial need
      • Minimum 8 week program for summer term or 12 week program for semester term

      More Info

      • Covers tuition at an higher education instituion in Korea, airfare, language training, and an allowance
      • GPA requirement
      • Korean language study required

      More Info

    Discipline-Specific Scholarships

      • $1,000 
      • Open to female students pursuing careers in computing
      • Must have declared their major (or completed at least one Academic Year) in computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field
      • Application Deadline: April 1, 2022

      More Info

      • $2,000 and complimentary access to courses and certifications offered by the CPR Certification Institute
      • Applicants must be enrolled in any form of healthcare degree

      More Info

    Language-Specific Scholarships

      • Full scholarship covers all travel, tuition, housing, and a living stipend
      • Program is an intensive overseas language and cultural immersion program where students spend eight to ten weeks abroad studying one of 15 critical languages

      More Info

      • $2,500 (semester program) and $4,000 (year program)
      • Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident studying in Japan
      • Any field of study is eligible and Japanese language is not a prerequisite

      More Info

      • Undergraduate level
      • Applicants must be enrolled at a university outside of Japan as undergraduate students majoring in fields related to the Japanese language or Japanese culture at the time of arriving in and leaving Japan
      • Scholarship offers full coverage of tuition and fees, airfare, and monthly living stipend
      • Program is for one year

      More Info

    Scholarships for Graduate Students

      • Awards range from $12,000 to $30,000
      • Minimum of one semester abroad

      More Info

      • Grants available for teaching, research, and graduate studies
      • Available to both U.S. citizens and incoming foreign students

 

KSU Financial Aid Information

Financial aid is far more available for study abroad programs than students commonly imagine. The Financial Aid Office at Kennesaw State has been gracious enough to create a resource guide specifically for Study Abroad Students.

 

Databases to Search for Scholarships

There are online databases dedicated to finding scholarships catered to your individual needs. Don't limit yourself to scholarships related to studying abroad. Some scholarships just send you a check and you can decide how to spend it (for example, you can use the money to buy a plane ticket)! The following resources can help you identify even more scholarships and opportunities to fund your education abroad experience: 

 

Fundraising Ideas

Fundraising can lessen the burden of financing a study abroad trip. See some examples of fundraising below.

    1. Send Letters/Email to Family, Friends, & Others
      You’d be surprised at who may be willing to help fund your study abroad experience. Send letters or emails (though letters might seem more sincere) and explain how you’ll be studying abroad. Describe the nature of the program, what you’ll be learning, why you decided to study abroad, and why you think it is a solid investment in your future. You can ask for a specific amount ($50-$100 is fairly standard) or leave it up to them. Whatever you do, make donating easy! This can be used in conjunction with a crowdfunding website (for more information, see the section on “Crowdfunding”.) Most importantly, write thank you letters to any supporters and stay in touch with them while studying abroad!
    2. Tap Into Hometown Resources
      Did you grow up in one town your whole life? Turn to community groups and alumni associations from your hometown, county, or state as a means of support. Research local civic groups such as Rotary, Elks, Kiwanis, Lions, or other special-interest groups who might be interested in sponsoring you. One method of drumming up support is offering to hold an educational seminar or presentation about your travels for the group upon your return. Additionally, an announcement in a high-school or college alumni newsletter (or fraternity/sorority alumni organization letter) may prove a solid method for gaining more financial support.
    3. Connect with Your Place of Worship or Other Communities You’re Involved With
      Your personal church, mosque, synagogue, etc. may be willing to hold a special collection during their religious service or general meeting specifically in your honor. Approach the proper leaders to organize this collection and provide any helpful information; it is important to find the best way to communicate your mission, your cause, and your need for support to the people in your network who might be able to contribute to your efforts. Additionally, the religious organization itself may be willing to sponsor you directly!
    4. Find Local Heritage Groups
      Look for local heritage groups or language associations related to the country you are visiting or to your own personal heritage. You can also approach local businesses or foundations that you and your family have patronized or been part of and ask them to make a donation to your studies. You’ll be surprised who will donate, so don’t be afraid to ask!
    5. 15-Minutes of Fame
      Alert local newspapers, radio and television stations about your plans for studying abroad, and see if they are interested in partnering with you for your efforts. Pitch ideas that are mutually beneficial, such as writing regular letters to be published in the local paper or offering to do an interview upon returning. Write an article for your talking about the cause, event or organization you are fundraising for, and ask for donations. This would also be a great way to gather more support for your upcoming fundraising event, such as those outlined in the next idea!
    6. Have a Bake Sale, a Yard Sale, Any Kind of Sale
      A great way to get the greater community involved in your project, or at the very least aware of your project, is to host your very own sale event. Have friends and family volunteer to help out on the actual day of the event, and to pass out flyers around the community. Get rid of your old junk to make room for new memories (or souvenirs!). Be creative, tap into your inner entrepreneur, and discover just how generous even strangers can be.

      Some ideas include: Run errands for people; offer public classes or private lessons (dancing, self-defense, foreign languages, any special skill!); grab your goofiest friends and create a haunted house. For the complete list of ideas, visit the GoOverseas Blog.
    1. Work with a Fundraising Company
      Below are listed several websites where you can connect with a professional fundraising company and sell their products for a certain percentage of sales. However, we do caution students while doing these kinds of fundraisers to keep a critical eye out, as the companies can sometimes require students pay upfront for the product or offer some kind of deposit. Only do product-selling fundraising if you are sure of the legitimacy of the company. That said, this can be an effective way of raising money for a study abroad and unlike other methods, you aren’t asking for charity; you’re offering people something they might want.
      1. Fast Track Fundraising
      2. Buy for Charity Fundraising
    2. Merchant Plan
      A merchant plan is a step-by-step outline covering the development of a mutually beneficial relationship with area merchants. Local businesses are an excellent fundraising resource. They should be part of every non-profit group’s fundraising strategy. For more information, visit the Fundraiser Help Website.
    3. Employment
      Like your mom and dad always told you, there’s no substitute for hard work. Find a part-time (or even full-time) job. If you already have one, great! Start setting aside a portion of your paycheck each week towards study abroad. To resist the urge to spend it, set up a separate account to hold the money in or have it direct deposited into your parents’ account. Look for regular and irregular work – from fast food & retail to babysitting & house painting, there’s a lot of opportunities out there to earn extra money.

  • In the past few years, the rise of “Crowdfunding” websites, where individuals can promote a project, idea, or movement, and allow other individuals to donate to the cause, have taken off in popularity. You can create your own crowd funding page, set a fundraising goal, and send it to friends, family, and even coworkers to help raise money for your study abroad trip! These websites typically charge 4%-5% if you meet your fundraising goal. If you fail to meet your goal, the generated funds may be returned to all of the donators. Be sure to read your options carefully before signing up. 

    We recommend using only the websites below unless you’re familiar with another site (Please note, they do charge anywhere from a 4%-9% fee on whatever donations are collected):

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