14 Study Abroad Scholarships for Minorities

Studying abroad should be accessible to everyone -- and doesn’t have to burn a hole in your bank account. Nowadays, there are hundreds of scholarships and grants offered around the world, many of which might be just the perfect fit for you.

We are glad to see a rise in scholarships and grants available to minorities: aimed to address a lack of support in underserved communities, and bridge the financial gap to help more people reap the benefits of study abroad.

Here are some of our favorite study abroad scholarships for minorities. Their rewards, deadlines, and academic requirements may differ, so closely note the prerequisites and feel free to combine opportunities with other awesome financial aid listings!

This popular sea-based study abroad semester program offers a number of need-based and merit scholarships for prospective students. In addition to providing a running list of eligible collegiate and third-party aid, they also offer inclusivity aid -- which awards $5,000 plus flights.

• Level: All students
• Award: $5,000
• Requirements: Preference given to students from underrepresented backgrounds
• Deadline: 2021 fall and summer dates TBA
• Application: Click Here

Already speak a second language at home with your family? Maximize that multilingual skillset and get a foreign language scholarship! If it's on the US government’s list of critical languages to learn, and you want to master the language beyond casual conversation, you can qualify for financial awards and use your language expertise in professional fields.

• Award: Varies
• Requirements: Must be a US citizen enrolled at a higher institution
• Deadline: dates for the 2022 summer cycle will be announced in 2021
• Application: Click Here

*Currently closed for the 2021 application cycle

HACU has a number of affiliations that can help Hispanic and Latino students find financial aid to study abroad. HACU works with study abroad provider AIFS, for instance, to help select students study abroad throughout the world by offering up to 50% off tuition.

• Award: up to 50% off semester or summer program fee
• Requirements: Hispanic students who attend a HACU member institution
• Deadline: April 15 (Summer), October 1 (Spring), March 1 (Fall)
• Application: Click Here

Thanks to CIEE, a full ride for your dream study abroad experience is possible! The Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship is a unique international program to develop change leaders who make an impact on their community and the world. This scholarship will cover 100% of tuition and travel costs for a summer study abroad program with special emphasis on leadership, social justice, agitation for positive change and cross-cultural understanding. If you don’t get the fellowship, don’t fret -- select students are still eligible for a $1,500 grant toward that year’s summer program abroad.

• Level: Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior undergraduate students
• Award: 100% tuition and travel costs
• Requirements: You must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and be from an ethnic background typically underrepresented on study abroad
• Deadline: February 14 (Summer)
• Application: Click Here

Students enrolled at an accredited US university looking to study abroad can apply to AllTheRooms’ study abroad scholarship by writing an essay about what inspires them to travel. Let your creativity flow and show them all the ways studying abroad can help you grow!

• Level: Undergraduate Students
• Award: $1000
• Requirements: University students enrolled in or enrolling in a study abroad program
• Deadline: August 1
• Application: Click Here

AIFS collaborates with the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) to cover up to half of their program fees for qualifying students of color who attend a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), or a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI).

• Award: Varies
• Requirements: Must be enrolled in an AIFS study abroad program
• Deadline: April 15 (Fall), October 1 (Spring)
• Application: Click Here

IES Abroad is a study abroad provider known for their multitude of scholarships and grants for study abroad. Their need-based, diversity and disability scholarships help make studying abroad more accessible to disadvantaged communities and minorities.

• Level: Undergraduate
• Award: $500 - $5000
• Requirements: Must be enrolled in an IES study abroad program
• Deadline: Varies
• Application: Click Here

The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) has given $1.7+ million in aid over the last decade and you could be their next recipient! In collaboration with the FEA, the IFSA Diversity Scholarship gives preference to applicants from underrepresented communities and prides themselves on providing support before, during, and after students study abroad.

• Level: Undergraduate students
• Award: up to $5000
• Requirements: University students enrolled in or enrolling in a study abroad program
• Deadline: September 10 (Spring)
• Application: Click Here

*Currently closed for the 2021 application cycle

Available for full and part-time student applicants, the Diversity Abroad Achievement Scholarship awards multiple study-abroad candidates up to $5,000 each to use at a post-secondary institution outside of the US (refer to their provided list for specific countries).

• Level: Any student
• Award: $5000
• Requirements: Must be involved in multicultural/international activities and have 3.0 GPA
• Deadline: April 15 (Fall) and September 15 (Spring)
• Application: Click Here

For minorities who are first-generation college students, or from non-traditional backgrounds (including age), the Michael Stohl Scholarship, sponsored by the Council on International Educational Exchange offers an opportunity to study abroad at CIEE Member or CIEE Academic Consortium member institutions.

• Level: Any Undergraduate Student
• Award: $750-$2500
• Requirements: Must plan to conduct research as part of a study abroad program.
• Deadline: April 1 (Summer and Fall) and November 1 (Spring)
• Application: Click Here

Each year one lucky student will be granted $10,000 in scholarship aid to study abroad with a SIT program. Funded by individual donors and foundations, the requirements are tight: seeking first-generation college students who've never traveled abroad before, currently attend an HBCU, and demonstrate strong financial need.

• Level: All Students
• Award: $10000
• Requirements: HBCU, first-generation college student
• Deadline: April 1 (Summer), May 15 (Fall), and November 1 (Spring)
• Application: Click Here

Partnered with Studio Art Centers International, the International Incentive Awards encourages applications from minorities and underrepresented groups who are in their Junior and Senior years. While there is a need-based and GPA requirement, the private scholarship is perfect for students interested in the arts and art history, who want to study in Florence, Italy.

• Level: Juniors and Seniors
• Award: $1000
• Requirements: Must be accepted to study with Studio Art Centers International
• Deadline: March 15 and October 15
• Application: Click Here

Take your study abroad adventure to Egypt thanks to a number of scholarships offered by American University in Cairo. What we love most about their international student scholarships is the availability to refugee students. The AUC scholarship for refugees enrolled in their first or second year of school covers full tuition and provides a monthly stipend.

• Level: Freshmen and Sophomores
• Award: 100% Tuition and fees plus stipend
• Requirements: Blue or yellow card status
• Deadline: June 19
• Application: Click Here

Similar to Critical Language Scholarships, The Boren Awards offer $2,500 to $20,000 to undergraduate and graduate students learning critical skills or languages in countries of interest to the US. This includes language programs, International Affairs, and STEM courses.

• Level: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
• Award: $2,500-$20,000
• Requirements: Higher education students
• Deadline: February 3 (scholarships) / January 27 (fellowships)
• Application: Click Here

We hope this list of study abroad scholarships and grants helps get you motivated to start exploring study abroad options – and excited to know that your economic circumstance won't be holding you back! Armed with all of these resources, we hope you'll find the funds to make your study abroad dream come true.

This post is updated annually, and it was most recently revised in December 2020.