Study Abroad Scholarships & Aid: What You Need to Know

Guaranteed need-based aid for students applying from schools in the IES Abroad consortium

Our aid is awarded based on your FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI). If your SAI is 40,000 or below, and you apply by the deadline, you are guaranteed to receive aid. If you are a Pell Grant recipient, you are guaranteed to receive $5,000-$7,000 in aid for your semester abroad, depending on your SAI and institutional financial aid policies.

• Need-based aid priority: Priority is currently given to U.S.-based students who demonstrate high financial need, including Pell Grant recipients.
• Consortium students: Many scholarships and aid awards are allocated to students from Consortium Member and Associate Member schools that transfer institutional financial aid to study abroad.
• Outside funding: We encourage students to pursue outside scholarships and resources. IES Abroad financial aid is meant to comprise just one 'slice' of your overall financial aid 'pie'. See the Outside Funding Options section below for curated categories.

Currently, scholarship and aid priority is given to study abroad students in the United States who demonstrate high financial need and are Pell Grant recipients. Many of our scholarships and aid are allocated to students from Consortium Member and Associate Member schools that transfer financial aid. Go to your 'Resources' section of your Student Portal for specific details about aid eligibility.

Students participating in IES Customized & Faculty-Led Programs, Full-Time Semester Internships, or non-IES Abroad programs are not eligible to receive IES Abroad scholarships and aid. Other eligibility requirements may apply.

Outside Funding Options 

IES Abroad curates outside scholarship and funding resources as part of our commitment to an inclusive community. These external resources are selected to help students from communities historically underrepresented in global education — including students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students, and students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds — find additional support to make study abroad possible.

Common outside scholarship categories we highlight:

• Disability scholarships
• LGBTQ+ scholarships and fellowships
• Racial & ethnic diversity scholarships
• First-generation student scholarships
• Major-, interest-, and department-specific scholarships
• Country- or region-specific funding opportunities

How to search outside scholarships

• Start early: Many outside scholarships operate on independent timelines.
• Match eligibility: Focus on awards that match your identity, major, or destination.
• Use multiple sources: Combine institutional, private, and foundation scholarships to cover different parts of your program budget.

Learn More About What Study Abroad Will Cost

When you study abroad, you join a huge network of globally minded people who value making an impact. Scholarships and aid for study abroad students is a special kind of funding because it's backed by a mission: educate students like you who will become global leaders. A portion of our scholarships and aid is made possible by our generous donors. Get to know them, their impact, and maybe receive a scholarship from them!

Meet Our Generous Donors