Apply for Scholarships & Aid

One Application. More than $6 Million Available.

Our quick and easy aid application allows you to apply online for nearly all of our scholarship and aid opportunities at once.* You can apply at any time, even if you haven't yet started an IES Abroad application for admission, and we'll let you know your need-based aid status within five business days. Just make sure you meet the scholarship and aid application deadline for your term.

We have many different scholarship and aid opportunities and each one has its own eligibility requirements. Use the online aid application below to tell us a bit about yourself and upload the documents described below so we can determine every scholarship and aid possibility for which you are eligible.

Funds are limited, so apply early!

Apply Now

What You'll Need to Apply

*Exclusions & Special Notes

IES Abroad scholarships and aid are available only to students participating in a standard IES Abroad program. Students on Customized & Faculty-Led Programs, Full-Time Semester Internship programs or Summer Virtual World DiscoverIES are ineligible for any IES Abroad scholarships and aid.

Important information regarding scholarships and aid for Flexible Study Abroad programs. Students participating in any of the Flexible Study Abroad programs are welcome to apply for IES Abroad scholarships and aid, but must participate in a session abroad to receive any aid.

Multi-Term Students (Academic Year, Calendar Year, Split Year, etc): If you would like to be considered for need-based aid in the second term of your sequence, you must submit another scholarship and aid application and all supporting documents by the scholarships and aid deadline for the second term.

Applicants to January Term programs will only be considered for need-based aid, if eligible; maximum award $500.

Supplementary documents and/or application materials are required for the University of Auckland scholarships, University of Canterbury scholarships, and some IES Abroad Grants. See details of these scholarships and grants for more information.

What You'll Need to Apply

Personal Statement

IMPORTANT: make sure your name appears on every document you upload. Applications missing names will be rejected.

Your creative personal statement must:

be no more than 500 words.

Use your statement to tell us about yourself by describing the following:

your goals for studying abroad in your selected location.
how you are uniquely qualified to receive IES Abroad scholarships and aid.
how our funding will help you reach your stated goals.
if applicable, your background and/or how you have overcome adversity as a traditionally under-represented student. Traditionally under-represented students in study abroad include, but are not limited to, students identifying as a racial/ethnic minority, first-generation college student, student with financial need, LGBTQ+, veteran status, and/or a student who has demonstrated a history of overcoming adversity such as a physical, mental health, or learning disability.

Current Financial Aid Documentation

In order to determine your eligibility for some of our need-based aid and scholarships, we need to see an official document that details your current financial aid profile. If your aid package is not yet available for your study abroad semester, submit the most recent aid profile information available to you.

Your current aid information must be:

clearly labeled with your name
one of the five acceptable options detailed below.
complete and without any missing information (see examples provided for each option).
submitted by the student to IES Abroad. Per federal guidlines on financial aid documents, your school cannot send us your financial aid information directly.

Acceptable documents include the following. You only need to submit one.

Student Aid Report (SAR) - Preferred Document

We prefer to receive this document because it contains all of the information we require. If you submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) then you have access to a Student Aid Report (SAR). Click here for more information on the SAR. We only need the first two pages of this document.

Financial Aid Award Letter

If you have been offered financial aid from your current school, you should have received an award letter detailing your aid package. Click here to see an acceptable sample award letter. Make sure your letter contains all of the information that is shown in the example.

Shopping Sheet

Some schools provide a document known as a shopping sheet. This document lists all of the aid you have been offered, along with other important details. Click here to see an example of a shopping sheet. Ask your financial aid office if they can provide you with a copy of your shopping sheet.

Student Aid Profile Document

If you are receiving aid from your current school and are unable to provide any of the above documents, you can use our Student Aid Profile document. Take it to your financial aid office and ask them to complete it and return it to you.

Explanation of Funding - International Students Only

Non-U.S. citizens attending a college or university in the U.S. are eligible to be considered for IES Abroad scholarships and aid. If none of the above documents apply to you, please upload an explanation of how you are funding your education. Please mention all sources of funding - family, government, outside scholarships, etc.