KU Study Abroad Scholarships
KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement Merit and Financial Need Scholarships
With generous support from alumni, donors, and university leadership, Study Abroad & Global Engagement (SAGE) is able to provide more than $200,000 per academic year in total scholarship funding for study abroad.
SAGE administers competitive financial need and merit scholarships through a common online scholarship application. Students eligible for both scholarships can be considered for both. However, awarded students will receive either a financial need or merit scholarship.
Financial need scholarships are very competitive. For students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, these scholarships are awarded based on financial need as determined by the Student Aid Index (SAI) from the student’s current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the student’s financial aid package for the current academic year. International students will be asked to submit a Financial Need Statement to help reviewers better understand their financial need.
U.S. citizen and permanent resident students are required to have filed the FAFSA when they apply for the financial need scholarship. They are also required to have the FAFSA filed when they receive the financial need scholarship. (The FAFSA is filed once per year and covers the full academic year, Fall-Summer.) Financial need scholarships are available for all terms: Academic Year, Fall, Winter Break, Spring, Spring Break, and Summer.
Merit scholarships are very competitive and are awarded on academic merit as determined by GPA (minimum 3.5) and a Personal Statement essay. Merit scholarships are available only for the following terms: Academic Year, Fall, and Spring. Students do not need to have a FAFSA filed to receive a merit scholarship.
Eligibility
All students must meet the following requirements to apply:
- Be a degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate student at the University of Kansas; and
- Have started an application with SAGE for their study abroad program.
Priority will be given to students who have not previously received a SAGE Merit & Financial Need Scholarship and those who have not previously studied abroad for academic credit.
Scholarship Award Information
| Term of Study | Scholarships Available | Average Award | Application Deadline | Notification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Financial Need | $500-$1,500 | February 15 | March 1 |
| Academic Year | Financial Need & Merit | $4,000-$5,000 | March 1 | March 15 (Need) April 1 (Merit) |
| Fall Semester | Financial Need & Merit | $2,000-$3,000 | March 1 | March 15 (Need) April 1 (Merit) |
| Spring Semester | Financial Need & Merit | $2,000-$3,000 | October 1 | October 15 (Need) October 31 (Merit) |
| Winter Break | Financial Need | $500-$1,500 | October 1 | October 15 |
| Spring Break | Financial Need | $500-$1,500 | October 1 | October 15 |
Application Instructions
The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Central time on the due date, no exceptions. See the deadlines listed above.
The application consists of the following items:
- KU Study Abroad Scholarship Questionnaire
- This questionnaire includes a Financial Need Statement, which is optional for domestic students applying for a financial need scholarship. International students wishing to be considered for a financial need scholarship must complete this statement, as FAFSA data are not available for them.
- If students indicate they would like to be considered for a merit scholarship, they will submit a Personal Statement essay as part of this questionnaire.
- Unofficial Transcript or Advising Report
Apply for a KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement Financial Need and Merit Scholarship
Many of the funds to support KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement Scholarships come from donors. Students who are awarded a scholarship from a donor may be asked to write a thank you letter to the donor that includes information about their study abroad program and academic goals. Additionally, awardees are asked to do an outreach project, such as writing a blog post or providing photos from their time abroad. Students will be notified of any scholarship requirements in their award email.
We thank our donors for providing funds for the KU Study Abroad & Global Engagement Merit and Financial Need Scholarships.
Program or Region-Specific Study Abroad Scholarships
The below scholarships are for a specific study abroad program or group of programs and are available due to the generous support of donors as noted below. Each scholarship has specific eligibility requirements, so read them carefully. Generally, the application deadline will be February 15 for Summer programs; March 1 for Academic Year and Fall programs, and October 1 for Spring, Winter Break, and Spring Break programs. Click the application link to see the exact application deadline for each scholarship, as some have one annual deadline.
Program and KU Departmental Scholarships
As a Global Scholar, Mackenzie Aden (2018 Global Scholars cohort) travelled abroad for the first time. Grateful for the opportunity, and especially for receiving a scholarship from KU, Aden has established an award to support those currently in the KU Global Scholars Program. Any KU Global Scholar Program participant who has applied to participate in an international study, internship, or research abroad program for which they will earn credit through KU is eligible to be considered for this scholarship of $1,000. One award is given per academic year.
Apply for the Mackenzie Aden Scholarship for Global Scholars.
This fund was created by an estate gift from the late Drs. Dean and Elisabeth Collins. Awards are up to $10,000 for degree-seeking KU undergraduate or graduate students on semester-long programs to Germany and $20,000 for year-long programs. The scholarship is open to all majors, but there is a preference for students studying music, particularly opera. Minimum 2.5 GPA requirement
Apply for the Drs. Dean T. and Elisabeth Collins Study Abroad Scholarship.
Through generous support of the Freeman Foundation, SAGE is able to award scholarships ranging from $3,000 to $6,000 to degree-seeking KU undergraduate or graduate students participating in summer or semester-length credit-bearing internships that are at least 4 weeks in duration and have a minimum of 120 contact hours. Students must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents and will be required to complete a follow-on project.
Find more information and apply on the Freeman East Asia Internship Scholarship page.
This fund is used to provide awards to active members of the KU Global Scholars Program. Global Scholars can receive either $250 for domestic travel with an international research focus or $1,000 for international travel and research. All applicants will be required to submit a research proposal.
Margaret “Hodgie” Bricke’s commitment to international education remained constant throughout her three decades at KU. Hodgie founded the Global Awareness Program (GAP) in 2004 and considered it one of her most important professional achievements. Each semester, the Bricke scholarship fund provides a financial need-based $1,000 scholarship to a GAP student studying abroad for a semester or academic year. Two financial need-based $500 awards will go to GAP students participating in study abroad programs over the summer.
This fund was created with the contribution of Carl Krehbiel to provide support of up to $5,000 for undergraduate students attending the German Summer Language Institute program in Holzkirchen, Germany. Minimum 2.5 GPA requirement. Awards starting at $4,000.
Apply for the Carl C. Krehbiel and L. Neil Slentz German Language Summer Institute Scholarship.
This fund was created through the generosity of the Lipsey family in memory of Lynne Hinkel Lipsey, a Lawrencian who loved the German language and culture and studied and traveled in Germany many times throughout her life. The Lipsey family created this fund to provide direct financial support for degree-seeking KU students pursuing study abroad opportunities in a German-speaking country and for German-speaking students participating in study abroad opportunities at KU through SAGE. Support may include providing travel assistance for recipients to visit cultural sites or take part in other activities that provide a deeper understanding of the society, culture, and people in the area and country where recipients are studying. One award per academic year of up to $2,500 will be given to a KU student studying abroad for a semester or academic year in a German-speaking country, and one award per academic year of up to $2,500 will be given to a German-speaking student studying at KU. Preference will be given to students engaging in KU’s reciprocal student exchange programs in Austria, Germany, or Switzerland or students studying at KU from one of these same reciprocal exchange partner institutions.
Created with the contribution of Mark D. McBride, KU alumnus and participant in multiple undergraduate and graduate study abroad programs in Germany, this scholarship provides support to undergraduate students at KU who are graduates of a Kansas high school, have financial need, and are majoring in German studies or Slavic language and literature/Russian, East European, and Eurasian studies (REES) and who will be studying in the region. Awards are up to $2,500. Upon return from their study abroad experience, scholarship recipients will be asked to write an essay about how the scholarship made a difference and furthered their academic and professional interests, which will be shared with the donor.
Apply online through the Study Abroad Merit and Financial Need Scholarship application.
This fund is used to provide scholarships or direct financial support for degree-seeking KU students who are performing field studies abroad with the primary goal of solving real-world human and social problems in different cultural systems. Preference shall be given to senior undergraduate and graduate students in the social sciences who are U.S. citizens and are committed to developing cultural and linguistic fluencies. One award of $1,500 to $2,500 will be available each year.
Funds for this scholarship are provided with the support of Kevin and Joann Nunnink. Awards of $500-$2,000 are given. Recipients must be degree-seeking KU undergraduate students who are active participants in St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center programs, have demonstrated financial need as determined by the FAFSA, and graduated high school from a metropolitan area with a population under 75,000 in Kansas, Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma, Iowa, Arkansas, or Nebraska. Minimum 3.0 GPA requirement.
Funding for this scholarship is provided with the support of Christine Pederson, a KU alumna and participant in the University of Oslo International Summer School (ISS) in Oslo, Norway. This scholarship provides financial support of up to $5,000 to degree-seeking KU students to participate in the ISS at the University of Oslo. One award is available each academic year. Minimum 2.5 GPA requirement.
Apply for the Christine Pederson Fund for the International Summer School at the University of Oslo.
The Peter Gilles Springer Fellowship for Study in France is an award given to support an outstanding KU graduate student from the Departments of French, History, or Political Science. The fellowship shall be used for the student’s studies or research, in France only. Awards are determined based on both need and merit. The award amount is between $1,500 and $2,500. One award is given per academic year.
Apply for the Peter Gilles Springer Fellowship for Study in France.
Funding for this scholarship is provided with the support of Allan W. Wicker and Edna Elnar-Wicker. Awards are designed to assist degree-seeking KU undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need or high academic merit to participate in semester-long, single country study abroad programs through SIT Study Abroad in conjunction with SAGE. Eligible students must have applied to an eligible SIT program. One $11,000 scholarship will be awarded per academic year. Minimum 2.5 GPA requirement.
Apply for the Allan W. Wicker and Edna Elnar-Wicker Study Abroad Scholarship.
KU School and Departmental Scholarships
Many KU schools, academic departments, and other units offer scholarships or travel awards to support students in participating in a study abroad program. Below is a list of those scholarships that are known to SAGE. Each scholarship has specific eligibility requirements, so be sure to read the information carefully to determine eligibility. Contact the specific campus unit awarding the scholarship with questions regarding eligibility, the application process, or deadlines.
Additional KU scholarships can be found through the KU Scholarship Portal database.
KU Departmental Scholarships
The School of Architecture & Design offers scholarship opportunities for students to participate in study abroad programs. Find more information on these opportunities online.
The Kress Foundation Department of Art History offers the Edmund Eglinski Prize for Study Abroad. The $750 award is given to undergraduate KU students studying art history or related fields in Europe. Preference is given to students majoring in art history. Find more information on the Edmund Eglinski Prize for Study Abroad online.
The KU School of Business awards a significant number of Global Business Studies (GBS) Scholarships each year to KU students enrolled full-time as degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate students.
Apply for a Global Business Studies Scholarship online.
The Center for East Asian Studies offers numerous awards to support degree-seeking KU undergraduate and graduate students who are studying or interning abroad or traveling abroad for a conference presentation. Find more information on these opportunities online.
The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies awards one or more Anita Herzfeld Awards of up to $600 each study abroad cycle to degree-seeking KU undergraduate students studying in a Spanish- or Portuguese-speaking Latin American country. Anita Herzfeld was a professor emerita of Latin American and Caribbean studies, former director of SAGE, and beloved teacher and noted linguist. Herzfeld retired in 2012 after working to expand international education for KU students during a distinguished career spanning more than 50 years. Minimum 3.0 GPA requirement.
Eligible students should complete the Center for Latin American & Caribbean Studies Study Abroad Scholarship application to be considered for the award.
The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (CLAS) provides both merit- and need-based scholarships for degree-seeking KU undergraduate and graduate students to participate in study abroad. Students must be in good academic standing and pursuing a degree in CLAS. Awards of $1,000 to $2,000 are given for short-term programs (Winter Break, Spring Break, and Summer) and $1,000 to $3,000 for semester-long programs. Apply online for the CLAS Scholarship.
The U.S. Department of Education awards FLAS funding to area studies centers at KU to provide financial support for learning less-commonly taught languages. Eligible students must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident and can be a graduate student or an undergraduate with at least intermediate language ability in the language to be studied. Students can study domestically or abroad. Academic year fellowships provide up to $18,000 for tuition and a $20,000 stipend for graduate students and up to $10,000 for tuition and a $5,000 stipend for undergraduate students. Summer fellowships (for graduates and undergraduates) provide up to $5,000 for tuition and a stipend of $3,500. Up to $1,000 in travel funds are also available for summer. For more information about FLAS funding and links to the designated area studies centers at KU, visit Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships.
The School of Engineering provides study abroad scholarships to undergraduate KU students pursuing an engineering major who are in good standing and have completed at least one semester in engineering. Awards range from $500 to $1,500.
To find the application, log into UKASH and search for "Engineering Study Abroad Scholarship" or reach out directly to jedlicka@ku.edu.
Undergraduate KU students pursuing degrees in English may apply for the Study Abroad Fellowship Program.
The Environmental Studies Program provides up to $2,000 in scholarship funding to Environmental Studies majors who are completing coursework abroad. Several scholarships are awarded each year, and all Environmental Studies who are planning to study abroad are encouraged to apply.
The Department of French, Francophone, and Italian Studies offers a study abroad scholarship that is open to degree-seeking KU undergraduate students who have applied to an academic year, semester, or summer study abroad program in a French- or Italian-speaking country where the student will take a minimum of 6 credit hours in Italian or French studies that are transferrable as FFIT credit. Popular program options include: Université Catholique de l’Ouest, the Paris Summer Language Institute, the Florence Summer Language Institute, and student-initiated programs in France or Italy. Multiple scholarships are awarded each term. The average award is $1,000 to $2,000 for summer programs and $3,000 to $5,000 for semester programs. The department is also usually able to offer one $10,000 scholarship per year for a student studying abroad for an academic year. Apply for the KU FFIT Study Abroad Scholarship online.
The School of Journalism and Mass Communications offers scholarship opportunities for students to participate in study abroad programs. Find more information on these opportunities online.
The Department of Slavic, German, and Eurasian Studies provides a number of awards to help KU students who are pursuing majors and minors in the department study and conduct research abroad. Find more information on these awards and scholarships online.
The Undergraduate Biology Program has several scholarships available to KU students pursuing a major in the program, including travel awards. Find more information about the scholarships online.
The University Honors Program offers Honors Opportunity Awards (HOA) for KU students with a minimum 3.25 GPA who are members of the University Honors Program. These awards of up to $2,000 can be used for study abroad programs and for travel funding. Find more information on the HOA online.