Grants for internships abroad: Everything you need to know.

Do you want to go abroad but do not know how to pay for it? Well, there is good news! Discover how to apply for, and win, grants for yourself as they are becoming increasingly available to make your dreams come true. Meanwhile, there are several scholarship opportunities for study abroad from a number of sources. These possibilities can even be seen right here on Setlinn, you can check them out. You may also read simple steps on how to get internships abroad and their advantages here. 

Before moving forward, let us look at some frequently asked questions about grants and internships abroad.

When should I begin searching for opportunities?

As soon as you can, start searching for opportunities. Before narrowing down your options, it is ideal that you carry out some sort of research.  Keep in mind that policies and procedures change from time to time, so be sure to brush up on your skills before submitting your application.

You can schedule your internship up to two years in advance, giving you plenty of time to prepare. However, it is recommended that making your selection at least 12 months before your departure date will give you enough time to raise the necessary finances.

Where can I find internship funding?

Setlinn: For information about applying for grants for internships, scholarships, as well as a large selection of awards to choose from, see Setlinn scholarship page. If finance is an issue when you first decide to study abroad, look into regional or country-specific scholarship and grant opportunities.

Your University: The advisers in your university’s study abroad office are a fantastic in-person resource for all your inquiries and concerns, with the purpose of helping students on campus go abroad. They will also be knowledgeable about any university, regional, or national grants and internships that are available and have been effective for students.

The internet: The internet should not be a place where you only visit to make friends and acquaintances. However, finding internship grants from the vastness of the Internet may seem daunting, but with a few well-placed words and keywords, you can find scholarship and internship success with a simple Google search. To check which internship grants are available, start typing in your destination, field of study, job type, or home state or university. You might just be lucky to strike gold with the opportunity that matches your qualifications.

What are the requirements?

The application criteria for each financing group, scholarship, and prize are varied. To increase your chances of winning a grant, you should concentrate on one funding source at a time. Most organisations will require you to apply with specific details about your international internship and your reasons for doing so. They will also want to know how your efforts will benefit them as an organisation. Others will require you to perform research to support your application, and work on specific projects while abroad.

How do I make my application stand out? 

You must first choose why you want to visit a developing country to be an intern, what you hope to learn there, and when you intend to do so. If you know what you are doing, your application will be brief and straightforward. If the funding organisation requires you to complete a  project, create a project outline with a title that is relevant to the internship you are doing. You should include a brief background summary pertinent to the topic you have been asked to concentrate on with it.

Is submitting my resume necessary?

Bursars will want to get to know the students they are financing, even if it seems to you like a pointless formality. While your CV may not entirely capture who you are as a unique and amazing person, it will assist funding organisations in making more informed decisions about whether or not to assist you with funds. With this in mind, editing your personal statement to include any relevant experience you may have, your goals, and providing a transcript of your grades is a little price to pay for the benefits you could receive.

What is the difference between  grants and scholarships?

Grants are often granted by government agencies or philanthropic groups. You should not  be scared, though; while these rewards can be competitive, you are entirely capable of entering your application. Also, you may want to note that  grants can be given to organisations as well as individuals. Meanwhile, scholarships are also fantastic sources of income for your study abroad trips, but they are usually provided by non-profit organisations or businesses. When selecting whether to apply for a grant or a scholarship, these two are effectively comparable in terms of delivering the coveted finances for an international adventure, but they come from different sources.

Fantastic Grants to Apply for

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, administered by the U.S. Department of State, is a grant programme that allows students with low financial resources to study or intern abroad, learning essential skills for national security and economic prosperity. The Gilman Scholarship Program is for U.S. citizen undergraduate students receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university who want to participate in study and internship abroad programmes worldwide.

Requirements:

• A citizen of the United States;
• An undergraduate student in good standing at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States (including both two-year and four-year institutions);
• Receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application
• In the process of applying to, or accepted to, a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program, or a virtual international program.

Award:$100 – $5,000

Deadline: October 6, 2022

Application link: Here 

Fund for Education Abroad Scholarships: The Fund for Education Abroad’s (FEA) aim is to give scholarships and continuous support to students who are marginalised in the study abroad community in the United States. FEA helps students of colour, community college students, and first-generation college students have access to life-changing overseas experiences by assisting them before, during, and after their participation in education abroad programmes.

Requirements:

• U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a college or university in the U.S.
• Study abroad program must be eligible for credit at the student’s home institution
• Study abroad program must be at least 4 weeks (28 days) in country/countries

Award:$1,000 – $5,000

Boren Language Scholarship: Undergraduate students from the United States can study in world locations important to the US. Boren Scholars and Fellows study Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese, and Swahili, among other languages of importance. Boren Awards are available to students at all levels of proficiency who are dedicated to improving their abilities.

Requirements:

• U.S. citizens at the time of the national application deadline
• A high school graduate, or have earned a GED
• At least 18 years of age or older at the time of the national application deadline
• Planning an overseas program in a country outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand

Award:$8,000 – $25,000

Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program: The Overseas Ambassador Program is a programme for current students and recent graduates who want to study, intern, volunteer, or teach in another country. The Foreign Ambassadors will act as overseas correspondents, sharing their experiences in order to encourage other members of the DiversityAbroad.com community to travel. So, as a member, your words will motivate other diverse students to go abroad and challenge them to rethink how study abroad experiences can be for everyone by writing insightful essays, sharing exciting videos and photographs about new surroundings, cross-cultural insights, and personal growth.Successful applicants for the Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador programme receive a $500 stipend.

Requirements:

• Must be enrolled full-time in, or recently graduated from, a U.S. university or college
• Have a minimum cumulative 2.75 GPA at an accredited U.S. university or college
• You are energetic, creative and have a passion for international engagement

MPOWER Global Citizen Scholarship: MPOWER believes that through increasing access to higher education, they are producing internationally aware, multilingual, culturally competent graduates who are ready to tackle the world’s most pressing problems in science, technology, business, and public policy! 

One $3,000 scholarship and two $1,000 scholarships will be given to one student from each of the following geographic areas: Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, India, and Asia (excluding India). The scholarship is paid directly to the university or college where the application was submitted once it has been awarded. Aside from that, the organisation provides a Women in STEM Scholarship to female international/DACA students enrolled in a STEM programme each year.

Requirements:

• Must be an international student accepted or currently studying at a full-time program at a U.S. or Canadian school.

Application link: Here

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Funding & Awards: The AAUW encourages women to pursue a variety of graduate academic programmes. The grants can be utilised for study programmes as considered appropriate as part of the AAUW application. Grants are normally in the range of $2,000-$30,000 to pursue issues such as community development, international projects, and career development.

Requirements:

Women only

Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship: Your ideal study abroad journey is now feasible thanks to CIEE! The Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship is a one-of-a-kind international programme that fosters leaders who make a positive difference in their communities and around the world. This scholarship covers the entire cost of tuition and transportation for a summer study abroad programme focused on leadership, social justice, positive change activism, and cross-cultural knowledge. Don’t worry if you don’t obtain the fellowship; you may still be eligible for a $1,500 award toward your summer programme abroad the following year. The summer 2023 application opens in November. 

Requirements:

• Must be a current undergraduate freshman, sophomore or junior
• Must Have a minimum GPA of 3.00
• Must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or permanent resident
• Must identify as an ethnicity typically underrepresented on study abroad programs (e.g. American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander)
• Must enroll in a CIEE program

Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund: The Davis-Putter Scholarship is a great way to pay for both your education in the United States and your studies abroad if you’re enthusiastic about social justice and plan to maintain your dedication to community engagement beliefs while abroad. Participating in social change work while traveling is a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the local community and go beyond the typical tourist traps. Find initiatives that match with your social issue interests and then share your enthusiasm with the Davis-Putter Fund to get the grants you need to make them a reality! 

Critical Language Scholarships: Learning a language is half the fun of traveling abroad, and the US Department of State has a fund to help budding linguists. The CLS Program, which finances U.S. undergraduate and graduate students for “foreign language and cultural exposure programmes,” notably during the summer months, is ideal even if you can only go abroad for a short time. Check to see if your chosen language is qualified, and then apply when available for funds to further your studies abroad.

Erasmus internship scholarship : Erasmus allows students to apply for a grant to participate in an internship in Europe. The grant is meant to assist in covering any additional expenditures associated with the time abroad. One must first discover and get authorised for an internship before applying for the funding.If you want to study in Europe, the Erasmus program is an excellent way to learn and develop yourself through new experiences in multiple European countries. You can read more about the programme here.

International Volunteer HQ : IVHQ’s Vacation Fellowships, which serve as internship abroad scholarships, are available to anyone wishing to take a break from the typical Spring, Summer, or Winter break. If you apply for the Alternative Break Scholarship, you might get your programme fees paid as well as flights worth up to $1,000, saving you over $3,000!

This is just a glimpse of the numerous internship and scholarship possibilities available to help cover your internship abroad. While cost is a consideration, it should not prevent you from engaging in meaningful international travel. What you have to do now is visit the website linked above, learn about the grants and organisation and you will be one step closer to receiving the grant you have always wanted. Good luck!