Financing Study Abroad

Study abroad is much more affordable than people think

You can use your Suffolk financial aid, apply for Federal financial aid, and apply for Study Abroad scholarships. Our team is here to help you understand the options and to understand how to apply for scholarships.

Financial Aid

Suffolk students can use their Suffolk financial aid to Study Abroad. For more information, please visit the Student Financial Services office website.

Scholarships

When to start the application process: freshman through first- semester of senior year

The Gilman scholarship can be used to increase opportunities for underrepresented student populations intern or study abroad.

Amount Up to $5,000 for academic study or internships abroad with the opportunity to receive an additional Critical Need Language Award of $3,000. (More than 3,000 scholarships are offered annually)

Financial need is based on the study abroad expenses provided by the applicant, the Gilman certifying’s advisor, and the Office of Financial Aid. A Gilman Scholar’s final award amount will be determined by financial need, program length, overall program costs, and the strength of the application during the selection panel recommendation process.
Eligibility Student must be a US citizen receiving a Federal Pell Grant and be accepted into a study or internship abroad program.             
Deadlines National Program Deadlines:
  • Early March - Deadline application will open in mid-January for applicants whose in-person programs start between May 1 of that year to April 30 of the year following. This cycle encompasses the Summer of that year, Fall of that year, the following Academic Year, and Spring of the following year.
  • Early October - Deadline application will open in mid-August for applicants whose programs start between December 1 of that year to October 31 of the following year. This cycle encompasses Spring of the following year, Summer of the following year, Fall of the following year, and the following Academic Year.
Funding applies to study or intern abroad in the Summer, Fall, Academic Year, and Spring terms.

To begin the application process or express interest, please fill out this survey.

When to start the application process: freshman through senior year

The Boren provides funding to study abroad while learning a critical language, as defined by the U.S. Department of State. See website for a comprehensive list (includes, Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi, Korean, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Swahili, Turkish, Urdu, Vietnamese, and more!).

Amount Boren Scholarships Maximum Award Amounts:
  • 8-11 weeks: $8,000 for a summer program (STEM majors only)
  • 12-24 weeks: $12,500
  • 25-52 weeks: $25,000
Boren Fellowships Maximum Award Amounts
  • 12-24 weeks: $12,500
  • 25-52 weeks: $25,000
Boren Fellows have the option to apply for up to $12,000 for domestic summer intensive language courses. If requested, the maximum total combined domestic and overseas award amount is $30,000.
Eligibility Student must be studying in a country critical to US interests and underrepresented in study abroad including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East.
  • 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
  • Planning to study in a country of which they are not a citizen
  • Matriculated for the duration of their Boren Awards-funded program in an undergraduate or graduate degree program located within the United States and accredited by a body recognized by the U.S. D.O.E
Deadlines Internal Deadline:
November 15th (initial interest and drafts)

National Program Deadline:
Early February Funding applies to study abroad in Summer 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025

To begin the application process or express interest, please fill out this survey.

The Ed McDonnell Scholarship is a need- and merit-based awards of up to $1,500 for Suffolk students embarking on short-term and semester-long study abroad programs. The scholarships are funded by a generous gift of Sawyer Business School alumnus and entrepreneur, Ed McDonnell, a long-time advocate for and supporter of global travel at Suffolk University.

Amount

Up to $1500

While any student may apply for a McDonnell Scholarship, award priority will be given to students attending short-term programs, and students in the Sawyer Business School studying abroad for a semester or year.

Eligibility

Once selected, recipients of McDonnell Scholarship awards will be required to compose a personal, hand-written thank-you note to Mr. Ed McDonnell for his support and generosity. Should you need one, The Center for International Education and Study Away will provide you with the note card and envelope.

Deadlines

Applications for the Summer and Fall terms are due by March 15, and applications for the Spring term is due by October 15.

First Trip values the philosophy of global citizenship. Many people see the world as a member of one nation or society, however, global citizens view the world through an international lens. We believe the true path to global citizenship is initiated once we immerse ourselves into another culture far different from our own. Only then are we forced to leave our comfort zones and neglect the unconscious ethnocentrism that we all possess before living abroad.

Amount

$1500 for travel costs

Eligibility

  • Be a first-time traveler
  • Be a student in an accredited U.S. college/university
  • Pursue a college facilitated trip in an eligible destination
  • Provide an account of your travels upon return to the U.S.

Deadlines

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. You are encouraged to submit your application at least three (3) months in advance of departure date.

Freeman Awards for Study in Asia is designed to support U.S.-based undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are planning to study overseas in East or Southeast Asia for 8 weeks or longer. The program’s goal is to increase the number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents with first-hand exposure to and understanding of Asia and its peoples and cultures.

Amount

  • Summer Award: up to $3,000
  • Semester/Quarter Award: up to $5,000
  • Academic/Calendar Year Award: up to $7,000

Eligibility

  • Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at the time of application.
  • Must currently receive need-based financial aid or demonstrate a verifiable need for financial assistance to participate in the proposed study abroad program.
  • Must be an undergraduate student with a minimum GPA of 2.8, pursuing his or her first bachelor's degree (or associate's degree), at a two-year or a four-year institution of higher education in the United States.
  • Must apply through the U.S. home campus and have at least one term of enrollment remaining at the home institution in the U.S. upon returning from studying abroad in Asia.
  • Must have applied or have been accepted to a study abroad based program in: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.
  • Must have applied to or have been accepted by a study abroad based program that awards academic credits through the home campus or other U.S. accredited college or university.
  • Must have little or no previous experience in the country in which he or she plans to study.
  • Must not be a previous Freeman-ASIA award recipient.

Deadlines

Applications open each year for the following year, and are reviewed on a rolling basis.

The mission of the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the U.S. study abroad population.

While we encourage all students to apply for an FEA scholarship, preference is given to students of color, first-generation college students, community college students, and students with high financial need.

Amount

Scholarships range from $1,000-$10,000 depending on program length

Eligibility

To be eligible for an FEA scholarship, you must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or DACA, and currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a college or university in the U.S., and you must be receiving academic credit at your home institution for your internship or study abroad program.

Deadline

Applications for Spring term are due in early September; applications for Summer, Fall, and academic year terms are due in early January.

With more than 60,000 scholarships granted each year, DAAD claims that it is the largest academic exchange organization in the world. This service offers several scholarship programs, including one for highly qualified graduate students for study abroad, university language or summer courses, senior thesis research and/or internships in the Federal Republic of Germany. 

Amount

Successful applicants will receive a study grant of up to $5,000 to be used toward tuition, housing, travel, and related costs for up to one academic year in Germany.

Eligibility

  • Available for both undergraduate and graduate students
  • U.S. Citizen
  • Undergraduate or graduate student in good academic standing
  • Federal Pell Grant recipient
  • In the process of applying for, or accepted to, a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program in Germany.

Deadlines

Vary depending on overseas program start dates.

Please see the Phillips Family Fund Scholarship landing page for more information.

Young people deserve to experience the world beyond their college campuses, but not everyone can afford to travel, especially on a student budget.

The Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship is awarded biannually to passionate students who want to explore the world.

At Tortuga, our mission is to make travel easier, including for study abroad and gap year students. When customers buy luggage from us, they are "paying it forward" by funding scholarships for students like you.

Amount

$1,000 scholarship for studying abroad

Eligibility

  • Be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or currently studying in the United States on a student visa
  • Be a full-time undergraduate student in good academic standing at a four-year, degree-granting college or university in the United States
  • Have applied to or been accepted into a study abroad program eligible for credit by your college or university

Deadlines

Spring: Applications are due by November 15.
Fall: Applications are due by April 15.

The Bridging Project offers scholarships to American undergraduate students participating in study-abroad programs in Japan. The United States-Japan Bridging Foundation funds scholarships administered through AATJ to help students study in Japan for a semester or an academic year.

Amount

$2,500 for a Semester; $4,500 for an Academic Year

Eligibility

Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must be enrolled as undergraduates in a college or university in the United States before and during the time they are studying abroad. Their study in Japan must last for at least 3 months and must earn credit that will transfer to their home campus in the US. Students who have already begun their study abroad in Japan are not eligible to apply.

Deadline

Applications for the are due by March 15.

Other Opportunities

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a summer study abroad opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages essential to America’s engagement with the world. The CLS Program is part of a U.S. government effort to expand dramatically the number of Americans studying and mastering critical foreign languages. Students of diverse disciplines and majors are encouraged to apply. Participants are expected to continue their language study beyond the scholarship period, and later apply their critical language skills in their future professional careers.

Amount

Awards will cover: Language instruction and cultural programming; Textbooks and language learning materials; International and domestic travel between the student's home city in the U.S. and the CLS Program site abroad; Visa application fees, where applicable; and room, board, and program-sponsored travel within the host country or location.

Eligibility

  • Available for both undergraduate and graduate students
  • Be a U.S. citizen or national at the time of application.
  • Others, including Permanent Residents, are not eligible, even if they anticipate naturalization by the beginning of the program.
  • Be enrolled in an accredited U.S. degree-granting program at the undergraduate (associate, bachelor's) or graduate (master's, doctoral, professional degree) level at the time of application.
  • Applicants must be enrolled in a program that results in a degree. Applicants who are taking stand-alone or continuing education classes are not eligible.
  • Applicants must be enrolled at an accredited U.S. institution. Students earning degrees at foreign institutions that are not based in the U.S. or its territories are not eligible,
  • Applicants in an undergraduate program (associate or bachelor's) must complete at least one full year of study (two semesters or three quarters) by the beginning of the CLS Program in Summer 2023.
  • Applicants must be enrolled at this institution in the fall term of 2022. There are limited exceptions to the enrollment requirement; please read the following information carefully:
  • Applicants must meet the language requirements of the program to which they apply.
  • Applicants may only apply once, for one language, each year. Applicants who submit multiple applications will be considered ineligible.

Deadline

In order to be eligible for the CLS Program you must be a naturalized citizen by the application deadline of November 15.

The Frederick Douglass Global Fellowship honors the legacy of the abolitionist and statesman with a fully funded summer study abroad program. this Fellowships is developed for students of color and selection is in the spirit of Douglass himself with special emphasis on leadership, social justice, agitation for positive change and cross-cultural understanding.

Amount

The award covers the full cost of travel, housing, program field trips, and participation in a four-week summer study abroad course taught by CIEE. Meals and recreational activities are not covered.

Eligibility

  • Be a current undergraduate freshman, sophomore or junior
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.00
  • Be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or permanent resident
  • 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).

Deadline

Applications are due yearly on February 14.

The US-UK Fulbright Commission offers special Summer Institutes for US citizens to study in the UK. These summer programs provide the opportunity for US undergraduates, with at least two years of undergraduate study left to complete, to study in the UK on a three, four, five or six week academic and cultural summer program.

Amount

The award covers:

  • Round-trip airfare
  • Tuition and fees at the host institution
  • Accommodation
  • In some cases, a small daily allowance for meals

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be a US citizen and possess a US passport
  • Have had no or very little study/travel experience outside of North America
  • Have a minimum GPA of 3.7
  • Be at least 18 years old by the start of the program
  • Be able to participate in the program in its entirety
  • Have at least two years of undergraduate study remaining after the Institute finishes

Deadlines

Applications open at the end of November and are due in early February.