Scholarships

Scholarships can make a significant difference in the cost of studying abroad. Each year, WVU students receive funding from Global Affairs, academic colleges, national scholarship programs, and external organizations to support their international experiences.

Many scholarship opportunities have application deadlines that occur months before a study abroad program begins. Students are encouraged to explore funding options early in the planning process and pay close attention to scholarship deadlines, which may arrive sooner than expected.

Scholarships Add Up: Apply for Every Opportunity

Many students receive multiple scholarships toward the same study abroad experience. The Office of Global Affairs awards more than $100,000 in study abroad scholarships annually, and students are encouraged to apply for every scholarship for which they are eligible. Combining Global Affairs scholarships with college, departmental, and national scholarships can significantly reduce the overall cost of studying abroad.

Global Affairs Scholarship Program

National Scholarships

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program helps students with financial need pursue study abroad opportunities. Students who receive a Federal Pell Grant are eligible to apply.

The Office of Global Affairs and ASPIRE work closely with students throughout the application process. Students seeking assistance with their Gilman application are encouraged to contact ASPIRE at aspire@mail.wvu.edu.

Students who work with ASPIRE to submit a competitive Gilman application for an approved WVU education abroad program may also be eligible for the Global Affairs Gilman Incentive Scholarship.

Critical Language Scholarship Program

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is a fully funded summer study abroad opportunity sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. CLS supports intensive language study in languages that are important to U.S. engagement with the world, including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Portuguese, and others.

The program is open to students from a wide range of academic disciplines and language proficiency levels, depending on the language selected. Students interested in applying are encouraged to begin planning early and work with ASPIRE to develop a competitive application.

For assistance with the application process, contact ASPIRE at aspire@mail.wvu.edu.

Boren Awards for International Study

Boren Awards provide funding for students to study abroad in regions of the world that are critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in traditional study abroad destinations. Recipients pursue language study and cultural immersion while developing skills that contribute to national security and global engagement.

Boren Scholarships are available to undergraduate students and may support semester, academic year, or summer programs in eligible locations. Preference is given to students studying less commonly taught languages and destinations outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Students interested in Boren Awards are encouraged to work closely with ASPIRE and begin preparing their applications well in advance of the national deadline. For application support, contact ASPIRE at aspire@mail.wvu.edu.

Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA)

The Freeman-ASIA Scholarship Program provides funding for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. Awards may be used toward a variety of education abroad expenses, including airfare, housing, transportation, and other program costs.

Students planning to study in destinations such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, or Vietnam are encouraged to explore this opportunity. For application assistance, contact ASPIRE or Education Abroad.

College & Department Scholarships

Chambers College Study Abroad Grants

The Robbins Travel Global Enrichment Program provides financial assistance to Chambers' undergraduate students that participate in international activities that complement, extend, and enhance their academic experiences.

CAHS Awards

Students in the College of Applied Human Sciences can apply for a Ostrow International Award to support semester or short-term study abroad programming related to their major.

Davis College Student Enhancement Grant

The Davis College offers Student Enhancement Grants to support activities that enrich a student’s academic experience. Students may receive a grant for activities such as study abroad, conference and workshop attendance as well as research and creative scholarship activities.

Eberly Academic Enrichment Program

Available to those majoring in Eberly College of Arts & Sciences programs, the Eberly Academic Enrichment Program offers funds to eligible students that can be used towards their study abroad experience.

HSC Travel Grants

WVU Health Sciences students should work with the HSC Global Engagement Office regarding available funding resources. Study abroad scholarships are also available for School of Nursing students.

Honors College Study Abroad Scholarship

The Honors College Study Abroad Scholarship will be awarded to help Honors students fund credit-bearing study abroad programs.

Other Scholarship Opportunities:

In addition to the scholarships listed above, WVU students may be eligible for a variety of other funding opportunities to support their education abroad experience. Students are encouraged to contact Education Abroad to learn more about opportunities such as:

• Fund for Education Abroad (FEA)
• Fulbright U.S. Student Program
• Student Abroad Scholarships for BIPOC Students
• Phi  Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants
• Rotary Global Grants
• Other External Study Abroad Scholarships