Finances and Scholarships
How will you fund your study abroad?
Study abroad has a reputation for being expensive, but it does not have to be. Consider Miami faculty-led or co-sponsored programs to make use of Miami scholarships. There are also national scholarships to support experiences abroad. Deadlines for some national scholarships can be 6-12 months prior to the departure date of your program. Be sure to plan ahead!
Make Cost-Effective Choices
Consider the strategies below if you are looking to study abroad on a budget.
Get off the beaten path
Look for programs in countries with a lower cost of living. Consider locations like Costa Rica, Peru, Thailand, or Ghana. Some scholarships prioritize students who choose to study abroad in non-traditional locations.
Choose a semester
It may seem counter-intuitive, but a semester program is often more cost-effective than short-term programs. For example, you are probably already budgeting for one or more semesters on campus, but not necessarily for the winter and summer terms. On semester programs that charge Miami tuition, you can also leverage more of your Miami scholarships and financial aid.
Look for discounts
Many program providers offer automatic discounts to students just for attending a public university. Others have a match policy, through which they will automatically match your Pell grant or Gilman scholarship. Be on the lookout for these easy ways to reduce the program cost.
Maximize the credits you earn
Consider petitioning Miami to have your courses to count toward Liberal Education requirements. Think about how many requirements you can complete abroad to move you closer to graduation. Teach English abroad. While most study abroad programs prohibit you from working due to visa restrictions, some offer work-study positions that include opportunities to teach English.
Be flexible
We cannot guarantee that every program will be affordable for you. Plan ahead and do your research to find the program that meets your financial needs.
Enrollment in a program of study abroad approved for credit by the home institution may be considered enrollment at the home institution for the purpose of applying for financial aid
Federal Financial Aid and Scholarships
Students must file a FAFSA to be eligible for federal financial aid and scholarships. Financial aid can typically be used for study abroad during the fall and spring semesters. Should a student choose to study abroad in the summer or winter terms, aid may or may not be available depending on the amounts used during fall and spring. If you have questions about your financial aid, contact the OneStop for Student Success Services.
Miami-Administered Scholarships and Aid
NOTE: All Luxembourg students are automatically considered for available scholarships
- Complete the Scholarship Questionnaire in your study abroad program application to be considered for available scholarships. Most scholarship funds require financial need (FAFSA). Only programs that charge Miami tuition (e.g. faculty-led, MUDEC, co-sponsored, exchange) are eligible for scholarship support. Scholarship reviews will take place according to the following schedule:
Scholarship Review Schedule Term Review Notification Fall/AY April 1 April 15 Winter July 15 August 1 Spring September 15 October 1 Summer January 15 February 1 - Center for Career Exploration and Student Success Internship/Research Grants - For students who will be participating in an internship, research program, or service-learning opportunity abroad.
- Center for Student Diversity & Inclusion Funds
- Farmer School of Business Scholarships
- Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Studies Travel Grant
- Miami Family Fund—Only programs that charge Miami tuition (e.g. faculty-led, MUDEC, co-sponsored, exchange) are typically eligible for scholarship support, but approved non-Miami programs may be considered.
- Ohio International Consortium Scholarships
- Study Abroad Airfare Grant—Oxford undergraduates who have filed a FAFSA and meet financial need criteria are eligible for up to $600 in the form of an airfare grant and may receive an additional $600 in the form of an interest-free university loan. The airfare grants can only be used for semester or year-long study abroad programs.
- Academic Department Support—Check with your academic department on the availability of additional scholarship support.
Miami University Waivers
If you are currently the recipient of a waiver, you can be use your waiver toward study abroad programs that charge Miami tuition. General fees and Program fees still apply and are the responsibility of the student. Such waivers include, but may not be limited to:
Program Type | Credit | Cost | Federal Aid may apply | Miami financial aid may apply |
---|---|---|---|---|
MUDEC (Luxembourg) |
Miami | Miami tuition/fees | Yes | Yes |
Faculty-led | Miami | Miami tuition/fees | Yes | Yes |
Co-Sponsored | Transfer | Miami tuition/fees | Yes | Yes |
Exchange | Transfer | Miami tuition/fees | Yes | Yes |
Approved | Transfer | Program fees | Yes | No |
National Scholarships
National Scholarships are programs designed to increase participation in study abroad. Many are funded by private organizations, the U.S. Department of State or Foreign Governments. The selection process is competitive, so we recommend meeting with our Scholarships Advisor, Karla Guinigundo, before applying.
- Boren Scholarship\Fellowships (NSEP)*
- Bridging Scholarships (Japan)
- BUTEX North American Scholarship (UK)
- Cincinnati Branch English Speaking Union Travel-Study Grant
- Critical Language Scholarship*
- DAAD German Academic Exchange Service Scholarship
- First Trip Scholarship
- Freeman-ASIA Scholarships
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program*
- Fund for Education Abroad Scholarships
- FEA Rainbow Scholarship (LGBTQ)
- Gilman for France Scholarship
- Gilman International Scholarship*
- International Engineering Scholarships
- Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant
- Watanabe Scholarship (Japan)
Other External Resources
There are many funding sources available, but it often takes time to search for them. Browse through these website for additional resources.
- Diversity Abroad Scholarship Search
- Financial Aid for Black Students
- GoAbroad.com Scholarship Finder
- GoOverseas.com Scholarships and Grants for Study Abroad
- IES Abroad Additional Funding Resources
- Institute for International Education Study Abroad Funding Site
- SPIN Global Suite (general funding database—not study abroad specific)
Crowdsourcing
Consider your social networks. Many people are excited to support students in their academic and professional development endeavors. Think about how can use your social media and community networks to raise funds for your study abroad.
When writing your profile, be sure to articulate what academic and professional benefits study abroad will bring you. Be sure to be convincing in why people should support you. The results may surprise you.