Top 10 Study Abroad Scholarships If You’re a Black Student, Like Free Money & Want to Travel

Hey Black College Students!

An experience everyone is encouraged to do in college is study abroad. However, it ain’t cheap to go abroad. I’ve decided to compile a list of scholarships for black US college students.  Over the past few years, I’ve heard about or received some of the scholarships below (I marked the scholarships I received with an *). If you have any questions about this, feel free to comment below and I’ll try my best to respond to your concerns that may not have been mentioned in the short blurbs.

Side Note: This list is not ranked in any particular order. Each scholarship is very unique and some may be applicable to some students and some may not. Nonetheless, check them all out and apply to as many as you can. (I applied for 6 scholarships in college and received 4 and had my whole study abroad PAID FOR. You can do it too!) 

Also, some of the scholarships do not have a concrete deadline available just yet. Please take time to look for deadline frequently on each scholarship’s given website. I based the deadline information by comparing dates of previous deadlines for 2011-2018.

10.The Curtis Scholarship

Award: All expenses paid trip to South Africa for 10 days

Degree Levels: N/A (You just have to be between the ages of 16-20)

Application Deadline: Around April – May every year

The 2018 Curtis Scholarship is an annual leadership development program to support youth ages 16-20 from under-served communities in the U.S. or U.K. who embody the values of global citizenship. Curtis Scholars will be invited to join a 10-day learning trip to South Africa and an advocacy trip to Global Citizen Week Events in NYC.

Joined by members of the Global Citizen staff, the Curtis Scholars will explore social issues, innovative international organizations and cultural sites with a focus on poverty alleviation in Global Citizen’s issue areas.

9. Congressional Black Caucus:  Japan Exchange Program “KAKEHASHI Project”

Award: 10 Day Trip to Japan, International travel from Washington, D.C. to Japan,
Costs of housing, meals, and ground transportation in Japan
Cost of housing in Washington, D.C. during pre-departure and debrief sessions

Degree Levels: N/A (Available for young professionals and all degree level students)

Application Deadline:  Late January – early February every year

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) Leadership Institute selects 18 participants for the CBCF Emerging Leaders: Japan Exchange Program “KAKEHASHI Project” in partnership with the government of Japan. Through this initiative, the CBCF, the Embassy of Japan, and the Japanese International Cultural Center (JICE) aim to increase African-American interest in and exposure to the culture of Japan, thereby expanding opportunities for African Americans in an era of increasing globalization. In 2018, one group of 18 participants will be selected for the program. The project will take place in and around Tokyo, Japan over eight days. The program will include site visits to cultural and historical landmarks, lectures on the U.S. – Japan relations, visits to high tech/traditional industries, and an overnight visit with a Japanese family. Prior to departure, participants will take part in orientation activities in Washington, DC followed by a debrief session upon their return.

CBCF is committed to increasing access to opportunities that will develop leadership qualities for our participants. While many students do not have the resources or exposure to participate in international opportunities, CBCF is excited to partner with the Japanese government to expand access to global opportunities for emerging African- American leaders.

8.China Study Abroad Program

Award: 10 Day Trip to Japan, International travel from Washington, D.C. to China,
Costs of housing, meals, and ground transportation in China
Cost of housing in Washington, D.C. during pre-departure and debrief sessions

Degree Levels: N/A (Available for young professionals and all degree level students)

Application Deadline:  Between Early March – Early April (Frequently check site to verify deadline)

This study-abroad experience contains a diverse offering of educational activities and excursions taking place over two weeks in Beijing, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. Students will have the opportunity to attend lectures on Chinese history and culture, US-China relations, and China’s economic development. They will also participate in cultural activities such as a tour of the Summer Palace and the Great Wall, a visit to the Xixi Wetland Museum, workshops on Chinese painting and Chinese culinary art, and much more. The final program itinerary will be distributed during the scholars’ orientation session in Washington, DC. Two chaperones approved by the CBCF will accompany each cohort throughout their travels and will serve as the students’ primary supervisors and points of contact.

7. API Study Abroad and Intern Abroad  Scholarships

Award Amount: $250 to $1,000

Degree Levels: N/A

Application Deadline: Depends on when the student chooses to go abroad

API’s diversity scholarship seeks to support participants from a variety of backgrounds. It provides the opportunity for students with traditionally marginalized identities to study abroad. API awards up to $500,000 to students annually ranging from $250-1,000 per student. Students are encouraged to apply for multiple API scholarships in addition to outside scholarships, however, in order to maximize the number of students receiving financial aid, API’s total contribution cannot exceed $1,000 per student (so read this list thoroughly and get going on all those applications). 

6. Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship *

Award Amount: $3,000 (summer program)
$4,000 (fall and spring program) $5,000 (academic year program)

Degree Levels: Undergraduate

Application Deadline: Varies on which semester program you apply for . See website for details.

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to our national security and economic competitiveness. The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide. Over 2,800 scholarships of up to $5,000 will be awarded this academic year for U.S. citizen undergraduates to study abroad. Award amounts will vary depending on the length of study and student need with the average award being approximately $4,000 (GPA is not a determining factor!). Students will just have to propose a project on how they will spread word of the scholarship.

5.The William Jefferson Clinton Scholarship Program at American University in Dubai *

Award Amount: Tuition & Dorm Paid For

Degree Levels: Undergreaduate

Application Deadline: Fall Semester (September-December) is around June

Spring Semester (January-April): deadline to apply is around November

Summer I Term (May-June): deadline to apply is around March

The scholarship is only open to U.S. citizen students currently enrolled as full-time undergraduate degree candidates at an accredited four-year college/university in the United States. A minimum of 3.0 GPA or equivalent at the institution from which he/she is applying is required. Recipients are awarded a semester of free tuition and board at one of the most popular universities in Dubai.

4.David Porter Need-Based Diversity Scholarship

Award Amount: $5,000 off the IES Abroad program fee

Degree Level: Bachelors or Masters

Application Deadline: Varies

The David Porter Need-Based Diversity Scholarship was created for African American study abroad scholarships (and others with financial needs). This scholarship, also affiliated with IES Abroad, was named in honor of David Porter from the IES Abroad Board of Directors. It seeks to provide opportunity to groups traditionally underrepresented in study abroad and international education. 

3. Critical Language Scholarship  *

Award: All expense paid for summer abroad (Flight, food, accommodation, etc.)

Degree Levels: Undergraduate and Graduate students

Application Deadline: Early November

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs provides American students with the opportunity to enjoy fully-funded overseas summer language and cultural immersion programs through the awarding of Critical Language Scholarships (CLS) each year. Applicants are selected based on their commitment to studying non-traditional languages abroad, including Arabic, Japanese, Swahili, and Russian. The Critical Language Scholarship is only open to American undergraduate and graduate students.

(Check out Abena’s experience studying Chinese on the Critical Language Scholarship Program)

2.Boren Scholarship

Award:  $8,000 (summer program, available for STEM students only)

$10,000 (semester program)

$20,000 (academic year program)

Degree Level: Undergraduate and Graduate students

Application Deadline: January 30th, 2019 (next deadline)

The annual scholarships of the National Security Education Program provide funding to undergraduate students from the U.S. to study less popularly studied, minority world languages. Promoting linguistic and cultural immersion, this award program aims to support students focusing on language studies that are critical to U.S. national security. Boren Scholars can choose to study abroad in their country of choice, excluding nations within Western Europe as well as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In exchange for funding, scholars must commit to working in the federal government for at least a year after graduation

1.Fund for Education Abroad

Award Amount: Up to $10,000 per year ($5,000 per semester)

Degree Level : Undergraduates

Application Deadline: Cycle of applications accepted annually in the fall, check their website for the most up-to-date info.

The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA Scholarships) was established in 2010 to help independent study abroad programs. Since then, they have sent roughly 100 students abroad from all over the United States. Applicants should be participating in an academically rigorous and immersive study abroad program that ideally includes a language component. FEA offers Dedicated Scholarships to applicants that meet general eligibility requirements and fit specific demographic, regional, or semester criteria.  

By: Ermida Koduah, Founder of Being Black In