International Studies
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Funding your study away experience is an important part of planning for your time abroad or off campus. We’re here to help you understand your program costs, explore funding opportunities, and build a plan that works for you.
On this page you will find information about the following topics:
- Program costs
- Financial aid
- Scholarship opportunities
- Creative funding ideas
- Alternative programs and fellowships
Program costs
Start by understanding the costs of your study away program. Visit our Study Abroad Charges page for a breakdown of program fees and additional expenses to help you plan your budget.
We encourage you to meet with a Study Away Advisor to discuss scholarship opportunities and the specific costs associated with your program.
Financial aid
The following financial aid applies to Bethel-affiliated semester study away opportunities:
- Federal and state aid (e.g. Pell Grant, MN State Grant, loans, etc.)
- Tuition benefit (applies to the tuition portion of your semester abroad experience, up to Bethel's tuition cost for one semester)
- External scholarships
The following aid does NOT apply toward semester study abroad:
- Institutional gift aid
- E.g.) Departmental scholarships, Royal Merit scholarship, music scholarships, etc.
Please schedule a meeting with the Office of Financial Aid to discuss your specific aid eligibility.
Scholarship opportunities
Scholarships can be a valuable way to help fund your study away experience. Many scholarships are open to students before they are accepted to a study away program, so you are encouraged to begin exploring and applying for funding early in the process.
Consider applying for a variety of scholarships to increase your opportunities for funding. Eligibility requirements, application materials, award amounts, and deadlines vary, so be sure to review each scholarship carefully.
Bethel scholarships
Jay and Barb Barnes Global Study Scholarship
- Deadline:
- March 8 (for fall semester programs)
- October 1 (for spring semester programs)
- Eligibility:
- You:
- CAS student
- Full-time degree-seeking student
- 2.5 GPA
- Preference given to applicants who:
- Are seeking their first credit-bearing study abroad experience while enrolled at Bethel
- Demonstrate financial need (must have submitted the FAFSA)
- Your Program:
- Christian
- Semester-long (fall or spring)
- In a non-traditional, international location
- Includes at least 2 weeks of living with a host family or students/other citizens from your host country
- Find a list of approved programs here
- Click here to apply today!
Nationally competitive scholarships
Need-based:
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
- The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program (Gilman Program) provides up to $5,000 in merit-based scholarships to outstanding American undergraduate students with high financial need to pursue credit-bearing academic studies and career-oriented internships abroad. These opportunities equip Gilman Scholars with international experience, global networks, and foreign language skills essential to advancing the U.S. economic competitiveness and national security.
- To be eligible for the Gilman Program, applicants must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of their study abroad program or internship.
Freeman Awards for Study in Asia
- Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA) provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia.
- FEA invests in deserving U.S. undergraduate students who are least likely to study abroad. More than 100 volunteer reviewers read applications each cycle. In partnership with them, we consider financial need, demographic factors, and academic plan and preparedness to decide our scholarship recipients.
- The U.S. Department of State’s Gilman-McCain Scholarship provides awards of $5,000 for undergraduate child and spousal dependents of active or activated United States military personnel during the time of application to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs.
- Developed under the framework of the State Department’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, the John S. McCain International Scholarship for Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship) is open to eligible students enrolled at accredited U.S. colleges and universities who receive any type of Title IV federal financial aid.
Merit-based:
David L. Boren Scholarship for Study Abroad
- Boren Awards are funded by the National Security Education Program (NSEP), which focuses on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. national security. Applicants identify how their study abroad programs or overseas projects, as well as their future academic and career goals, will contribute to U.S. national security, broadly defined.
United States-Japan Bridging Foundation Scholarships
- The Bridging Scholarship is a life-changing opportunity to study abroad in Japan in a credit-bearing semester or academic-year program. Each year, approximately 70-100 U.S. undergraduate students who demonstrate academic merit and financial need are selected as Bridging Scholars. In addition to receiving a cash stipend, Bridging Scholars participate in cohort programming designed to help students build a future as global citizens with a lifelong connection to Japan. Bridging Scholars use the funds to bridge the gap between university-awarded financial aid and the high cost of Japan study abroad.
Scholarships offered by third-party providers
Oregon Extension Financial Aid
Scholarship search engines
Other scholarship lists
Back to topStudyAbroad.com Scholarship Resources
BlackExcel.org Scholarship Lists
Private scholarships recommended by Bethel's Financial Aid Office
Creative funding ideas
Scholarships aren’t the only way to help fund a study away experience. Explore other creative approaches to building your study away budget below.
- Creative funding ideas from UW Madison
- Study abroad funding webinar (5:09-9:09; 16:13-30:22)
PDF overview
Alternative programs & fellowships
In addition to traditional study away programs, there are many ways to gain global experience outside of a university course. These programs take place around the world and across the United States and do not carry academic credit through Bethel.
Program formats and costs vary. Some offer financial support, while others require participants to fundraise or cover costs independently. Opportunities may be available to current students, recent alumni, and graduate students.
Fully funded opportunities
CBYX Young Professionals Program
- The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for Young Professionals is a fellowship that annually provides 65 American and 65 German young professionals the opportunity to spend one year in each other’s countries, studying, interning, and living with hosts on a cultural immersion program.
- The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an immersive summer opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages essential to America's engagement with the world.
- The Fulbright U.S. Student Program expands perspectives through academic and professional advancement and cross-cultural dialogue. Fulbright finds solutions to complex global issues and creates connections in a changing world. In partnership with more than 140 countries worldwide, the Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers unparalleled opportunities to advance knowledge and innovation across all academic disciplines. Awards are available to passionate and accomplished graduating college seniors, graduate students, and young professionals from all backgrounds. Program participants pursue graduate study, conduct research, or teach English abroad.
Japan Exchange Teaching Program (JET)
- Founded in 1987, JET has sent more than 80,000 participants from around the globe (including more than 39,000 Americans) to work in schools, boards of education, and government offices throughout Japan. What makes JET unique is that it is the only teaching exchange program managed by the government of Japan. With more than 80 countries around the world currently participating in JET, this program offers a unique cultural exchange opportunity to meet people from all around the world, living and working in Japan.
- Marshall Scholarships finance young Americans of high ability to study for a degree in the United Kingdom. Up to fifty Scholars are selected each year to study at graduate level at an UK institution in any field of study.
- Peace Corps Volunteers put their purpose, passion, and skills to work in partnership with host communities in 60+ countries.
Paid opportunities
North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP)
-
American college students and graduates - who are native-like speakers of English - partner with elementary and secondary schools in Spain to bolster language programs, as language assistants (TAs) under the supervision and guidance of teachers in Spain.
Volunteer and missions opportunities
Converge International Ministries
-
Converge International Ministries is asking God for a gospel movement among every least-reached people group in our generation. We partner with individuals and churches like you, so you can discern your global calling, activate it, and see disciples multiply where they’ve never had the chance to know Jesus as their Savior.
- Tithe Your Career is a two-year placement using your degree to meet real global needs. GoCorps works to make two years of global missional service a normalized, accessible next step to Christian students and young professionals of all majors and backgrounds. We place motivated recent grads to use their degree alongside long-term projects sharing the hope of Christ and addressing physical needs.
- This 10-month fellowship program is for recent college graduates who are discerning their next steps. If you are deciding which graduate program to apply to, wanting to take some time before stepping into your career field, or looking for opportunities to build your resume and grow personally, this is the program for you. Join a cohort of post-baccalaureates dedicated to pursuing holistic excellence.