Study Abroad

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Scholarships

WMU Study Abroad offers a variety of scholarships through the Haenicke Institute for Global Education, WMU’s academic colleges and departments, and other external resources. 

Study Abroad
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5245 USA
(269) 387-5890

The WMU Study Abroad Office recommends that students conduct extensive scholarship research to identify awards that are applicable to their study abroad plans. 

In many cases, students receive scholarship awards from a variety of sources including the Haenicke Institute for Global Education, WMU academic colleges or departments, their study abroad program provider or host university abroad (if applicable), and other external funding sources. Students are strongly encouraged to explore WMU Scholarship Universe for additional scholarship opportunities. Students who choose to participate in "virtual" or alternative study abroad programs should check with the scholarship provider to make sure those programs are eligible for scholarship funding.

 

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Scholarships made it possible to go to Ireland on the Global Sustainability Accounting and Reporting program! I'm extremely grateful for my opportunity to study abroad at WMU!
— Jana, Global Sustainability Accounting and Reporting in Ireland Student

Guaranteed Scholarship for Pell Grant Recipients

All students who receive the federal Pell Grant to attend WMU will automatically receive scholarship funding of at least $1,250 upon acceptance to a study abroad program administered by WMU Study Abroad; this includes faculty-led, faculty-directed, exchange, or study abroad partner programs. 

  • This will be awarded in the form of one of the three WMU Study Abroad scholarships (HIGE Study Abroad, Mesara, or President's Grant).
  • Students must submit their program application by the relevant study abroad program application deadline in order to be eligible to receive one of the WMU Study Abroad scholarships.
  • Please note that students are only eligible to receive this funding once per term, but can receive it multiple times if they study abroad multiple times. Students who participate in 3rd Party Program Provider or unaffiliated programs are not eligible for this scholarship funding.

Note: U.S. citizen undergraduate students who receive federal Pell Grants are strongly encouraged to apply for the Gilman Scholarship Program.

Scholarship Resources

Explore potential scholarship opportunities within the categories below. Please note that this list is not comprehensive of all study abroad scholarship opportunities that may exist, so the WMU Study Abroad Office recommends conducting additional research to identify other awards that may be applicable to your study abroad plans. 

Haenicke Institute for Global Education

WMU Study Abroad Scholarships - No separate scholarship application is required to be considered for these funds. A students' study abroad program application serves as the application to be considered for Haenicke Institute for Global Education Scholarships. Haenicke Institute for Global Education (WMU Study Abroad) scholarship funding is only available for WMU students who participate in credit-bearing study abroad programs. Please note that only degree-seeking WMU students are eligible for scholarships administered by the Haenicke Institute for Global Education.

The Haenicke Institute for Global Education (HIGE) Study Abroad Office Scholarship: All WMU students who have applied to a Study Abroad or Virtual Study Abroad program administered by WMU Study Abroad and have an application via the WMU Study Abroad application system (Broncos Abroad) are eligible to apply for this scholarship. Scholarships are awarded primarily based on demonstrated financial need (Pell grant eligibility), with academic merit (GPA), also determining awards. 

Scholarship amounts range from $500 - $1,250

Please note: Some exceptions apply to programs that do not entail air transportation and to those that WMU Study Abroad and The Haenicke Institute have made other financial arrangements and commitments. Additionally, not all applicants will receive scholarship funding, so it is important to determine other means for funding your study abroad program costs.

Application Procedures:

Students are not required to submit a separate scholarship application and instead their WMU Study Abroad program application is utilized as their application to be considered for HIGE study abroad scholarships. 

Eligibility requirements:

  • Good academic standing.
  • Enrollment in a WMU degree-granting program; students who graduate before the start of the study abroad course are not eligible.
  • Students must submit their completed program application by the relevant deadline in order to be considered for the scholarship.
  • Students must ultimately be accepted and commit to participating in their study abroad or virtual study abroad program to be eligible.

Deadlines:

The application deadline is the application deadline assigned to the study abroad program to which the student is applying.

The Mesara Airfare Scholarship is intended to help select Pell Grant-eligible students going on WMU Study Abroad programs (of 3 or more credits) purchase plane tickets prior to waiting for the disbursement of other study abroad scholarship funding. There is no formal application process; instead, a very limited number of recipients are chosen from a list of Pell Grant students with high financial need who have applied for and been accepted to participate in a WMU study abroad program. These students will be sent a letter indicating that they have been awarded the scholarship. If they choose to accept the award, the scholarship of $1,250 will be disbursed to their WMU student account the semester before they study abroad.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Pell Grant eligible
  • Good academic standing.
  • Enrollment in a WMU degree-granting program; students who graduate before the start of the study abroad course are not eligible.
  • Students must submit their completed program application by the relevant deadline in order to be considered for the scholarship.
  • Students must ultimately be accepted and commit to participating in their study abroad or virtual study abroad program to be eligible.

The President's Grant for Study Abroad (PGSA) is designed for Western Michigan University students who plan to study a foreign language overseas who can demonstrate significant academic preparation for their project. The grant offers awards of up to $5,000 per semester abroad. The purpose of this funding is to help train the next generation of global ambassadors.

*Application procedures: Students do not need to submit a separate scholarship application for this award, and instead students' study abroad program application will be utilized as the application for the PGSA. The eligibility requirements will remain the same.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Apply to a foreign language-based, full-semester study abroad program
  • Good academic standing.
  • Enrollment in a WMU degree-granting program; students who graduate before the start of the study abroad course are not eligible.
  • Students must submit their completed program application by the relevant deadline in order to be considered for the scholarship.
  • Students must ultimately be accepted and commit to participating in their study abroad or virtual study abroad program to be eligible.

Preference for WMU Programs:

Students participating in a WMU Exchange or Faculty-directed program (e.g., programs organized by WMU Spanish or World Languages Departments) have preference for receiving this scholarship. Students participating in programs with WMU partners or affiliates are still eligible to receive the Grant. Non-language tracks/programs are not eligible for the PGSA.

The Jennifer C. Wenger Memorial Study/Work Abroad Fund assists Western Michigan University students enrolled full time in a study or work abroad program. Preference is given to students of anthropology or sociology with a focus on women's studies.

Selection criteria:

  • Must be enrolled full time in a study abroad or internship program for a minimum of 10 weeks.
  • The recipient must have been employed part time during the semester prior to study abroad as evidence of their commitment to assisting with the costs of higher education.
  • Preference will be given to students in the following areas of academic study, in the following order of priority:
    1. Anthropology or sociology major, with a focus on women's studies.
    2. Gender and women's studies major or minor with any academic discipline.
    3. Any academic major.
  • Applicants must meet the following academic criteria:
    1. Minimum 2.5 GPA.
    2. At least 20 credit hours completed at WMU.
  • Students participating in the BUNAC work abroad program are also eligible.

Application Deadlines:

The application deadline is the application deadline assigned to the study abroad program to which the student is applying.

Recipients will be selected by staff in WMU's Study Abroad office. Awards will be based on a completed application in Broncos Abroad, GPA and financial need. An interview may be required.

Students can earn scholarships while participating in international activities and events throughout the school year. By earning points toward the Global Bronco and Global Explorer statuses of the Global Engagement Program (GEP), students can earn $500 and then $1000 study abroad scholarships. Please note, the $500 Global Bronco and Global Explorer scholarships cannot be combined for one trip. For more information, please contact @email or schedule an appointment with a member of the GEP team.

WMU College & Department-Specific Scholarships

Many WMU academic colleges and departments offer scholarship opportunities to support students’ study abroad experiences.

Financial Need-based Scholarships

Study abroad scholarship opportunities available to students who received the Pell Grant as a part of their federal financial aid. 

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The Gilman Scholarship provides up to $5,000 to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who receive federal Pell grants, are at least 18 years of age, and are participating in a university-approved, credit-bearing study abroad program. There are 2 cycles/deadlines each year. Students who are the child dependent of an active duty service member may also apply for the Gilman-McCain Scholarship. Eligibility requirements are similar though the student only needs to be receiving federally funded Title IV aid (Pell Grant, Perkins Loan, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, etc.). Applications for the Gilman-McCain are considered on a rolling basis. For additional information, see the Gilman website.  

Eligibility:

  • Pell Grant recipient during the term of study abroad
  • In the process of applying to, or accepted for, a study abroad or internship program
  • U.S. citizen

Application materials:

  1. Online application
  2. Official transcripts for current university
  3. Three essays
  • Statement of purpose
  • Building Mutual Understanding
  • Follow-up service project

Application deadlines:

  • Early October for spring and summer study abroad programs.
  • Early March for summer, fall and year-long study abroad programs.

To apply:

Contact your study abroad advisor to discuss the application process.

Review www.gilmanscholarship.org/ to learn more.

NOTE: Students who are the child dependent of an active duty service member may also apply for the Gilman-McCain Scholarship. This award provides up to $5,000 to students participating in credit-bearing study and internship abroad programs. To be eligible, applicants must be a U.S. citizen and receiving federally funded Title IV aid (i.e., Pell Grant, Perkins Loan, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), etc.). 

Gilman-McCain Scholarship—national award that provides substantial funding to select recipients of Title IV funding (i.e., Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Perkins Loan, etc.) and are a dependent child of an active-duty service member. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Diversity & Inclusion Scholarships

Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program—Global Ambassadors will serve as global correspondents, sharing their experiences to motivate others to go abroad.

Program Provider/Host University Scholarships

Many study abroad program providers and host universities offer study abroad scholarship opportunities for students participating in their programs. 

Foreign Language Study Scholarships

The Boren program provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students (United States citizens) to add an international and language component to their education, with scholarship awards for undergraduate students up to $20,000 and fellowship awards for graduate students up to $30,000.

Boren scholarship and fellowship recipients focus on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study that are critical to U.S. interests and that are underrepresented in study abroad. These areas include Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Middle East. For more information, visit Boren Awards for International Study online.

Western Michigan University campus review deadline: first Monday of the spring semester. The WMU Boren Committee reviews application essays. Students are responsible for submitting all materials before the national deadline.

Successful applications require significant advising support; at least two appointments are needed for each student's application. Schedule an appointment in October with Dr. Michelle Metro-Roland, WMU's campus representative for Boren scholarships and fellowships, at (269) 387-5890 or @email.

Critical Language Scholarship—The CLS Program provides opportunities for American college and university students to study languages and cultures essential to America's engagement with the world.

The President's Grant for Study Abroad (PGSA) is designed for Western Michigan University students who plan to study a foreign language overseas who can demonstrate significant academic preparation for their project. The grant offers awards of up to $5,000 per semester abroad. The purpose of this funding is to help train the next generation of global ambassadors.

*Application procedures: Students do not need to submit a separate scholarship application for this award, and instead students' study abroad program application will be utilized as the application for the PGSA. The eligibility requirements will remain the same.

Eligibility requirements:

  • Apply to a foreign language-based, full-semester study abroad program
  • Good academic standing.
  • Enrollment in a WMU degree-granting program; students who graduate before the start of the study abroad course are not eligible.
  • Students must submit their completed program application by the relevant deadline in order to be considered for the scholarship.
  • Students must ultimately be accepted and commit to participating in their study abroad or virtual study abroad program to be eligible.

Preference for WMU Programs

Students participating in a WMU Exchange or Faculty-directed program (e.g., programs organized by WMU Spanish or World Languages Departments) have preference for receiving this scholarship. Students participating in programs with WMU partners or affiliates are still eligible to receive the Grant. Non-language tracks/programs are not eligible for the PGSA.

Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA) provides scholarships for United States undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. A Freeman-ASIA Award provides need-based funding to assist the recipient with the cost of the study abroad program and related expenses, including airfare, basic living costs, local transportation, books, etc.

Eligibility:

  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident studying at the undergraduate level.
  • Demonstrated financial need.
  • Minimum GPA of 2.8.
  • At least one semester remaining at home institution after completion of study abroad.
  • Little or no previous experience in the intended study abroad destination.
  • Applications endorsed by both a study abroad advisor and a financial aid advisor by the specified deadline.
  • Study abroad in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, or Vietnam.
  • Study abroad with language study.
  • Completion of a service project after returning to the United States.

Application process 

Deadlines:

  • October for spring study abroad
  • March for summer or fall study abroad

German: Freie University of Berlin Scholarship — this scholarship fully covers the WMU Exchange Program Fee for one academic year to the Freie University of Berlin.

Japanese: Murakami Scholarship — provides a full-ride scholarship for one academic year to Keio University. Read more about Yukiko Murakami. (Keio University only)

Post-Graduation Scholarships

Fulbright for WMU Students & Alumni—The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for graduating college seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists from the United States to study, conduct research or to serve as an English teaching assistant abroad for one academic year. In addition, Critical Language Enhancement Awards are available to grantees for study of critical-need foreign languages before or concurrently with their grant period.

Haenicke Institute for Global Education Programming

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International Student and Scholar Services

International Student and Scholar Services is responsible for international student recruitment, admissions and immigration support.
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Study Abroad

WMU Study Abroad supports more than 80 programs around the world, sending students, faculty and staff to 30 countries, on average, each year.
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Faculty Engagement

The Haenicke Institute supports partnerships with more than 100 international institutions, offering options to faculty who are interested in collaboration and exchange.
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English Language Learning

The Center for English Language and Culture for International Students offers short- and long-term intensive English language study.
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Global Engagement Program

The Global Engagement Program provides opportunities for all  students at Western Michigan University to become globally engaged. 
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Asian Initiatives

WMU Asian Initiatives enhances scholarship and knowledge of East Asia on campus and throughout southwest Michigan.
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