Study Abroad

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

Scholarships


 

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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

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.

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 earn 3 or more credits in the same semester/term in a study abroad course/program. Please note that only degree-seeking WMU students are eligible for scholarships administered by the Haenicke Institute for Global Education.

Haenicke Institute for Global Education Study Abroad Office Scholarship - supports WMU student participation in study abroad and virtual study abroad programs. Scholarship amounts range from $500 - $1,250.

Mesara Study Abroad Airfare Scholarship—provides partial funding for airfare to select Pell-grant eligible students. The award for this scholarship is $1,250. 

President's Grant for Study Abroad—supports intensive foreign language study for semester or academic year. This grant offers awards of up to $5,000 per semester abroad. 

Wenger Memorial Study or Work Abroad Fund—supports study or internships abroad lasting 10 weeks or more, with preference given to female students studying anthropology, sociology, and/or gender and women's studies. Award amounts vary. 

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. 

Gilman Scholarship—national award that provides substantial study abroad funding to select Pell-grant eligible students.

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

Boren Award—national scholarship for undergraduates to study language in areas underrepresented in study abroad. Contact Dr. Michelle Metro-Roland for more information

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.

President's Grant for Study Abroad—WMU Haenicke Institute for Global Education (WMU Study Abroad) scholarship supporting intensive foreign language study for semester or academic year. This grant offers awards of up to $5,000 per semester abroad. No separate scholarship application is required to be considered for these funds.

Freeman Awards for Study in Asia — 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.

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.

Other Resources