
Exercise science and Spanish major Enrico Montalvo received a prestigious Gilman award to study in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2017.
Students are encouraged to conduct extensive scholarship research to identify awards that are applicable to their planned program of study. In many cases, WMU students receive scholarship awards from a variety of sources including the Haenicke Institute, individual academic colleges, select departments, honor societies, professional organizations, and other external funding sources. Only degree-seeking WMU students are eligible for scholarships administered by the Haenicke Institute.
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.
Types of Scholarships:
- NEW in 2023: Scholarships for Pell Grant recipients
- College-Specific Scholarships
- Country and Region-Specific Scholarships
- Diversity and Inclusion Scholarships
- Financial Need-Based Scholarships
- Foreign-Language Study Scholarships
- Major Specific Scholarships
- Post-Graduation Scholarships
- Other Resources
NEW in 2023: Scholarships for pell grant recipients
Starting with Summer I 2023 study abroad programs, all students who receive the federal Pell Grant to attend WMU will automatically receive scholarship funding of at least $1,000 upon acceptance to a study abroad program administered by WMU Study Abroad; this includes faculty-led, faculty-directed, exchange, or study abroad partner programs. Please note, students who participate in 3rd Party Program Provider or unaffiliated programs are not eligible for this scholarship funding. Confirmed Pell Grant recipients receive one of the following scholarships from WMU Study Abroad: HIGE Study Abroad Scholarship ($1,000), Mesara Study Abroad Airfare Scholarship ($1,000), or the President's Grant for Study Abroad (up to $5,000). Please note some additional details of this funding:
- Students only receive funding from one of the three scholarships (HIGE Study Abroad, Mesara, or President's Grant)
- Student are eligible to receive this funding once per term, but can receive it multiple times if they study abroad multiple times
- President's Grant for Study Abroad is only eligible for semester-long foreign language programs
- There is not a separate scholarship application to be considered for this funding. A students' study abroad program application serves as the application to be considered for scholarships
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.
Haenicke Institute For Global Education Study Abroad Office Scholarship—supports WMU student participation in study abroad and virtual study abroad programs
Mesara Study Abroad Airfare Scholarship—provides partial funding for airfare to select Pell-grant eligible students.
President's Grant for Study Abroad—supports intensive foreign language study for semester or academic year.
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.
College-specific scholarships
WMU college-specific scholarships support a wide variety of study abroad experiences.
College of Education and Human Development
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
College of Health and Human Services
Country and Region-Specific Scholarships
Africa
Boren award—national scholarship for undergraduates to study language in areas underrepresented in study abroad.
Asia
Boren award—national scholarship for undergraduates to study language in areas underrepresented in study abroad.
Freeman Awards for Study in Asia
Central and Eastern Europe
API Regional Scholarship— for use with API programs.
Boren award—national scholarship for undergraduates to study language in areas underrepresented in study abroad.
France
API Regional Scholarship— for use with API programs, also good for the rest of Europe.
The FACC Scholarship Program—French-language or business study or internship in France.
Germany
API Regional Scholarship— for use with API programs, also good for the rest of Europe.
Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst undergraduate scholarship—provides support to study, research, or intern in Germany.
Freie University of Berlin—provides a full-ride scholarship for one academic year to the Freie University of Berlin.
Hungary
The "Linda Lesniak International Study Scholarship in Mathematics or Mathematics Education" will provide $1,000 to a student selected by the Department of Mathematics who has been accepted to study at either Budapest Semesters in Mathematics or Budapest Semesters in Mathematics Education. The Department of Mathematics may be able to provide additional funding to the same student who receives the Lesniak scholarship. Please see the chair of the Department of Mathematics for more information on these scholarship opportunities.
Japan
Boren award—national scholarship for undergraduates to study language in areas underrepresented in study abroad.
Freeman Awards for Study in Asia
Japan Student Services Organization
Murakami Scholarship application—provides a full-ride scholarship for one academic year to Keio University. Read more about Yukiko Murakami.
Morgan Stanley Scholarship— for use with the U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation Scholarship application.
U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation
Latin America
API Regional Scholarship— for use with API programs.
Boren award—national scholarship for undergraduates to study language in areas underrepresented in study abroad.
Middle East
API Regional Scholarship— for use with API programs.
Boren award—national scholarship for undergraduates to study language in areas underrepresented in study abroad.
New Zealand
Education New Zealand—various scholarships for students studying at a university in New Zealand.
Scandinavia
API Regional Scholarship— for use with API programs, also good for the rest of Europe.
American-Scandinavian Foundation Award
South Africa
The Donald White/Mandla A. Ndwanya Memorial Fund - supports STEM students interning in South Africa
United Kingdom
API Regional Scholarship— for use with API programs, also good for the rest of Europe.
Churchill Scholarship— awards will go to students in master's programs in the fields of science and technology.
Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Program—provides funding for underrepresented groups that include economically disadvantaged, first generation, students with disabilities and ethnic and racially diverse students.
IIE Travel Grants—provide funding for students in underrepresented groups that include financial need, status as member of racial/ethnic/gender groups, status as first-generation college students, disabilities and lack of experience with travel.
Students with disabilities
American Association on Health and Disability
API Diversity Scholarship (for use with API programs only)
CEA Diversity Scholarship (for use with CEA programs only)
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: For students who are receiving Pell Grants
Boren Awards: provide up to $20,000 to U.S. undergraduate students to study abroad in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests and underrepresented in study abroad.
American Institute for Foreign Study
Institute of International Education Search Engine
CIEE Robert B. Bailey Scholarship (for use with CIEE programs only)
Scholarships and Financial Aid for Students with Disabilities
William Jefferson Clinton Scholarship (for study at the American University in Dubai)
First-generation students abroad
API First Generation Scholarship: for use with API programs
Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship: for students who receive a Federal Pell Grant and who have been traditionally under-represented in study abroad
IFSA-Butler First Generation College Student Program: for use with IFSA-Butler Programs
IES Scholarship for Under-Represented Students: open to students who have been traditionally under-represented on study abroad programs including first generation college studetns, students from low income families and students with a history of overcoming adversity
The Education Abroad Network Diversity Scholarship: for use with a semester Education Abroad Network semester program
DiversityAbroad.com Scholarship for Semester at Sea
LGBT students abroad
FEA Rainbow Scholarship: awarded to a deserving LGBTQI student who aims to participate in a high-quality, rigorous education abroad programFund for Education Abroad
American Institute for Foreign Study, Diversity Scholarship: for students participating in an AIFS program
CIEE Robert B. Bailey Scholarship: for use with CIEE programs
William Jefferson Clinton Scholarship: for study at The American University in Dubai
ISA Diversity Scholarship: for students studying abroad through an ISA program
CEA Diversity Scholarship: for students going abroad through a CEA program
IES Abroad Merit-Based Scholarship for Under-represented Students: for students going abroad through an IES program
IES Abroad David Porter Diversity Scholarship: for students going abroad through an IES program
Ethnic diversity
United Negro College Fund: offers a comprehensive list of scholarships for African American individuals
APIASF: Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund: offers several scholarships
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Scholarships
Hispanic Scholarship Fund Scholarships
Dr. Juan Andrade Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders
Native American Education Foundation
Association on American Indian Affairs
DiversityAbroad.com Scholarship
AIFS-HACU: for Hispanic students participating in an AIFS program
American Institute for Foreign Study
CIEE Robert B. Bailey Scholarship: for use with CIEE programs.
William Jefferson Clinton Scholarship: for study at The American University in Dubai.
IES Abroad Merit-Based Scholarship for Under-represented Students: for students going abroad through an IES program.
CEA Diversity Scholarship: for students going abroad through a CEA program.
IES Abroad David Porter Diversity Scholarship: for students going abroad through an IES program.
Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship: for students receiving Pell Grants.
Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants: must have a 3.75 cumulative GPA, but do not have to be a member of the honor society.
Michigan State University list of multicultural scholarships
Financial Need-Based Scholarships
AMIDEAST Education Abroad Need-Based Scholarships— for students participating in AMIDEAST Education Abroad programs in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, and Tunisia
Bruce W. Mesara Study Abroad Airfare Scholarship—provides partial funding for airfare to select Pell-grant eligible students.
Freeman Awards for Study in Asia—provides funding for long-term study in select countries in East Asia to students with demonstrated financial need (requires FAFSA).
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.
IIE Travel Grants—provide funding for students in underrepresented groups that include financial need, status as member of racial/ethnic/gender groups, status as first-generation college students, disabilities and lack of experience with travel.
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
Freeman Awards for Study in Asia
National Flagship Language Program
President's Grant for Study Abroad
SOL Education Abroad Scholarships—for use with SOL Education Abroad programs.
WMU Department of World Languages and Literatures
Major-specific scholarships
Anthropology
Jennifer C. Wenger Memorial Study or Work Abroad Fund
Business
Haworth College of Business Study Abroad Scholarship
West Michigan World Trade Association
Economics
Geography
Dr. Oscar H. Horst Endowment for Geography Award
Mary Upjohn Meader Study Abroad Award
Mathematics
If you are applying to a semester of full-year study abroad on the Budapest Semester in Mathematics/Mathematics Education program, please inquire into the "Linda Lesniak International Study Scholarship in Mathematics or Mathematics Education," as well as any other department funding that may be available to defray expenses related to study abroad. General inquiries about this scholarship should be directed to the chair of the Department of Mathematics.
Political science
George Klein Scholarship in Central and East European Studies
Howard Wolpe Scholarship for African Study
Zoa D. Shilling Scholarship for Foreign Study: Spring semester, Fall semester
Sociology
Jennifer C. Wenger Memorial Study or Work Abroad Fund
Spanish
Women's Studies
Jennifer C. Wenger Memorial Study or Work Abroad Fund
Post-Graduation Scholarships
Boren award—national scholarship for undergraduates to study language in areas underrepresented in study abroad.
Fulbright for WMU students and alumni
DAAD Study Scholarship— scholarships for graduate study in Germany.
Other resources
AIFS study abroad scholarships and grants
Christianson Fellowship and Working Abroad Grant
Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grants for Art
Global Studies Grants to Support the Study of International Affairs
Institute of International Education Study Abroad Funding
NAFSA U.S. Study Abroad Scholarships and Grants
45 Scholarships for Study Abroad Around the World
Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants (Membership not required.)