Updates here.
Scholarships & Grants Did you know that 70% of all CIS Abroad students receive scholarships, grants, or discounts to study or intern abroad? Because we’re unapologetically committed to increasing access to international education for all students, we’ve re-vamped our scholarship offerings! Read through the following section to see what you may qualify for and start saving money. Additionally, check out our recommended external scholarships list.
NEW SCHOLARSHIPS! CIS Abroad Celebrates 20 Years It’s our 20th birthday and we want to give you up to $1000!
At CIS Abroad we are excited to be celebrating our 20th birthday in 2020. It’s a big year for us and what is a birthday without gifts?! This year we are offering a special set of scholarships celebrating two decades of providing life-changing experiences around the world. Apply for any of the following programs for a Fall 2020 start to be eligible for the our 20th Birthday Scholarship.
Programs eligible for CIS Abroad’s 20th Birthday Scholarship
Fall 2020 Terms:
How to apply for one of these special scholarships:
Once you’ve applied for an eligible program, find the scholarship application in your student portal.
Scholarship Application Deadlines:
The CIS Abroad 20th Birthday Scholarships follow the same application deadlines as our standard scholarships and will be available for students going on an eligible program during Fall 2020.
This award is intended for students who demonstrate excellence in their academic major. While abroad, recipients will use a variety of channels (video, blogging, photos) to share how studying/interning abroad is enriching their academic or professional career, in addition to submitting a photo testimonial.
We understand first-generation students face additional barriers to studying and interning abroad. In fact, many staff members at CIS Abroad are also first-generation college students. This scholarship is intended to help fund the visa process, flights, and international housing for students who are among the first from their family to go to college. Recipients will share their story of learning and exploration while abroad with a photo gallery and their choice of travel vlog, blogging, or an Instagram takeover.
This award is intended to benefit students of color, who are traditionally underrepresented within education abroad. We aim to widen the diversity of our community of interns and students abroad and foster equity in access to these experiences. If you identify as biracial, multiracial, Black, African & African American, Caribbean American, Latinx / Chican@ / Hispanic, Asian & Asian American, Native, Pacific Islander, or another minoritized racial/ethnic identity not listed, we invite you to apply. In your application essay, tell us about how your identity will impact your experience abroad. Recipients will select from a variety of mediums to share their story while abroad, in addition to submitting a photo testimonial.
This award is intended for students within the LGBTQIA+ community, as part of CIS Abroad’s commitment to Generation Study Abroad. Studying abroad as an LGBTQIA+ or gender nonconforming student brings an additional set of challenges and options to consider. There are some questions you may want to ask yourself, and research to be done, before choosing a study abroad program – but our LGBTQIA+ students have amazing experiences abroad and often find local LGBTQIA+ communities to be a part of. Recipients will select from a variety of mediums to share their story while abroad, in addition to submitting a photo testimonial.
This award is intended for students in a Greek Life organization who need help covering the cost of membership dues while abroad. In keeping with the philanthropic values of Greek Life organizations, recipients should plan to participate in at least one self-directed volunteer opportunity while abroad and produce content (ex. a blog post or video) related to that experience, in addition to other selections.
After you complete your CIS Abroad application , look for application forms for scholarships and grants in your online student portal. We think that applying for our scholarships and grants is the most fun of your portal tasks! You’ll write a little bit about yourself, why you feel you are a good candidate, and send it off for us to review.
After the deadlines listed below, our Scholarships Committee checks out applications from all eligible candidates They’re a great team who reviews all applications through the lens of student need, academic merit, and your written essay question responses. For scholarships, you’ll hear from us by the dates listed below via email. Grants are awarded on a rolling basis and you should hear back within a week of your application.
If you receive one of our scholarships, you’ll work with our team on fun scholarship content deliverables (ex. photos, videos, blogs etc) during your time abroad.
Spring Semester Programs
Application Deadline: October 1
Summer Programs
Application Deadline: March 1
Fall Semester Programs
Application Deadline: April 7
“I was thrilled and grateful to learn that I was selected as a recipient of the Rainbow Scholarship and am so excited to show the world my experience in London with CIS Abroad. As a first generation Mexican-American and a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I was thankful to hear I would receive a scholarship from CIS Abroad to pursue my academic and professional ventures. I have dreamed of studying abroad since a young age and to make this life-changing experience a reality impacted me profoundly.”
Oscar Villalobos III, The University of Alabama, Semester in London – University of Roehampton, Spring 2019
“From the moment I applied, CIS Abroad was thorough, clear, and simple, and their team is responsive, passionate, and caring.”
Hanna Fuchs, Ithaca College, Semester in Edinburgh – Edinburgh Napier University – Fall 2017
CIS Abroad GRANTS
NOTE ON AVAILABILITY: We’ve already awarded ALL grants for students going on Summer 2020 and Fall 2020 programs. Applications for Spring 2021 programs and beyond are still being considered.
CIS Abroad’s grants are designed to help you navigate some of the financial barriers on the front end of your study or intern abroad process: getting a passport and a flight!
Because these tasks are time-sensitive, our grants function on a “first-come-first-serve” basis. There are limited spaces for each grant and we announce awards on a rolling basis, so apply early! Find the grant application in your portal.
**We’re currently out of Passport Grants for all 2020 programs**
Are you dreaming of going abroad, but still without a passport (or need to renew an expiring passport)? Never fear! CIS Abroad has you covered. Our Passport Grant helps cover the up-front cost of your passport application. We’ll send you checks made out directly to the U.S. State Department and to the Passport Acceptance Facility (ex. post office) where you’ll apply for your passport. Passport in hand, the world will be yours to explore!
NOTE ON APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
In addition to asking a few questions about who you are, what program you’re going on, and how a passport will enrich your life, the Passport Grant application requires you to identify the post-office that you’ll visit to apply for your passport (if you’re getting a new one) so we can make out the processing fee check appropriately.
If you’re renewing a passport, you can select “by mail” in the How/where do you plan to apply for your passport question and we’ll send you the funds you’ll need to apply for a passport renewal by mail.
#Teamtips: Do your research ahead of time and the application will be a breeze!
NOTE: Our passport grants are not retroactive, and cannot be used to reimburse costs.
**We’re currently out of TRIO Student Grants for all 2020 programs**
If you’re are currently or have ever been a part of a TRIO program , you’re eligible to apply for our TRIO Student Grant, up to $750 towards your flights, to help you get abroad!
NOTE ON APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
In addition to asking a few questions about who you are, what program you’re going on, and about your TRIO experience, the CIS Abroad TRIO Student Grant application requires you to attach a recommendation form from a mentor. TRIO programs value mentorship, and we want to give one of your mentors a chance to brag about you! Have them fill out and sign this short form recommending you for our TRIO Student Grant and upload it as part of your application.
#Teamtips: Give your mentor plenty of notice to fill out the form (and ask nicely c:) and the application will be a breeze!
FAQ
What is the TRIO Program? “The Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO) are Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs” (from the Federal TRIO – Home Page on the U.S. Dept. of Education Website).
How do I know if I’m a TRIO Student? You will know that you are a TRIO student if you participated in one of the TRIO programs in middle school or high school (e.g. Upward Bound or Talent Search) and/or if you receive assistance from a TRIO program on your college campus from an office of Student Support Services, for example.
**We’re currently out of CIS Abroad Gilman Grants for all 2020 programs**
If you’re applying for a Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship from the U.S. State Department for your CIS Abroad program, you’re also eligible to apply for our CIS Abroad Gilman grant, a flight voucher worth up to $750.
NOTE ON APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:
In addition to asking questions about who you are, what program you’re going on, and what the Gilman Scholarship would mean to you, the Gilman Grant application requires you to attach a copy of your FOLLOW-ON SERVICE PROJECT PROPOSAL study abroad office’s certification of your application from your Gilman Scholarship application.
#Teamtips: Have a scan of your FOLLOW-ON SERVICE PROJECT PROPOSAL ready to go when you open our Gilman Grant application and it’ll take less than 10 minutes to apply!