Financial Aid

This page is meant to inform you about what scholarships, financial aid, student loans, and other resources are available to you or your student.

Most people find that with the proper planning and program consideration, an international program is affordable and available.

Please note, all IEP-specific scholarships, grants and discounts are only applicable for participants of IEP programs.

Financial Budget Worksheet

Please view the scholarships listed below.  Before submitting an application, be sure to review eligibility and application requirements and deadlines.  For additional international scholarship opportunities, please visit the Alumni page.

 

IEP Semester Abroad Scholarship

This scholarship is meant to support engaged semester study abroad participants.

  • Award Amount: $1000
  • Eligibility: Participants of an IEP semester program.
  • Application Requirements: Submit the IEP Semester Abroad Scholarship Application with the IEP application and deposit. IEP Semester Abroad Scholarship recipients will be expected to positively engage in their host culture and share their experiences by blogging about them.
  • Disbursement: The full scholarship amount will be deducted from your final program fee balance and will be reflected on your program invoice.
  • Deadlines: Fall: May 15       Spring:November 15         Summer: April 15

 

IEP Correspondent Scholarship

This scholarship is meant to create and assist engaged study, internship, and volunteer participants abroad.

  • Award Amount: $200-$500
  • Eligibility: Participants of an IEP semester, summer, internship, or volunteer program of at least 2 weeks in length.
  • Application Requirements: Submit the IEP Student Correspondent Scholarship Application with the IEP application and deposit. IEP Student Correspondent Scholarship recipients will be expected to positively engage in their host culture and share their experiences by blogging about them.
  • Disbursement: The full scholarship amount will be deducted from your final program fee balance and will be reflected on your program invoice.
  • Deadlines: Fall: May 15       Spring:November 15         Summer: April 15

 

IEP Early Applicant Scholarship

IEP would like to encourage and reward students to apply early for a semester or summer academic study abroad program. This award is not available for spring break, internship or volunteer programs.

  • Award Amount: $50
  • Eligibility: IEP Semester or Summer Study Abroad Students
  • Application Requirements: Submit a completed IEP application for a semester or summer study abroad program and the $200 deposit 6-12 months before the deadline. Write “Early Applicant” at the top of the application to be awarded this scholarship.
  • Disbursement: The $50 scholarship will be deducted from the final invoice. If full payment is received 6-12 months before the start of the program, a refund check will be issued to the individual who made the payment. Students are subject to all IEP refund and program cost policies.
  • Deadline: 6-12 months prior to the start of your study abroad program

 

IEP Leadership Scholarship

Available to campus leaders of student and social organizations, the scholarship is provided to enhance the awareness of a participant's experience to an engaged audience on campus.

  • Award amount: $200-$500
  • Eligibility: Leaders or officers of campus, community, or social organizations accepted to an IEP Semester, Summer, or Internship program.
  • Recipients are expected to share their experiences and increased global awareness with his/her organization through travel journals on http://iep.goabroad.net and a presentation to his/her organization
  • Application Requirements: Submit the IEP Leadership Scholarship Application with the IEP application and deposit. IEP Leadership Scholarship recipients will be required to communicate their experience before, during, and after their time abroad to the organization in which he or she holds a leadership role. This should be done through blog posts, which should also be shared on the JU Study Abroad Facebook page. Recipients will also be required to give an orginial presentation to the organization upon his or her return.
  • Disbursement: The full scholarship amount will be deducted from your final program fee balance and will be reflected on your program invoice.
  • Deadlines: Fall: May 15       Spring:November 15         Summer: April 15

 

IEP Social Media Scholarship for Short Term Programs

This scholarship is meant to enhance the reflection of students on short term programs through engagement with social media tools.

  • Award Amount: $200
  • Eligibility: Participants on an IEP short term program, no more than 2 weeks in length
  • Application Requirements: Submit the IEP Short Term Social Media Scholarship Application with the IEP application and deposit. Scholarship recipients will be expected to either blog daily and link to the JU Study Abroad Facebook page while he or she is abroad or supply video footage shot on his or her program upon return.
  • Disbursement: The full scholarship amount will be deducted from your final program fee balance and will be reflected on your program invoice.
  • Deadline: December 1

 

IEP Program Discounts

  • Bring-a-Friend: $400 off of a Semester or Summer Study Program/$200 off of an Intern or Volunteer Program/ $100 off Spring Break
  • IEP Alumni: $400 off of a Semester or Summer Study Program/$200 off of an Intern or Volunteer Program/ $100 off Spring Break

 

Ambassador Marilyn McAfee Scholarship

Administered through the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville this $2000 academic merit scholarship is awarded to a sophomore or junior attend Jacksonville Univeristy, among other area schools. More info and application.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

This scholarship provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving federal Pell Grant funding at a 2-year or 4-year college or university to participate in study abroad programs worldwide. The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs sponsor the Gilman scholarship.

  • Award Amount: up to $5,000
  • Eligibility: Semester or academic year study abroad students who currently receive or will be receiving a Pell Grant at the time of the study abroad program.
  • Application Requirements: Students must submit a personal statement essay and propose a unique follow-up project to be completed upon returning from the program. Applicants should meet with the study abroad office and financial aid office prior to submitting an application.
  • Deadlines: please click here

Please review the website for specific eligibility and application requirements and deadlines.

 

Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Scholarship

Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants are designed to help support undergraduates as they seek knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad.

  • Award Amount: $1,000
  • Eligibility: All applicants must attend an institution with a Phi Kappa Phi chapter, have a minimum of 30 semester hours (or equivalent) and no more than 90 semester hours (or equivalent) by the deadline, have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale; have at least two semesters left at the home institution after the completion of your study abroad program and have been accepted into an accredited study abroad program before the deadline.
  • Application Requirements: Complete the application and provide academic letters of recommendation.
  • Deadline: February

Please review the website for specific eligibility and application requirements and deadlines.

 

Boren Awards, 2013 - 2014

The Boren Awards program funds scholarships and fellowships for foreign language study and is administered by the Institute of International Education.  The purpose of the scholarship program is to fund undergraduate study abroad of "strategic" foreign languages.

All applications must be submitted online.  These include (2) references, official transcripts, essay describing proposed study aborad program, a language self-assessment form, and a language proficiency form (optional). 

Deadline: February 13, 2013

Visit www.borenawards.org for more information.

 

Diversity Abroad

Diversity Abroad offers a number of tips for making studying or interning abroad more affordable and accessible. They have information on scholarships that they offer directly, as well as a search engine that allows you to find study abroad scholarships based on your field of study or country of interest. From grants, to bugeting tips, to student discounts on airfare, this site provides a variety of information that will help you fund our study abroad program. Be sure to check out "You Can Afford to Study Abroad," their online booklet, which gives a great overview of the options out there.

www.diversityabroad.com/financial-aid

Fundraising

Fundmytravel.com

Fundmytravel.com is a great resource for tracking your fundraising efforts. You can create a campaign to share with people where you're going and why you're excited about it. Those who are looking to support you are able to make donations to your campaign and help you reach your fundraising goals.

http://www.fundmytravel.com/

Below you are some tips on getting the word out there and ways of coordinating your fundraising efforts. If you're committed and willing to put time and effort into funding your international experience, you'd be amazed how effective these can be!

1) Letter to friends and relatives

One of the most effective ways to do grassroots fundraising is by a letter campaign sent to as many relatives, friends, former teachers and professors, former co-workers, etc. as possible. You should try to send a letter to 100 or more people. Send a detailed letter explaining the program and what you hope to accomplish while you are on it.

Ask for a specific amount of money- $50 is a nice round figure, but for older, more established relatives and friends $100 is not too much to ask; for peers and fellow students, perhaps $25 to $35. You may want to break your potential supporters into two, three or more groups, sending a custom letter to each group, based on your relationship with them, or the amount of money you are asking for.

If you send out 100 letters asking for $50 on average, and one-half respond, you have raised $2500. Often a few people will be very inspired by what you are doing, and many give much more.

2) Form a support group

One of your best support structures is to have the people closest to you act as your fundraising committee. Have them write letters on your behalf and distribute pledge forms to their co-workers, immediate family and good friends. The best fundraisers have even gone as far as to officially organize something like "The Committee to Send Julie to Japan" - which is personal, catchy, and shows you have organized support. It also shows that you are serious about participating in the volunteer program.

3) The Chain letter

A variation on numbers 1) and 2) is to write special letters to close friends and relatives asking them to help you garner support. You should call them about this first, then send them a letter with a number of sponsorship forms, and ask them to recruit five to ten other sponsors for you.

4) Have a yard or garage sale

A sale is a good way to sell your possessions and gather support for your cause. You may want to combine a raffle at the site of the sale, or an auction, especially if there is a natural group that would support you in this endeavor (fraternity, workplace, church, club, etc)

5) Grants from your school

College career, disability services, or international study abroad centers and academic departments frequently have fellowship programs that grant money to students participating in innovative research projects or programs abroad, particularly if you are earning academic credit for the research.

6) Local businesses

Local businesses are far more likely to support you than are large corporations. Check first with your town hall for any local scholarships. Visit the Chamber of Commerce for a list of local businesses and to see if they know of any opportunities. The key is to make a linkage between the owner of the business and you or someone close to you. You may want to approach businesses with a letter first, enclosing all relevant material and a pledge form, then follow up with phone call. Asking for $50 or more is not unusual. Be sure to follow up with a thank you note acknowledging their support.

7) Special Collection

Take up a special collection at a religious service or a general meeting of other community groups, coordinated with the proper ministers/organization officers, It is important to educate the community about what you are doing before the collection is announced via written material in the bulletin and preferably featuring a personal appeal by you during the service/meeting.

8) Approach your local place of worship

Go to your local church, synagogue or mosque councils directly and ask for a specific amount ($50-$1000) in exchange for an informative presentation about your experience when you return.

9) Community groups

Civic groups such as Rotary, Lions, Elks, certain Unions, special interest groups (like the Sierra Club or Returned Peace Corps Volunteers) might be interested in sponsoring you, especially if you can give them a special presentation when you return from overseas.

10) Support from employer and coworkers

Approaching your own employer is an often over-looked source of possible support. Even better is getting support from your co-workers. Another option to to ask parents or other family members to check at work and see if their company offers financial aid to relatives of workers.

11) Loans from relatives

Certain relatives many be able to lend you more than they would be willing to just give you, as long as you agree to pay them back shortly after the exchange program is over.

12) Letters to alumni associations

An announcement in a high-school or college alumni newsletter about what you are about to do, with a pitch for contributions, can be a good way to gain more support and touch base with long lost friends.

13) Sell something door to door

The traditional candy sale can work if you mark everything up enough. Volunteers with artistic abilities can produce their own items (t-shirts, mugs, pins, etc.) to sell, but should try to calculate appropriately the sale price in relation to the coast of the materials and the time spent making and selling their productions. Such items could also be sold at a fair or similar event.

14) Have a fundraising party

There are hundreds of ways to throw a fundraising party; just make sure you end up earning money, not losing. You may want to combine a raffle with the party to earn extra money. Sell raffle tickets ahead of time, and insist that people show up in order to win. Have people RSVP so that you have a good idea how much you will make before the party starts.

15) Have a bake sale or a car wash

This is a great way to get the neighbors and community involved in your cause. Ask local business if you can use their parking lots or store fronts to hold your event. Be sure to remind them of the extra business you will attract. Ask several friends or family members to help you on the actual day. Really advertise your event with posters, balloons, signs or anything that gets people's attention. Ask local radio stations or newspapers if they would be willing to announce this special event for you in trade for a free car wash. You can choose to charge your customers of simply ask for a donation; you might be surprised how generous people are!