The list below is not exhaustive, but are the most common financial awards for O’Neill International participants. You are encouraged to search for additional funding opportunities.
Scholarships, Grants and Loans
O'Neill Scholarships for O'Neill Students
Amount of Award: Varies based on student need and program type
Who May Apply: O'Neill undergraduate & O'Neill graduate students (defined as any student pursuing an O'Neill degree, major, minor, or certificate)
Application Period & Deadlines:
Spring Break: September 2 - October 1
Summer: November 4 - December 22
The Equal Opportunity Scholarship is a need-based award that provides O’Neill students funding to study abroad on O’Neill International programs. If finances will be a barrier to participating in your study abroad experience, we invite you to apply for this award. The O'Neill International Office Scholarship Committee will review all applications for this need-based award and allocate available funds to qualified candidates accordingly.
This scholarship requires the following application materials:
- Short essay question (200-300 words): Please describe any financial constraints that will make it difficult for you to study abroad with O'Neill International. Help us understand your financial situation by including items like: (1) any financial support you will or won't receive from family, (2) how you are saving for your time abroad, (3) other scholarships you are applying for, etc.
- Budget: Create an anticipated budget for yourself that includes: (1) the total estimated cost of your international experience and (2) your estimated access to funds to cover your expenses. When preparing your budget, think about all expenses, for example students should consider the program fee, tuition, flight, visa, incidentals on the ground, cost of food, additional things you want to do for fun, etc.
If you have questions concerning the application process, please contact the O'Neill International Office at oio@iu.edu
O'Neill Scholarships for All Students
Amount of Award: $250 - $1000
Who May Apply: Undergraduate or graduate students with a 3.4 GPA or higher who are participating on O'Neill International programs.
Application Period & Deadlines:
Spring Break: September 2 - October 1
Summer: November 4- December 22
The Scholars of Global Citizenship Award is dedicated to enabling high-achieving students to benefit from an intensive overseas study program through O'Neill International. The O'Neill International Office Scholarship Committee will review all applications for this award and allocate available funds to qualified candidates accordingly.
This scholarship requires the following application materials:
Essay (500 words): Please describe the importance of studying abroad to your academic, professional, and/or personal goals. How does the specific program you are applying for relate to your goals, and what do you hope to gain from this experience?
Unofficial IU Transcript: Please upload a copy of your unofficial IU transcript.
If you have questions concerning the application process, please contact the O'Neill International Office at oio@iu.edu.
IUI Scholarships
The International Experience Scholarship
- Awarded by the IUI Study Abroad Office to IUI undergraduate or graduate students participating in a credit-bearing and approved study abroad program. Recipients will be selected on the basis of need, merit, and motivation. Preference will be given to students who have never had an opportunity to study overseas. Student participating in longer programs will also be given preference.
- Award: Up to $1,000
- Deadline: Spring Break: October 15 Summer: February 15
- Minimum of 2.5 GPA
Please note: The scholarship will be applied to your IUI bursar account.
The Shreve Study Abroad Scholarship
- Awarded by the IUI Study Abroad Office to IUI undergraduate students participating in a credit-bearing and approved study abroad program. Applicants must demonstrate financial need as determined by a FAFSA filing. Recipients will be selected on the basis of merit and motivation. Preference will be given to students who have never had an opportunity to travel outside of their home country.
- Award: Up to $2,000
- Deadline: Spring Break: October 15 Summer: February 15
- Minimum of 2.5 GPA
Please note: The scholarship will be applied to your IUI bursar account.
The Study Abroad Planning Grant
- Awarded by the IUI Study Abroad Office to degree-seeking undergraduate students within their first year at IUI. The Planning Grant differs from other Study Abroad Office scholarships in that recipients will have three years to use the funds on an approved study abroad program. Applicants to the scholarships do not need to have already identified a program or know exactly what that they would like to do abroad.
- Amount of Award: $3,000
- Deadline: November 15th
- Must be a first year student
Please note: The scholarship will be applied to your IUI bursar account.
- Chancellor's Scholarship (Honors College)
Amount of Award: Varies
Many academic departments across campus offer students from their departments scholarships for study abroad that may be used toward any IU approved overseas experiences (including O'Neill International programs)!
If you are a major or minor in a department other than O'Neill, make sure to check with your department to discover additional funding opportunities.
These scholarships will likely be placed on your IUI bursar account.
Additional Funding Opportunities
Award Amount: Up to $5,000
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to our national security and economic competitiveness.
The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
Program must be at least 3 weeks in length.
Applications will not be considered for a country with a travel advisory of 3 or 4.
The Gilman-McCain Scholarship is a congressionally funded initiative of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State and named after the late senator John S. McCain from Arizona.
It provides awards of $5,000 for undergraduate child dependents of active duty service members to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs. Developed under the framework of the State Department’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, the John McCain International Scholarship for the Children of Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship) is open to eligible students enrolled at accredited U.S. colleges and universities who receive any type of Title IV federal financial aid.
Deadlines vary, please see website for more information.
Award Amount: Up to $5,000
- Semester - up to $5,000
- Summer Programs - prorated by number of weeks in-country (with a minimum of $1,250)
The mission of the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the US study abroad population. FEA makes life-changing, international experiences accessible to all by supporting minority, community college, and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programs.
Eligibility Requirements
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a college or university in the U.S. (graduate students are not eligible)
- Study abroad program must be eligible for credit at the student’s home institution
- Study abroad program must be at least 4 weeks (28 days) in country/countries
Preferences: FEA gives preference to students with demonstrated financial need, and strongly encourages students to apply who represent a group that is traditionally underrepresented in education abroad. These groups include, but are not limited to:
- First-generation college students
- Minority students
If you’re an undergraduate student who received a less-than-full-time Pell Grant during the academic year, you may be eligible for one in the summer.
To be considered for any type of summer financial aid, you must have filed your FAFSA and meet the eligibility requirements:
- You must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours
- You must be making satisfactory academic progress.
- As an IUPUI student registering for a course in Bloomington, you will need to be approved for a consortium.
For additional information please visit Student Central.
You may be able to borrow a Federal Direct Loan or a Federal Parent PLUS Loan unless you’ve already borrowed the maximum allowed for the academic year.
To be considered for any type of summer financial aid, you must have filed your FAFSA and meet the eligibility requirements:
- You must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours
- You must be making satisfactory academic progress.
- As an IUPUI student registering for a course in Bloomington, you will need to be approved for a consortium.
For additional information please visit Student Central.
If you aren’t eligible for scholarships / federal aid or weren’t awarded as much funding as you actually need, you or your parents might consider taking out a private student loan through a bank, credit union, or other lender.
You should always consider federal student loans before private loans:
- Federal loans are usually much more affordable.
- Federal loans allow you to put off repaying them until after you graduate.
Before you apply for a private loan, complete your FAFSA to see if you qualify for a federal loan.
For additional information please visit Student Central.