Study Abroad Scholarships

Scholarships are open to all full-time students on any approved education abroad program. Apply through your Via account by searching for "Education Abroad Scholarships" under the programs tab.

There are loads of scholarship funds, but in order to be considered for & awarded scholarships, YOU MUST HAVE:

• A current Murray State General Scholarship Application on file
• A complete and filed FAFSA for the year of your study abroad program
• A submitted Via application for your study abroad program by the published deadline
• A submitted Via application for the Education Abroad Scholarships by the published deadline

*This applies to all students including Presidential Fellows!

By having all of the requirements listed above, you will be considered for the education abroad scholarships you're eligible for. See the General Education Abroad Scholarships listed below.

Know that these education abroad scholarships are not the only source of funding available. There are also national scholarships you can apply for that we have listed at the bottom of this page. Because scholarships will not cover your entire program fee, you should also have a plan for how you will pay for the rest of the program fee. Education abroad scholarships can supplement your existing strategies for funding your education abroad, but you should not count on receiving the full cost for your program through education abroad scholarships.

All degree-seeking students who have completed a study abroad application and will be receiving academic credit on their programs are eligible to apply for scholarships. Some of the scholarships have specific GPA or financial need requirements, but not all. Many have no GPA requirements and take other factors, particularly financial need, into consideration as much as your academic performance. Same goes for those who do not qualify for Federal Financial Aid.  Financial need is a major requirement for most education abroad scholarships, but not all! The list of General Education Abroad Scholarships below are all of the scholarships you could possibly be eligible for just by submitting the required applications. You don't have to know which ones you qualify for; by having the MSU General Scholarship Application on file, the scholarship system will automatically sort you into the scholarships you're eligible for. 

Make sure that your demographic and academic information is updated and correct in MyGate before starting your scholarship application. 

Federal financial aid can apply to the cost of education abroad programs. Grants and loans that you currently receive may be used for some programs abroad. Current scholarship awards such as the Presidential, Regents, KEES money, and many other sources may be used for education abroad, depending on the program you choose. Meet with our friends in Financial Aid and the Scholarship Office for all the details on how your aid can apply.

As part of the Via scholarship application, every student has the option to download and complete a budget sheet that helps you understand the costs associated with your program and helps you start to plan for how you will pay for it. The Financial Aid Office and Scholarship Office complete a section of your budget worksheet to let you know if you have existing Murray State aid that you can use. You are also encouraged to schedule an appointment to meet with them in person to discuss your pre-existing funds.

The essay is one of the most important parts of your scholarship application, so make sure to put time and thought into your essay before the deadline. These essays will be reviewed and scored by committees made up of MSU faculty and staff.

Scholarship Essay: What political, historical, or current events do you find interesting in the country/countries you're planning to study? How are they similar or different to what you have experienced?

Essays should be researched, well written, and well organized without errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Please do not bullet point. We are looking for a coherent essay in paragraph form. Max of 500 words.

Applicants are also encouraged to seek advice and editing assistance from the Racer Writing Center located in Waterfield Library.

Scholarships are typically awarded in amounts ranging from $150 to $1000. You can be awarded more than one scholarship. The award amount will vary depending on your qualifications for specific scholarships, the length and expense of your program, your essay, and your financial need. Attend one of our scholarship workshops for tips on how to make your essay as competitive as possible. Students with demonstrated financial need tend to receive more money from scholarships. The average award in 2022-2023 was $802 and 100% of students who applied were awarded at least one scholarship.

We aim to send scholarship award notifications within four weeks after the application deadline. You will receive an email from the scholarship system with instructions for what to do next, then you login to the scholarship application to view your awards and amounts and accept the scholarships. 

Please remember that while there are many education abroad scholarships available, they are very competitive and no one is guaranteed a scholarship. Scholarships should be considered a supplement to a pre-existing strategy for financing your education abroad since it is likely you will not be awarded enough money to cover your full program fee. Start planning early for additional ways to fund your education abroad such as:

• Working a summer job

• Asking local clubs, churches, businesses or charities to support you

• Cutting back expenditures in your daily life in order to save money

• Choosing a program that will accept the Murray State scholarships you are already receiving

• Taking out additional student loans or private loans

• Fundraising/crowdsourcing (try sites like FundMyTravel)

• Apply for program provider specific scholarships (i.e. KIIS, CCSA, ISA, CEA, etc.)

• Apply for national study abroad scholarships

• Tuition waivers and other benefits