If you are considering applying to study abroad for the Summer or Fall 2019 semesters, now is the time to begin planning. On most campuses, you can begin by visiting the Study Abroad Office to get preliminary information. You can also browse programs on the CUNY Study Abroad website. Many campuses will host study abroad fairs early in the fall semester. Of course, you can come speak to us here at CUNY BA as well. In fact, here’s some information to get started. It is critical that you speak to us about your plans as soon as you are accepted into a study abroad program (or commit to any other international experience) so that together we can ensure that you understand and comply with the CUNY International Travel Guidelines, how your credits will transferred back and make sure you are appropriately insured and registered in the CUNY Travel Registry.
Below are some of the most broadly applicable study abroad scholarships with upcoming deadlines. Your campus may offer their own awards too. You can find some additional funding options here.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship (‘Gilman’) Summer 2019 / Fall 2019 / Academic Year 2019-2020 DEADLINE: MARCH 5th
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 prosperity. CUNY BA students must apply through their home college.
To be eligible for a Gilman Scholarship, an applicant must:
- Be a citizen of the United States;
- Be an undergraduate student in good standing at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States (including both two-year and four-year institutions);
- Be receiving a Federal Pell Grant or provide proof that he/she will be receiving a Pell Grant during the term of his/her study abroad program or internship;
- Be in the process of applying to, or accepted for, a study abroad or internship program of at least two weeks for community college students and three weeks for students from four-year institutions, in a single country and eligible for credit from the student’s home institution. Proof of program acceptance is required prior to award disbursement;
- Students are eligible to apply for credit-bearing study abroad programs in a country with an overall Travel Advisory Level 1 or 2, according to the U.S. Department of State’s Travel Advisory System. Certain areas within these countries may be designated within the Travel Advisory as either “Do not travel to” (Level 4) or “Reconsider travel to” (Level 3) locations, as such; students will not be allowed to travel to these areas. Students are not eligible to apply for programs in a country with an overall Level 3 or 4 Travel Advisory.
Chancellor’s Global Scholarship (‘CGS’) Summer 2019 / Fall 2019 DEADLINE: MARCH 27th
As part of CUNY’s commitment to “[widen] the pipeline of language training, study abroad, and cross-cultural learning and collaboration for all students” (The Connected University, CUNY Master Plan 2016-2020), the Chancellor’s Global Scholarship provides partial funding on a competitive basis to CUNY students planning a study abroad experience.
Eligibility
- Undergraduate student at a CUNY community or senior college at the time of enrollment in the study abroad program.
- Study abroad program must be credit-bearing and fit into the student’s degree plan.
- A completed FAFSA application for the 2018-19 academic year (apply for FAFSA here). (Applicants must either be U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens according to FAFSA rules).
- Prior recipients of a CGS award are not eligible to apply.
The Freeman-ASIA program is designed to support U.S.-based undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are planning to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. The program’s goal is to increase the number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents with first-hand exposure to and understanding of Asia and its peoples and cultures.
To be eligible for Freeman-ASIA, an applicant must:
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at the time of application.
- Must currently receive need-based financial aid or demonstrate a verifiable need for financial assistance to participate in the proposed study abroad program. The applicant is required to submit the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) figure, calculated through FAFSA, with the statement of financial need through the online Freeman-ASIA application.
- Must be an undergraduate student with a minimum GPA of 2.8, pursuing his or her first bachelor’s degree (or associate’s degree), at a two-year or a four-year institution of higher education in the United States.
- Must apply through the U.S. home campus and have at least one term of enrollment remaining at the home institution in the U.S. upon returning from studying abroad in Asia.
- Must have applied or have been accepted to a study abroad based program in: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. A multi-country program is eligible only if the applicant will spend at least 8 weeks in one of the countries stated above and will have intensive language study during that period.
- Must have applied to or have been accepted by a study abroad based program that awards academic credits through the home campus or other U.S. accredited college or university. The proposed length of study in the host country must be a minimum of 8 weeks for a summer term, 10 weeks for a quarter term, and 12 weeks for a semester term.
- Must have little or no previous experience in the country in which he or she plans to study. A summer term applicant must not have spent more than 4 weeks in the proposed country of study within the last 5 years. A semester or an academic year term applicant must not have spent more than 6 weeks in the proposed country of study within the last 5 years.
- Must submit the online Freeman-ASIA Student Impact Survey within one month of returning to the United States and must initiate his/her service project to promote study abroad opportunities in Asia on the college campus and/or in the local community.
- Must submit the Freeman-ASIA Final Service Report on the implementation of his/her service project at the end of the term following his/her return to the United States.
- Must not be a previous Freeman-ASIA award recipient.
This fund is made possible through the generosity of the William Randolph Hearst Foundation to enhance students’ experiences by supporting various academic pursuits and projects. The Hearst Opportunities Fund will offer financial support to CUNY BA students to help defray the expenses for a variety of academic undertakings such as study abroad, independent projects, attendance at conferences, and other pertinent activities. Applications will be accepted and evaluated as they are received. Students may apply more than once, however, funding will typically not exceed $1,000 in total per student.