Study Abroad Scholarships For High School Students

November 22nd, 2021 by IEFA

What’s a better way to make your kids grow up smart and independent than sending them out for studies in a foreign country? In recent years, there has been an increase in students who want to study abroad. For this reason, many government organizations and private companies have come up with scholarship programs that offer financial aid to students who want to study abroad.

It has been observed that the number of students who are applying for education abroad is increasing by 50% every year. There are many reasons behind this rise in the number of high school students who want to study in another country. The major and most prominent reason is globalization. With so many multinational companies and multi-national universities, the need for a good education has increased so people are now more interested in studying in foreign countries.

In this article, we will be discussing some of the study abroad scholarships that high school students can apply for. These scholarships will help you finance your education and living expenses, wherever you want to study in the world.

Why should you consider studying abroad as a high school student?

High school students are young and energetic. It should be your goal to utilize this energy in doing something productive and useful. If you can get a scholarship for studying abroad, then we suggest that you take the opportunity and learn about new cultures and traditions. Here are a few reasons why studying abroad can be beneficial to you as a high school student:

1. You’ll be more open-minded:

You will gain an understanding of the way people from other cultures live and think. As young students, you will be able to relate better to those who aren’t like you. It will broaden your mind and make you more accepting and open-minded.

2. You can gain a lot of experience at a young age:

Traveling provides an excellent opportunity for personal growth to high school students. It will help you learn more about yourself and allow you to discover who you are when separated from your friends, family, and school.

3. Better education opportunities:

Having experience in studying in another country looks good on college applications. Many prestigious colleges prefer students with international experience in their classes. This can work in your favor when applying for colleges later on.

4. Better career options:

Learning about other cultures can open new doors for your future career. For example, today there are so many companies that are opening their offices abroad, especially in countries like China and India. If you learn about these countries now, it will help you open new doors to your career in the future.

Best scholarships for high school students to study abroad:

So here are a few study abroad scholarships for high school students. These scholarships are offered through several different organizations and companies that try to encourage international exposure at a very young age. So here they are:

1. Rotary Youth Exchange Scholarship:

This scholarship is available for students who want to study abroad in another country. This scholarship covers tuition, room and board, textbooks, travel expenses, pocket money, and other necessary expenses that a student may have during the course of his/her study or training period.

2. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship:

This study abroad program is offered by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation to high school students who want to study at the University of Cambridge in England, UK. This scholarship covers full tuition, travel expenses during your tenure as an awardee, as well as personal expenses such as health care and pocket money. This scholarship is only available for students who want to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject.

3. The Critical Languages Scholarship

This scholarship is offered by the US government to school students who are planning to study less commonly taught languages across the world in various countries, such as China, Russia, Japan, Brazil, and other countries. The scholarship was created to build a strong foundation in less commonly taught foreign languages, and the students it benefits will be able to do a lot of things with these skills.

4. Reach Cambridge University Scholarship

This scholarship is available for students who want to study at the University of Cambridge, UK. This scholarship gives out full tuition to students who come from low-income backgrounds and cannot afford their education otherwise. The Reach Programme was started by the University of Cambridge trust, with a goal to increase access to world-class teaching at the university. If you are between the age of 14-18 and want to study at the University of Cambridge, UK, then this scholarship may be for you.

5. American Foreign Service Association Scholarship

This scholarship is offered by the American Foreign Service Association to qualified students who want to major in international relations, foreign affairs, or a related field. This scholarship provides full tuition and also covers living expenses of up to $18,000 per year. You will also get a chance to meet the secretary of the USA in Washington DC! You’ll get to participate in National High School Essay Contest to showcase what you’ve learned about US foreign policy.

6. Sons of Norway Scholarship

The Sons of Norway Scholarship is available to students who are of Norwegian descent. Applicants must plan on pursuing higher education in an accredited college or university, full-time. The scholarship award generally ranges from $500-$2000 for one academic year of study. You can apply to any Norwegian Folk High School. Norway is the home of the Vikings and a visit to Norway is on the bucket list of most people.

7. Congress-Bundestag Scholarship

This scholarship is offered by the German government to students who are planning to study in Germany. The program offers full tuition, monthly allowances, travel expenses for visits home, and health insurance during your tenure as an awardee of this scholarship. Germany is known as one of the most popular destinations for international students. Their education system is very different from other education systems. So if you want to study abroad and get comfortable with a different culture, this is your chance.

8. The Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program

It’s a student exchange program offered by the US State Department to American high school students. The scholarship offers full tuition, monthly allowance, all your travel expenses including your tickets to and from Germany. You will be studying in Germany for one academic year. The scholarship aims to promote mutual understanding between the US and Germany by fostering opportunities for young people of both countries.

9. Greenheart Travel Scholarship

This scholarship is available for students and graduates who are “first-time travelers” and have the desire for travel and cultural immersion. You must be at least 18 years old and currently enrolled full-time at an accredited university to apply for this scholarship. Applicants should also be enrolled in a program related to tourism, such as hospitality management, environmental studies, arts, social sciences, literature, conservation, or international affairs.

10. DC College Access Program Scholarship

The DC College Access Program is offered by the District of Columbia Government to high school students who want to pursue college education in the US. The scholarship awards $10,000 for four years of study at any accredited institution of your choice. This scholarship is available for students who don’t have access to other forms of financing and will be used towards your freshman year expenses.

A few tips for a scholarship to study abroad during high school

1. Talk to your parents:

This is vital! Don’t make the mistake of thinking your parents won’t be supportive. If they are against this idea, talk to them about what you can do to change their minds or at least take their concerns into consideration. The truth is that many scholarships don’t pay for housing and other expenses. It’s important to include your parents in all the plans to make it a successful experience for you and them.

2. Work on your grades:

Merit based scholarships are offered to talented students. So it’s important that you maintain your grades by having good attendance and being involved in school activities outside the classroom. It’s always easier to get a scholarship when you already have a good academic record.

3. Do research:

Know what countries fit your needs before applying for a scholarship. For example, if you want to study in France and will need to learn the language before going there, apply for a scholarship that will cover your French classes. There are plenty of scholarships out there; all you have to do is look!

4. Apply for multiple scholarships:

This is a common-sense tip but many students still don’t do it. If there is more than one scholarship you are eligible for, apply for all of them! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain from being as thorough as possible.

5. Talk to your home country’s department of education

It’s a good idea to talk to your home country’s representatives and ask them for advice on getting a scholarship. They will know which scholarships are available and may even be able to help you apply!

6. Keep track of deadlines

You don’t want to miss the deadline by just a few days and let $10,000 slip away from your hands. Check out important dates and plan ahead. It might be a good idea to set up a calendar on your phone or on the wall with all the dates that you need to remember on it. That way, there’s no room for error!

7. Talk to the scholarship provider

There is no better way to get money to study abroad than through the scholarship you’re applying for! If possible, send an email or call the people who are offering the scholarship and let them know your story. They may be touched by your situation and will give you an extra push to apply.

Final thoughts:

If you want to study abroad in high school, don’t let anything stop you. You can do it! The most important thing is to make sure your parents are on board and understand why this is a good idea for you. Don’t let a lack of money hold you back. There are scholarships out there that will pay for all the expenses related to studying abroad. Make sure to do your research and apply for as many scholarships as possible to increase your chances of succeeding. Follow these tips and you’ll be studying abroad in no time!

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Upvote Scholarship

August 10th, 2017 by Juncal Caballero

GotChosen Scholarship

Deadline: August 31

Are you in need of a scholarship but most of them require your GPA or to participate in an essay contest? Are you looking for an easier way to get a scholarship? Then the GotChosen “Upvote scholarship” is a great option for you!

GotChosen is an American company which develops social networking and marketplace technologies. The company also offers philanthropic scholarships. During the last three years, GotChosen has awarded more than 65 scholarships!

Eligibility

The $10,000 UpVote Scholarship is open to all international students from any field of study. All participants must be at least 18 years and have been accepted to a post secondary program, college, or have outstanding student loans. This scholarship award must be used for educational expenses or outstanding student loans only.

How to Enter

Just follow these simple steps and you will be entered to win!

  1. Register. You must register with your legal name.
  2. Apply for the scholarship. Fill in the application form, and click ‘Apply’.
  3. Add a photo to your profile. You must create a profile with a current photo of yourself.
  4. Post on any channel. Create a post on any channel of your choice. Remember, posts must be relevant to the channel’s topic. Posts that only say “vote for me” will not count.
  5. Get upvotes for your post. You will earn an entry for every upvote on your posts during the contest. Multiple posts increase your chances of winning!

How it works

The winner will be chosen from a random drawing from among all eligible participants. It will be conducted in the US and supervised by an independent third party. The winner will receive the $10,000 UpVote Scholarship upon verification of eligibility.

The GotChosen scholarship will be issued in the form of a $10,000 check in US dollars after the winner has provided proof of current educational expenditures or outstanding student loans.

Don’t wait! The deadline is 12:00 AM Pacific Time on August 31, 2017. In case you didn’t have enough time to get as many upvotes as you would have liked, there is no need to worry! GotChosen has a new scholarship contest every other month. To participate again for this scholarship, you’ll just have to reapply!

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Zeqr Scholarship

July 27th, 2017 by Juncal Caballero

Zeqr Scholarship
Deadline: December 15th

Are you studying in the US or Canada and need some financial aid to continue with your studies? Look no further! Zeqr is sponsoring an annual scholarship award for students from any country around the world who are currently enrolled as a high school or college/university student within the United States or Canada.

To enter, students must complete a 800 – 1,200 word article discussing how online learning is changing the traditional educational model of learning and what the future of education might look like.

Some of the questions you can try to answer are:

  • How and why is e Learning shaping the future of education?
  • How will this change the way students learn?
  • Who will benefit most from this new way of learning?

Applicants must complete the student information form that you will find here and submit their 800 to 1,200 word essay on the selected topic in PDF format. Don’t forget to be original and very creative on your article and remember to upload your submission on December 15th, no later than 11:59 pm PST.

The Scholarship will be awarded to the student who writes the most compelling essay as judged by an outside panel of educational professionals. The winner will be announced and contacted by 11:59pm PST on December 22.

The applicant of the winning project will receive a one-time scholarship of $1,000, which may be applied to the following school-related expenses: tuition, fees, books, and on-campus room and board. Get more details on this scholarship and how to apply here.

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SelfScore Scholarship

July 13th, 2017 by Juncal Caballero

SelfScore Scholarship

Deadline: September 28, 2017

If you are an international student studying in the US and seeking for some financial support, we found the perfect scholarship for you. The SelfScore Scholarship is a national scholarship program dedicated to F1, J1, and M1 students studying in the US.

SelfScore is an analytics based consumer finance company that helps populations gain financial independence through access to credit. But at the moment, they are focusing on connecting international students to fair credit.

This Fall, the company will grant twelve $5,000 scholarships: six for undergraduates and six for graduate students. That sounds good, right? Would you like to be considered for this scholarship? If so, here’s the eligible you must meet:

  • Be a student studying in the U.S. on a F1, J1, or M1 visa during the 2017-2018 academic year.
  • Must be accepted to study or continuing to study at an eligible college or university.
  • Must submit a valid I-20 or DS-2019 form.
  • Must score in the top 15% on a standardized U.S. college entrance exam (SAT, ACT, GRE, or GMAT).
  • Must have a 3.0 GPA, or higher, or the equivalent from your prior studies.

Recipients will be selected randomly among the eligible applicants and no purchase or credit application is required to apply for the scholarship. All applicants are enrolled in a Free Financial Literacy program and all scholarships are awarded on a one-time basis. Applicants may also designate an international student club or organization as part of their application which will receive a one-time grant of $1,000.

If you would like to apply for this scholarship, you can get more information on how to apply for the SelfScore International Student Scholarship here.


Read about international student loans

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Student Scholarship from Unplag

February 4th, 2016 by Jonathan Frankel

Student Scholarship from Unplag

Deadline: March 1

Unplag is a plagiarism detection engine and works hard to encourage students around the world to produce original essays. Because of this, your opinion on being original might be worth $2,000! The student scholarship from Unplag essay contest was launched in September and you still have the chance to enter to win if you submit your entry before March 1st. The scholarship winner will be announced on March 9th.

To enter the student scholarship from unplag you must be at least 18 years old and enrolled as a full time international student (graduate or undergraduate). You will then need to submit a 500 word, original essay on a topic that you’ve come up with or on one of the following topics:

1. Academic cheating can deprive you of a successful career.
2. Being original will soon become a trend.
3. Technologies able to fight academic cheating.
4. Does online education “promote” academic dishonesty?
5. Can plagiarism be eliminated once and for all?
6. Plagiarism addiction kills creativity and critical thinking.
7. How does the digital age influence plagiarism and cheating?
8. Is social networking causing a plagiarism problem?
9. Cross-culture differences concerning plagiarism.
10. What if some of my educators were found guilty of plagiarism?

All students who enter must also submit the Unplag scholarship entry form. An Unplag committee will determine the finalists and the final winner, they suggest that your essay has “creativity, humor and an individual manner of writing.”
If you’re interested in this scholarship and think that you might be eligible to enter to win the $2,000 grand prize, you can find further details on the Student Scholarship from Unplag here.

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RentHop: College & University Scholarship Program

January 21st, 2016 by IEFA

Watering can and money tree drawn on a blackboard concept for business investment, savings and making money

Deadline: August 31

RentHop: College & University Scholarship Program is granting a scholarship to three eligible participants with a prize that includes the following:

  • $1000 Cash Scholarship
  • A Renthop T-shirt
  • An optional internship with RentHop

To be eligible for the RentHop scholarship you must be a current student in an eligible undergraduate program or a graduating high school senior that plans to pursue a higher education degree. To apply for this scholarship students must submit an essay that’s 1,000 words or less that answers the following question:

“Technology is changing every aspect of our daily lives, from searching for real estate to phones in our pocket that are more powerful than anyone would have imagined a generation prior. In the next 5 years, what do you feel will be the most profound changes that impact college graduates, their careers, and their personal lives? To what extent are those cultural and societal shifts aligned with your personal ambitions, your school degree program, and the RentHop values?”

If you’re not sure what to include in your essay, here are just a few items that RentHop is hoping you’ll include within your essay:

• “Why do you feel your college was a good fit for you given the changing world?”
• “As you pursue the next steps in your career, how do you balance relocating for a dream job versus living in your desired area? Will location be more or less important in the future?”
• “What are some of the most important extracurricular activities that your school is able to help you foster?”

Get more information on the RentHop: College & University Scholarship Program here.


International Student Voice Magazine Margaret W. Wong Scholarship

January 7th, 2016 by Jonathan Frankel

stack of moneyDeadline: January 22

Entries for the International Student Voice Magazine Margaret W. Wong Scholarship are now being accepted until January 22nd at 11:59pm. One Spring winner will receive $500, this announcement will be made on February 1st and be featured in the Spring issue of International Student Voice Magazine- a magazine that is sent to almost 100 universities throughout the US.

If you will be studying in the United States this upcoming year on a J1 or F1 visa then you’re able to enter this contest. To enter you must write an essay answering the following question:

“How will studying in the United States help you achieve your career goals?”

The essay must be submitted in PDF or Microsoft Word format, be one to two pages in length, be in 12 point font and double spaced. The essay must include a title and a header which includes the following: your first and last name, university, and home country. You must also submit at least one photograph of yourself with your entry.

This scholarship is sponsored by Margaret W. Wong and Associates. If you’re interested in applying for this award check out the full eligibility, requirements and how to apply here.


EssayMama Winter Essay Writing Contest

December 24th, 2015 by Jonathan Frankel

serving money-469544675Deadline: February 19

EssayMama is offering students from around the world the chance to win $550 just for writing an essay! Three winners will be picked by professional writers on the EssayMama team based upon a 0-100 point scale. Students can also get extra points for sharing contest details on social media.

To enter, you must submit an 800-1300 word essay that is original and created for the EssayMama Winter Essay Writing Contest. Your essay must be on one of the following essay topics:

1. How Necessary Is a College Education For You?
2. Why Do We Enjoy Watching Rich People on TV and in the Movies?
3. Does ‘Shame and Blame’ Method Work to Change Student’s Behavior?
4. Are Anti-smoking Advertisements Effective?
5. How Concerned Are You About Where Your Food Comes From?
6. Which Is More Important: Talent or Hard Work?
7. Can a Video Game Be a Work of Art?
8. Is Academic Cheating Getting Worse?

All submitted essays should be in English and the mail title should be [EssayMama Essay Writing Winter Contest], your name.

Three winners will be chosen and receive the following:

  • 1st Place: $550
  • 2nd Place: $400
  • 3rd Place: $250

Along with a cash prize, the three top winners will be published on the EssayMama Blog. Get more information on the EssayMama contest and how you can enter.


2015 Travel Video Contest Voting Open

October 30th, 2015 by Jonathan Frankel

Video, movie, cinema vintage concept. Retro camera, reels and clapperboard. 3d

2015 Travel Video Contest Update

Although this year’s Travel Video Contest is closed for entries, you’re still able to participate! Get involved by watching each video, then vote for your favorite! One grand prize winner will be named during International Education Week and receive $4,000 along with their very own blog on InternationalStudent.com. However, before the grand prize winner is chosen, they first need your help determining the Viewer’s Choice Winner. Based upon your votes, the Viewer’s Choice Winner will be determined- this winner will receive $1,000 and an automatic entry into the finalist round!

The Viewer’s Choice Winner and finalists will be announced the week of November 9th, so make sure you watch each video and cast your vote before then! If you entered the 2015 Travel Video Contest don’t forget to ask your friends and family to vote for your video to help improve your chance of becoming the 2015 Viewer’s Choice Winner, and have a shot at becoming the grand prize winner!

If you missed your chance to enter the InternationalStudent.com Travel Video Contest, don’t worry, this is an annual contest which means you will have another chance next year! Make sure you keep up to date with when the contest kicks off by visiting us next year in September.


National Security Education Program David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship

October 16th, 2015 by Jonathan Frankel

money in handsNational Security Education Program David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship
Deadline: February 09

An initiative by the National Security Education Program is providing funding opportunities for US undergraduate students through the Boren Scholarships. This scholarship enables students to study less commonly taught languages within Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America and the Middle East. Individuals who receive this scholarship will in exchange, commit to working in the federal government for at least one year after graduation.

Since Boren scholarships provide funding that promotes long term linguistic and cultural immersion, two or more semesters are strongly encouraged. Additionally, preference will be shown to individuals studying in countries, languages, and fields of study critical to the US national security.

This scholarship will provide the following maximum award amounts:
• $8,000 for a summer program (special initiative for STEM students only; 8 weeks minimum)
• $10,000 for a semester
• $20,000 for a full academic year

If you would like to work for the US federal government upon graduation, get more information on the National Security Education Program David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship, if you’re eligible and how to apply.


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