Scholarships Administered by OSA
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OSA Study Abroad Grant
Types of awards:
Financial-need based; established by the student’s filed FAFSA
Merit-based; typically the top two students with highest points in the pool
Eligibility:
Full-time EIU student for at least one semester before studying abroad and must have a 2.5 GPA (cum) at the time of application. Students must complete a study abroad program application in order to be considered for scholarship funding.
Award amounts:
Between $500 and $2,000 per student.
Service:
Grant recipients will serve as a Study Abroad Ambassador for the semester after they return from their program abroad. The service requirement is 4 hours, which can be accomplished by a variety of projects with OSA.
Evaluation Criteria: Applications will be evaluated using the point-based system detailed below. 100 total points are possible.
|
Criteria |
Formula |
Total |
|
GPA |
GPA x 10 |
40 |
|
Essay |
1 to 15 |
15 |
|
Letters of Recommendation |
1 to 15 |
15 |
|
Leadership (as listed on resume) |
1-5 |
5 |
|
Foreign Language Study - Students who plan to study any foreign language as part of their study abroad program |
10 |
10 |
|
Time Abroad - Programs with greater time spent abroad (ex. 8-week programs would receive more points than 4-week programs) |
# of Weeks |
Max 15 |
Deadlines:
October 1: Spring semester and Winter Break
December 4: Spring break
February 2: Faculty-led summer
March 1: Summer and Fall semester
Why Apply Early? You may wish to apply early to have an early decision due to the strict refund policy associated with faculty-led and special study abroad programs. If your decision to study abroad is dependent on receipt of a scholarship, and you would like to know the award amount you are eligible to receive before you commit to a program – you must apply for the session prior to your own.
The Office of Study Abroad also offers 4 other scholarship opportunities:
- Tuition Exchange Waiver
- William V. Weber Scholarship
- Kate & Cliff Strandberg Study Abroad in Sweden Scholarship
- Dorothy E. Walden Short-Term Study Abroad Scholarship
Tuition Exchange Waiver Scholarships
This award covers 12 credit hours of EIU tuition (all your tuition while abroad). Applicants must have at least a 2.5 GPA (cum). This award is reserved for students that exhibit financial need (as reported on their FAFSA), and have distinguished themselves as high-achieving students.
Exchange programs include:
Central Queensland University, Australia
Copenhagen University College of Engineering, Denmark
Eastern Mediterranean University, Northern Cyprus
Kansai Gaidai University, Japan
University of Glamorgan, Wales
Sogang University, South Korea
William V. Weber Study Abroad Scholarship
Scholarship recipients must be enrolled in good standing at EIU and qualify for financial aid. For at least half of the scholarships awarded in a given year, preference will be given to minority students (including gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender students) and first generation students. Scholarship monies may be spent on tuition and fees, travel expenses (transportation, meals, and lodging), study materials or resources, and other incidental expenditures directly related to travel abroad. More than one student may receive assistance from this fund in a given year. In addition, a past scholarship recipient may apply for and receive the award more than once, provided he/she continues to meet the eligibility criteria.
Click here to print the eligibility worksheet for this award.
Kate and Cliff Strandberg Study Abroad in Sweeden Scholarship
Recipients must be full-time domestic undergraduate or graduate students, accepted to Eastern Illinois University, and with a minimum of a 2.75 GPA. Preference is given to School of Technology majors. Students must be planning to study abroad in Sweeden with attendant approval tendered to the Office of Study Abroad prior to awarding of the scholarship; all study credits must be applicable to the student's degree program. The recipient may, upon returning to the US, be asked to speak to the International Forum program regarding the study abroady experience.
Click here to print the eligibility worksheet for this award.
Dorothy E. Walden Short-Term Study Abroad Scholarship
Recipients must study on a short-term faculty-led study abroad program. Recipients must have at least junior status and at least a 3.0 GPA. The recipient must not have traveled previously outside of the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Students should apply through the online system. Note that an additional letter of recommendation (3 total) is required for this scholarship. Also, the applicant must submit a written statement explaining how this award will assist them in achieving their personal goals.
Click here to print the eligibility worksheet for this award.
