Scholarships

Financial Aid

At EIU, 12 hours is considered full-time for the fall, spring, or summer terms and financial aid is available in the following manner:

  • Stafford and PLUS Loans: Must be enrolled at least half-time (6 cr) to receive assistance.
  • FWS and Perkins Loans: Must be enrolled at least half-time (6 cr) to receive assistance.
  • Federal Pell Grant: Awarded regardless of the number of hours you are enrolled and regardless of when you decide to study abroad.
  • MAP: Currently, there is no state MAP award in the summer due to funding; however, you can use MAP during the academic year for study abroad (fall or spring semester) to pay for tuition and fees for any approved study abroad program.
  • EIU and Private Scholarships: Depends on each and every scholarship and the ajoining stipulations.

Scholarship Tips

  • More national scholarship money is available for understudied locations (outside of Western Europe). You won't find too many national scholarships for London but you may for Cape Town.
  • More national scholarship money is available for programs that are a semester or longer in length. You won't find national scholarships for summer or spring break programs; however, you may be able to find internal scholarship money from your academic department at EIU.
  • Most national scholarships require early application. There's a lot of money out there for study abroad, you have to be proactive and plan ahead. Start as early as possible and pay attention to deadlines.
  • Right now, most of the big chunks of money come from national scholarships. Suprisingly, since only 1% of all college students study abroad, many are not all that competitive. One of our students studied abroad in Mexico for a year on a $5,000 Gilman Award and then went on to graduate school in Ireland on a $23,000 Rotary International Award. Read her story.

 

EIU Scholarships (Office of Study Abroad)

Scholarships & Applications Requirements & Locations Approx. Deadlines Amounts
Office of Study Abroad Grants Eligibility Criteria: Must be a full-time EIU student for at least one semester before studying abroad and must have a 2.5 GPA (cum) at application, and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA (cum) in the term prior to studying abroad. Students must also file a FAFSA (free application for federal student aid).

October 1

December 4

February 2

March 1

 Each recipient may receive up to $5,000. The actual amount is determined by financial need, and dependent on the number of recipients to receive an award.
Special Tuition Waiver Scholarships for EIU Scholars going on Exchange Programs Preference will be given to students with high academic merit AND financial need. A Scholarship Application is required.

October 1 (for Spring)

March 1 (for Fall)

 EIU tuition waived for an approved Exchange Program. You study abroad tuition-free.
Kate and Cliff Strandberg Study Abroad in Sweden Scholarship

Destination: Sweden. Preference is given to School of Technology majors. 2.75 GPA. All Vaxjo Program applicants will be considered for this award, but a Scholarship Application is required.

October 1 (for Spring)

March 1 (for Fall)

 Varies from year to year (average $500)
William V. Weber Study Abroad Scholarship

For any study abroad program. Preference will be given to minority students (including GLBT) and first generation college students with financial need. A Scholarship Application is required.

October 1

December 4

March 1

 Varies from year to year (average $500)
API Scholarship For students who are applying to go on an API Program. Minimum requirements include a 3.0 GPA and financial need. A Scholarship Application is required.

October 15 (for Spring)

March 1 (for Summer and Fall)

 $1000
ISA Scholarships For students who are applying to go on an ISA Program. Must have a 3.25 cum GPA, be a sophomore or junior, have at least one year of college level French or Spanish, and be participating in one of their Morocco, France, Italy, or Spain programs. Students must also be on finanical aid. Apply directly to ISA. Click here for application.

February 28 (for Summer)

April 30 (for Fall or Academic Year)

October 30 (for Winter/Spring)

 $750 to $2500

 

EIU Scholarships (Other Departments)

 

Scholarships & Applications Requirements & Locations Approx. Deadlines Amounts
Charles Austin Honors Scholarship

Honors student in good standing , participating in a semester- or year-long study abroad program

Applications posted on the Honors College website at the beginning of spring semester

 March of the year before the planned travel 4 awards of $1000 each
Don and Pam Sundheim

These scholarships support Eastern Illinois University students majoring in any foreign language who wish to study their target language abroad at some time during their junior or senior year.

Administered by the Dept. of Foreign Languages (581-3021)

 March 25 Varies from year to year
Richard L. Crouse Memorial Scholarship

Spanish Major, 3.0 GPA, Program to improve proficiency in Spanish.

Administered by the Dept. of Foreign Languages (581-3021)

 March 25 Varies from year to year
Study Abroad Scholarship

These scholarships support Eastern Illinois University students majoring in any foreign language. Preference will be given to students who have not studied abroad.

Administered by the Dept. of Foreign Languages (581-3021)

 March 25 $500
History Study Abroad Scholarship

For EIU students (undergraduate or graduate) majoring in History and exhibiting a commitment to study abroad through EIU.

Two awards up to $500 each.

Administered by the Dept. of History (581-5325)

 February 1 $500

 

National Scholarships

Scholarships Requirements & Locations Approx. Deadlines Amounts

CIEE Scholarships

(Robert B. Bailey, John E. Bowman Travel Grants, and more)

All EIU students planning to study abroad on a CIEE program are eligible. Special application materials are required; submit directly to CIEE. Click here for information and application materials.

 April 1 and November 1 $500-$1000
DAAD Scholarships Germany 1/31/09 for AY09-10 programs $2000 up to total cost of the program
Gilman International Recipient of Pell Grant 10/13/2009 for Spring 2010 Up to $5000
Freeman Scholarship

Asia
Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors
Program must be at least 8 weeks
Financial need

March 2010 for Summer 2010

April 2010 for Fall 2010

 

 $3000 to $7000
Fulbright Program Worldwide 10/19/09 for AY09-010 programs Varies
NSEP Boren Scholarships Minimum 1 sem., Maximum 6 sem.
Africa; Central and Eastern Europe; Near East; Asia; Latin America Caribbean plus Service Requirement
2/13/10 for AY09-10 programs $2500 to $30,000

Rotary Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships

District 6490 (central Illinois)
Contact: Tom Hodson

 For 3-6 months intensive study of language and culture at one of a number of institutions...may be awarded to undergraduates who have demonstrated a potential for furthering the objectives of
Rotary.		 July 15, 2009 for 2010-2011 study abroad. The three month award is worth $10,000; the six month
award is worth $15,000.

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships

District 6490 (central Illinois)
Contact: Tom Hodson

 Awarded for one-year graduate study in a field related to Rotary’s objectives of world peace, international understanding, eliminating disease, conquering hunger and fostering literacy.

July 15, 2009 for 2010-11 study abroad.

$23,000

Spanish Association of the Midwest

The Spanish Association of the Midwest is offering scholarships of up to $2000 each to outstanding students who, having already been accepted by a Spanish university or an American university or college study-abroad program, are going to study Spanish language, literature, linguistics, history or other disciplines in the humanities at an accredited university or study program in Spain during the school year 2009-2010.

April 26 , 2009 for 2009-2010 study abroad.

 $2,000

 

Search for More (databases)