Disclaimer: We list publicly-known scholarships sourced from each sponsor's official website. Eligibility criteria, award amounts, and application deadlines change every year — always verify current details directly with the official sponsor before applying. This is not legal or financial advice.
Scholarships & Grants for Volunteering Abroad
Finding money for a volunteer or study-abroad program does not have to mean draining your savings. Dozens of well-funded scholarships — from US federal programs to international foundations — exist specifically to support students who want to gain language skills, do fieldwork, or serve communities overseas. Below you will find 10 vetted scholarships and grants sourced directly from each sponsor's public listing. No fabricated award amounts, no invented programs — only real, widely-known funding with authoritative links. Eligibility, award sizes, and deadlines change annually, so treat this as a starting directory and confirm every detail with the official sponsor before you apply.
US Federal
Gilman Scholarship
US Department of State / Institute of International Education
Eligibility
Undergraduate US citizens who receive a Federal Pell Grant and are studying or interning abroad for credit.
Award
Up to $5,000; up to $8,000 for Critical Need Language Award recipients.
Note: Two application cycles per year; apply at least one semester before your program.
Boren Scholarship & Fellowship
National Security Education Program (NSEP)
Eligibility
US undergraduate and graduate students studying critical-need languages in regions underrepresented in study-abroad programs.
Award
Up to $25,000 for undergraduates; up to $30,000 for graduate students.
Note: Recipients commit to a federal service requirement after graduation.
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS)
US Department of State
Eligibility
US undergraduate and graduate students to study one of fifteen critical-need languages abroad during a summer institute.
Award
Full program costs covered: tuition, housing, most meals, and round-trip airfare.
Note: Highly competitive; no prior language study required for some languages.
Fulbright US Student Program
US Department of State / Institute of International Education (IIE)
Eligibility
US graduating seniors, recent graduates, and master's or doctoral students for research, study, or English-teaching assistantships abroad.
Award
Full grant covering living stipend, health insurance, and round-trip travel; amount varies by country.
Note: Campus deadlines typically fall in mid-October, before the national deadline.
FLAS Fellowship (Foreign Language and Area Studies)
US Department of Education
Eligibility
US students enrolled in an institution with a FLAS-funded National Resource Center and studying a foreign language paired with area or international studies.
Award
Academic year: up to $18,000 stipend + $15,000 tuition. Summer: up to $2,500 stipend + $5,000 tuition.
Note: Apply through your university's National Resource Center, not directly to the Department of Education.
Nonprofit / Rotary
Rotary Youth Exchange
Rotary International
Eligibility
Students typically aged 15–19 selected by their local Rotary district to live abroad for a full academic year with host families.
Award
Program participation including host-family placement, school enrollment, and Rotary district support; travel costs vary by district.
Note: Selection and funding levels depend on the sponsoring local Rotary club and district.
Rotary Peace Fellowship
Rotary Foundation / Rotary International
Eligibility
Working professionals with a minimum of three years of relevant work experience in peace-building, development, or conflict resolution.
Award
Full funding for either a two-year master's degree or a three-month professional certificate at a Rotary Peace Center partner university.
Note: Approximately 130 fellowships awarded annually across all partner universities.
Country-Specific
DAAD Scholarships
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Eligibility
International students and researchers seeking to undertake study or research programs at German higher-education institutions.
Award
Varies by program: monthly stipends typically range from €750 to €1,200 plus travel and health insurance allowances.
Note: DAAD offers more than 50 individual funding programs; requirements differ per program.
Chevening Scholarships
UK Government / Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Eligibility
Citizens of Chevening-eligible countries with two years of work experience and strong leadership potential, applying for a one-year master's degree in the UK.
Award
Full tuition, a monthly living allowance, economy-class flights, and additional grants.
Note: Applications open each year in August and close in November for awards starting the following autumn.
International
Commonwealth Scholarships
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC)
Eligibility
Citizens of Commonwealth countries who are applying for master's or PhD programs at UK universities and meet the CSC's academic and development-impact criteria.
Award
Full funding: tuition fees, stipend, airfare, and thesis/study grants.
Note: Funded by the UK government's Official Development Assistance budget; priority given to developing-country applicants.
Related resources on this site
- Fundraising Toolkit — templates and strategies to fund your trip through crowdfunding and community support.
- Student Fundraising Hub — step-by-step fundraising guidance written specifically for student volunteers.
- Budget Worksheet — plan your total trip costs, including program fees, flights, insurance, and living expenses.
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We only add scholarships that are real, widely known, and have an official authoritative URL. If you have found one that meets those criteria, let us know.
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