Scholarship Opportunities

Too many students rule out studying abroad because they think they cannot afford it.  However, studying abroad can be very affordable, especially with the assistance of scholarships.  Check out these scholarship and alternate funding options for ways to make study abroad a reality for you!

USA Scholarships

USA Scholarships are directly affiliated with the University of South Alabama.  All USA scholarships now run through the scholarship database JagSPOT.  In order to find a specific USA scholarship, you will login to JagSPOT using your J# and JagMail password, search for the specific scholarship, and complete the application.

▼   General
  • All study abroad applicants who are USA students earning credit abroad are encouraged to apply for OIE's Study Abroad Scholarship. To apply, complete the general application in JagSPOT and indicate that you are interested in studying abroad.  The Study Abroad Scholarship application will then be automatically delivered to you.
  • USA Paws Around the World Scholarship for Study Abroad is a scholarship for students who are enrolled as degree seeking USA students in good academic and non-academic standing, with preference given to students who graduated from an Alabama high school. To apply, search "USA Paws Around the World Study Abroad Scholarship" in JagSPOT.
  • OIE's Media Scholarship is awarded to a select number of study abroad students each year. This is a competitive scholarship that requires students to document their study abroad experience using a university issued Go Pro during their study abroad program. The student will return the Go Pro at the end of the study abroad program and complete an interview with USA Creative Services. The Go Pro footage and interview will result in a promotional video for USA and OIE. All Go Pro and interview footage will belong to USA and OIE. To apply, search “Office of International Education Media Scholarship” in JagSPOT.
  • The Clint Harper Barefoot Global Impact Endowed Scholarship provides financial assistance to a full-time student who expresses interest in international travel or has evidence of travel that positively affects global communities. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and be least a sophomore. For more information, contact Global USA. To apply, search “Clint Harper Barefoot Global Impact Endowed Scholarship” in JagSPOT.
▼   Arts & Sciences Majors
  • The Ella and Cody Wims Scholarship for Study Abroad is a scholarship for sophomores or juniors participating on University-approved programs where students earn at least three semester credit hours towards graduation. To apply, search "Ella and Cody Wims Scholarship for Study Abroad" in JagSPOT.
  • The Nowlin-Caldwell Scholarship is a scholarship that awards up to $3,000 annually to a sophomore, junior, or senior with at least a 2.5 GPA and a declared major in the College of Arts & Sciences to fund overseas travel. For more information, contact the College of Arts & Sciences. To apply, search "Nowlin-Caldwell Scholarship" in JagSPOT.
  • The James and Ivel Caldwell Scholarship is a scholarship for any Arts and Sciences major with at least a 3.0 GPA in their major and in foreign language courses who is studying abroad. For more information, contact the College of Arts & Sciences. To apply, search "James and Ivel Caldwell Scholarship" in JagSPOT.
▼   Foreign Language Majors
  • The Foreign Language Scholarship to Study Abroad offers awards to language majors when they fulfill the mandatory study abroad requirement aspect of their major. For more information, contact the Modern and Classical Languages and Literature Department. To apply, search "The Foreign Language Scholarship to Study Abroad" in JagSPOT.
  • The Felicia Cooley Award is awarded to a student that is deemed the best in Intermediate Spanish II by the department of Modern and Classical Languages & Literature. This student is awarded funding that is to be used exclusively for Study Abroad. For more information, contact the Modern and Classical Languages and Literature Department. To apply, search "The Foreign Language Scholarship to Study Abroad" in JagSPOT.
▼   Business Majors
  • The Mitchell College of Business International Scholarship is intended to encourage Mitchell College students to study abroad.  Preference is given to MCOB direct enroll and exchange programs.  For more information, contact the Mitchell College of Business.  To apply, complete the "Mitchell College of Business Study Abroad Scholarship" application in JagSPOT
  • The Alvin J. Williams Endowed Scholarship for Study Abroad in Marketing provides funding to a full-time undergraduate marketing major in the Mitchell College of Business with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students must have applied and been accepted to an approved study abroad program within the Mitchell College of Business. For more information, contact the Mitchell College of Business. To apply, search “Alvin J. Williams Endowed Scholarship for Study Abroad in Marketing” in JagSPOT.
  • The Mitchell College of Business South Alabama Center for Business Analytics, Real Estate, and Economic Development (CREED) Study Abroad Scholarship provides financial assistance to students majoring in the Mitchell College of Business who study abroad through MCOB sponsored programs in Costa Rica or London. For more information, contact the Mitchell College of Business. To apply, search “Mitchell College of Business South Alabama Center for Business Analytics, Real Estate, and Economic Development (CREED) Study Abroad Scholarship” in JagSPOT.
  • The Chris and Elizabeth Melton Endowed Scholarship provides financial assistance to a full-time student in the Mitchell College of Business who has a 3.25 or higher GPA. Applicants must have applied to and been accepted to a study abroad program within the Mitchell College of Business. A letter of recommendation from a University of South Alabama faculty member should be submitted with the application. Preference will be given to sophomore, junior, and senior undergraduate students. For more information, contact the Mitchell College of Business. To apply, search “Chris and Elizabeth Melton Endowed Scholarship” in JagSPOT.
▼   History Majors
  • The Leonard A. Macaluso Undergraduate Scholarship provides up to $800 to an undergraduate student for professional development pertaining to the study and practice of history, for studying abroad in a program led by a USA History faculty member, or for history majors enrolling in any study abroad program. Priority will be given to history majors for either professional development or study abroad. For more information, contact the College of Arts & Sciences. To apply, search “Leonard A. Macaluso Undergraduate Scholarship” in JagSPOT.
  • The Janet Mahan Award was established by Dr. Howard F. Mahan in 1985. It provides financial assistance to undergraduate or graduate students majoring in history seeking professional development pertaining to the study and practice of history, or planning to participate in a study abroad program. For more information, contact the College of Arts & Sciences. To apply, search “Janet Mahan Award” in JagSPOT.
▼   Engineering Majors
  • The Engineering Excellence Award is a stipend provided by the College of Engineering to high achieving engineering students to provide financial assistance to study abroad. All eligible recipients would have received a letter from the college prior to enrolling at USA. This award can be used for any USA approved study abroad program during the fall, spring, or summer semesters. To redeem your stipend or for additional information, please contact Nan Young Perez Uribe at nperezuribe@southalabama.edu.
▼   Presidential and Provost's Scholarship Recipients
  • Recipients of the Presidential Scholarship who started at USA from fall 2018 and after have a one-time $2,000 study abroad experience award. Students who qualify will notify Scholarship Services before the term they plan to study abroad and OIE will confirm eligibility.
  • Recipients of the Provost's Scholarship who started at USA from fall 2018 and after have a one-time $1,000 study abroad experience award. Students who qualify will notify Scholarship Services before the term they plan to study abroad and OIE will confirm eligibility.

External Scholarships

External Scholarships and Fellowships are not directly offered by the University of South Alabama, but OIE can help you apply for them.

▼   General External Scholarships and Grants
▼   Location Specific
▼   Language Specific
▼   ROTC
  • Project GO (Global Officers) is for ROTC students interested in studying a critical language. Project GO programs focus exclusively on the languages and countries of the Middle East, Asia, Central Asia, and Africa.
▼   Graduate or Postgraduate Specific
  • The Boren Fellowship is for graduates studying a lesser taught language for an extended period of time.
  • The Fulbright Scholarship is for graduates or postgraduates going abroad in numerous areas for various reasons, including pursuit of a graduate degree, conducting research, or teaching English.
  • TAPIF is a program that allows Americans or permanent residents, who are native english speakers between the ages of 20-35, the opportunity to work as an English Language Teacher for an academic year.  Individuals applying to TAPIF may also simultaneously apply for the Fulbright/French Government English Teaching-Education USA Advising Assistantship.
  • The North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP) is a public diplomacy initiative of the Ministry of Education of Spain that allows American citizens who are native english speakers between the ages of 18-60, the opportunity to work as an English Language Teacher for an academic year. Must have at minimum a sophomore status.
  • Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Program places recent college graduates in classrooms in 75 countries to help teach English and serve as cultural ambassadors.
  • The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is for postgraduates interested in funding for up to three years of graduate study at Cambridge University in any field.
  • The George Marshall Scholarship is for postgraduates interested in funding for two years of graduate study at any abroad university in any field.
  • The George Mitchell Scholarship is for graduates interested in funding for one year of graduate study at any eligible institution in Ireland or Northern Ireland in any field.
  • The Rhodes Scholarship is for graduates or postgraduates interested in funding for two years of graduate study in any field at Oxford University.
▼   Other
  • Many local organizations (for instance, Rotary Club) can provide funding for study abroad students. Consider asking your family and friends if they have any ties to a local organization.
  • Don’t see a scholarship or fellowship that fits your needs here? Talk to your study abroad advisor for more opportunities.

Crowdfunding for Personal Funding Campaigns

Crowdfunding is not a scholarship per se, but it is another option for you to explore for funding.  Crowdfunding platforms may help provide you with ways to encourage your friends and family to help you pay for your program. Be sure to check through the details of each of the resources as there are typically fees involved as well as a portion of the donations to your fund kept by the company.

▼   Crowdfunding Options

FundMyTravel is an online crowdfunding platform specifically developed to suit the needs of individuals desiring to study or volunteer abroad.

GoFundMe is a personal online fundraising website for individuals, groups & organizations.

Indiegogo is an international crowdfunding site where anyone can raise money for film, music, art, charity, small business, gaming, theater, and more.

Kickstarter is the world's largest funding platform for creative projects.