How to Find Scholarships for Your Internship Abroad
Learn how to find funding for your international internship, including scholarships you can apply for today.
Interning abroad is a great way to build your resume while experiencing a new part of the world. Beyond the growth that comes from travel, you'll also gain valuable skills like improved communication, new language practice, and insights into a new culture, which you wouldn't be able to acquire with an internship in your home country. International experience in today's economy will also set you apart in the candidate pool when applying for jobs later, so it's no wonder why many people pursue professional development opportunities abroad.
There are challenges when searching for an internship overseas. Fortunately, program providers organize international internships that make the process straightforward, however, these come at a cost. Their programs usually charge for internship placement in your field, accommodation, visa assistance, local support, and cultural activities.
To help lessen the burden of these costs, we've put together the following list of resources to help you fund your internship abroad, including current scholarship opportunities.
Tips for finding scholarships to intern abroad
While less common than study abroad scholarships, there are a plethora of funding opportunities for internships abroad if you know where to look. Maximize your chances of finding funding by taking time to review the qualification requirements thoroughly and by submitting a polished application.
Here are tips for finding internship scholarships and financial support for which you qualify:
Intern for university credit
If you're currently enrolled full-time in university, you're likely able to receive credit for your internship abroad. Universities love when their students gain international experience, and more institutions in higher education are starting to view international internships in the same way that they view study abroad programs.
Even better, if you intern abroad with a program provider partnered with your university, you can put your FAFSA scholarships and grants for university towards a semester interning abroad. Consult your study abroad office, career center, and academic advisor for more information about your eligibility to receive credit.
Ask about need-based funding
The chances are that if you receive income-based financial assistance at your university, you'll also be eligible for support on your program fee. Most Pell Grant recipients in the US, Youth Allowance recipients in Australia, Maintenance loan recipients in the UK, and Canadian Grant recipients in Canada can receive need-based scholarships from their program provider. In most cases, this discount can be up to $500.
When applying for international internship programs, don't be afraid to ask your program provider about the availability and eligibility for receiving program discounts or need-based scholarships.
Talk to the language departments at your university
If you're already studying a language at university, don't be afraid to ask your professors and department heads about scholarship resources.
One of the best ways to learn a language is to embrace it entirely by putting yourself in a native setting. If you find an immersive internship program abroad that will enable you to put your language studies to use, there's a chance the department might help you find funding for it.
Consult your academic advisor
Each university has different scholarships, grants, and professional opportunities. Your academic advisors are the key to learning more about departmental scholarships at your particular university.
Apart from career field and department scholarships, your academic advisor may be able to help you find other scholarships you qualify for, such as for first-generation, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ students. To learn more about the opportunities at your university, set up a one-on-one meeting with your advisor.
Country and region-specific scholarships
If you know where you want to go on your internship, then take the time to look through scholarships that your country or region may provide. Countries like Germany and Japan strive to grow internationalism in their universities and workforce and frequently help fund students or young workers to come and work in their industries.
Intern Abroad Scholarships
Complete list of intern abroad scholarships and grants.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad, thereby gaining skills critical to our national security and economic competitiveness.
The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
- A citizen of the United States;
- An undergraduate student in good standing at an accredited institution of higher education in the United States (including both two-year and four-year institutions);
- Receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application
- In the process of applying to, or accepted to, a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program, or a virtual international program.
Global Experiences Generation Study Abroad Scholarship
Global Experiences offers scholarships for both summer and semester terms in any of the organization’s 11 global cities. Full scholarships are available for semester-long programs, with special consideration given to those who are underrepresented in study abroad programs. Global Experiences also contributes to those who receive a Pell Grant or Benjamin A. Gillman scholarship, for both in person and virtual programs.
CAPA Scholarships and Financial Aid
Each year, CAPA awards $1.5 million in study abroad scholarships, grants, and affiliate benefits! With CAPA you can participate in a study abroad and/or global internship program in Barcelona, Dublin, Florence, London, Paris, Prague, and Sydney.
CET Academic Programs Scholarships
CET is a study abroad provider with locations in Brazil, China, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Italy, Jordan, and Taiwan.
CET offers scholarships and financial assistance for their high school abroad, gap year abroad, and college study abroad programs. Financial assistance and scholarships are need and merit based.
Upon applying to any CET program, you'll gain access to CET's scholarships application.
- Enrolled in a CET program
AIFS Study Abroad Scholarships, Grants & Financial Support
We believe a study abroad experience is an essential component of well-rounded university education and we are committed to providing financial assistance to as many students as possible in support of their goal to study abroad. AIFS also offers internship and study abroad + internship blended programs to support the development of personal and professional skills.
Fund for Education Award
The mission of the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the U.S. study abroad population. FEA makes life-changing, international experiences accessible to all by supporting students of color, community college, and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programs.
- U.S. citizen or permanent resident
- Currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a college or university in the U.S.
- Study abroad program must be eligible for credit at the student’s home institution
- Study abroad program must be at least 4 weeks (28 days) in country/countries
Cultural Vistas Scholarships
Cultural Vistas provides internship and work abroad programs in countries like Germany, Switzerland, Hong Kong, and more. Many of their internship or fellowship programs are paid, but for those that are not, they have a need-based scholarship for qualified applicants.
Those who are eligible to apply will be sent an application upon enrollment in an internship or work abroad program. These scholarships help to cover the expenses that can make interning abroad so difficult like, travel, rent, and language courses.
- Cultural Vistas program participant
CEA Scholarships and Financial Aid
Studying abroad will change your life, improve your employability, and enhance your global competence. That's why we commit more than $2.0 million each year to our financial and scholarship programs.
- CEA participants only
RISE Germany
The Research Internship in Science and Engineering (RISE) offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) a truly unique opportunity. RISE is a summer internship program for undergraduate students studying biology, chemistry, physics, earth sciences, engineering, and computer science. Interns are also able to attend language courses as part of their program.
Members of the program work as mentors to doctoral students at top research institutions across Germany. If accepted into the program you will receive a scholarship consisting of a monthly stipend that will cover daily expenses and paid airfare to and from Germany.
- An undergraduate student studying at a North American, British or Irish University
- Major is in biology, chemistry, computer science, physics, earth sciences or engineering
- Prove that you will maintain undergraduate status after the internship has taken place
To increase your chances of receiving an award be sure to apply to as many opportunities as possible. Who knows, you may win multiple scholarships to fund your intern abroad experience! There are many forms of financial assistance that can be used towards an internship abroad beyond the list here so keep your eyes open and apply even if it seems like a long shot!