Scholarships
Whether the study abroad program you choose is an officially recognized Cal Poly program or an independent study abroad program, you may incur additional expenses beyond what you would spend during a quarter at Cal Poly. In most cases, both financial aid and scholarships are available to defray these additional expenses.
If you are participating in a Cal Poly administered study abroad program, exchange program, or affiliated program, you are encouraged to apply for the scholarship listed on that specific study abroad program’s website. In addition to the Cal Poly scholarships, you may also be eligible for National Scholarships.
Click on the links below to get more information on the different types of national or international scholarships available for study abroad.
Cal Poly Scholarship for College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences (CAFES)
International Scholarships for Education in Agriculture (ISEA)
- Supported by an endowment that provides a minimum of $500 to 20 or more selected candidates a year
- Intended for College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) students participating in study abroad, international student exchanges, international agriculture conferences, and international internship programs
- Awarded upon the recommendation of the ISEA Scholarship Director to individuals enrolled in an agriculture B.S./M.S. field of study at Cal Poly
- Required: current resume, current copy of unofficial transcript, two letters of recommendation, a budget of projected income/expenses for the duration of the program, and a one-page essay entitled "How I Expect an International Education Experience Will Benefit Me and My Career Goals"
Individual candidates can apply for the scholarship at any time throughout the academic year. For more information about eligibility requirements and the application, please contact Chip Appel, Earth & Soil Sciences professor in the Building 52, Room C42. Professor Chris Appel ’s phone number is 805.756.1691 and he can be reached by email at cappel@calpoly.edu.
National Scholarships
Bowman Travel Grants
- Provides assistance to students participating in educational programs in non-traditional destinations (i.e., non-Western Europe, Australia, Canada, etc.) http://www.ciee.org/study/scholarships.aspx
J. William Fulbright Scholarship
- Provides scholarships to U.S. citizens for post-baccalaureate or graduate studies. Creative and performing artists are not required to have a bachelor's degree, but must have four years of relevant training or study
- Application deadline is October 1. Submit application to the Study Abroad Office
- Awards vary. Program details can be found online
For more information, please contact John Battenburg, International Education & Programs Director, by email at jbattenb@calpoly.edu or by phone at 805.756.2945.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
- Provides scholarships for students of limited financial means to pursue study programs outside of the United State
- Application deadline is April for fall and academic year programs and September for spring programs
- Awards up to $5,000 to study in one country for a minimum of four weeks and up to one academic year
Golden Key Scholarships and Awards
- Provides scholarships for Golden Key members for academic excellence and study abroad
- Application deadline dates vary. Program details can be found online
- Awards range from $500-$10,000
http://www.goldenkey.org/GKIHS
HACU-Laureate International Scholarship Program
- Provides study abroad tuition scholarships to HACU member institutions at more than 20 campusus within the Laureate International University network. Schools are located in many different countries, including Spain, France, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Honduras, Chile, Panama, Peru, Ecuador and Mexico. Cal Poly is a HACU member institution
- Application deadlines can be found online. Coursework takes place in English, Spanish, or French, depending on location
- Awards offered to undergraduate students who posess a GPA of 2.7 or higher, are dedicated to encouraging U.S. Hispanic students to participate in study abroad programs
http://www.hacu.net/hacu/Scholarships_EN.asp
National Security Education Program (NSEP)
Focuses on geographical areas, languages, and fields of study deemed to be critical to U.S. national security and outside Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand
- Provides scholarships that include an agreement to work in a national security position upon return from the program
- Application deadlines for Cal Poly campus are February 1 for undergraduates and January 15 for graduates
- Awards a maximum scholarship of $20,000 per academic year
For more information, please contact John Battenburg, International Education & Programs Director, by email at jbattenb@calpoly.edu or by phone at 805.756.2945.
Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship
Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships providing funding up to U.S. $25,000 for one academic year of study in another country
- Provides scholarships to eligible graduating seniors or students entering a graduate program AND either residing in the Rotary District to which the application is submitted OR attending a university in the Rotary District. Applicants can contact the local Rotary Club and visit the Rotary Foundation website
- Application deadline for Cal Poly is March 7 for study programs 1 ½ years in the future
- Awards granted to students who plan to directly enroll in the overseas university (no U.S. sponsored study abroad programs) and who are proficient in the language of the host country
The Ambassadorial Scholarship application can be downloaded from the Rotary International website: http://www.rotary.org
For more information please contact the Associate Director of Study Abroad, Monica Schechter, by email at mschecht@calpoly.edu, by phone at 805.756.5964
Country/Region Scholarships
Asia
Japanese Government Scholarships
- Provides one-year scholarships to students with major/minor in Japanese studies or related field. Intermediate Japanese language proficiency is required
- Application deadline is March 15
- Awards offered are $1,250 to $1,525/mo allowances for airfare, tuition, residence hall or apartment, and some medical coverage
Contact Cory Crocker, Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles, 350 S. Grand Ave., Suite #1700, Los Angeles, CA 90071, (213) 617-6700 ext. 338
Bridging Scholarships for Study in Japan
- Applications due April 15
- Awards offered are $2,500 for semester programs and $4,000 for an academic year
http://www.colorado.edu/ealld/atj
Germany
Deutscher Akademischer Austaschdienst (DAAD) Undergraduate Scholarship
- Provides financial support to U.S. undergraduate students for a four to ten month study program in Germany for all academic fields
- Application deadlines and materials can be found online
- Awards can be for university language courses, internship, senior thesis research, or a study-abroad semester or academic year. This is a flexible program that can work for you within the framework of an existing exchange relationship between your college or university and a university in Germany or a study abroad program through another U.S. university
Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (a work-study program)
http://www.usagermanyscholarship.org
Scandinavia
The American-Scandinavian Foundation
- Provides fellowships up to $20,000 and grants (normally $4,000) to individuals to pursue research or study in one or more Scandinavian countries for up to one year.
- Awards made in all fields
UK
Rhodes Scholarships
http://www.rhodesscholar.org
British Marshall Scholarships
http://www.britishcouncil.org/new
Cambridge Gates Scholarship
http://www.gatesscholar.org
Other Scholarships and Financial Aid Resourses
University of Minnesota's database of scholarships & financial aid
http://www.umabroad.umn.edu/index.html
The Financial Aid Information Page
http://finaid.org
FAST Web (Financial Aid Search through the Web)
http://www.studentservices.com International
Education Financial Aid
http://www.iefa.org
IIE Passport Study Abroad Funding
http://www.studyabroadfunding.org