Students considering going abroad who are concerned about finances have various options for paying for their programs.
Senior German major Stephanie Schwenger said her trip to Germany actually ended up costing less than what she pays at the University because her scholarships and financial aid could be applied to overseas study. In addition, she received the DAAD, a grant for students studying abroad in Germany.
Schwenger said it was no trouble getting her financial aid to transfer.
“I just had to call the financial aid office to verify,” she said.
The DAAD is one of many scholarships and grants available to students who plan to study abroad. Other scholarships include the Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship, which is available to Pell Grant recipients; the Opportunities Abroad scholarship available through the Office of International Programs, and the extremely generous Rotary International Scholarship.
Students can also apply for many regional scholarships. The Freeman International Scholarship is an good resource for students who plan to participate in the University-sponsored programs in Asia. A number of regional scholarships also are offered through the Romance Languages department for romance language majors and minors; for example, the Emmanuel Hatzantonis Scholarship is available for students planning to study in a University-sponsored program in Italy, and the Helen Fe Jones scholarship is offered to students planning to study in a Spanish-speaking country.
Another resource for students is the short-term study abroad loan fund, available through the University’s Office of International Programs for students planning to study abroad through a University-sponsored program. The loans range from $300-$2,000 and are available to help pay for up-front costs such as airline tickets.
As the process to find funding for studying abroad can be long and tedious, OIP graduate teaching fellow Terri Monk said students should come in as soon as they decide they want to study abroad.
“You should always apply for every grant or scholarship you’re eligible for,” she said, adding that applying for scholarships gives students good experience, even if the scholarship appears out of reach.
The OIP provides workshops for people looking for funding to go abroad. The next workshop will be held on Wednesday, July 14, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the EMU’s Metolius and Owyhee Rooms.
The OIP also has a number of counselors on staff to advise students about funding. To schedule an appointment with OIP, call 346-3207. Students may also access scholarship information from OIP’s Web site, http://studyabroad.uoregon.edu.
Senior international studies major Jaxon Love, who received the Opportunity Abroad Scholarship for his trip to Lyon, France, said students shouldn’t let finances hinder them from considering a study abroad program.
“If it’s at all possible, don’t let the financial aspect stop you from going abroad,” he said. “It has value beyond the monetary value.”