Financial Need Early Planning Scholarship

Purpose

The Learning Abroad Center’s Financial Need Early Planning Scholarship provides study abroad awards for University of Minnesota undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need.

This scholarship is intended to:

• ease the financial barrier of study abroad for students with significant financial need.

• provide assurance of funding earlier in the process and encourage early financial planning. Recipients have up to one year to use their award.

• increase representation of economically disadvantaged students on study abroad programs.

The Financial Need Early Planning scholarship is not merit based and awards are granted based on the strength of a student’s essay.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be enrolled as a degree-seeking undergraduate student on the Twin Cities or Rochester campuses at the time of applying and during the term abroad. 
• Must be participating in a credit-bearing study abroad program through the Learning Abroad Center or Carlson Global Institute (this includes CGI's self-designed international experience, IBUS 3999.) 
• Applicants must demonstrate financial need by having a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file.
  • For the purpose of this scholarship, “financial need” is defined as being eligible for subsidized loans during the academic year you plan to study abroad. Eligibility can be based either on your current on campus costs OR on the estimated cost of participation in your study abroad program.
  • To determine if you are eligible for subsidized loans, follow these instructions or schedule a financial aid preview meeting. The Learning Abroad Center verifies eligibility with Onestop for all potential awardees. 
• Students who obtain college approval to participate in a nonaffiliated program or directed study are eligible. 
• Virtual programs (including Virtual Internship or Virtual Research) are not eligible. 
• Students can apply for any or all of the Learning Abroad Center scholarships (Study Abroad, Diversity, and Financial Need) for which they are eligible. It is possible to be awarded both the Diversity and Financial Need scholarships. Students awarded the Diversity or Financial Need scholarships cannot also receive the Study Abroad scholarship. 
• Students can receive a maximum of 3 Learning Abroad Center scholarships (Study Abroad, Diversity, Financial Need) during their undergraduate career. 

Essays will be evaluated based on:

• how thoroughly you answer the specific questions outlined below
• how well written your essay is, in terms of grammar, punctuation and organization

Essay Questions

This application is comprised of 2 separate essay questions:

1. General study abroad essay (required)
2. Financial need essay (required)

Visit the Learning Abroad Center Scholarship Portal to learn more about specific essay questions and requirements.

Essay Question #1

Reflect on how the program you chose relates to your academic, career, and/or personal goals. Why did you choose this particular program? Describe specific program features and elaborate on how these will help you meet one or more of your goals. (350 words maximum)

As you write your essay, consider the following:

• Academic” goals do not need to be related to your major; we are looking for you to describe how the program coursework and/or components are relevant to your goals. 
• Regardless of what type of goal(s) you are focusing on, explain how your goal(s) enhances intellectual learning. 

Essay Question #2

We understand your financial aid (as assessed on the FAFSA) may not fully explain your financial circumstances.  While eligibility for this award is determined by qualification for subsidized loans, scholarship reviewers do not have access to your financial aid information.

With that in mind, elaborate on the specifics of the financial circumstances impacting your and/or your family's ability to pay for study abroad.  Discuss what financial planning strategies you will use and/or steps you have already taken to pay for study abroad. Be as specific as possible. Your responses will remain confidential. (350 words maximum)

Deadlines & Award Amounts

You can apply to the scholarship up to a year in advance. If you do not receive the scholarship the first time you apply, you can apply again.

Apply for the deadline based on the Education Abroad Term found on the Apply section of your Program page. Contact Kelley Redmond if you are unsure of your program term or have any questions. 

Scholarship notification emails will be sent to all applicants' UofM email accounts 4–6 weeks after the deadline.

 Award Amounts

The award can be used for any term listed for the application cycle during which you apply. If you change terms later your award amount may be adjusted. If the term you change to is shorter than the term you received the scholarship for, your award amount will decrease. If the term you change to is longer than the term you received the scholarship for, your award amount will remain the same.

The number of scholarships awarded by deadline may vary depending on the pool of applicants and the funding available.

Submit Your Application

The application for the next round of programs will be available in August. Check back then for a link to the application portal.