Gopher Study Abroad Scholarship

Purpose

The Learning Abroad Center’s Gopher Study Abroad Scholarship provides study abroad awards for University of Minnesota undergraduate students. 

This scholarship is intended to:

• Reduce the financial barrier of study abroad
• Provide assurance of funding earlier in the process and encourage early financial planning. Recipients have up to one year to use their award.
• Recognize students who have thoughtfully reflected on their identities prior to their study abroad program

The Gopher Study Abroad Scholarship is not merit-based and awards are granted based on the strength of a student’s essay, as well as select preference factors.

Eligibility Requirements

• You must be enrolled as a degree-seeking undergraduate student on the Twin Cities or Rochester campuses at the time of application.
• You must be participating in a credit-bearing study abroad program through the Learning Abroad Center or Carlson Global Institute.
• National Student Exchange programs (except NSE Canada) are not eligible.
• You can only apply once per application cycle.  For example, a student participating in a winter break program and a spring semester program can apply for one of these terms but not both.
• If participating in an Academic Year or Calendar Year program, you can only apply for Academic Year or Calendar Year scholarship awards. For example, for Academic Year programs, you cannot apply for both the Fall and Spring cycles, only the Academic Year cycle.
• You can apply for any or all of the Learning Abroad Center scholarships for which you are eligible. It is possible to be awarded multiple scholarships for one program. However, students awarded the Gopher Study Abroad Scholarship cannot also receive the Liftoff Study Abroad Scholarship nor the President's Emerging Scholars Fund the Gap Scholarship for that program.
• Students are eligible to utilize this scholarship for a program offered during a term immediately following their graduation.
• Students can receive a maximum of 2 Learning Abroad Center scholarships (Gopher, Liftoff, First Generation Student, President's Emerging Scholars Fund the Gap Scholarship) during their undergraduate career.
• Applicants of this award will also be considered for donor-funded scholarships for which they are eligible. Graduate students may apply for the Gopher Study Abroad Scholarship, but will only be considered for donor-funded scholarships.

Preference Factors

• Applicants who are eligible for subsidized loans based on their current Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
  • Eligibility for subsidized loans can be based either on your current on campus costs OR on the estimated cost of participation in your study abroad program. You must have a FAFSA on file by the scholarship deadline to be considered for this preference factor.
  • To determine if you are eligible for subsidized loans, you can check yourself in MyU by following these instructions. If you're still unsure of your eligibility, email [email protected]. The Learning Abroad Center verifies eligibility with OneStop for all potential awardees.
• Applicants who have not previously studied abroad on a credit-bearing program as a University of Minnesota undergraduate student. 

Essays will be evaluated based on:

• How thoroughly you answer the specific questions outlined below
• How well your own unique voice, examples, and experiences come through in your writing
• 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. Identity reflection essay (required)

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, model, and/or features are relevant to your goals.
• Regardless of what type of goals you focus on, explain how they will enhance your learning.
• While you are not required to have applied to a particular program to apply for this scholarship, you are encouraged to write about a specific program you have in mind and its relation to your goals. Know that if your stated program changes after application, you are still eligible for the award. 

Essay Question #2

How have your identities and experiences influenced your decision to go abroad? What challenges and growth opportunities unique to your identities and experiences do you anticipate throughout your time abroad?

When answering the above question, consider your identities and lived experiences, which might include (but is not limited to) cultural, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, first generation college student, military status, or other perspectives or viewpoints. (350 words maximum)

Deadlines

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 before the deadline for the term you are studying abroad, found on the Dates tab of your program. Contact Nathan Jacobson at [email protected] with any questions.

Applications must be submitted by 11:59 pm on the deadline date. Scholarship notification emails will be sent to your UofM email account 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 will be adjusted to match the term you are going abroad (see award amounts by term below). 

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

Submit Your Application

Apply now for programs offered May Session 2026 through Spring Semester 2027 (see eligible terms above). Select the 'UMN' option on the login page and log in using your UofM internet ID.