For many students, a study abroad experience is only possible with financial assistance. Each year CIEE awards scholarships and grants to students who plan to study overseas. Please read the eligibility criteria and the application procedures for each scholarship carefully.
Competition for the CIEE scholarships and grants is keen and the quality of the materials submitted is very important. The scholarship application procedure is entirely independent from the CIEE program application.
Students should discuss all financial aid planning with their campus financial aid and study abroad advisor. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that their scholarship application is complete.
How do I apply?
A complete scholarship application contains the following items and must be submitted together:
- A complete scholarship application and financial aid administrator form.
- A 500-word, typed scholarship essay that includes:
- The CIEE program, location, and term(s) for which you are applying
- The names of every CIEE scholarship for which you are applying
- Your objectives for your time overseas with CIEE
- Details of your financial need and how the scholarship will assist you in meeting your individual goals
- Describe any extenuating circumstances that may be relevant in the consideration of your scholarship application
- Applicants should also review the eligibility requirements for each award as there may be additional factors specific to the award to include in your essay. Failure to include these additional requirements in your statement could jeopardize your scholarship application.
Scholarship applicants must also have a complete program application on file with CIEE by the scholarship deadlines in order to be considered. Students need only to submit one application, even if they are applying for more than one scholarship.
Click here 
for complete scholarship application instructions and forms.
Scholarship Application Deadlines
Deadline |
Term |
Scholarship Notification Announcements |
April 1 |
summer, fall, and academic year programs |
First week of May |
November 1 |
winter, spring and calendar year programs |
First week of December |
Scholarship application documents and completed program applications and materials must arrive by these dates. Scholarship application deadlines are evaluated independently of program application deadlines and will not be extended even if the program application deadline is extended.
**IMPORTANT CHANGE** Starting with the 2007 Winter, Spring, and Calendar Year awarding cycle, the CIEE Scholarships Application is a separate document from the CIEE Study Center Program Application.
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Return Requirement
Upon returning from abroad, all CIEE scholarship or grant recipients must submit a one-page typed essay describing how the program allowed them to interact with the host culture, how the program enhanced their language skills and understanding of cultural and social issues, and how the program activities related to their future academic and/or career goals. Students are encouraged to be creative in their presentation of this report. Please note that this mandatory essay and all other materials submitted for this report become the property of CIEE and may be used in print and/or electronic publications. Please send to: mystory@ciee.org.
Students who are awarded the U.S. Dept of Education Fulbright-Hays Project Abroad Scholarship for programs in China have additional return requirements as noted in the scholarship description.
Selection
In addition to the scholarship form and essay, applications are reviewed based upon the information provided in the program application, including the personal statement, academic information, transcripts, and evaluations. Financial need and academic excellence are strongly considered.
Notification of Award Status
Students selected for awards will be notified of their status by e-mail approximately four weeks after the application deadline. A list of awardees will be posted here at that time as well.
CIEE Student Scholarship Programs for Education Abroad
The Ping Foundation
From 1993-2004, Dr. Charles Ping served as the Chairman of the CIEE Board of Directors. To honor Dr. Ping’s service to CIEE, the organization established a permanent endowment in his name: The Ping Foundation. The Foundation aims to serve CIEE’s mission through three activities; advocacy for international educational exchange, research designed to advance the field of international educational exchange, and funding of scholarship programs.
The John E. Bowman, Robert B. Bailey, CIEE-International Study Program, Peter Wollitzer, and Jennifer Ritzmann Scholarships are funded by the Ping Foundation.
John E. Bowman Travel Grants
The Bowman Travel Grants were established in memory of John E. Bowman, Executive Director of CIEE from 1952 to 1979. These awards provide assistance to students participating in CIEE study abroad programs in non-traditional locations. They help to defray the costs of travel.
Eligibility
Applicants must fulfill the following criteria:
- The applicant must participate in a CIEE study abroad program.
- The applicant must attend a CIEE Member or CIEE Academic Consortium member institution. (Hint: Be sure to check the membership lists under “The” if it is included in your home school’s official name.)
- The applicant must plan to study in a non-traditional destination. Regions currently eligible include: Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America.
Selection
Applicants are reviewed based upon the information provided in the scholarship application essay and Scholarship Application and Financial Information form, financial need, academic achievement, and Study Program Application.
Awards
Awards may vary but are usually made in the amount of $500 or $1,000 and are issued directly to the student, after all other program fees have been paid, to help defray the cost of travel. For students whose school is billed for all program-related fees, the award will be released within 6 weeks of award notification.
Robert B. Bailey Scholarship
The Robert B. Bailey Scholarship is intended to promote the participation in CIEE’s International Study Programs of individuals or members of groups that have traditionally been underrepresented in study abroad, especially ethnic minority students. Applicants are asked to specify the group to which they belong and which they believe to be underrepresented in study abroad.
These awards are named in honor of Robert B. Bailey III, former member of CIEE’s Board of Directors and Professor of Sociology and Director of Study Abroad at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
Eligibility
Applicants must fulfill the following criteria:
- The applicant must participate in a CIEE study abroad program
- The applicant must self-identify, in the Scholarship Personal Statement, as belonging to an underrepresented group
Selection
Applicants are reviewed based upon the information provided in the scholarship application essay and Scholarship Application and Financial Information form, financial need, academic achievement, and Study Program Application. As part of the scholarship essay, students should specify the group to which they belong and believe to be underrepresented in study abroad. Students should also explain how membership in that group factored into the decision to choose the program/destination of study. Additionally, the scholarship essay should address how, as a member of an underrepresented group, the applicant plans to integrate the international experience into future academic, community, professional, and extra-curricular activities.
Awards
Awards may vary but are usually made in the amount of $500. The award will be applied toward the applicant’s CIEE program fee.
Peter Wollitzer Scholarships for Study in Asia
The Wollitzer Scholarships were established by the Ping Foundation in 2006, with the first award given in spring 2007, in memory of Peter Wollitzer, Regional Director at the University-wide office of the University of California Education Abroad Program. Peter had a long affiliation with CIEE and was a strong proponent of CIEE Study Centers around the world. He most recently was a member of the CIEE Academic Consortium Board. These awards provide assistance to students from CIEE Academic Consortium Board Member institutions, who are participating in CIEE study abroad programs in Asia.
Eligibility
Applicants must fulfill the following criteria:
1. The applicant must participate in a CIEE Study Center program in Asia. This includes:
- Cambodia
- China
- India
- Japan
- Korea
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Vietnam
2. The applicant must attend a CIEE Academic Consortium Board Member institution. For Summer / Fall 2008 these include:
- Columbia University
- Indiana University
- Oregon State University
- Pacific Lutheran University
- Princeton University
- Purdue University
- Reed College
- Scripps College
- University of Minnesota
- University of Nevada, Las Vegas
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- University of Tulsa
Selection
Applicants are reviewed based upon the information provided in the scholarship application essay and Scholarship Application and Financial Information form, financial need, academic achievement, and Study Program Application.
Awards
One award is made each semester in the amount of $2000 and two awards of $500 each are made for summer programs. The awards are applied to the applicant’s CIEE program fee.
CIEE International Study Programs (CIEE-ISP) Scholarships
In an effort to make study abroad opportunities available to the widest possible audience, CIEE offers scholarships each year to students who demonstrate both academic excellence and financial need.
Eligibility
Applicants must fulfill the following criteria:
- The applicant must participate in a CIEE study abroad program.
- The applicant must attend a CIEE Member or CIEE Academic Consortium member institution. (Hint: Be sure to check the membership lists under “The” for your school—e.g The Pennsylvania State University is found under “The”, not under “Pennsylvania”.)
Selection
Applicants are reviewed based upon the information provided in the scholarship application essay and Scholarship Application and Financial Information form, financial need, academic achievement, and Study Program Application.
Awards
Awards are usually made in the amount of $500 or $1,000. The award will be applied toward the applicant’s CIEE program fee.
Jennifer Ritzmann Scholarship for Studies in Tropical Biology
This CIEE scholarship was established, with the consent of her parents, in the memory of Jennifer Ritzmann, a 1998 fall participant in the Tropical Biology Program at Monteverde, Costa Rica, and a junior from Ohio University, whose life was taken in a tragic accident. Jennifer’s dream was to do forestry work in Costa Rica, and she was committed to preserving the rain forest. This scholarship is to be awarded each semester to a qualified participant on the Monteverde program. It is our hope that through this scholarship we will be able to help other students with similar dreams and goals to achieve what Jennifer was only able to begin to realize.
The awarding of this scholarship began with the Fall 1999 semester, and was granted to one student per year. Students accepted to CIEE’s Study Center program in Monteverde, Costa Rica will automatically be considered for this award and will be reviewed based upon the information in the student’s program and scholarship application packages. Starting in spring 2007, an award of $1,000 will be given each semester and will be applied toward the participant’s CIEE program fees.
Interested students should submit a creative Personal Statement as part of their scholarship application.
To read Jennifer’s application essay click here.
The Spring 2008 Ritzmann Scholarship winner is Megan Copley from the University of Oregon.
Read Megan's essay here.
The Spring 2007 Ritzmann Scholarship winner is Danielle Knight from the University of Pennsylvania.
Read Danielle’s essay here.
The 2006 Ritzmann Scholarship winner is Emily Heim from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Read Emily’s essay here.
The 2005 Ritzmann Scholarship winner is Oliver Kroner from Northeastern University. Read Oliver’s essay here.
The 2004 Ritzmann Scholarship winner is Elena Millard from the University of Hawaii. Read Elena's essay here.
The 2003 Ritzmann Scholarship winner is Tracy Rogers from Northeastern University. Read Tracy's essay here.
U.S. Department of Education Fulbright-Hays Project Abroad Scholarship for Programs in China
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded CIEE funding under the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program to provide financial assistance to students who are participating in the Chinese language programs offered by the CIEE Study Centers at Peking University (Beijing), East China Normal University (Shanghai), Nanjing University, and National Chengchi University (Taipei).
Eligibility
Available to CIEE Study Center applicants for the programs in Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, and Taipei only. In addition, applicants must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident. Proof of this status is required as part of the application for this scholarship (copy of a U.S. passport, birth certificate, or green card).
- Be a junior, senior, or graduate student enrolled in an institution of higher learning who plans to pursue advanced study or a career related to China in the areas of academia or public affairs.
- Have completed 2 years, or the equivalent, of college-level Mandarin Chinese language training by the beginning of the program. Equivalency may be based on a language professor’s evaluation or a language proficiency exam score.
- Demonstrate high merit.
- Demonstrate financial need.
Selection
Applicants are reviewed based upon the information provided in the scholarship application, scholarship essay and Scholarship Application and Financial Information form, financial need, academic achievement, and Study Program Application. As part of the Scholarship Essay, students should also explain how this scholarship will assist in the pursuit of advanced study or a career related to China in the areas of academia or public affairs. Upon their return, recipients must write a 250-500 word report and evaluation of their program experience. This essay should also include reflection on their experiences in China and an indication of how they intend to use those experiences in their future career. Students who fail to submit the evaluation may be required to repay the scholarship.
Evaluations will be submitted via the DOE Evaluation of Exchange, Language, International and Area Studies [EELIAS] system. Award recipients will be sent an email password and instructions to enter the system.
Awards
Awards vary in amount and are applied directly to the applicant’s CIEE program fee. Past scholarship awards have ranged from $1000 - $8,000 for one term.
For questions regarding any of our scholarship programs please call 1.800.40.STUDY or e-mail us at scholarships@ciee.org
It’s Easy to Apply!
Your completed program application and scholarship application must arrive in our office by the aforementioned dates in order to be considered for scholarships.
**IMPORTANT CHANGE** Starting with the 2007 Winter, Spring, and Calendar Year awarding cycle, the CIEE Scholarships Application is a separate document from the CIEE Study Center Program Application. |