Diversity Abroad

Empowering Every Student to Experience the World Through Inclusive Study Abroad Programs

Expanding Diversity Abroad for Over 75 Years

CIEE was founded in 1947 to advance peace in our world through promoting international exchange programs with a special commitment to ensuring that all students from all backgrounds have an opportunity to study abroad.

How Do We Open Doors for Diverse Students?

CIEE helps diverse students overcome the barriers to study abroad (cost, curriculum and culture)
CIEE helps diverse students prepare for study abroad (living and learning in a new culture)
CIEE helps diverse students tell their stories of studying abroad to peers to encourage other diverse students to study abroad

CIEE Helps Overcome the Barriers of Cost

Costs: Studying abroad is financially challenging. CIEE offers the most diversity study abroad scholarships, including:

The Douglass-O'Connell Global Internship – Students gain real-world work experience and develop leadership skills on a fully-funded global internship experience
Gilman Go Global Grant and Pell Grants – Pell-eligible students who apply for Gilman grants receive up to $3,500 in support
HBCU and MSI Grants - Students who attend Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) or Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) can receive up to $2,000 in financial aid

Every student should contact their study abroad advisor or CIEE directly to learn more about funding study abroad.

4 students together_ friends_ diversity_France_Toulouse.jpg

CIEE Helps Overcome the Barriers of Curriculum and Culture

Curriculum: To study abroad, you need to be able to take the courses you need to stay on track for graduation. CIEE offers over 260 global programs that align with every student’s academic needs, academic calendar, and course requirements. We offer programs in 42 locations, including semester, summer, J-term, and block programs thatserve all majors, including STEM, business, health sciences, environmental and sustainability, language, engineering, and international relations, to name a few. Learn more of how CIEE can meet your curriculum needs.

Culture: Often, diverse students don’t have friends or mentors to encourage them to study abroad, or they may feel study abroad is not for them. CIEE has the most diverse student population and the most diverse staff, all of whom are formally trained on the skills needed to deliver a welcoming, positive international experience for all students. In fact, our students regularly rate our ability to deliver a positive, inclusive experience as excellent! Learn more about CIEE’s commitment to overcome the culture barrier.

study abroad students sit in ciee center

CIEE Helps Diverse Students Prepare for Study Abroad

CIEE has been the leader in supporting diverse students abroad for over 75 years. We wrote the original training pamphlets for diversity abroad and the LGBTQ+ communities and we offer city-by-city guides for students to learn about diversity and inclusion in every CIEE study abroad location. Find out more about CIEE’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

CIEE Helps Diverse Students Tell Their Story to Encourage Others to Study Abroad

CIEE knows that the most important way to increase diversity abroad is to have our diverse student alums tell their stories in their own voices. That’s why we help students and student ambassadors share their life-changing experiences with others. Find out more about CIEE’s student ambassadors and our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

City-Specific Diversity Resources

Local CIEE staff have provided valuable details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in their study abroad city.

Find out More

FAQs About Diversity Abroad

Global diversity refers to the cultural, ethnic, religious, linguistic, and socioeconomic differences among people around the world. These differences arise from varying individual experiences, locations, and historical contexts.

In the study abroad space, global diversity is a concept that we embrace, as it emphasizes the importance of mutual respect and understanding to foster cross-cultural understanding.

Studying abroad helps you culturally by:

Challenging you to look beyond your own perspective
Encouraging you to adapt to unfamiliar traditions and values
Broadening your empathy toward other people, places, and cultures
Re-shaping your worldview, making you more globally-minded

Yes! CIEE has several diversity scholarships, including:

Yes, you can connect with other students from similar backgrounds before going abroad by visiting our Ask An Ambassador page. Simply search by program city, find an ambassador from your school or background, and send them an email!

Similarly, you can download the CIEE mobile app and chat with CIEE ambassadors directly. Finally, be sure to follow CIEE Study Abroad on Instagram and TikTok to see what our students are doing abroad right now and make connections through social media.

CIEE is committed to promoting equity in international education through scholarships, personalized support, and inclusive programming. Our initiatives aim to make study abroad accessible to all students, including underrepresented groups, first-generation students, LGBTQIA+ students, and those with disabilities.

Additionally, CIEE provides student support through pre-departure and on-site orientation, on-site support staff, and additional resources to help students navigate cultural differences.

Hear Directly From Students

"Adapting to being one of the very few black individuals in Barcelona took some time. While I attend a predominantly white school back home, I interact with many black friends on a daily basis. In Barcelona, the difference was palpable, and I realized I was experiencing culture shock. To cope, I maintained connections with friends and family back home, which helped me feel connected. Sharing my feelings with the people I trusted most was invaluable. It's essential to acknowledge that you'll go through a range of emotions, and it's perfectly normal to feel them."

Kameela Lemma
"Studying abroad in Paris as a black woman provided me with lessons that extended far beyond the classroom. It was a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and empowerment. Navigating a white-dominated society while embracing my identity taught me the importance of breaking stereotypes, fostering cross-cultural understanding, appreciating diversity, and using education as a tool for empowerment."

Audrey Sparks
"There have been situations where I have had to act as a representative of the Latin or LGBTQ+ community and even America as a whole which can be tiring but helps individuals to be able to reach the same page. Putting a name to cultural ideas like perspective shifting, and cultural empathy has helped me have a better ability to learn how other cultures in Europe see the world. For me, I have been conditioned to act as an individual, but I have been able to live a more collectivist lifestyle here in Spain and have been able to see the appeal. Though it took three months for me to finally find some belonging I have a newfound respect for learning about other cultures and the tools in which I need to understand them more deeply."

Joseph Decilos

Diversity Abroad Blog Posts

From CIEE

Top 3 CIEE Diversity Abroad Scholarships and Grants

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience, but for many underrepresented students, financial barriers can stand in the way of this incredible opportunity. CIEE Study Abroad is dedicated to breaking... keep reading

students from underrepresented backgrounds study abroad tips

From CIEE

5 Tips for Students Studying Abroad from Underrepresented Backgrounds

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

Navigating new cultures, understanding social dynamics, and building a sense of belonging in a foreign country can be complex, but for students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds, studying abroad can... keep reading

From CIEE

How Does Studying Abroad Help You Culturally? Tips to Prepare!

By College Study Abroad at CIEE

Studying abroad isn’t just about ticking travel boxes and getting your passport stamped; it’s about seeing how other people live, think, and connect. It’s the ultimate crash course in cultural... keep reading