Application Support

Review High School Summer Abroad Programs: Take some time to learn more about the CIEE program offerings. There are options to search by country, subject, and program features.

For applicants who are applying for a Global Navigator Scholarship (based on financial need + academic merit): Your application will be more competitive if you include Language & Culture programs in your top 3 choices. Our scholarship funding stipulates 90% of awarded scholarships go to language-learning programs.

No previous language experience is necessary for Arabic, Chinese, German, Italian, and Japanese. For Spanish and French, some program locations require no previous language experience while other program locations may require at least 1 high school year of Spanish or French.

Start the Application

Select the Term: Once you finalize your program selection, review the summer session terms offered and select the session that best fits your schedule. While you can change the session prior to acceptance or the scholarship deadline based on space, please note that changes after this date are often not possible.

Click Apply Now: On the program profile page, click the orange Apply Now button.

Complete the Apply for CIEE Program Page: A pop-out screen will appear with the following questions. Review the notes below for additional information.

1. Type of Program: You cannot change this selection. If you want to apply for a different type of program, you will need to visit the program profile page.

2. Enter your High School: Type the full name of your high school and check to ensure the selection has the correct city of where the school is located.

• If you have a common high school name (such as Central High School), you may need to review the options with a focus on the city name following.
• Try searching using one of the key words in your school’s name.
• If your school is not listed: Select, “My High School is not listed” from the drop down option. Be sure to enter the full name of your high school.

3. Scholarship and Award Information: Please visit Global Navigator Scholarships to learn more.

Keep in mind the following eligibility requirements when making your selection:

• High School Seniors: You can apply for the Academic Merit Award, but you are not eligible for a Global Navigator Scholarship (based on financial need + academic merit).
• Previous Global Navigator Scholarship Recipients: If you were awarded a Global Navigator Scholarship (based on financial need + academic merit) in the past, you can only apply to the Academic Merit Award. However, as a CIEE alum, you are eligible to receive an additional $500 off your high school summer abroad program tuition.
• International Applicants: You are eligible to apply for an Academic Merit Award, but Global Navigator Scholarships (based on financial need + academic merit) are only for U.S. citizens and permanent residents attending a high school in the U.S.

Other Scholarship Considerations:

• Award or Scholarship Amounts: The Academic Merit Award covers $500 from program tuition while a Global Navigator Scholarship (based on financial need + academic merit) can cover between $500 to 100% of program tuition.
• Program Selection: When you apply for the Academic Merit Award, you will be able to finalize your program selection. If you are applying for a Global Navigator Scholarship (based on financial need + academic merit), you will rank your top 3 CIEE high school summer abroad programs in the application. CIEE tries to provide applicants with their first-choice program whenever possible, but flexibility surrounding program choice is necessary due to the scholarship awarding guidelines CIEE must adhere to.

Make your Selection:

• No, I want to enroll now and pay in full: When selecting this option, you will choose the program based on the location (it may autofill to whatever program page you were previously on). Next select your session.
• Yes, I am applying for an Academic Merit Award: When selecting this option, you will choose the program based on the location (it may autofill to whatever program page you were previously on). Next select your session.
• Yes, I am applying for a Financial Need + Academic Merit Scholarship: Select the term you would like to travel.

You will be redirected to your newly created application!

Enter your contact information. Your address should match at least one of your emergency contacts. 

If this changes during the application process: 

1. Select “My Profile” in the drop down in the top right corner that has your name. 
2. Select edit and update your contact information. 

Enter your Emergency Contacts as soon as you open your application! This lets us know who your legal guardians are and allows them to complete key tasks like signing the Terms and Conditions or paying the application fee. 

Keep the following in mind: 

• Primary Emergency Contact: This needs to be a parent or legal guardian. 
  • CIEE Portal Access: The primary emergency contact will have access to the CIEE legal guardian portal (this access cannot be provided to the second emergency contacts). 
  • Account Access: Having the CIEE portal in connection to your account allows them to enter or view information. To respect your privacy, please note that Primary Emergency Contacts CANNOT see information related to gender identity. 
• Secondary Emergency Contact: Having a second emergency contact is required. This can be another parent/legal guardian or someone over the age of 18 that CIEE may contact throughout the application process or as an emergency contact while you are abroad. 
• Unique Email / Phone Number: Your second emergency contact must have a different phone number and email listed from the first emergency contact.

IMPORTANT: Keep this information updated with the most current information throughout the application and acceptance process.

Gender Identity: CIEE respects your gender identity. We will use your gender identity preferences whenever we are legally able to. In some instances, such as immigration documentation, CIEE may be required to use your sex as listed on your passport. If you have any questions, our staff are eager to discuss how we can support you! 

• This task is not viewable on the parent account: To protect applicants’ privacy, the gender identity information is not visible to Primary Emergency Contacts through the parent portal. It is only visible through the student's account and to CIEE. 

Traveling with a U.S. passport vs. passport issued by another country: 

• A U.S. passport is not required to participate in a CIEE program. However, if you are not a U.S. citizen, you will be responsible for researching and obtaining a visa if necessary.

Upload a clear photo of your face that could potentially be used as an ID photo. This photo does not need to be a 2x2 passport photo. It can be just a cropped photo of your face with a white background.

For this task, add your most recent cumulative GPA and share whether you have taken AP or Honors level classes. 

Cumulative GPA: Enter your most recent cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale. See the frequently asked question section below for additional information. 

Honors Classes: If you have taken honors or AP classes, select yes to this question and provide additional information. 

Frequently Asked Questions on GPA

• Is there a minimum GPA requirement for participation in CIEE summer abroad programs? There is no minimum GPA requirement, but this is a highly competitive scholarship and GPA is considered when your application is reviewed. Most successful applicants have a GPA that is higher than 3.0. 
• What is a cumulative GPA? An average of all final grades individual students earned from the time they first enrolled in a school to the completion of their education. 
• What if my school does not use a 4.0 scale? Use a tool to calculate your GPA on a 4.0 scale. 
• Do I use the weighted or unweighted GPA on my transcript? Enter the weighted GPA. 
• What if I am a freshman without a high school GPA? Use a GPA calculator and add your 6th-8th grade classes and any report card information for your first fall semester in 9th grade. 

Teacher’s Information 

CIEE will not reach out to the teacher listed to request a recommendation on your behalf. We collect this information in order to identify teachers that are advocating for study abroad access.

This task will collect information related to your knowledge of other languages. 

NO language experience is necessary to participate in Language & Culture programs for the following languages: 

• Arabic 
• Chinese 
• French (in Rabat, Morocco and Rennes, France) 
• German 
• Italian 
• Japanese 
• Korean 
• Portuguese 
• Spanish (in Alicante, Spain; Seville Spain; and Yucatan, Mexico) 

A 1-year high school course (or equivalent) is needed to participate in Language & Culture programs for the following languages: 

• French (in Paris, France and Toulouse, France) 
• Spanish (in Barcelona, Spain; Madrid, Spain; Palma, Spain; and Buenos Aires, Argentina)

A 2-year high school course (or equivalent) is needed to participate in Honors Language & Culture programs for the following languages: 

• French (in Rennes, France) 
• Spanish (in Madrid, Spain and Seville, Spain)

If you have language experience but your experience does not come from taking a high school course, please email hsabroad@ciee.org.

To travel on a high school summer abroad program, you must have a passport that’s valid for 6 months beyond the program end date.

If you don’t have a passport but can get one by the time the program starts, you may answer “yes.” 

Keep in mind that current U.S. passport processing times with the U.S. Department of State are very long, so we recommend applying for a passport as soon as possible.

There is a $25 non-refundable application fee. This payment needs to make this payment before submitting your application to CIEE. 

The Primary Emergency Contact listed in your application can make the payment through their My CIEE Account as well. It can be paid with a credit card, debit card, or through an ACH payment from a checking account. 

Troubleshooting: 

• CIEE only accepts Visa and Mastercard credit or debit card payments. 
• Try using another web browser (i.e., chrome if you're on safari, etc.).
• Ensure the billing address and zip code are identical to what the card issuer or bank has on file.
• Ensure there are no issues with the card that is preventing the payment from being made.
• Try using a different payment method, if possible.

If none of the above work, please email hsabroad@ciee.org and tell us the error message or attach a screenshot.

This is a very important task. Your parent or legal guardian will need to review and electronically sign the CIEE Terms & Conditions. Your application cannot be submitted without their signature! 

Helpful Hint: If you complete the emergency contact information prior to completing this step and use the parent/legal guardian that is serving as the primary emergency contact, the information will autofill once you enter the email address. 

• Add the preferred email of your parent/legal guardian. 
• The information will autofill if you completed the emergency contact form and use the same email address. 
• Select add legal guardian. 
• You will be notified that this email was sent to your parent/legal guardian.

Troubleshooting: 

• The email was not received by parent/legal guardian: 
  • Check the spam folder and other email filters (promotions, social, etc.). 
  • Search the full email inbox for CIEE. 
  • Check to ensure you entered the email information correctly. 
  • If this doesn’t resolve the issue, email hsabroad@ciee.org. 
• The Primary Emergency contact can also access this form in their CIEE portal under signatures. Once you add them as a primary emergency contact, information to set up this portal will be sent.

Carefully review the terms of conditions (linked in the CIEE Terms & Conditions) with family and other people in your support network. 

• Complete this task by typing your full legal name.

Share how you heard about CIEE programs, if you are an alum of the program, and whether you would like to share your social media handles with CIEE.

• Sibling/Family discount: If you have a sibling or parent who went on a CIEE program, you can list their name under the referral section. You should also email hsabroad@ciee.org in order to get the discount added to your account after acceptance. CIEE will need to verify this information.
• Alumni Discount: If you participated in a CIEE program in the past, select yes that you are an alum of a CIEE program. This provides a $500 discount to your program after acceptance.

• Upload your most recent official or unofficial transcript that contains your cumulative GPA (see section on GPA and Academics for more information). 
• Unofficial transcripts need to include your name, your school, and all your courses and grades. 
• Unless you are a freshman starting this school year, a report card cannot be used in place of a transcript.

The scholarship application includes three short essays. 

• Check out this blog post for tips on how to write a great essay. 
• The essays must be between 300-600 words. Follow each prompt and be sure to answer every part of the question. 
• Proofread! Be sure to review your answers before submitting and have someone else review them as well (such as a teacher or counselor).
• This is your chance to set yourself apart! Write thoughtful, comprehensive essays that speak to your experiences and motivations for studying abroad.

A teacher recommendation is required for the scholarship application. 

Before entering a teacher's contact information, ask them if they're willing to complete the recommendation and tell them about the program you're applying for. You can let your teacher know that they'll complete the recommendation online and it should take them 10-15 minutes to complete. For more tips on how to follow up with your teacher check out this blog post. 

Once you confirm your teacher is willing to provide a recommendation, complete the questionnaire: 

• Email Address: Ask your teacher their preferred email address. Some schools have firewalls that can make external emails difficult to receive, so a personal email can be used if this is their preference. 
• Provide the first and last name and organization. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I have to use a teacher? Can I use a coach, tutor, ______ instead? CIEE strongly recommends using a current or recent teacher. However, a person that is familiar with you academically like a language tutor or coach could be used. You cannot use a family member, friend, or a person outside of an educational context.
• Can I use a teacher I had __ years ago? CIEE recommends using a current teacher, but you can also opt to use a teacher. It is strongly recommended to use a teacher that has worked with you in the past year for your recommendation.
• I don’t know my teachers well enough and don’t feel comfortable asking for a recommendation. Work to build relationships with teachers if time permits. Also take into consideration that teachers are often asked to provide recommendations; however, and this form is brief and not time-consuming. Ask your teacher if you can schedule a brief meeting to discuss this and take that time to build rapport. 

Troubleshooting

• The email was not received by the teacher.
  • Ask them to check the spam folder and other email filters (promotions, social, etc).
  • Search the full email inbox for CIEE. Confirm you entered the email address correctly.
  • If this doesn’t resolve the issue, email hsabroad@ciee.org.

Ranking Programs: 

Select your top three program choices (in order of preference).

• To increase the likelihood of being awarded a Global Navigator Scholarship, you must include at least TWO (2) Language & Culture programs in your rankings. Our scholarship funding stipulates 90% of awarded scholarships go to Language & Culture programs.
  • No language experience is necessary for Arabic, Chinese, German, Japanese, Italian, and at select locations of French and Spanish. A one-year high school course (or equivalent) is needed at select location for Spanish and French at select locations.
• If you have language experience but not from a high school course, please email hsabroad@ciee.org.

Participation in Sessions:

• Please select which sessions you will be available to participate in:
  • Review the programs you selected and the sessions offered at those programs by visiting our Program Search page. Note that all program sessions do not run on the same dates, so review each of your top three choices and indicate which terms you would be able to participate in.

Uploading a 1040 Form:

Upload the IRS Form 1040 from 2023 or 2024. You must be listed as a dependent on the 1040 form you upload if your parents file separately.

You may amend your 1040 form to remove social security numbers and presidential election campaign contributions.

Uploading an approved supporting document

You can provide different supporting documentation to verify financial need.

Learn more about the approved supporting documentation you can provide.

Financial information is collected to determine financial need and the level of support that CIEE can offer. 

To complete this form, use your 2023 or 2024 IRS Form 1040. See the information below if your parents do not have a 1040 form from these years for other approved supporting documents.

You can utilize our Form 1040 guide to help you complete the questions about household members, total income, and adjusted gross income.

• Stated Family Contribution: Have an honest conversation with your legal guardians and family to determine the amount your family can realistically contribute towards a study abroad program. This does not impact the amount of scholarship award you receive.
  • Do not include airfare costs but take them into consideration to help achieve this realistic contribution. View current prices to the destination(s) you have in mind, look at historical prices, and to be safe, it is recommended you keep in mind an airfare amount that is higher to account for fluctuations in prices.
• Airfare Acknowledgement: Airfare is not included in the program tuition costs and CIEE does not offer any funding opportunities to cover the cost of airfare.