Funding and Financial Aid
Funding and Financial Aid
Whether you choose to participate in an intern, study, or volunteer program abroad, deciding how to pay for the experience is an important step in the process. For some, program funding is the greatest challenge they face when preparing to go abroad. Financial assistance can come from sources such as financial aid, scholarships and fundraising. Regardless of how you fund the program, we strongly believe that participating in an enriching experience abroad is one of the most important things you can do with your money. It will help build your resume, give you powerful learning experiences and expand your global perspective. In today’s increasingly global economy, even a short-term experience immersed in another culture will prove to be invaluable both personally and professionally.
Ways to Fund a Program Abroad
World Endeavors program fees are kept as low as possible to make our programs more accessible to individuals with varied economic situations. Financial aid, scholarships, and fundraising are all great places to start looking for assistance.
If you are studying abroad or interning abroad for credit, you should definitely look into using financial aid (more on that below). World Endeavors also offers scholarships that may help defray some program costs. Institutional or state loans are another way to finance the experience. Your local bank or credit union may also be able to offer small loans for travel abroad, too. There are several resources to check out if you think taking out a loan for your program is the most viable option. Please note that these links are provided for your reference, and that World Endeavors does not endorse or vouch for any of the services provided by these organizations.
Beyond loans, World Endeavors participants have gotten very creative by fund-raising for a program abroad. Past participants have held concerts, asked for program donations in lieu of birthday or holiday gifts, and have held garage sales. Taking on an extra part-time job is another way for aspiring world travelers to achieve their dream of going abroad.
Using Financial Aid to Fund a Program Abroad
Recent amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 have broadened the use of federal funds for study abroad. Once your home institution approves the program (which most do) you can use government funding to cover your tuition abroad as well as “reasonable” expenses associated with the program, like transportation, living costs, and visa fees, to name a few. The benefits of using financial aid may also extend to internship or volunteer programs depending on the allowances made by your school.
The best way to get started is to contact World Endeavors to talk about your options. We can help you work with your school’s study abroad and financial aid departments to secure program approval. We can also set up a payment plan to correspond with your school’s disbursement of funds. Our staff is experienced in working with colleges and universities all over the country to help students obtain financial aid for their World Endeavors program abroad. Call us to get started with the process.