UMD Education Abroad Scholarship
We are here to help you make study abroad an affordable option.
We administer partial scholarships through the UMD Education Abroad (EA) Scholarship to assist UMD degree-seeking undergraduate students with the cost of attending approved and credit-bearing study abroad programs. We do not currently have scholarship funding for graduate students or visiting students. The UMD EA Scholarship is made up of several scholarships that each have their own eligibility requirements and award amounts, but the application process is the same. If you have any questions about scholarships and funding study abroad, feel free to make an appointment with your EA advisor.
Scholarship applications are currently open for Summer, Fall, and Full Year 2025 programs only.
How to apply:
The Education Abroad Scholarship Application can be found on the ScholarshipUniverse platform. Further information about the platform can be found on the Office of Student Financial Aid webpage.
- Start an application for a study abroad program in MyEA. Please note that you must have an open application in MyEA to be considered for an Education Abroad scholarship.
- Click on the form titled "Apply for Education Abroad Scholarships in ScholarshipUniverse"
- If you have not already, log into ScholarshipUniverse to set up your scholarship account and answer matching questions.
- Submit your scholarship application before your program application deadline or by the stated deadline, whichever is first
You will be considered for all Education Abroad scholarships you are eligible for based on your responses in the form, your academic record, your financial aid status, and your study abroad program information. Applying to this scholarship has no bearing on your study abroad program application. Submitting a scholarship application form does not guarantee that an award will be granted.
Term |
Application Deadline |
Notification Date |
|---|---|---|
Winter, Spring, Spring Break |
September 30, 2025* *If your program application deadline is earlier than the deadline above, your scholarship application is due with your application. |
October 10, 2025 |
Summer |
February 17, 2025* *If your program application deadline is earlier than the deadline above, your scholarship application is due with your application. |
February 27, 2025 |
Fall, Academic Year |
March 3, 2025* *If your program application deadline is earlier than the deadline above, your scholarship application is due with your application. |
March 13, 2025 |
Please note: not all scholarships will be active for all application cycles. You will be considered for all available scholarships you are eligible for once your scholarship application is submitted.
Details on each of the scholarships within the UMD Education Abroad Scholarship are listed below.
Education Abroad Scholarship
This general scholarship is funded and awarded by Education Abroad largely on the basis of financial need. You may be awarded up to $1,500 for winter, spring break, and summer term programs, up to $2,000 for semester programs, and up to $4,000 for year programs (disbursed evenly among the two semesters). To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- be a current degree-seeking undergraduate UMD student
- have a completed FAFSA on file
Exchange Waiver
If you are accepted to an Exchange program, you will automatically be considered for a $1,000 waiver. To receive this waiver, you must:
- commit to a UMD, BMGT, or ENGR Exchange program
- be a current degree-seeking undergraduate UMD student (graduate students are not eligible for this award)
- not currently receive tuition scholarship/benefits (i.e. Banneker Key, tuition remission, Fredrick Douglass, Terrapin Commitment, TAES, etc.)
If you have a completed FAFSA on file and wish to be considered for need based aid in addition to the exchange waiver, you must complete the EA Scholarship form.
Education Abroad Gilman Guarantee Program
The Gilman Guarantee program is funded and administered by UMD Education Abroad. Awards will only be made to students who commit and participate on an approved Education Abroad program. Federal Pell Grant recipients who study abroad can receive a guaranteed $500 scholarship when they apply for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship and meet the below criteria:
- Work with the National Scholarship Office (NSO) to have your Gilman application reviewed at least two days before the Gilman Scholarship deadline.
- Submit a complete Gilman application by the stated deadline. Note: students must currently receive a federal Pell Grant to be eligible to apply to the Gilman scholarship.
- Apply to the Education Abroad Scholarship via Scholarship Universe before the above stated deadline.
Any eligible student who submits a completed Gilman application and does NOT receive a Gilman award will receive an additional $2,000 in guaranteed funding from Education Abroad for a total commitment of $2,500. Students who do receive a Gilman award will retain the $500 EA scholarship, but will not receive additional funds from EA.
Students are only eligible to receive the Gilman Guarantee scholarship for one Education Abroad program. If a student decides to study abroad again, they can re-apply for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, but would not receive guaranteed funding from Education Abroad.
Please note that the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is funded by the US Department of State and is not awarded by Education Abroad.
Donor Award Scholarships
Education Abroad is also able to provide scholarships through the support of generous donors, who have donated funds to the University to support students who study abroad. These awards are managed by the Education Abroad office, please do not reach out directly to the donor families for consideration.
This scholarship is awarded through the generous support of the Mather Family. The Mather Family has designated these funds to support students traveling outside North America for the first time who also have financial need. You may be awarded up to $1,500 for winter, spring break, and summer term programs, up to $2,000 for semester programs, and up to $4,000 for year programs (disbursed evenly among the two semesters). To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- be a current degree-seeking undergraduate UMD student
- be traveling outside North America for the first time
- have a completed FAFSA on file
Recipients will be asked to submit thank you letters prior to receiving the award.
This scholarship is awarded through the generous support of the Kendall Family. You may be awarded up to $1,500 for winter, spring break, and summer term programs, up to $2,000 for semester programs, and up to $4,000 for year programs (disbursed evenly among the two semesters). To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- be a current degree-seeking undergraduate UMD student
- Pell eligible
- 3.0+ GPA
- have a completed FAFSA on file
Recipients will be asked to submit thank you letters prior to receiving the award.
This scholarship is awarded through the generous support of the David Family. You may be awarded up to $1,500 for winter, spring break, and summer term programs, up to $2,000 for semester programs, and up to $4,000 for year programs (disbursed evenly among the two semesters). To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- be a current degree-seeking undergraduate UMD student
- 3.5+ GPA
- have a completed FAFSA on file
Recipients will be asked to submit thank you letters prior to receiving the award.
This scholarship is awarded through the generous support of the Dalwadi-Modi Family. You may be awarded up to $1,000 for your Education Abroad program. To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- be a current degree-seeking undergraduate UMD student
- have in-state residency status
- have a completed FAFSA on file with demonstrated financial need
Recipients will be asked to submit thank you letters prior to receiving the award.
UMD Department Scholarships
Select UMD Departments fund additional scholarships to support their students on study abroad programs. Education Abroad administers these scholarships on behalf of the department.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- be a current degree-seeking undergraduate UMD student
- have an ARHU primary or secondary major
- have a 3.5+ GPA (for merit award)
- have a 2.6+ GPA (for need-based award)
- have a completed FAFSA on file
Note: This scholarship is not available for Spring Break programs.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- be a current degree-seeking undergraduate UMD student
- have a BSOS primary or secondary major
- have a 3.0+ GPA (for merit-based award)
- have a completed FAFSA on file
Note: This scholarship is not available for Spring Break programs.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- be a current degree-seeking undergraduate UMD student
- be a primary AGNR major*
- attend a Winter or Summer short term program led by AGNR OR
- attend a Winter or Summer short term program located in the following countries: Vietnam, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Belize, Morocco, Kenya, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Panama, Malaysia, Tanzania, Taiwan, or Peru
- have a completed FAFSA on file
*ENSP students must be in one of the following specializations: Soil, Water, and Land Resources | Wildlife Ecology and Management | Environment and Agriculture | Environmental Economics
These scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need. You may be awarded up to $1,000 for summer, winter, spring break and semester programs. To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- be enrolled in the Global Communities (GC) Living-Learning program
- have maintained a C- or above grade in all GC courses
- study abroad to complete the GC Global Experience requirement
- have a completed FAFSA on file
Maryland-in & Maryland-led Scholarships
Select Maryland-in and Maryland-led programs offer scholarship opportunities for students who meet eligibility requirements.
This scholarship is awarded through the generous support of the College of Arts & Humanities. To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- be a current degree-seeking undergraduate UMD student
- be participating in the Arts & Humanities-in-London program
- be an ARHU major
- in-State Maryland residency
- have a completed FAFSA on file
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- be a current degree-seeking undergraduate UMD student
- be participating in the Maryland-in-Copenhagen program
- have a completed FAFSA on file
These scholarships award up to $1,000 for students participating in the Maryland-in-Nice program. Funding for this scholarship is provided by the Department of French and Italian. To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- be a current degree-seeking undergraduate UMD student
- be participating in the Maryland-in-Nice program
- preference given to in-state residents
- preference given to students who have not previously studied abroad
Following acceptance to the Maryland-in-Nice program, representatives from the French department will interview students who wish to be considered for a scholarship from the department. Students will be contacted by the undergraduate advisor following the acceptance deadline to schedule an interview and provide a professor recommendation. Any awarded scholarship funds will be processed directly to the student's account.
Scholarship recipients are encouraged to give back to the program in the form of supporting future Maryland-in-Nice participants, whether it is serving as a social media ambassador, completing a Terps Abroad profile, creating a short video blurb about your experiences, or volunteering for Maryland-in-Nice outreach events once you’ve returned.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you must:
- be a current degree-seeking undergraduate UMD student
- be participating in the Maryland-in-Stockholm program
- have a completed FAFSA on file
This scholarship is awarded through the generous support of the Classic’s Department.
Both need and merit awards are available for students applying to the Italy Classics winter programs. Preference will be given to Classics majors.
To be eligible for the need-based award, you must:
- be a current degree-seeking undergraduate UMD student
- have a completed FAFSA on file
- complete an application for the Italy Classics winter program
To be eligible for a merit-based award, you must:
- be a current degree-seeking undergraduate UMD student
- complete an application for the Italy Classics winter program
- have a 3.5 GPA or higher