Study Abroad
Fresno State Grants and Scholarships
Fresno State's Continuing and Global Education International Travel Grant
This grant, funded jointly by the instructional-related activities student fee and the Fresno State Passport Place, is used to help offset the travel cost of studying abroad. Matriculated students participating in programming sponsored by the Study Abroad Office will be awarded automatically and no application is needed.
- For 2025-2026, CSUIP, USAC, ISEP, CIEE, SiPN, and Exchange Program matriculated student participants will receive $1,500. Details on the award distribution of funds are pending. No application is required. You will be notified of specifics on the distribution of funds via an email from the Study Abroad Portal before the start of your program.
- For 2025-2026, Faculty-Led matriculated student participants will receive $1,000 and the award will be used to reduce the final price of your program. No direct award of funds will be made to students. No application is required as your faculty leader has already secured funding for your trip as a group.
Fresno State Study Abroad Grant Application
Fresno State strongly supports the transformative nature of study abroad experiences. The Division of Continuing and Global Education strives to offer students cost-effective and easily attainable options for international study. The grants listed below are available to students participating in Fresno State study abroad programs and are intended to further expand the financial accessibility of these opportunities.
***Please note that students participating in short-term Faculty-Led Travel Study programs are not eligible for these study abroad grants.
There is a single application for all study abroad grants. Eligibility for each grant will be determined by responses in your application for one of the following grants:
- Fresno State's Dean's Study Abroad Grant - students may receive up to $2,000 towards the cost of an eligible study abroad program.
- Fresno State’s Mark A. Mitchell Memorial Grant: Students may receive up to $2,000 toward the cost of an eligible study abroad program.
- Fresno State's Shields Family Grant - available only to students studying abroad on a USAC program. Priority given to students participating in USAC programs with a strong language component. The grant covers the full USAC program fees.
- Fresno State’s Weise Grant - available only to students who do not qualify for financial aid but have limited financial means to pursue academic studies abroad. Recipients of this grant receive up to $3,500 towards the cost of an eligible study abroad program.
Eligibility
All students must meet the following requirements to apply:
- Be a degree-seeking student at California State University, Fresno
- Have completed an application with the provider or exchange university for their study abroad program.
- Have uploaded all the required documents requested on the study abroad grant application.
- Priority will be given to students who have not previously received a Study Abroad Grant and those who have not previously studied abroad for academic credit.
- Students participating in Faculty-Led Travel Study programs are not eligible for these study abroad grants
Because grant decisions often come after program commitment deadlines, students may need to confirm their participation before knowing whether they have been awarded funding. For this reason, it’s essential for students to have a clear plan for covering the cost of their program in case they are not selected for the scholarship.
Application Deadline: Summer and Fall 2026 - March 15, 2026
Fresno State Study Abroad Grant Application
Fresno State's USAC Partnership - Discounts and Awards
The USAC California Discount, funded by USAC, provides a $385 credit for each participating USAC student. As currently negotiated, all Fresno State students participating would receive the $385 credit, which would be placed on their USAC account. This agreement with USAC is in place for students participating in USAC programs through Spring 2024 and no application is required.
Additional discounts for USAC participants may be available through Fresno State's partnership agreement. Again, no application is required and participants will be notified if they will be receiving additional discounts or awards.
Additional scholarships and awards are available if you apply through USAC as well. Explore here:
Fresno State's Smittcamp Family Honors College - Awards
SFHC Scholars are highly encouraged to expand their knowledge horizon by participating in a variety of study abroad experiences provided by Fresno State's Study Abroad Office. The "Risa Rodemeyer Global Culture Scholarship" was established in 2017 for this purpose and is awarded on an annual basis to a selected SFHC Scholar.
National Grants and Scholarships
Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship
The Gilman Scholarship Program offers awards for undergraduate study abroad and was established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000. This scholarship provides awards for US undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study abroad programs worldwide.
Freeman-ASIA (Freeman Awards for Study in Asia)
Freeman-ASIA (Freeman Awards for Study in Asia) is designed to support U.S.-based undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are planning to study overseas in East or Southeast Asia. The program’s goal is to increase the number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents with first-hand exposure to and understanding of Asia and its peoples and cultures.
National Security Education Program Boren Awards
Boren Scholarships and Fellowships provide unique funding opportunities for US undergraduate and graduate students to add an important international and language component to their educations. We focus on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study that are critical to US interests and underrepresented in study abroad. You must be a US citizen and planning to attend a semester or yearlong program to apply.
Fund for Education Abroad
FEA is committed to increasing the opportunities for dedicated American students to participate in high-quality, rigorous education abroad programs by reducing financial restrictions through the provision of grants and scholarships. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled as undergraduates in US universities/colleges who plan to study abroad for at least four weeks. USAC students may qualify for both the General and Rainbow awards.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides grants for individually designed study/research
projects or English Teaching Assistantships. Applicants must be a senior graduating
from college with a Bachelor’s degree, a recent Bachelor’s degree-recipient, or a
Master's or doctoral candidate. Grant lengths and dates vary by country. Please consult
the specific country summary for details.
Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant
Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grants are designed to help support undergraduates as they seek knowledge and experience in their academic fields by studying abroad. Forty-five $1,000 grants are awarded each year. Applicants are evaluated based on numerous factors, including academic recognition and awards, campus and community involvement, leadership experiences, and the quality and scope of the proposed program. Students do not have to be a member to apply.
Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities
This scholarship program criteria will vary based on the requirements of the funding
organization, e.g., specific major, level of study, college/university, region of
the country, etc. Scholarship amounts also vary depending on the program, usually
ranging from $500 - $2,000 per year.
Region-Specific Grants and Scholarships
Chinese Government Scholarship Program
The Chinese government has been offering scholarships to students in conjunction with the American government’s 100,000 Strong Initiative, which aims to increase the number of American students studying abroad in China to 100,000 in four years. Award amounts vary but may cover part of your overall program costs, and students are granted a monthly allowance of 1400 Yuan. USAC students attending the Chengdu or Shanghai programs are eligible for this award.
Bridging Scholarships for Study in Japan
The Association of Teachers of Japanese Bridging Project offers scholarships to American undergraduate students participating in study-abroad programs in Japan. Funding from private foundations and major US corporations has made it possible for ATJ to award 60-100 scholarships annually to assist students with the travel and living expenses they will incur while studying abroad in Japan for a semester or an academic year.
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarship
Highly qualified undergraduate students are invited to apply for scholarships funding study, senior thesis research and/or internships in Germany. The goal of this program is to support study abroad in Germany and at German universities.
BUTEX Scholarship for North American Students
Each year BUTEX awards a number of scholarships to students studying abroad for either a semester or for a whole academic year. The value of each scholarship is £500 and will be paid to the winners once they have arrived and registered at their host university. USAC students attending the Brighton, Bristol, London, Reading, or Stirling programs are eligible for this award.
The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF)
ASF is the leading cultural and educational link between the U.S. and Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. An American non-profit organization, the ASF works to build international understanding with an extensive program of fellowships, grants, intern/trainee sponsorship, publishing, and membership offerings.
Scholarship Search Engines
Study Abroad
http://www.studyabroadfunding.org/
http://www.goabroad.com/scholarships-abroad
http://www.studyabroad.com/scholarships.aspx
http://www.iefa.org/scholarships
General Scholarships
http://www.scholarships.com/
http://www.fastweb.com
http://www.collegeboard.com