Funding Your Global Education: Scholarships for U.S. Students Pursuing Full Degrees Abroad
At Tango College Abroad, we work with students to navigate the vast opportunities available for earning an accredited, English-taught college degree outside of the US. A driving factor in the pursuit of higher education outside of the United States is the immense cost of college and graduate school tuition.
In the US, college tuition is increasing at an estimated rate of 6% each year. The sticker price for Vanderbilt is $89,000, indicating the lack of affordability to attend school in the US. The average tuition for a bachelor's degree in the EU is approximately €5,000 to €15,000 per year, while a master's degree typically costs around €9,000 per year. This is a fraction of what students often pay in the U.S.—even at prestigious universities.
A common misconception is that students are unable to obtain scholarships unless they choose to study in their home country. Let’s consider some scholarship opportunities that might help students make their international degrees more affordable.
Scholarships Canada
Scholarships Canada offers a database of scholarship opportunities for students looking to go to Canada for undergraduate and graduate school.
DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Scholarships
DAAD provides funding for Canadian and American students pursuing higher education in Germany. It covers short-term programs, full degrees, research grants, and language courses at German universities for both undergraduate and graduate students.
British Council Scholarship Search
The British Council offers a database to search for scholarship opportunities based on nationality. Many are school specific and require students to meet specific criteria.
Boren Scholarships & Fellowships
U.S. undergraduates studying less commonly taught languages in regions critical to national security can receive funding through this program. It is administered by the National Security Education Program (NSEP) to help students gain global skills relevant to U.S. interests.
Fulbright U.S. Student Program
A globally respected initiative, Fulbright offers grants for academic study, research, and English teaching assistantships in over 140 countries. Fulbright is a program for college graduating seniors who are looking for opportunities abroad.
Rhodes Scholarship
The Rhodes Scholar Program is one of the oldest international fellowship awards. This competitive fellowship is awarded to students who show outstanding academic excellence, a strong commitment to leadership and making the world a better place. This is full financial support at pursuing a degree at the University of Oxford.
Rotary Foundation Global Grants
Global Grants are for students looking to participate in graduate level studies, humanitarian projects, or vocational technical teachings. These grants support graduate-level study and research in select fields, offering up to $30,000 per recipient.
George J. Mitchell Scholarship
Each year, up to 12 Mitchell Scholars (ages 18–30) are selected for a fully funded postgraduate program in Ireland or Northern Ireland. Awards cover tuition, housing, travel, and living expenses, with selection based on academic excellence, leadership, and community service.
Marshall Scholarships
The Marshall Scholarship supports up to 50 talented young Americans annually for graduate study in the UK, covering any field at a UK institution.
NL Scholarship
Formerly known as the Holland Scholarship, the NL Scholarship is awarded to international students studying in the Netherlands, this €5,000 scholarship helps cover tuition for the first academic year.
Study a Master’s in Europe Scholarship
Open to students from any country, this scholarship provides €5,000 for master's programs at European universities.
Go Global MBA Scholarship
This $7,000 scholarship is available to international students pursuing an MBA degree abroad.
Conclusion
Going outside of the US to obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree is not just an option for wealthier families. In addition to scholarships, over 700 international universities accept US federal student aid, meaning you are able to use certain student loans to pay for some of the expenses. However, US grants like the Pell Grant are unable to be applied to foreign institutions.
This scholarship guide is by no means comprehensive, but meant to show some options available. Students should seek additional information at each institution they are applying to. Searching for scholarships directly at each institution that you are applying to is advisable. For instance, at the University of Bologna, students can receive a study grant for up to €11,000 based on SAT or GRE scores. Going to college or graduate school outside of the US is more affordable than you think, you just need to know where to look. Sign up for a free discovery call with us today!
