IAU is committed to making studying abroad a reality for students who otherwise may not have the opportunity. Through a robust offering of merit scholarships, grants, and need-based assistance for its semester, summer, and J-Term students, IAU is a leader in the industry when it comes to breaking down the cost barrier.
IAU SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarship Deadlines
Students are invited to apply for IAU Merit and Academic Interest Scholarships by the deadlines listed below. Students will be notified Applications submitted after the application deadline will not be considered.
| Term | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall | May 1 |
| J-Term | October 1 |
| Spring | October 1 |
| Summer | March 15 |
ELIGIBILITY
- Student must have a completed IAU application for the term indicated in their scholarship application
- Student must complete the scholarship application in its entirety, including any supplemental information requested
- Student must abide by IAU policies and regulations as stated in the policies page and maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA while attending IAU
- Students must be attending IAU as a full-time student (in IAU housing), and currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program (faculty-led programs and virtual programs are not eligible for scholarship)
- Students must attend an institution that allows students to receive IAU scholarship funds. Please check with your study abroad advisor (enroll@iau.edu) before completing your scholarship application to confirm your eligibility
APPLICATIONS
Students are invited to apply for IAU Merit Scholarships or IAU Academic Interest Scholarships. In the application, you will select which of the respective scholarship options you would like to apply for.
IAU Merit Scholarships
Presidential Scholarship
Up to $2,500
Awarded to students with exceptional academic ability who also have demonstrated outstanding out-of-classroom and co-curricular involvement and leadership. Students applying for this scholarship must have a 3.5 GPA or higher, and participate in an IAU program during Fall or Spring terms. The IAU Scholarship Committee awards up to five President Scholarships each term. Letter of Recommendation Required.
Dean's Scholarship
Up to $1,500
Awarded to students with consistent outstanding academic achievement. Students applying for this scholarship must have a 3.0 GPA or higher, and participate in an IAU program during Fall, Spring, or Summer terms. Letter of Recommendation Required.
The Board of Directors Scholarship
Up to $1,000
Awarded to outstanding students from backgrounds which are traditionally underrepresented in international education, including first-generation college students, those who have served in the military, and students with a history of overcoming adversity. Students applying for this scholarship must participate in an IAU program during Fall, J-Term, Spring, or Summer terms.
James Baldwin Scholarship
Up to $2,000
Awarded to students who have demonstrated superior academic achievement, extracurricular leadership, community service, and involvement with the African American community and African American issues. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen to be considered, and a supplemental essay is required. Recipients of the award are expected to participate in community or cultural initiatives during their time abroad.
IAU Academic Interest Scholarships
Amos Booth French Studies Scholarship
Up to $1,000 for Fall/Spring, up to $500 for Summer
In honor of Amos Booth, esteemed teacher, director, and second President of IAU, IAU offers a academic interest scholarship to eligible students who are studying French (French majors or minors). Students applying for this scholarship must have a 3.5 GPA or higher, and participate in an IAU program during Fall, Spring, or Summer terms. Letter of Recommendation Required.
Spanish Studies Scholarship
Up to $1,000 for Fall/Spring, up to $500 for Summer
IAU offers a academic interest scholarship to eligible semester and summer students who are studying Spanish (Spanish majors or minors). Students applying for this scholarship must have a 3.5 GPA or higher, and participate in an IAU program during Fall, Spring, or Summer terms. Letter of Recommendation Required.
John Rewald Art & Art History Scholarship
Up to $1,000 for Fall/Spring, up to $500 for Summer
In honor of Mr. John Rewald, art historian and colleague of Leo Marchutz – namesake of the Marchutz Core Art Program in Aix-en-Provence, France. Through the collaborative study of artist Paul Cezanne’s work in Aix and the surrounding region, Rewald and Marchutz sought to deepen understanding of Cezanne’s impact on the art world and preserve his memory in the city of Aix. This scholarship is awarded to students of art and art history who demonstrate consistent and profound study in the disciplines of art and art history. Students who study at any IAU campus with a major or minor in art or art history studies are eligible to apply. Students applying for this scholarship must have a 3.0 GPA or higher, and participate in an IAU program during Fall, Spring, or Summer terms.
Judith L. Rice International Relations & Global Studies Scholarship
Up to $1,500 for Fall/Spring, up to $500 for Summer
In honor of and made possible by the generous support of Judith L. Rice, a University of Oregon alumna and IAU student in 1967-1968. This scholarship is awarded to students majoring in political science, international relations or global studies.
Global STEM Scholarship
Up to $2,000
The Global STEM Scholarship is available to select students taking science courses at an IAU global campus. Students applying to this scholarship must have a 3.0 GPA or higher, and participate in an IAU program during Fall, Spring, or Summer terms.
J-Term Traveling Seminar Scholarship
$500
The IAU Scholarship Committee awards up to five $500 January Term Traveling Seminar Scholarships each year.
Note: While IAU adheres to the quantity of awards given as described above, exceptions can be made on occasion and more awards can be offered than indicated, assuming that a high caliber of applications calls for such an adjustment.
Recipient Responsibilities
If a student is awarded an IAU scholarship, recipients are required to share their experience at IAU by completing the following:
- Write a thank you letter to one of the scholarship donors (template included in award letter)
- Sharing their experience with our marketing team by choosing one of the following:
- 3-5 days of Instagram Story Takeover over the course of their time abroad, and 1 Instagram Reel focused on an agreed upon topic
- Completing two written testimonials about their study abroad experience
IAU GRANTS
Grants are awarded automatically based on the criteria listed below, no additional application materials are required. Please note, students must check with their Study Abroad Advisor (enroll@iau.edu) for grant eligibility.
Alumni Grants
IAU welcomes and encourages alumni to return to IAU, either to enroll in programs that drew them to IAU in the first place or to experience IAU through one of the many new offerings.
| Program | Grant Eligibility |
|---|---|
| 3-Credit Summer Program | $250 |
| 6-Credit Summer Program | $500 |
| January Term Traveling Seminar | $250 |
| Semester Program | $1,000 |
Legacy Grant
Legacy Grant is awarded to the children of alumni who wish to carry on the tradition of studying at IAU. Grants range from $250-$1,500 depending upon the duration of enrollment.
Herbert Maza Academic Year Grant
IAU offers a $1,000 grant in honor of Dr. Herbert Maza, co-founder and first President of IAU, to qualified students who enroll for an academic year (two full semesters). The $1,000 grant will be applied against the student’s spring semester invoice. All students who spend a semester abroad and maintain a 3.0 IAU GPA after their first semester will automatically qualify to receive the grant. Note: If an academic year student is also eligible for IAU scholarships, they may be eligible to renew their fall semester scholarship towards the spring semester in lieu of receiving the Herbert Maza Academic Year Grant.
Multi-Country Summer Grant
$1,250 grant, deducted from the Session C invoice, is provided to qualified students who enroll for both a Session B and Session C summer session at two of IAU’s locations (for example: Aix-en-Provence and Barcelona; Tangier and Aix-en-Provence).
Gap Year Grant
IAU offers a $5,000 grant to qualified students who enroll independently at IAU (not through another university) for a gap year (two full consecutive semesters), whether that is between high school and college, between undergraduate and graduate programs, or simply between life and career changes. The $5,000 scholarship will be applied against the student’s spring semester invoice. All gap year students who spend a semester abroad and maintain a 3.0 IAU GPA after their first semester will automatically qualify to receive the grant for their second semester.
January Term & Spring Semester Grant
Students who enroll in a January term and a spring semester consecutively are eligible to receive a $2,000 grant credited to their spring invoice. In order to be eligible to receive the grant, students must participate in the Early Start Program.
NEED-BASED GRANTS
Through need-based funding, IAU aims to increase access to international education experiences. The opportunities below are available to students at IAU’s partner institutions where this initiative has been identified on the signed agreement.
Pell Grant Plus Program
In an effort to encourage socioeconomic diversity in study abroad and expose more undergraduate students to international academic experiences, IAU will award a $3,000 grant to Federal Pell Grant recipients to be used for any of its on-site semester programs and a $650 grant to Federal Pell Grant recipients to be used for any of its on-site short-term programs (summer and January term).
Apply by submitting a Pell Grant Eligibility Form completed by the student and home university financial aid office by the payment deadline. Completed forms can be email to enroll@iau.edu for submission.
The Yamina Boudellal Travel Grant
In honor of Yamina Boudellal, for her forty-six years of untiring and devoted service to the students of the Institute for American Universities. Each semester for programs abroad, IAU will provide 3 travel grants of $750 each to students with financial need.
Apply by submitting supporting documentation to demonstrate eligibility (i.e. Copy of FASFA, Financial aid award letter from home university, Parent’s Tax Returns, and/or explanatory essay regarding your financial aid) to enroll@iau.edu for submission.
FOUNDATIONAL & INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS
The Ella Bandes Scholarship
IAU offers the Ella Bandes Scholarship for qualified Macalester students accepted to a semester or summer abroad with IAU’s Marchutz Core Art Program. The scholarship, created in memory of Ella, a former Marchutz Core Art Program student, offers scholarships and one summer scholarship for qualified Macalester students accepted full-time into the Marchutz Core Art Program. The scholarship selection is administered by the Macalester’s Department of Art and Art History. Two $5,000 scholarships will be awarded per academic year, as well as a $3,000 summer scholarship. All scholarships will be based on merit and financial need. Summer students must enroll in a minimum of six units to qualify.
The Meredith Hope Emerson French Honors Scholarship
IAU is proud to offer the Meredith Hope Emerson French Honors Scholarship for qualified University of Georgia students interested in a semester or summer abroad with IAU. Created in memory of Meredith, a former IAU French Honors student, this scholarship offers two full-tuition semester scholarships and one full-tuition summer scholarship for qualified UGA French students enrolled in IAU’s French Studies Classes.
Apply by submitting supporting documentation to demonstrate eligibility (i.e. Copy of FASFA, Financial aid award letter from home university, Parent’s Tax Returns, and/or explanatory essay regarding your financial aid) to enroll@iau.edu for submission.
Pi Delta Phi, the National French Honors Society
In partnership with Pi Delta Phi, IAU is proud to offer one full tuition (6-credit) scholarship each summer to qualified students. The candidate is selected by Pi Delta Phi to participate in the IAU French Honors Program, a comprehensive immersion program for advanced French students.
The Allison Benson Memorial Scholarship
IAU is honored to offer this scholarship in memory of former IAU and Kansas State University student Allison Benson. The scholarship is intended for students wishing to study French at IAU and is in the amount of one full-tuition scholarship or two half-tuition scholarships per semester and/or six-week summer term in IAU’s programs in Aix-en-Provence, France. Student(s) will be selected by Kansas State’s Department of Modern Languages. Students selected for the Allison Benson Memorial Scholarship are ineligible for IAU’s merit, diversity, and need-based scholarships.
Le Détroit Scholarship
In partnership with the French American Chamber of Commerce – Michigan Chapter, IAU is proud to promote the Le Détroit Scholarship to qualified students enrolled at Michigan colleges or universities. The purpose of the scholarship is to assist students at Michigan colleges or universities studying business and French language studies, and who plan to combine French and business in their future career plans. Scholarships start at $1,500, and are based on merit, need, and the career goals of the student.
THIRD-PARTY SCHOLARSHIPS
In addition to your home university’s study abroad office and your major’s department for possible scholarships, there are many third-party study abroad scholarships available through reputable organizations. Please find our recommendations below:
- AllAbroad.us – General and diversity scholarships, grants, and fellowships for underrepresented students.
- Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) Scholarships – Applicants must be current undergraduates who plan to study for the summer, semester or full academic year.
- Gilman International Scholarship Program – Scholarships of up to $5,000 will be awarded to undergraduate students who are receiving a Federal Pell Grant, to study or intern abroad.
- GoAbroad.com – Learn about the best scholarship application strategies. GoAbroad also shares the top study abroad scholarships that are out there and how to apply.