Universities and colleges encourage their students to integrate an education abroad experience into their degree program, and that includes interning abroad.
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While some students choose to intern abroad to obtain international work experience, others choose internship programs that also allows them to receive academic credit to satisfy practicum, research, or capstone requirements towards their degrees.
Whatever the case, Isla believes our hands-on global development internships with one of our partner organizations will add incredible value to your education and future career plans.
Important information for current students seeking financial aid, a grant, or scholarship for an internship abroad:
How can I earn academic credit during my internship abroad?
The Isla Team will coordinate with your university to help find ways to fulfill necessary requirements for academic credit (internship hours, capstone/research specifics, etc).
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Specific to our program in Kosovo, Isla is partnered with the national university (University of Prishtina).Through this partnership, Isla interns are able to take courses and transfer academic credit to their home universities. This opportunity makes it easier to secure funding as it functions similar to study abroad- while interning and contributing to your host organization!
Do I need to obtain academic credit to qualify for grants, scholarships, or financial aid for internships abroad?
No, not always - it depends on your university. While it is much easier to qualify for a scholarship or financial aid from your university, education abroad office, or from a national scholarship program if you are receiving academic credit, many universities encourage international experiences and will provide funding without the need for academic credit.
Where do I find information at my university or college regarding eligibility to receive academic credit for an international scholarship or grant?
We recommend that you consult your international programs or education abroad office, career center, your academic advisor, and the faculty member responsible for student internships.
Isla advisors are here to help you and your university advisor plan your internship for credit to ensure you fulfill the requirements, including the required number of internship hours, reports, and evaluations.
We have lots of experience with this as many of our interns seek academic credit to satisfy their academic, research and/or capstone requirements for their undergraduate or graduate degrees.
Should I inquire about need-based program fee discounts?
Yes, you may be eligible for scholarships or program fee discounts, particularly if you receive financial assistance at your university based on income. For example, if you qualify for a Pell Grant in the U.S., you may use your Pell Grant towards internship abroad program fees once you have also decided to receive academic credit from your university or college.
Inquire about the availability and eligibility for program fee discounts when applying for an internship abroad. Many students combine scholarships and financial aid successfully to cover most or all of the cost of the experience abroad, including program fees, living costs, and flights.
Funding Your Isla Internship Abroad
Grants, Scholarships, & Financial Aid for U.S. University Students
Federal Pell Grants usually are awarded only to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree. (In some cases, however, a student enrolled in a postbaccalaureate teacher certification program might receive a Federal Pell Grant.) A Pell Grant may be used for interning abroad if you receive academic credit for the experience. Contact your financial aid advisor and education abroad office for more information.
The Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarship enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad. The Gilman Scholarship Program is open to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who receive Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university to participate in study and intern abroad programs worldwide.
Gilman Application Deadlines - The Gilman Scholarship accepts applications twice a year (usually in March and October).
For more information, visit their page.
All applicants are notified of their status via email. All advisors will also be notified of scholarship recipients via email and will have access to the status of each student in their Gilman Advisor account. If an applicant is not selected for the active deadline, they may re-apply for the next cycle if they continue to meet the eligibility requirements and their program or internship falls within the start dates.
The InterExchange Foundation Christianson Fellowship provides awards of up to $10,000 to motivated young Americans who create and carry out their own meaningful service projects abroad.
Christianson Grant applicants must be:
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U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents
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Between the ages of 18 and 28
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Participating in a work, internship, or volunteer abroad program
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Committed to a program duration abroad of at least six months
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Willing to submit blog posts during their project and a written report upon completion
The Christianson Grant cycle includes three annual deadlines:
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March 15
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July 15
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October 15
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Grant recipients receive notification approximately six to eight weeks after each grant deadline.
For more information, visit their page.
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Consult Your Academic Advisor and Education Abroad Office We are repeating this advice, because universities offer many different scholarship and grant opportunities from various sources. Consult your academic and education abroad advisors to learn more about college and departmental scholarships at your university. They may also direct you towards the availability of diversity-based scholarships for first-generation students, students of a specific ethnicity, LGBTQ+ students at your university.
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Isla Scholarships are available upon eligibility!
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Contact Isla to learn more about funding resources at your school and elsewhere. The best advice we can give you is to take this information and go for it - APPLY! Reach out to the contacts at your university, talk to other students who have found funding for their international experience, research the eligibility of national scholarships, and ask our Isla Team! Crowdfunding is also an option. One our interns raised enough funding through crowdfunding to pay for his plane ticket to India! Remember - you may even combine several funding opportunities to lower the overall cost of your international experience considerably! Let us know how we can help!
Are you not a U.S. university student enrolled in a university outside of the U.S.? If you are an student in Europe or elsewhere, stay tuned! Isla is exploring funding opportunities for you through the EU Erasmus+ program.
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Best of luck from the Isla Team!