NC State Scholarships
The Study Abroad Office encourages all eligible students to apply through our streamlined scholarship process. Students completing this single application will be eligible for as many as 20+ types of scholarships and travel awards.
$1,000,000+ in available funding!
$1,000 to $3,000
average awards
~1 in 3
receive awards
Application Cycles | Spring Cycle | Summer Cycle | Fall Cycle |
---|---|---|---|
Term Abroad* | Winter Break, Spring Semester, Spring Break, Spring Short Term, and “Spring-Fall” | Summer Sessions I and II | Fall Semester, Fall Short Term, and Academic Year |
Open Date | August 1 | October 1 | December 1 |
Deadline | September 15 | November 15 | February 15 |
Decision Date | November 1 | February 1 | March 15 |
Apply for the Fall 2025 award cycle!
FAQs
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS?
Scholarships are open to degree-seeking NC State students who receive academic credit while abroad. Both undergraduate and graduate students may apply, but students are not eligible for scholarships if they will complete their degree program before participating on their study abroad program. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to retain their scholarships and must agree to complete any relevant scholarship requirements, if applicable.
CAN I APPLY EVEN IF I HAVE NOT YET CHOSEN A STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM?
Yes, you can. We encourage all students to apply, even if you have not finalized your study abroad plans. Most of our scholarships are transferable to other programs, but they are NOT transferable across academic terms. If you decide to study abroad in a later term, you will need to reapply for scholarships.
CAN SCHOLARSHIPS BE USED ON AFFILIATE/THIRD-PARTY PROGRAMS?
Yes, as long as the student is receiving academic credit and is in degree-seeking status.
Please note that students participating on NC State programs may benefit from their scholarships earlier, because we can directly reduce their student account balance in MyPack Portal. Students on affiliate/third-party programs often have to wait longer for funds to disburse at the beginning of the academic term of their program and should take this into account when budgeting.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SCHOLARSHIPS AND COE TRAVEL AWARDS?
Scholarships are not limited as to which expenses they can cover and comprise the vast majority of our funding. Travel awards only cover the estimated airfare and are currently only funded by the College of Engineering. COE students are eligible to receive both scholarships and travel awards but should only apply through the study abroad scholarship application. Students should not apply separately through the regular EYE process, as they will be automatically considered for EYE funding when applying for our scholarships.
IS THE STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIP PROCESS CONNECTED TO PACK ASSIST?
No, our process operates completely outside of Pack ASSIST. There may be additional relevant awards available to students through Pack ASSIST, however those would require separate applications.
HOW ARE AWARD RECIPIENTS SELECTED?
FAFSA-based financial need is a primary consideration for most awards. Awards decided by campus committees, including the Chancellor’s Scholarship, will often use essay responses to determine selections.
DO I NEED TO SUBMIT ESSAYS TO BE CONSIDERED FOR AWARDS?
See the scholarship directory for more information. The single largest funding source—the Study Abroad Greatest Needs Scholarship—does not require essays. However, it will never hurt your application to complete the essays, so we recommend that you submit them in order to give yourself the best possible chance of receiving an award.
HOW CAN I WRITE A COMPETITIVE ESSAY?
The best essays give specific answers to the questions asked. Vague or confusing responses will result in lower scores. Consider that you are applying among hundreds of other students for limited funding and ask yourself “what sets me apart?” Explain how study abroad fits into your plan for your academic and professional future. Even if you are still deciding among multiple programs, it is best to write about your most likely program choice. A detailed and specific essay about a single program is more convincing than a generic and vague essay, and nearly all awards are transferrable if you decide to change your program choice later.
CAN I TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS?
Yes, we offer virtual funding sessions throughout the academic year. Students that have open study abroad applications will be automatically notified of these sessions. These sessions do not require advance registration and will allow ample time for questions.