NC State Scholarships

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 terms. If you decide to study abroad in a later term you will need to reapply for scholarships.

Scholarships are open to degree-seeking NC State students that will be receiving academic credit while abroad. Both undergraduate and graduate students may apply but students cannot graduate before participating on their study abroad program. Students must maintain satisfactory academic progress to retain their scholarships and must agree to complete any requirements attached to an individual scholarship.

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 MyPack balance. Students on affiliate/third-party programs often have to wait longer for a check or direct deposit to disburse at the beginning of the academic term of their program and should take this into account when budgeting.

Scholarships are not limited in how they can be used and comprise the vast majority of our funding. Travel awards only cover estimated student airfare and are currently only funded by the College of Engineering. Eligible COE students can potentially receive both scholarships and/or 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.

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.

FAFSA-based financial need is a primary consideration for most of our awards. Many scholarships will also consider whether a student has a background that is traditionally underrepresented in study abroad. Awards decided by campus committees, including the Chancellor’s Scholarship, will often use essay responses to determine selections.

See the scholarship directory for more information. The single largest funding source—the Study Abroad Greatest Needs Scholarship—does not require essays, however additional awards may be added at any time that could require them. It will never hurt your application to fill out the essays, so it is recommended that you complete them to give yourself the best possible chance of receiving an award.

The best essays will give specific answers to the questions asked. Vague or confusing responses will result in lower scores. Consider that you are applying against hundreds of other students for limited funding and ask yourself “what sets me apart?” Demonstrate how study abroad fits into a greater plan for your academic and professional future. Even if you are still deciding among multiple programs, it is recommended 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.

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.