American Councils established the U.S. Study Abroad Assistance Fund to help American students with demonstrated financial need as they participate in programs we implement. The Assistance Fund, which was created with support from our Board of Trustees and senior leadership, provides awards for costs that most scholarships or programs do not cover, including passport fees, medical exams, luggage, and other incidentals. Eligible program finalists can apply for up to $300 in support towards covering these extra costs.
We offer this initiative as a way to decrease the financial barriers some US students face as a part of our ongoing efforts to make study abroad truly accessible to all students. We believe that diversity enriches our world and cultivates respect for the communities in which we work. We hope this fund will help expand access to meaningful overseas experiences to participants from all backgrounds.
WHO CAN APPLY:
Applications to this round of the Assistance Fund are open to students admitted to Fall/Academic Year 2024-2025 programs and must be submitted for consideration by September 4, 2024.
Decisions will be sent approximately two weeks after the above deadline. Notifications will be sent from the email address codei@americancouncils.org.
Program finalists from the following programs administered by American Councils with a start date in the fall of 2024 are eligible to apply:
- National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)
- AC Study and Research Abroad Programs
- Overseas Flagship Programs
- YES Abroad
- FLEX Abroad
- Professional Fellows Program (PFP)
Additional eligibility requirements:
- US citizen or permanent resident.
- Pell Grant eligible, Free and Reduced Meal (FARM) eligible, or TRiO Program participant.
- Agree to provide testimonial (narrative and photo/video) about participant program experience.
- Graduate students may verify their eligibility in one of two ways:
- Proof of eligibility or enrollment in work study program or other verification of financial need from their university, such as need-based award specific to their university or graduate program.
- Proof of having taken out a loan (in their name) for graduate or PhD studies, or a copy of SAR (student aid report that shows they have applied for FAFSA)
The Assistance Fund provides support to summer, fall, spring, and academic year program finalists. Applications are collected in April and August, prior to a student’s intended program start date.
Next deadline: September 4, 2024
Please contact our team at: codei@americancouncils.org