
Funding Resources
Fellowships through the Rice Center for Civic Leadership (CCL)
The CCL offers a range of fellowships that provide funding support for undergraduate international experiences.
The CCL also provides endorsement/ nomination for a number of post-graduate fellowships for work, study, or research overseas. Undergraduate students in their senior year are encouraged to consider these many opportunities.
Right image: Maya Harpavat, Wagoner Foreign Study Scholarship recipient, working with local families in India (Summer 2025).

**also available to undergrads
Undergraduate Fellowships Administered by the CCL
Abraham-Broad Exchange Fellowship | Click Here
Amici di Via Gabina Traveling Fellowship | Click Here
Brotzen Fellowship for Travel | Click Here
Goliard Fellowship for Travel | Click Here
Gottschalk Traveling Grant for Musicians | Click Here
Leebron Smyth Award for Language Study Abroad | Click Here
Rice in Country - Wagoner Research Pathway Scholarship | Click Here
Post Graduate Fellowships Administered by the CCL
Thomas J. Watson Fellowship | Click Here
**Wagoner Foreign Study Scholarship | Click Here
Post Graduate Fellowships: CCL Provides Endorsement/Nomination
**Boren Awards | Click Here
Churchill Scholarship | Click Here
Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) | Click Here
Fulbright Research | Click Here
Fulbright Graduate Study | Click Here
Marshall Scholarship | Click Here
Michel David-Weill Scholarship | Click Here
Rhodes Scholarship | Click Here
Yenching Academy Fellowship | Click Here
Rice Funding Sources
Carefully review the eligibility guidelines for each funding opportunity before applying.
Click the image squares to learn more >>
External Awards
FEA Scholarships | Fund for Education Abroad (FEA)
https://fundforeducationabroad.org/apply/
FEA awards up to $5,000 for a fall or spring semester abroad, with a minimum of $1,000 for short-term programs.
FEA also has scholarships specific to certain demographic groups and study abroad destinations. FEA will determine your eligibility for each scholarship on the back-end—you just need to complete the one online application!
The mission of FEA is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students with financial need who are underrepresented among the U.S. study abroad population. Therefore, while all students with financial need are encouraged to apply for an FEA scholarship, preference is given to students of color, first-generation college students, and community college students.
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship | U.S. Department of State
https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/program/program-overview/
Provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving a Federal Pell Grant to participate in study abroad programs worldwide.
The Gilman-McCain Scholarship | U.S. Department of State
https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/program/gilman-mccain-scholarships/
The Gilman-McCain Scholarship provides awards of $5,000 for child and spousal dependents of active or activated United States military personnel during the time of application (including Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Space Force, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and USPHS Commissioned Corps) to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs. Applicants must be recipients of any type of Title IV federal financial aid during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving Title IV federal financial aid during their study abroad program or internship.
Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) | U.S. Department of State
The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program provides fully funded immersive summer programs for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to learn languages of strategic importance to the United States’ national security, economic prosperity, and engagement with the world.
Freeman Awards for Study in Asia | Institute of International Education (IIE)
https://www.iie.org/en/Programs/Freeman-ASIA
(Freeman Awards for Study in Asia) provides scholarships and is designed to support American undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are studying overseas in East or Southeast Asia. The program’s goal is to increase the number of Americans with first-hand exposure to and understanding of Asia and its peoples and cultures.
Grant amounts are $3,000 for summer study, $5,000 for a semester-long program, and $7,000 for a yearlong study abroad program.
The Bridging Scholarship | U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation
https://aatj.org/japan-bridging-scholarships/
Offers scholarships to American undergraduate students participating in semester or year-long study abroad programs in Japan.
ICCC Study Abroad Scholarships | Italian Cultural & Community Center of Houston
https://www.iccchouston.com/scholarships/
The ICCC awards scholarships in the amount of $2,500 to college students participating in study abroad programs in Italy.
The Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship | Tortuga Backpacks
https://www.tortugabackpacks.com/pages/study-abroad-scholarship
The Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship is awarded biannually to passionate students who want to explore the world.
The winner of the Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship will receive:
- $1,000 scholarship for studying abroad
- 1 Tortuga brand travel backpack
The scholarship may be used for tuition, room and board, books, or travel. Funds will be sent directly to the winner's study abroad program or university.
Post Graduate Opportunities
The Lafayette Fellowship | Villa Albertine - The French Institute for Culture and Education
https://lafayette.villa-albertine.org/
One year of master's level study in France for up to 30 outstanding American students. Open to both Francophone and non-Francophone candidates, the initiative will partner with top French higher education institutions that offer programs across STEM, the humanities, social sciences, and the arts, either in French or entirely in English.
In addition to their academic studies, fellows will take part in the French-American Leadership Program, a dynamic, year-long experience featuring lectures, masterclasses, site visits, and mentorship support, offering a 360-degree immersion into European innovation, culture, and policy.
Requirements: Bachelor's degree, under age 27, GPA of 3.7 or above.
The Lafayette Fellowship covers visa-related fees (pre-consular application, student visa, TLS contact appointment).
Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) | Villa Albertine - The French Institute for Culture and Education
https://villa-albertine.org/frenchculture/frenchcultures/teach-english-in-france/
Each year, TAPIF places around 1,300 Americans into French public schools to work as English language teaching assistants for 12 hours a week. TAPIF works with France Éducation international (FEI) to place language assistants in classrooms of all ages across metropolitan France, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and La Réunion.
The seven-month contracts, which can be renewed twice (consecutively or not), enable young adults to gain valuable classroom experience, improve their French language skills, and immerse themselves in the francophone world.
Schwarzman Scholars (China) | Tsinghua University
https://www.schwarzmanscholars.org/
Schwarzman Scholars is a prestigious one-year, fully funded master’s program in global affairs at Tsinghua University, one of the world's top universities. Designed to build a global community of future leaders, this program offers an immersive learning experience dedicated to leadership development.
Africa Leadership Accelerator Fellowship | Global Health Corps
https://ghcorps.org/africa-leadership-accelerator-overview/
Global Health Corps’ Africa Leadership Accelerator is a 9-month, hybrid program designed to strengthen the leadership and management skills of early to mid-career health professionals working across Sub-Saharan Africa.
English Opens Doors Program (Chile) | Chilean Ministry of Education
https://ingles.mineduc.cl/english-opens-doors-program/
The English Opens Doors Program (Programa Inglés Abre Puertas) is an initiative supported by the Chilean Ministry of Education with the mission to improve the level of English for students between 5th grade and 12th grade throughout the Chilean public school system by providing teacher training, instructional materials, English immersion camps, extracurricular workshops for students and more.
The English Opens Doors Program seeks to foster a new generation of Chilean students equipped with the tools and abilities they will need to succeed in an increasingly globalized world. The Program includes:
- Professional development courses for EFL teachers
- English Teacher Networks
- Summer and Winter English Camps
- Extracurricular Workshops
- National Volunteer Center
Humanity in Action Fellowship (Europe, U.S.) | Humanity in Action
https://humanityinaction.org/fellowship/
In several cities across Europe and the United States, Fellows gather to study past, present, and future challenges to local communities.
The Humanity in Action Fellowships explore issues of social justice, human rights, remembrance culture, and civic engagement. Fellows first participate in an intensive three-week educational program. Each program is tailored to its location, featuring diverse experts, site visits, and community building. Thereby, Fellows learn about the host society’s present struggles to navigate dominant and minoritized cultures and identities, while also being inspired by what collective action based on intersectional solidarity can look like.
Fellows will also acquire practical skills and work on the development of an Action Project, their own civil society initiative. After the three weeks, they embark on implementing these Action Projects in their own communities.
CIEE Teach English Abroad (Spain, Korea, Thailand, Ireland) | CIEE
https://www.ciee.org/go-abroad/work/teach-english-abroad
Teaching English abroad offers many benefits beyond just earning an income. It’s a chance to expand your worldview and grow your skillset. Some of the top benefits of teaching abroad include:
Cultural Immersion: Teaching abroad allows for deep cultural immersion. As a teacher, you'll build meaningful relationships with coworkers, neighbors, and new friends in the local community. This immersive experience will help you successfully work with people from different cultural backgrounds.
Language Learning: Teaching abroad is an excellent opportunity to learn a new language or improve your fluency by practicing in real-life settings. As you help your students learn English, you'll expand your foreign language skills. It's a win-win situation for everyone!
Personal Growth: Teaching English abroad can be a challenging but rewarding experience that will help you develop self-confidence, independence, and resilience. You will also form lasting friendships and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Professional Development: By teaching abroad, you will gain international work experience and transferable skills that will be valuable for any career. You will develop cross-cultural communication skills, foreign language proficiency, and leadership experience that will make you more competitive in the job market and successful in the workplace.
Independent Work Abroad in Switzerland | Cultural Vistas & Swiss Embassy
The Independent Work Abroad in Switzerland program provides work authorization for U.S. citizens who are recent college graduates.
As of 2025, Cultural Vistas no longer is able to process these applications directly. Applications must be submitted through the Swiss Embassy or consulate nearest to you.
Foreign Government Scholarships | U.S. Department of State
https://studyabroad.state.gov/foreign-government-scholarships
This page lists a range of international opportunities and scholarships for graduate students to consider.
Other Databases for Funding Opportunities
The Institute of International Education (IIE)
https://www.iie.org/scholarships-programs/?pag=1
Varying awards and other scholarship programs administered by IIE.
USA StudyAbroad | U.S. Department of State
Substantial list of scholarship programs/fellowships
The British American Foundation of Texas (BAFTX)
https://baftx.org/scholarship-summary
The British American Foundation of Texas (BAFTX) offers a range of scholarships and programs. These include:
- The "International STEM" Award
- The Undergraduate Award
- The "Susan Howard Community Service" Award
DAAD-German Academic Exchange Service
https://www.daad.org/en/find-funding/scholarship-database/
Invites highly qualified undergraduate students to apply for scholarships funding study, senior thesis research and/or internships in German.
Go Overseas
https://www.gooverseas.com/scholarships/study-abroad-application
Scholarships are available to students currently enrolled in, or in the process of applying to, study abroad programs.
All Abroad US
https://allabroad.us/funding-study-abroad-scholarships.php
List of various study abroad scholarship opportunities listed