Cross-Cultural and Off-Campus Programs 
Scholarships for Study Abroad “Off the Beaten Path”
Funded by a grant from the IFSA Foundation
Background---Details---Application Process
Susquehanna University is pleased to be able to offer 6 scholarships per semester for SU students studying abroad in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. These scholarships have been generously funded by a grant from the IFSA Foundation.
These competitive scholarships offer up to $3,500 toward the cost of airfare and room and board for semester-long study abroad in Africa, Asia, and Latin America on SU approved programs.* Student recipients are expected to “give back” to the SU community by reporting on their experiences and/or promoting programs after their return to campus.
This scholarship program is intended to help to diversify the experiences of Susquehanna University students and enrich the dialogue on campus concerning study abroad. At present, study abroad students on our campus overwhelmingly choose the most traditional study abroad locations. Studying abroad “off the beaten path” will offer an unparalleled learning experience; one which will offer challenges and rewards unlike those experienced in Western Europe or Australia/New Zealand.
Students on approved semester programs may be eligible to receive federal, state, and institutional aid, often involving increased borrowing for the study away term. The cost of airfare to less traditional study abroad locations can be quite high, often posing an obstacle to the ability to spend an entire semester abroad in such places. These scholarships can help to address financial issues for individual students who can be flexible about the location of their study abroad experience.
IMPORTANT: these scholarship awards may impact need-based aid in individual student’s financial aid packages. Please see the Financial Aid office for more information if you currently have need-based aid and plan to apply for this scholarship.
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“Off the beaten path” scholarships will be awarded to up to six students per semester. Applicants will be evaluated by members of the Study Away Advisory Committee. Only students applying to SU approved 3rd party programs in Asia, Africa, and Latin America for semester-length programs will be considered.
Students who receive “Study Abroad off the Beaten Track” awards are required to follow-up their experience abroad with some form of service to the campus community when they return to campus. This could mean offering a presentation about study abroad in the area they visited for residence halls, classes, or student organizations; working with students considering study abroad in related areas; creating web resources for the SU study abroad web page to highlight their experiences; or proposing some other means of “giving back” to the university upon their return.
Recipients of these awards will be highlighted on the SU study abroad web page. Additionally, the Public Relations office at SU regularly sends notification to the hometown newspapers of our students on their study abroad plans.
Recipients will make their own travel arrangements. Housing will be arranged through the study abroad program.
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1) Applicants must complete a pre-application for study abroad.
2) Complete an application for the “Study Abroad off the Beaten Path” scholarship.
3) Write two brief essays addressing what you hope to gain from your study abroad experience and what you envision doing to “give back” to SU upon your return to campus. More specific details are on the application form.
-Materials are available in 203 Bogar Hall or on the SU study abroad web page and are due February 22 for Fall 2008 study abroad.
Awards will be made based on the quality of the application materials and academic merit. Financial need may be a consideration in the final selection.
Final award amounts will be based on actual costs, up to a maximum of 3,500. (Up to 1,500 for airfare and up to 2,000 for room and board.)
Students must be prepared to meet all program application deadlines. Note that many programs accept participants on a rolling basis and may fill in advance of their printed deadline.
*For a list of these programs, see the SU study abroad web page: www.susqu.edu/study_abroad.
*SU in Macau already covers airfare and other substantial expenses for the cost of SU tuition so students on this program are ordinarily not eligible for the “SU off the beaten path” scholarships.
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Last reviewed
Scott Manning, Study Abroad Program. Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA 17870. |