Help Fund your Study Abroad Dream!

Read 11 Secrets to Winning Study Abroad Scholarships.

MCC International Education Study Abroad Scholarships

1 application for 2 scholarships!

Application Deadline: Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 11:59 pm

Two partial scholarship opportunities are available to students who wish to participate in a MCC sponsored study abroad program.  If participating in more than one program, a scholarship application must be completed for EACH study abroad program.

1.) MCC IE Study Abroad Scholarship

• Awards: Range from $250-$900
• May be used to fund tuition and registration fees only.
• Completion of  Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is optional, but highly recommended.  File FAFSA prior to two weeks before the scholarship deadliine.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Applications will be scored on the following criteria:
  • Statement of Financial Need: Explain why you need financial assistance and how you plan to pay for college.  How you are currently financing your education (e.g. help from family, financial aid, student loans, working part-time or full-time, etc.).  What difficulties have you faced in paying for your education?
  • Personal Statement of Motivation: Explain how study abroad will impact your life.
  • Cumulative GPA
  • MCC Student Status
  • Demonstration of Financial Need: Optional completion of 2023-2024 FAFSA.  If you need assistance, visit Enrollment Services or call 1-480-731-8900.
    • If you are receiving financial aid from another MCCCD college, please share your FAFSA with MCC (school code 001077) at least two weeks prior to scholarship deadline.

2.) Maricopa Grant Study Abroad Scholarship

• Awards ranging from $250 (3-5 credits) to $500 (6 credits) limited to tuition and registration fees associated with courses that have a start date prior to June 14, 2024 (England/Scotland excluded).  Programs under 3-credits are not eligible (Puerto Peñasco, Mexico).
• Application for the Maricopa Grant is incorporated into the IE Study Abroad Scholarship application, but REQUIRES completion of 2023-2024 FAFSA.
• If you wish to be considered for a Maricopa Scholarship Grant, your 2023-2024 FAFSA (MCC school code 001077) should completed at least two weeks before the scholarship deadline.  If you are receiving financial aid from another MCCCD college, please share your FAFSA with MCC two weeks prior to scholarship deadline.
• May be awarded in addition to the IE Study Abroad Scholarship.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Applications will be scored on following criteria:
  • Demonstration of Financial Need: Requires completion of the 2023‑2024 FAFSA. If you need assistance, visit Enrollment Services or call 480-731-8900.

BEFORE applying for a scholarship, students must:

• Apply to and be accepted into a MCC study abroad program PRIOR to the scholarship application deadline.
• Be admitted to Mesa Community College (if not already a current student).
  • Students can admit themselves at maricopa.edu/students.
• Make a program fee confirmation deposit of $250 ($150 for Puerto Peñasco) to Cashier Services.  Cashier Services can be reached at 480.461.7400.

Scholarship Deadline:  February 11, 2024 at 11:59 pm (no exceptions)

Apply HERE!

• Keyword Search: Study Abroad Program at Mesa Community College

• IE Study Abroad Scholarship awards will be announced via email in late February.

• Maricopa Grants will be announced after Summer financial aid begins awarding (typically mid-April to early-May).
• Scholarship awards are disbursed to your student account during the first week of classes along with financial aid.
• Students are only eligible for scholarships to a program that they have not previously received schoalrship funding for.
• Note: The International Education Scholarships are offered to support students in their pursuit of a global study abroad program.  Multiple scholarship awards are available (e.g. International Education Scholarship, Maricopa Grant, MCC Honors Scholarship and Gilman International Scholarship).  Students are not eligible to receive aid for more than the total cost of the program.  If the total of awards exceeds the cost of the program, award amounts will be reduced accordingly.

External Scholarship Resources

Access Scholarships

A free online platform designed to connect students with scholarship opportunities that fit your goals and values, with the ultimate goal of providing you with the resources to fund your higher education.

AllAbroad.us

AllAbroad.us has resources to help find funding opportunities, information about making study abroad support career development, reasons to study abroad, information to support diversity in study abroad, and information about discrimination abroad.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

The U.S. Department of State's Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program enables American undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding to study and intern abroad through scholarships of up to $5,000.  Students studying critical need languages are eligible for scholarships up to $8,000.

• Review October and March application cycles. 

MCC study abroad program fees are typically due in March.   We suggest that you apply by the 1st Thursday in October deadline in order to secure funds prior to the program fee deadline.  If you don't receive an October deadline award, you can strengthen your essay and resubmit for a 1st Thursday in March deadline award.  October deadline awards are announced by December. March deadline awards are announced by mid-May.

• Applications are reviewed holistically, with consideration of the following selection criteria.  For helpful information, view Gilman Presentation here!
• Review Gilman Essay Writing Tips.
• Review Gilman Brainstorming Worksheet to help generate content for your Statement of Purpose essay.
• Review writing resources for ideas on crafting your Statement of Purpose:
  • Loyola University Chicago - Writing Personal Statements
  • Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL)
  • University of Connecticut Writing Center - Personal Statements
  • Search for YouTube videos on How to Write a Personal Statement.
• Bring your draft to the Writing Center and get feedback on how to polish your "diamond in the rough"!
• Get advice from a Gilman Alumni Ambassador (Gilman awardee alumni) on how to write your essay. Feel free to contact Ryuu Uchiha at RyuuKUchiha@hotmail.com for advice!
• For application instructions, review this walkthrough video.
• Watch videos of Gilman scholars abroad, alumni interviews, and tips from advisors and application reviewers on YouTube.

Gilman-McCain Scholarship

• Must be a child dependent of an active/activated US military personnel during time of application.
• Must be a Title IV federal financial aid recipient.  Title IV funds include:
  • Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans
  • Direct PLUS Loans
  • Federal Pell Grants
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOGs)
  • Federal Perkins Loans
• Use the same Gilman application system as other Gilman Scholarship applicants.  Applicants will simply confirm that they are child dependent of an active duty military member of the U.S. Armed Forces (Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve, Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy, Navy Reserve, Space Force, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and USPHS Commissioned Corps).
• If a student is receiving a Federal Pell Grant and is also a child dependent of an active duty military member, then the student is eligible for both Gilman scholarships and will automatically be considered for both but eligible to receive only one. If they are selected for the Gilman-McCain Scholarship, then they will no longer be considered for the Gilman Scholarship.

CareerOneStop

Sponsored by the U. S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, you can search for more than 8,000 scholarships fellowships, loans, and other financial aid opportunities!

College Board's Scholarship Search

Find scholarships, other financial aid and internships from more than 2,200 programs, totaling nearly $6 billion.

CollegeNet Scholarship Database

Search CollegeNet's $1.6 billion scholarship database.

Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Scholarship

Apply for a $500 scholarship opportunity with Diversity Abroad! Economically disadvantaged students, first-generation, students with disabilities and ethnic and racially diverse students are strongly encouraged to apply. Opens in February for Summer term.

Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders

Students interested in applying must have at least one parent of Hispanic ancestry; U.S. citizenship is not required. Applicants must show financial need and enroll as full-time students.

Fastweb

Search for scholarships with Fastweb's free scholarship matching service.

First Trip Scholarship

If you are studying abroad in a non-traditional location (e.g. Costa Rica, Namibia) and this is your first time ever traveling outside of the United States, check out the eligible destinations!  Awardees are asked to submit brief testimonials of their first experience abroad.

Follett Bookstore Scholarship

Helps to provide financial assistance for books and supplies to students who wish to attend Mesa Community College.

Award Criteria

• You must be enrolled at Mesa Community College
• The award can only be used on required books and supplies listed on the course syllabus
• You must demonstrate that you need assistance to buy your required textbooks and supplies
• You must be an Arizona resident
• You must be a legal resident of the United States

Fund for Education Abroad General Scholarship

Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents currently enrolled as undergraduates in US universities/colleges who plan to study abroad for at least four weeks. Fund for Education Abroad gives preference to students with demonstrated financial need, and strongly encourages students to apply who represent a group that is traditionally underrepresented in education abroad. These groups include, but are not limited to:

• First-generation college students
• Minority students
• Community college students

Annual application cycle opens in November.  Deadline:  Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 12 pm EST

2019 Fund for Education Abroad Rainbow Scholarship

• $1,473 - PC - Reynaldo Bujan - participating in MCC Britain study abroad program

Gates Millennium Scholarships

Scholarships  funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for Pell Grant-eligible African-American, Hispanic-American, American-Indian, Alaskan-Native, or Asian-Pacific Islander-American students.

Healthcare Heroes Scholarship

The GK Legacy Healthcare Heros Scholarship is open to Arizona residents age 25 years or older and can be used for a degree in healthcare. The next cycle opens September 1, 2022.  Scholarships range from $500-$5,000.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund

As the nation’s largest provider of college financial aid to Latino students, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund offers a diverse range of scholarship programs.

IIEPassport Study Abroad Funding

This Institute of International Education directory features detailed descriptions of 100's of study abroad scholarships, fellowships, grants, and paid internships for US students and professionals.

International Financial Aid and College Scholarship Search

IEFA is the premier resource for financial aid, college scholarship and grant information for US and international students wishing to study abroad.

Keep Your Chin Up Scholarship Fund

The GK Legacy Foundation Keep Your Chin Up Scholarship Fund is open to Arizona residents age 25 years or older who are interested in attending college, or any accredited vocational or technical program that will improve their workforce skills. There are two scholarship cycles: February and September of each year.  Scholarships range from $500-$5,000.

Lois Kellogg-Duncan Memorial Study Abroad Scholarship

Study Abroad Ireland - Award: $500

CRITERIA

• Student enrolled at Mesa Community College
• Minimum 2.5 Cumulative GPA
• Enrolled in a minimum of 3 credit hours in either Philosophy or Religious Studies
• May be used for a Philosophy or Religious Studies course in the Study Abroad Ireland program (REL250)
• Must be able to demonstrate financial need by completing the 2023–2024 Free Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA) form.
• Apply at: https://mcccd.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com/Scholarships/Search
  • Keyword Search: Lois Kellogg-Duncan Memorial Scholarship at Mesa Community College
  • Application opens: January 1 (annually)
  • Deadline: March 2, 2024

Maricopa County Community College (Publicly Funded) District (MCCCD) Scholarships

Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation Scholarships

Hundreds of Scholarships. One Application! 

MCC Honors Program Study Abroad Scholarship

The MCC Honors Department has a scholarship opportunity for MCC Honor students who may be participating in one of the study abroad programs.  For more information, please visit the MCC Honors website or call 480.461.7143.

MCC Service Scholarship

For Mesa Community College (MCC) students who have participated in a minimum of 100 hours of community service at a non-profit or government agency within the past 12 months of the submission date of application, you can receive a $500 scholarship award!

Miscellaneous Scholarships

Find out if scholarships are available from your employer or your parents' employer.  Also for some assistance from civic and/or religious organizations that you or your family members participate in.

Mitch Zelman Academic Scholarship

“I was fortunate to be able to continue my education past high school, which ultimately helped me follow my dreams of working in business and risk management. I wanted to find a way to give back. What better way than investing in the future?” says Mitchel Zelman.

Nancy Etz Scholarship

Prepare a 500-word essay that answers the following prompt: “Describe an area in your life where you demonstrated leadership and overcame obstacles in either your school, society, or family life”.

Phoenix College Gregory M. Adams Study Abroad Scholarship

Phoenix College students may apply for the Gregory Adams Study Abroad Fellowship via the Maricopa Community College Foundation.  Award amounts vary.

Project GO - For ROTC Students

Scholarships.com

Search for free grants and scholarships.

Scholarships & Grants for Black Students | MoneyGeek.com

Scholarships & Grants for Hispanic Students | MoneyGeek.com

Scholarship Search | MoneyGeek.com

Scholarship Resources at StudyAbroad.com

Search for a variety of merit-based, student-specific, destination-specific, program-specific, and subject-specific study abroad scholarships.

SoftOrbits $1,000 Scholarship

Write a study about the digital photography industry.  You may write about unusual photos in your collection, how you managed to take them, describe the editing process, whether you use any programs or prefer the natural look. Send us the examples of your photos and share your photography tips. Write an article so that we could share your experience with our users and you'll get a chance to win $1000.

The National Data Base Scholarships

Search for 10 billion in scholarships!

Tuition Funding Sources (TFS)

Tuition Funding Sources is a website with a large scholarship database designed to help students find scholarships, college, and career information.

United Negro College Fund

Many of the UNCF scholarships require that the scholarship recipient apply for Federal Student Aid, it is recommended that applicants complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Get in-depth information on federal student aid programs and applying for financial aid at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

Veterans United Foundations Scholarship

Veteran's United Foundation assists military service members and their families by awarding up to twenty $2,000 scholarships to help pay for tuition and books each semester.

Volunteer Forever

Search for 200 scholarships and grant opportunities to make your dream of volunteering or studying abroad come true!