One of the biggest myths about going overseas is that it’s outrageously expensive — but the reality is there are hundreds of organizations offering funding scholarships & grants dedicated to helping students realize their study and volunteer abroad dreams, such as those offered right here at Africa Media Academy.
Because we want as many people to have these opportunities as possible, we’ve sifted through the internet to come up with 25 of the best funding scholarships that will help you make traveling to Africa a reality.
25 Funding Scholarships
1. Global Nomadic Funding Scholarships
Eligibility: Open to all applicants.
We are proud to announce our funding scholarships programme for 2018. Simply submit your 2-minute video to enter for your chance to win a $500 USD credit to be used for any of our programmes. We have also teamed up with our partners Global Travel Academy and World Nomads, to get you a Certificate in International Volunteering, and 2 weeks complimentary Travel Insurance.
2. Asia Exchange Funding Scholarships
Eligibility: Open to students enrolled in any institute of higher education in specified regions
Offering up to €500 grants to students from Europe, United States of America, and Australia, who are studying at select universities in Indonesia, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea.
3. Fund for Education Abroad
Eligibility: Must be a US citizen or permanent resident
Offers a range of funding scholarships with an emphasis on supporting students who are under-represented in the study abroad population. Awarding up to $10,000 for academic year programs or $5,000 for semester programs for US undergraduate students.
4. Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships
Eligibility: Open to citizens of any of the countries where Rotary Clubs exist
Awards range from $13,000 to $25,000 for an academic year, multi-year, or 3-6 months of cultural awareness abroad. Applicants must be a citizen of a country that has Rotary Clubs and, have completed at least two years of university coursework.
5. UniPlaces Scholarship
Eligibility: Open to students from any country
Live rent-free for a semester by applying for the Uniplaces Scholarship. The criteria: tell UniPlaces about acts of kindness you’ve done! Two scholarships are available to students worldwide.
6. David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships
Eligibility: Must be a US citizen to apply
Supports US undergraduate students with awards of between $2,500 and $20,000 to study abroad in exchange for a commitment to seek work with the federal government. Must be studying in regions of critical interest to the US (i.e. Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded).
Eligibility: Must be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country
Funded by the UK government and open to graduate students worldwide, this grant helps recipients study at a British university.
8. Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program
Eligibility: Must be a US citizen, permanent residents are not eligible
Fully-funded intensive summer language programs sponsored by the US government to expand the 
number of students mastering foreign languages like Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Farsi, and Japanese. Only US citizens can apply.
9. Confucius Institute Scholarships
Eligibility: Open to students worldwide
Confucius Institutes promote the study of Chinese language and culture around the world,providing generous scholarships of all types, to students wanting to study Chinese.
10. BUNAC Educational Scholarship Trust (BEST)
Eligibility: Must hold a UK passport
Multiple awards for students from the United Kingdom, to take part in post-graduate study in North America. Awards range from £2,000 and £10,000. Must be a UK passport holder to apply.
11. The Study Abroad Journal Scholarship
Eligibility: Open to all students enrolled in a US college or university, including international students
A $500 funding scholarship award based on how you creatively record and share your memories from study abroad with the world. Applications include answering a short question, and a photo/video submission via Instagram. This is open to US and international students enrolled in US universities.
12. uVolunteer Travel Scholarship
Eligibility: Anyone from any country over the age of 18
This covers the full cost of volunteering abroad in Costa Rica for 3 weeks, including airfare and housing. Applicants must submit a video demonstrating their dedication to making a difference in their home community.
13. Cultural Vistas Fellowship
Eligibility: Must be a US citizen to apply
Covering the majority of the costs for 12 under-represented US university students to take part in an eight-week summer internship in Argentina, Germany, and India.
14. Fulbright Scholars Program
Eligibility: Must be a US citizen, permanent residents are not eligible
Fulbright offers multiple awards for English-teaching, research, creative storytelling, and graduate study.
15. Allianz Global Assistance ScholarTrips Award
Eligibility: Must be a US resident
Up to six $2,500 awards to study or volunteer in the country of your choice are available if you answer the question “What inspires you to travel abroad?”
16. Hostelling International USA Explore the World Scholarship
Eligibility: Must be a US citizen or permanent resident.
A generous funding scholarship that plans to award approximately 100 young people (ages 18-30) $2,000 awards for overseas experiences that have an educational or service component.
17. Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship
Eligibility: Must be a US citizen to apply
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, this grant offers up to $5,000 annually to students who will participate in study or, intern-
abroad programs worldwide. Open to undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university.
18. Go Overseas Study and Intern Abroad Scholarship
Eligibility: Open to all students enrolled in a US college or university, including international students
Go Overseas sponsors $500 awards for US undergraduate students to study, volunteer, or intern abroad. Rewarding creative approaches to their application.
19. Tortuga Backpacks Travel Scholarship
Eligibility: Must be a US citizen, permanent resident, or currently studying in the US on a student visa
Tortuga Backpack’s mission is there to “help people take amazing trips.” Awards $1,000 and a Tortuga backpack for students from any US university studying abroad. Applicants need not be US citizens or residents if enrolled in an American university.
20. Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA) Scholarships
Eligibility: Must a US citizen or permanent resident currently enrolled in a two-year or four-year college or university in the US
Providing scholarships for US undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need, to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia, for a semester, summer, or academic year program. Awards range from $3,000 to $7,000.
Eligibility: Candidates must be US citizens and nominated by one of 75 participating institutions
The Luce Scholars Program provides financial support to college seniors, graduate students, as well as young professionals who want to enhance their understanding of Asia. The program provides stipends, language training, and professional placements for approximately 15 scholars yearly.
22. Omprakash Ambassador Travel Grants Volunteer Grants
Eligibility: Open to ethical volunteers from all backgrounds
Omprakash is dedicated to ethical cross-cultural volunteering. Their travel grants pay the travel and living expenses for individuals volunteering abroad within the Omprakash network of health, education, and environmental partner organizations. Applications are considered independently of age or nationality.
22. Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Grants
Eligibility: Must be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at a HACU-member institution.
HACU provides scholarships to students studying with their numerous study abroad partner organizations.
23. Travelocity Travel for Good
Eligibility: Must a US citizen or permanent resident
Every year Travelocity provides travelers with awards to volunteer abroad with one of their partners. Submissions are done via Twitter or Tumblr — with big points for creativity!
24. Volunteer Forever Scholarship
Eligibility: Open to residents of the US, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and the European Union
Volunteer forever awards travel funding scholarships of $500 to $1,000 to study, volunteer, teach, or work-abroad participants. Applications are open twice every year.
25. Samuel Huntington Public Service Awards
Eligibility: Open to anyone from a US college or university, including non-US citizens
This generous scholarship provides a $15,000 stipend for a college senior to pursue one full year of meaningful public service anywhere in the world, after graduation. Applicants don’t have to be US citizens or residents, as long as they are graduating from a US university.