Traveling to another country is a wonderful way to gain a new perspective, immerse yourself in another culture, and make memories that will last a lifetime. However, expenses for international travel can add up quickly between airfare, accommodations, food, transportation in-country, activities and more. This guide aims to educate readers on the many grant and fellowship opportunities available to fund travel, living expenses, research, studies, volunteering, and more for experiences abroad. Whether you dream of backpacking through Europe, volunteering in South America, or pursuing research in Asia, with the right grant you can turn your goals of international exploration into a reality.
Types of Grants for Traveling Abroad
There are several major categories of grants available to help fund travels and experiences overseas. Understanding the different types of funding opportunities is the first step to determining which may be the best fit for your goals and situation.
Education and Study Abroad Grants
Many grants specifically support students pursuing academic experiences abroad such as study abroad programs, internships, field research, and foreign language immersion opportunities. Education abroad grants are offered by both large national programs as well as individual colleges and universities. Major study abroad grant programs include the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, Boren Awards for International Study, and Fulbright U.S. Student Program. These highly competitive federal grants can provide several thousand dollars to support semester or year-long academic programs abroad.
In addition, most colleges and universities have internal study abroad scholarship programs to supplement the cost of overseas coursework. Even community colleges often have funding available for accredited study abroad. Be sure to check with your home institution’s study abroad office or international programs department for internal grant and scholarship deadlines and requirements. Combining external and institutional funding can make long-term study abroad more affordable.
Volunteer and NGO Travel Grants
For those interested in volunteering, interning, or working with non-profit organizations overseas, several grants exist specifically for international service experiences. Major volunteer grant programs include Global Vision International, Peace Corps, and International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). These grants not only provide funding but also program placement and support for specified volunteer durations ranging from a few weeks to years.
Some other notable volunteer grants include IFSA Butler’s Service-Learning Grant Program, Cross-Cultural Solutions International Volunteer Program Scholarships, and CISV International Youth Exchange Programs. These funds help cover airfare, accommodations, meals, a small living stipend, and project materials for short-term international volunteer placements. Applying early is key as these opportunities book up fast.
Fellowship and Research Grants
Numerous fellowships exist to support field research, data collection, and thesis work overseas – especially for graduate students in fields like anthropology, public health, environmental science and more. Prestigious options include Fulbright Research Grants, DAAD Research Fellowships, Social Science Research Council International Dissertation Research Fellowships (IDRF), and Wenner-Gren Dissertation Fieldwork Grants.
Research fellowships often provide robust funding of $15,000-$35,000 for 3-12 months abroad to cover living expenses, research costs, and international travel while advancing your scholarly work. Private foundations also award research and fellowship grants focused on specific topical areas or world regions. Thoroughly researching foundations relevant to your discipline is important for locating lesser-known but suitable funding options.
Cultural Exchange and Language Grants
For those seeking cultural or linguistic immersion abroad, grants for international cultural exchange, foreign language programs, and language teaching can open many doors. Major cultural exchange grants include the Critical Language Scholarship Program (CLS), Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) for German studies and Gilman Scholarship for studying critical languages.
Structured language programs supported include American Councils for International Education, AmeriCorps Language Programs, and Teaching Assistantships abroad. Specific regions like Latin America also have dedicated exchange programs. For example, the Latin American and Caribbean Scholarship Program of American Universities (LACSPAU) provides fully-funded semester or year programs in over 20 countries to strengthen U.S.-Latin American relations.
Arts, Journalism, and Special Projects Grants
The arts, journalism and media also have tailored grants for international experiences. Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting awards grants for field reporting on underreported global issues. World Press Photo Joop Swart Masterclass funds photographic reporting worldwide. Funds for arts include Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grants for overseas art study and U.S.-Japan Creative Artists’ Fellowships.
Other specialized grants support international collaborative projects in fields such as engineering (International Science & Technology Practice Awards) and entrepreneurship (Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program in Entrepreneurship). Carefully identifying projects, programs and activities that align with your interests and skills is key to uncovering niche funding opportunities.
Finding and Applying for Suitable Grants
Now that you have an overview of the major grant categories, the next step is systematically searching for the right specific funding opportunities and putting together a strong application. Here are some tips for maximizing your chances of being selected:
- Use comprehensive grant databases like GrantForward, GrantSource, and grants.gov to search across many foundations and programs at once. Refine searches by location, topic, timeline and other key fields.
- Consult specialized agency websites for their full grant listings. For example, the Institute of International Education (IIE) manages many top education abroad awards.
- Set personalized Google Alerts for relevant keywords to stay up-to-date on new funding announcements.
- Pay attention to deadlines, which are often 6-12 months in advance. Late or incomplete applications are automatically rejected.
- Check eligibility rules carefully. Most grants require U.S. citizenship and have age, academic status or other conditions to qualify.
- Provide a clear, compelling project narrative clearly aligned with funder’s interests and selection criteria. Emphasize how it will advance your academic/career goals.
- Ask professors and mentors for recommendation letters highlighting your skills, initiative and potential impact of travel.
- Proofread essays thoroughly and get feedback from writing tutors to avoid errors detracting from merit of proposal.
- Follow submission guidelines exactly and submit all required supporting documents by deadline.
- Be persistent. Grants are highly competitive, so keep applying each cycle to increase chances of success over time. Leverage feedback to strengthen proposals.
- Consider reapplying to multiple complementary programs to boost odds of getting one award. Stack compatible grants when possible.
Commit sufficient time upfront to locating prospects and crafting well-polished, carefully targeted applications. With due diligence and persistence, international travel aspirations can become a reality. Even partial awards can significantly defray costs.
Budgeting for Travel Abroad
To make the most of any award funds, it is critical to thoughtfully budget projected expenses both for your grant proposal as well as actual in-country costs. Here are some factors to consider when creating an international travel budget:
Transportation
- Research flight options on multiple search engines and travel booking sites to find the best fares. Discount airlines may save hundreds.
- For overland trips or non-direct routes, budget for additional ground transportation such as buses, trains, local transport.
- Cost flights as close to weekends or off-season as possible for lower ticket prices. Consider flying into multiple destinations to cut costs.
Lodging
- Compare accommodation prices in hostels, homestays, guesthouses, hotels and determine where you feel safe and comfortable. Location matters for convenience and expenses.
- Consider couchsurfing, WWOOFing or work exchange if allowed to further cut lodging costs.
- Budget slightly higher room rates in major cities and tourist hotspots versus more affordable nearby towns.
- Reserve accommodations in advance whenever possible for the best available prices online versus higher walk-up rates.
Food
- Grocery shop for breakfast supplies and pack lunches when possible to save versus dining out. Look for affordable, hygienic market options.
- Budget moderate amounts per meal and drink depending on destination costs, adjusting higher in Europe versus Southeast Asia, for example.
- Consider local street food, home-cooked meals with host families, and cooking for yourself part-time to keep eating expenses low.
Miscellaneous Expenses
- Allot for visa/immigration fees, SIM cards, local transportation passes, attractions/tours, supplies and minor travel expenses. Reserve a cushion for the unexpected too.
- Research which destinations offer free or low-cost activities like hiking, cultural events or museums to supplement paid attractions.
- Utilize wifi sparingly and avoid international roaming fees when possible by purchasing local Sim cards for data access instead.
Always overbudget slightly to account for currency fluctuations and unplanned expenses. With realistic numbers, you can maximize funds from awards and savings to afford your international experience of a lifetime. Careful planning makes formerly out-of-reach global adventures attainable.
Managing Finances While Abroad
Managing money prudently while traveling is key to ensuring funds from grants and personal savings cover the duration of journeys. Here are expert tips for maintaining finances overseas:
- Open bank accounts that don’t charge foreign transaction or withdrawal fees like Charles Schwab or Fidelity. Notify card issuers of travel plans to avoid blocked transactions.
- Consider traveler’s checks which can be replaced if lost but have limited vendor acceptance. Credit cards are safer than debit for large purchases.
- Sign up for alerts from your bank notifying of transactions to catch potential fraud right away. Enable emergency cash transfers if cards are compromised.
- Compare daily exchange rates online for best currency conversions versus estimates to maximize purchasing power abroad.
- Budget and track spending daily using an expense tracking app, spreadsheets or notebook. Review frequently for adjustments if over or under budget to course correct finances.
- Consider working remotely part-time online (tutoring, freelance writing etc), teach English lessons or do odd jobs abroad to supplement funds if the trip extends longer than planned.
With diligent money management and flexibility when needed, travel grants can support affordable, memorable adventures worldwide while staying travel budget. Return home enriched by experiences, not in debt.