AFFORDING STUDY ABROAD
Rick Winfrey won the NSEP Boren Scholarship for study abroad at Nanzan University in Japan for the 2006-2007 academic year.
Chances are if you are reading this article you are interested in study abroad. You should be. Taking aside the asset of a study abroad experience in helping you present yourself to future employers as a distinguished, more diversified individual, let alone the places and people to which study abroad will introduce you, the opportunity it provides to live and relate to a different culture, not to mention all of the little surprises and unexpected bumps in the pace of life that make time abroad infinitely interesting, if we leave all of those benefits aside one very important aspect still remains. Study abroad will grab and shake the foundations of your being. It will change your perceptions about yourself, the US, the world, human beings and ultimately your perceptions about life. Are you interested now?
If you are like I was before I went to study in Japan, you are wondering how can you afford the initially intimidating price tag of a study abroad program. Not to worry, study abroad is more affordable than you might think. Would you be surprised to know that the total expenditures of most year abroad programs are comparable to the total costs of one year at KU (in-state tuition)? Would you also be surprised to find out that there are literally hundreds of scholarship agencies wanting to give you money to study abroad? With a little time and energy you too can be waiting on the tarmac about to fly into a world of unknown without facing a fearful financial meltdown (and if you are really lucky your plane will be on time too).
RICK WINFREY (FAR RIGHT) AND FRIENDS VISIT NAGOVA CASTLE,
DURING THEIR YEAR ABOARD AT NANZU IN UNIVERSITY IN JAPAN.
I can still remember the exact moment I realized a summer and a year-long program combining for 11 months of study in Japan was possible. It was when I received confirmation I was selected to receive a Boren Scholar National Security Education Program scholarship (NSEP). This
scholarship provides up to $20,000 in funding to study a language that is under-represented in US higher education. In return, recipients commit to a year of service utilizing their knowledge of a "critical" foreign language - made possible by an NSEP scholarship - with a US federal government agency within the intelligence community. As I am now starting the job hunt process and looking for a position to fulfill my service requirement I am continuously impressed with the large network of support that exists for NSEP recipients. Not only did NSEP open the door to study in Japan but has also opened a door to a possible career as well.
Soon after the NSEP confirmation another, and then another, and then another scholarship confirmation came through. When the dust settled I'd received the Freeman-Asia, bridging Japan and KU Office of Study Abroad scholarships. The Freeman-Asia scholarship is designed for students who currently receive need-based financial aid who plan to study in a country in Southeast and East Asia. Students who receive this scholarship create and implement a service plan to promote study abroad upon their return to their US university.
There are region-specific scholarships and general scholarships. I found it was best to apply for the most specific scholarships I could find for Japan, and expand my scholarship applications to include more general scholarships. Most scholarship agencies will screen a successful applicant in three areas: academic history, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the knowledgeable and amazing staff at the KU Office of Study Abroad. From helping plan budgets to navigating through visa and application forms, my study abroad advisor always made time to answer any questions or concerns I had before leaving. We are truly lucky to have one of America's best study abroad offices here at KU. Do not miss out on this valuable resource!
There are few reasons not to study abroad. Alight your anxieties or doubts at the entrance of the Office of Study Abroad in Lippincot Hall and see where in the world you can go. Even if you are mildly interested, one 15 minute meeting with a peer-advisor might just give you the study abroad bug (and could save you from missing out on one of the most significant experiences of your life). Start early. Unlike that 10 page research paper, this is definitely not an experience to procrastinate on.
Federal financial aid and Scholarships are available to KU students enrolled in a study abroad program that is approved by the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) at The University of Kansas and who meet eligibility guidelines to receive aid.
FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDY ABROAD
Federal Grants and Student Loans
Complete the "Free Application of Federal Financial Aid" (FAFSA) for the term you plan on studying abroad. For more information, visit The University of Kansas Financial Aid Office, 50 Strong Hall.
Office of Study Abroad Scholarships
Open to KU students traveling on OSA approved summer, semester, and academic year study abroad programs. Applicants must be degree-seeking undergraduate or graduate students at KU. For more information, visit the Office of Study Abroad, 108 Lippincott Hall.
Additional On-Campus Scholarship Opportunities
Check with you academic department about departmental scholarship and grants that may be available to you for studying abroad.
National and Regional Scholarships
David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships for Study Abroad Open to undergraduate students studying in Africa, Asia, Eastern and Central Europe Central and South America, and the Middle East. All Boren scholarship recipients must seek employment with a federal agency or office involved in national security affairs For more information, please contact Justine Hamilton in the Office of Study Abroad.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship
Scholarship is based on financial aid one is already receiving and the study abroad location. Student must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant to be eligible for this scholarship For more information, visit the Office of Study Abroad.
Freeman-ASIA
The Freeman-ASIA program provides U.S. undergraduates studying in Asia with awards for the summer, or academic year. Upon return, awardees must fulfill a service requirement to promote study abroad in Asia on their home campus and share their knowledge with their community, and must submit a report to IIE summarizing their experiences. KU students interested in the Freeman-ASIA program should contact Renée Frias in the Office of Study Abroad for information on how to apply.
For a complete listing of Study Abroad Scholarships, please visit the KU Office of Study Abroad, 108 Lippincott Hall.
THE NATIONAL SECURITY EDUCATION PROGRAM (NSEP) DAVID L. BOREN UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS offer
a unique opportunity for U.S. undergraduates to study abroad. NSEP awards scholarships to American students for study of world regions critical to U.S. interests (including Africa, Asia, Central & Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America & the Caribbean, and the Middle East). For more information on the NSEP Boren Undergraduate Scholarships, contact Justine Hamilton in the Office of Study Abroad (785-864-3742, Justine@ku.edu, 108 Lippincott Hall). Upcoming NSEP Scholarship Information Meetings:
Tuesday, September 18 @ 3:00 p.m. in the Walnut Room, Kansas Union Tuesday, October 16 @ 3:00 p.m. in the International Room, Kansas Union
JAYHAWKS ABROAD
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