Financial Aid

Any financial aid that a student receives for studying at Lafayette will automatically be applied to the study abroad program; the amount is capped at Lafayette’s cost. For questions regarding financial aid packages administered by Lafayette, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 610-330-5055 or financialaid@lafayette.edu.

Under normal conditions, international students may apply their financial aid to a study abroad experience for one semester. Exceptions will only be made in cases in which a student’s Lafayette curriculum requires additional study abroad.

Many of our affiliated programs offer their own scholarships and aid packages; typically these range from $500 to $3000. Please consult each program’s web site or brochure for more information.

Scholarships, fellowships, grants and awards:

  • Lafayette awards one student per year the David A Portlock Study Abroad Memorial Prize. Each year one student receiving college-funded financial aid will be awarded this $500 prize; in 2007-08 the award will be made to a student studying abroad during the upcoming fall semester or full academic year, and in 2008-09 it will be awarded to a student going abroad the following spring semester. Applicants must be in good academic standing, and must write an essay explaining why they are interested in studying abroad, what they can bring to the experience, and what they hope to take away from the experience. The essay should be no more than two typed double-spaced pages. The selection of the candidate is made by the Off-Campus Study Committee, and the decision will be based on the candidate’s essay, cumulative GPA, and major. Students interested in applying for the Portlock Prize should pick up the application from the Office of the Dean of the College in 200 Scott Hall, and return it by February 15, 2008 (for study abroad Fall 2008 or the entire 2008-2009 academic year), or October 15, 2008 (for study abroad Spring 2010).

There are also a number of prestigious and competitive external scholarships, fellowships and grants available to students who want to study abroad, including:

  • The National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships focus on geographic areas, languages, and fields of study deemed critical to U.S. national security (including Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin American & the Caribbean, and the Middle East). The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded. This program draws on a broad definition of national security, recognizing that the scope of national security has expanded to include not only the traditional concerns of protecting and promoting American well-being, but also the challenges of global society, including: sustainable development, environmental degradation, global disease and hunger, population growth and migration, and economic competitiveness. NOTE: Applicants for this scholarship must be officially endorsed by Lafayette College; please contact Dean Julia Goldberg if you would like to apply. THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS November 20, 2009, TO STUDY ABROAD SUMMER 2010, FALL 2010, AND/OR SPRING 2011.
  • The Benjamin A Gilman International Scholarships provides awards for U.S. undergraduate students who are receiving federal Pell Grant funding to participate in study abroad programs worldwide. Awards are capped at $5000, and specific award amounts will vary depending on the length of study and student need (with the average award being $4,000). Students who apply for and receive the Gilman Scholarship to study abroad are now eligible to receive an additional $3,000 Critical Need Language Supplement from the Gilman Program for a total possible award of up to $8,000. (The “critical need” languages are Arabic, Chinese, Turkic, Persian, Indic, Korean and Russian.) THE DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR THIS SCHOLARSHIP IS SEPTEMBER 21, 2009, TO STUDY ABROAD SPRING 2010.
  • DAAD – The German Academic Exchange Service offers scholarships and grants to undergraduates who wish to study in Germany during the academic year. Recipients will be awarded a monthly stipend of approximately € 615, plus additional funds to help defray travel and research expenses as well as health insurance.
  • Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarships The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarships program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographical areas. While abroad, scholars serve as goodwill ambassadors to the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others the experiences that led to a greater understanding of their host country. NOTE that the application deadline for Rotary scholarships can be more than 12 months in advance of the beginning of the program.
  • Freeman-Asia Scholarships The primary goal of Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA) is to increase the number of U.S. undergraduates who study in East and Southeast Asia, by providing them with the information and financial assistance they will need. Award recipients are expected to share their experiences with their home campuses to encourage study abroad in East and Southeast Asia by others, and to spread greater understanding of Asian peoples and cultures within their home communities. Award amounts are up to $3000 for summer programs, $5000 for semester programs, and $7000 for year-long programs.
  • The National Italian American Foundation Scholarships for Study Abroad are for either Italian American students who demonstrate outstanding potential and high academic achievements (area of study is open), or students from any ethnic background majoring or minoring in Italian language, Italian studies, Italian American studies or a related field, who demonstrate outstanding potential and high academic achievements. Scholarship awards range from $2,500-$10,000.

For more information about Scholarships and Fellowships, please contact Dean Julia Goldberg at (610) 330-5521 or goldbeja@lafayette.edu.