Top 8 Internship Abroad Scholarships & Grants to Apply For Now

Looking to finance your study abroad adventure? Explore active scholarships and grants, plus our financial aid tips!

Top 8 Internship Abroad Scholarships & Grants to Apply For Now

When it comes to studying abroad and having an international professional career, no one should be left out. Whether you are planning to intern abroad this summer or you have it in mind in the near future, you should be considering intern abroad scholarships. 

8 Internship Abroad Scholarships & Grants to Apply For Now
This free money for interning abroad is yours for the taking! Photo credit: Absolute Internship

It might be a bit overwhelming to go through all the options available—which are not few—but it’s absolutely worth it! Especially if you're trying hard to intern abroad for free.

You might be thinking there are a lot of restraints and requirements to get grants for internships abroad, but the truth is, it’s all about the effort you put into it. You won’t be eligible for funding for your intern abroad experience unless you apply now. After all, the more money you save, the more you’ll have to spend on enjoying your travels. This short-list of internship abroad scholarships is a great starting point for your research online. 


Here are the top eight intern abroad scholarships and grants to apply for now:



Apply for these internship abroad scholarships—deadlines are soon!


1. Absolute Internship

Absolute Internship works with over 800 industry-leading companies around the world to provide students with the opportunity to travel the globe whilst developing their personal and professional skill set. An AI program covers internship placement in the industry and destination of choice, high-quality accommodation, visa support, cultural excursions, as well as professional development events and company visits. 


On top, they began a scholarship initiative to ensure that the most talented and driven students and graduates are provided with an opportunity to thrive, regardless of their financial situation. If you have selected your potential scholarships, you’re more than ready to apply for a summer 2022 program and corresponding summer internship scholarships by submitting an application.

  • Deadline: September 31, 2022
  • Award: varies
  • Degree level: Undergraduate students and recent graduates

2. Diversity Abroad


This community is a leading international organization founded in 2006, which connects diverse students, recent graduates and young professionals with international study, intern, volunteer degree and job opportunities. Their mission is to ensure that students from diverse economic, educational, ethnic and social backgrounds have equal access and take advantage of the benefits afforded through global education exchanges.


8 Internship Abroad Scholarships & Grants to Apply For Now
Apply for summer internship scholarships to help lessen the cost of your best school break EVER.

At Diversity Abroad, you can apply for more than $400,000 worth of scholarships alone. If you want to study abroad in the summer, you should be researching summer internship scholarships as early as February. They vary depending on the country you apply for and the subject or industry you belong to. One of the most common scholarships here is the Diversity Network Scholarship:

  • Deadline: October 01, 2022
  • Award: $1,000
  • Degree level: Full-time undergraduate students (attending college or university)

3. Fund for Education Abroad


We love internship abroad scholarships and opportunities provided by The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA)! FEA invests in promising students who are underrepresented among the US study abroad population with financial need who wish to undertake international internships and exchanges. These grants for internships abroad range from $1,250—$10,000 and can be applied for programs that run from May 2022.

  • Deadline: February 21, 2022
  • Award: Minimum of $1,250 (prorated by number of weeks-in-country)
  • Degree level: Undergraduate at a college or university in the U.S.

4. The National Society of Collegiate Scholars


NSCS’ Scholarship Program awards $1 million annually in undergraduate scholarships, awards and funds—more than any other honor society. NSCS offers 26 different national scholarship opportunities throughout the spring, summer, and fall. The Summer Internship Award is the most convenient in this case:

  • Deadline: October 19, 2022
  • Award: $2,500
  • Degree level: Undergraduate or alumni NSCS member
scholarships for unpaid internships abroad
These scholarships for unpaid internships abroad can help lessen the blow of your overall expenses.


5. Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships

This scholarship is specifically for students enrolled in an internship abroad program. Sponsored directly by the US Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the scholarship seeks to help students with financial need afford “non-traditional” study away and internship experiences. With over 2,000 scholarships of approximately $4,000 being awarded annually, this scholarship may be what you’re looking for.

  • Deadline: November 2022
  • Award: $4,000
  • Degree level: Undergraduate students


6. The Global Study Awards—StudyPortals


How could up to £10,000 help you with your academic project? Just tell StudyPortals.com how the funds would help you for a chance to win! The Global Study Awards was launched in 2015 together with the British Council IELTS, aiming to fund students with projects related to their academic careers, so make sure to tell them in your application how your plans will do just that.

  • Deadline: varies
  • Award: $1,000
  • Degree level: Undergraduate students

7. International Volunteer HQ

scholarships for unpaid internships
#DidYouKnow that you can get grants for internships abroad even for short-term programs? Photo credit: Absolute Internship


IVHQ’s Alternative Break Scholarships double as internship abroad scholarships and are open to anyone looking to break away from the standard-issue Spring, Summer, or Winter break. If you apply for the Alternative Break Scholarship, you may get your program fees paid plus flights up to the value of $1,000, which in total could save you more than $3,000! 

  • Deadline: February 11, 2022
  • Award: $1,250
  • Degree level: Anyone eligible over the age of 18

8. Freeman-ASIA Awards


Freeman Awards for Study in Asia provides scholarships for US undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia—scholarships for unpaid internships don't get much better than this! If you are interested in this area, you should apply in the academic term before the programs begin. All academic year applications will open on February 4, 2022.

  • Deadline: October 5, 2022
  • Award: up to $3,000
  • Degree level: Bachelors


Scholarship alternative: Crowdfunding


If none of these scholarships for unpaid internships abroad seem to fit, there is always FundMyTravel. These sites give travelers their own platform for raising money. In other words, it is a personal fundraising website. They make it easy to budget for your trip, incentivize donors to contribute, and even request offline support. 


We are talking about an alternative for the most creative ones. What you need to do is create your fundraising page with an exciting story about your planned trip, including photos and videos. The most important? Leaving an impression on your audience to inspire them in any way. After that, you want to share your campaign on social media to boost your donations. It’s fast, easy, and if you can get your friends and family to help you, you can reach your goal in no time. With the funding you may get, you can start planning your traveling before or after your international experience!


A few more tips to help you win intern abroad scholarships

internship abroad scholarships
Read more advice on internship abroad scholarships and how you can go from "unhired" to "employee of the year" stat!

Presentation is key. A video application is always a good way to virtually introduce yourself, allowing you to showcase your confidence, determination and motivation towards an international experience. What do you expect from the internship? How will studying abroad help you in your future career? What opportunities will this scholarship give you which you wouldn’t have access to otherwise? These are some of the questions you may include in that video application.


The more work a scholarship requires, such as videos, essays or projects, the smaller the application pool is—this means greater chances for you.


You may want to adapt to your industry: Push yourself to stand out from other students and be original if your sector expects you to be. For instance, if your major is in marketing or communications, showcase your creative skills. Include anecdotes to add value to your application. You’ll want to work on a motivational letter or scholarship essay. 


Get personal, don’t use quotes or someone else’s words. Make references to your career, talk about a not-so-positive experience you overcame using your skills and build on your accomplishments. Introducing yourself in the essay can be tricky, since many scholarship committees conduct blind readings and discard essays that include names. Avoid cliches! 


On the other side, make sure you contact your University Career Services and teachers as they will walk you through the different options and processes, give you tips and ultimately help you obtain a scholarship. That’s why they are for, so use them!


A few last final tips: Prioritize local scholarships to apply for. The odds of winning these scholarships are greater because they’re open to smaller group of students. Besides, scholarships with smaller awards are less competitive and have fewer applicants, hence your chances of winning may be higher. Moreover, you should maintain a professional online presence. How? Bearing in mind what content do you upload in social media, keeping it professional, and have a personal email address to make a good first impression. You never know if scholarship providers require finalists to friend them on Facebook, LinkedIn, or any other online platform.


Scholarships for unpaid internships abroad are out there

intern abroad scholarships

Intern abroad scholarships = something to smile about!


Remember, it’s not a bad idea to consider financial aid for your travels. Internship scholarships are out there, don’t be too shy to fill out an application, as early as possible! The next intern to embark on an international experience could be you. We wish you the best of luck on your search for a scholarship!


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