The short answer

Yes, study abroad scholarships are real, and some students pay less abroad than they do at home. But full rides are rare: winners almost always stack several smaller study abroad scholarships.

Fresh study-abroad coverage spotlighted Costa Rica, where universities run international-student scholarships, government programs exist, and portable aid plus targeted awards made semesters cheaper than expected. Below: the reality check on study abroad scholarships, the four award types students actually win, five steps to a stronger application, and the language piece most applicants underestimate.

Study Abroad Scholarships: The Reality Check From Costa Rica

Costa Rica shows the pattern: scholarships exist, but they are partial and specific, not blanket free rides. Costa Rican universities offer awards aimed at international students to offset tuition and living costs, and government programs such as Becas Costa Rica cover tuition and living expenses for selected applicants.

Then the student side. One Illinois State student found regular financial aid carried over to the Costa Rica program, and paid less abroad than at home.

An Oakland University student combined aid with study abroad scholarships from the International Education Office, which funds about $45,000 a year in study-abroad awards. Neither is a full study abroad scholarship. Both are real, repeatable wins.

Choosing where to go matters as much as funding: weigh the institution’s reputation, the courses offered, and internship or volunteer options against your own goals. Popular student cities include San Jose, Heredia, and Monteverde.

The takeaway: treat study abroad scholarships as a stack, not a single jackpot. Full funding usually means two to four smaller study abroad scholarships plus whatever home-university aid you can carry with you.

The 4 Scholarship Types Students Actually Win

These are the four types of study abroad scholarships students actually win, from need-based aid to host-university awards.

1. Need-based: the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

Funded by the U.S. Department of State and run by the Institute of International Education, Gilman awards up to $5,000 to U.S. undergraduates who receive Pell Grants, the federal grants for students with exceptional financial need.

Since 2001, more than 41,000 Gilman scholars have studied or interned in over 160 countries. If you already receive a Pell Grant, this is the single highest-value application you can file.

2. Merit and access: Fund for Education Abroad

The Fund for Education Abroad is an independent nonprofit offering up to $10,000 for semester or summer programs of at least 28 days, open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. It favors students underrepresented in study abroad: first-generation students, community college students, and minority students.

3. Government: DAAD, the German Academic Exchange Service

For Germany-bound students, DAAD is the heavyweight. Funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, it pays monthly stipends roughly between 934 and 1,300 euros depending on level, plus travel and insurance.

It is highly competitive: recent degrees must be within six years, applicants should not have lived in Germany more than 15 months, and certified English or German proof is required.

4. University-specific: University for Peace (UPEACE)

Host universities fund their own international cohorts, and these awards fly under the radar. Costa Rica’s own University for Peace offers partial and full scholarships for its master’s programs in Environment, Development, and Peace. Always check the host university’s own aid page. These awards draw fewer applicants than the famous national ones.

5 Steps to a Stronger Application

1. Start 9 to 12 months out. Most deadlines fall 3 to 6 months before departure, and the big programs run fixed annual cycles.
2. Stack deliberately. Apply to one flagship study abroad scholarship (Gilman, DAAD), two mid-size awards (FEA, program providers), and your host university’s own scholarships.
3. Get your aid to travel. Ask your home university’s international office whether your existing financial aid transfers to the program. Often it does, which lowers the amount you must win.
4. Write the essay around outcomes, not wanderlust. Committees fund students who can name the course, the skill, and the career link. Name names: the professor, the lab, the archive.
5. Prove the language. A certified level on paper beats “conversational” on a CV (see next section).

The Language Piece: Know Your Level Before You Apply

Many programs set a minimum language requirement on the CEFR scale from A1 to C2. Exchange programs commonly list B2, while degree study taught in a local language often asks for C1.

Find where you stand first: our CEFR levels guide explains each level and how to pick your target. A verified B2 quietly strengthens every study abroad scholarship essay.

FAQ

How much do study abroad scholarships actually cover?

Most cover part of the bill: Gilman up to $5,000, FEA up to $10,000, DAAD a monthly stipend. Few cover everything alone. Winners combine study abroad scholarships with portable home-university aid, so checking transferability matters as much as applying.

Can I study abroad without knowing the local language?

Often, yes: many programs teach in English and build language courses into the semester. But a certified level widens your options and strengthens applications.

Are there scholarships for non-U.S. students?

Yes. DAAD funds students worldwide, the University for Peace funds its own international master’s students, and most host universities list international awards on their sites. Your own government’s exchange agency likely runs an equivalent study abroad scholarship program.

Sources

For further reading on study abroad scholarships, see this Gilman scholarship story, a guide to eco-tourism scholarships in Costa Rica, an Illinois State student’s semester in Costa Rica, and an Oakland University student’s experience studying abroad in Costa Rica.