Eligibility
Applications will be accepted from undergraduate students enrolled full time in a degree-seeking program on the IU Bloomington campus. The study abroad experience must take place during the period immediately following applications. Applications submitted for retroactive reimbursement will not be considered. Students in any one of the following programs are eligible to apply:
- 21st Century Scholars Program
- Groups Scholars Program
- Hudson and Holland Scholars Program
- Academic Support Center (ASC OVPDEMA-funded tutors only)
- FASE Mentoring Program (FASE Mentors only)
Applicants must be in good disciplinary and academic standing at the time of application and must maintain academic progress toward degree completion to receive the scholarship award. To receive OVPDEMA study abroad scholarships, students need to have minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. Students with a lower than 2.5 GPA may submit an appeal letter to the OVPDEMA Study Abroad Scholarship selection committee.
Appeal decisions are made by the committee on a case-by-case basis. The appeal letter should address the following three questions and must not exceed 500 words:
- Explanation of low GPA (below 2.5)
- Why the study abroad experience will help the applicant
- What the applicant is planning to do to bring his/her GPA up after the study abroad experience
Students must be accepted to an IU Study Abroad program that offers credit, as listed under the IU Office of Overseas Study programs. Some IU departmental programs that have study abroad components are acceptable.
Applicants must comply with IU Office of Overseas Study policies and regulations. Seniors must have one semester to complete at IU upon their return from the study abroad programs. Students who plan to graduate before they complete their study abroad experience or the study abroad program is during their last semester at IU are not eligible.
Students who demonstrate financial need will be given special consideration. Students receiving a full scholarship from another source are not eligible for this study abroad scholarship. Preference will be given to students who previously have not received OVPDEMA study abroad scholarships. Preference will be given to students who do not have extensive travel or study abroad experience.
Review criteria
The scholarship committee will rate applications based on the following selection criteria:
- Quality of the applicant’s response to the scholarship essay (250 words maximum)
- Quality of the recommendation forms (one recommendation form must be from an IU faculty member from the applicant’s major/minor)
- Whether the overseas program relates to the major/minor that applicant is pursuing
- Applicant’s cumulative grade point average
- Country of destination. Students are encouraged to consider studying in a nontraditional destination within the following regions of the world: Africa, Asia, Central or South America, Eastern Europe, or the Middle East. Browse the IU Office of Overseas Study list of IU programs and destinations.
- Limited previous experience abroad
- Duration of the applicant’s study abroad program. Preference will be given to summer and semester-long programs.
Scholarship awards will range from $500 to $4,000. Scholarship award notifications will be sent electronically; applicants should be sure a correct email address is provided. Scholarship funds will post to the awardee’s Statement of Account with the Indiana University Office of the Bursar. Award recipients will be required to submit pictures and short reports, the following semester after the study abroad program.
Application components
The application essay should answer the following questions:
- Why do you want to undertake your program abroad?
- How will your study abroad contribute to your academic and/or professional growth?
- How will your study abroad contribute to your potential to give back to others?
Essays cannot exceed 250 words. Applications with essays longer than 250 words will not be accepted. We recommend typing your essay in MS Word (check the spelling and character count; character count is under the word count tool) and then pasting it into the application.
Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation (at least one recommender must be an IU faculty member from your major/minor). Graduate students are not considered faculty.
Recommendation letters from family members will not be accepted. Letters from friends are only suitable if they attest to the applicant’s work ethic or academic ability. We encourage students to get a recommendation letter from their program advisor/mentor.
Email demaschl@indiana.edu for more details.