With the never-sleeping global competition in the business environment, many employers nowadays are expecting fresh graduates to already have work experience. While many students opt for a study semester abroad, international internships come with different benefits.

Besides boosting your CV, global internships also diversify your education. They will expand your horizons and understanding of the business environment as well. Unfortunately, not everyone has the financial means to experience such a life-changing opportunity.

As we fully believe that our service of providing excellent and meaningful internships abroad will help our students, we want everyone to get the opportunity of getting a head-start to their professional career.

Therefore we researched for funding organizations, supporting US and European students.

Students in America

1. Rotary Foundation & Club Scholarships

The Rotary Foundation and regional clubs offer a variety of scholarship opportunities for students to study -- and to study abroad. These include scholarships for high school and graduate students, and the amounts and eligibility vary by club. You do not necessarily need to be a Rotary member to qualify.

• Degree Level: All Students (including High School!)
• Award: Varies
• Requirements: Varies
• Deadline: Varies
• Application here

2. The Boren Awards

The Boren Awards are scholarships and fellowships of $2,500 to $20,000 offered to undergraduate and graduate students learning critical skills or languages in countries of interest to the U.S. These include Chinese, Swahili, Portuguese, and Arabic language programs, summer STEM courses, and subjects like International Affairs and Food Sciences.

• Degree Level: Undergraduate & Graduate Students
• Award: $2,500-$20,000
• Requirements: Must be enrolled in an institute of higher education.
• Deadline: February 7 (scholarships) / January 30 (fellowships) (2020 dates)
• Application here

3. Tobi Cares Scholarship

Clothing retailer Tobi offers a $3,000 scholarship annually -- and a $200 Tobi.com credit -- to help women pursue higher education and look great while doing it. Even better, this scholarship can be applied to study abroad if you are selected, and you can use it no matter which year of university you're studying abroad!

• Degree Level: Undergraduate Students
• Award: $3,000
• Requirements: Students must be enrolled in university or community college
• Deadline: December 31 (2019)
• Application here

4. Tortuga Backpacks Study Abroad Scholarship

Part of Tortuga Backpack's mission "is to help people take amazing trips" -- which is why they dedicate part of their proceeds towards a study abroad scholarship. Oh, and you also get a Tortuga travel backpack if you win!

• Degree Level: Undergraduate Students
• Award: $1,000
• Requirements: Must be Enrolled at a U.S. Institution
• Deadline: May 20 / December 20 (2019)
• Application here

5. Gilman-McCain Scholarship

The U.S. Department of State’s Gilman-McCain Scholarship provides awards of $5,000 for child dependents of active duty service members to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs.

• Degree Level: Undergraduate student in good academic standing
• Award: $5,000
• Requirements: Dependent child of an active duty military member(s) during the time of application in one of the following branches: Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard
• Deadline:
  October 1, 2019: For overseas programs that start December 2019-October 2020
  March 3, 2020: For overseas programs that start May 2020-April 2021
• Application here

6. The Go Overseas Study Abroad Scholarship

Twice a year, we give away a $500 scholarship to one lucky Go Overseas community member. You can find all the info and see when the scholarship window will next open by clicking here.

• Degree Level: Any Student
• Award: $500
• Requirements: You must be enrolled full-time at an institution based in the U.S
• Deadline: Twice Yearly
• Application here

Students in Europe

7. Erasmus+ Grant:

Erasmus+ supports traineeships (work placements, internships, etc) abroad for students currently enrolled in higher education institutions. Only students from universities who have applied for Erasmus funding will be able to receive a grant for their placement abroad. Therefore, inquire your university if you can apply for a grant. The amount of monetary support depends on high demand per location.

• Degree Level: All Students
• Award: Between 400 - 450 euros/month, location based
• Requirements: Studying at Higher Education Institution holding an Erasmus+ Charter, placement duration minimum 2 months up to 12 months
• Deadline: before your internship starts
• Application here

8. TU Delft:

Students who are enrolled in an European university, with access to Osiris, are able to apply for an internship grant. 

• Degree Level: All Students
• Award: 250€ for non European destinations, 100€ for European locations
• Requirements: at least enrolled and started in your 2nd year of study, internship income is less than 1.000€
• Deadline: before your internship starts
• Application: on Osiris, for more information here

9. Bafög:

Bafög supports students in their (international) education. Grants are given out to German students, but also European students living in Germany. 

• Degree Level: All Students 
• Award: Depending on destination
• Requirements: for German native students, or students living in Germany
• Deadline: before the start of internship
• Application here

10. Jack's Flight Club Study Abroad Grant

If you're a U.K. resident currently enrolled for an undergraduate degree, apply for the study abroad grant offered through cheap flights site Jack's Flight Club. Twice yearly, this company awards a £500 grant for students to put toward study abroad costs. Also, you can use their service to keep an eye out for cheap flights to/from studying abroad and for coming home at the holidays.

• Degree Level: All Students
• Award: £500
• Requirements: Must be a U.K. citizen enrolled at a higher institution
• Deadline: Varies
• Application here
  
  

Scholarship alternative: Crowdfunding

If none of these intern abroad scholarships seem to fit, there is always FundMyTravel. 

This site gives travelers their own platform to raise money. The idea for this initiative stems from a common problem: lacking financial means to study, work or volunteer abroad.

FundMyTravel focuses solely on travel costs. They make it easy to budget for your trip, incentivize donors to contribute, and even request offline support! 

Be creative and kickstart your own campaign!

A few more tips:

• Introduce yourself with a video application

Answer questions such as: What do you expect from this internship? How will interning abroad help you in your future career? What are you looking forward to the most?

• Adapt the application to your industry!
• Work on a motivational cover letter
• Prioritize local scholarships, open to smaller groups of students
• Get personal and keep it original to stand out from the massive pool of applicants
• Use your University Career Services and advisors as much as you can!

Scholarships to help you intern abroad are out there!

We hope this information was helpful and has sparked your interest, as well as your motivation to go on your next professional adventure.