Financial Aid and Scholarships

Students have many ways to fund their studies abroad. Below we have listed our most commonly used forms of financial aid.

Financial Aid

Students participating in UNC Asheville’s Study Abroad programs may use all types of financial aid for which the student qualifies, including Federal, State, and UNC Asheville grants, scholarships, and/or loans. This includes Exchange programs which are UNC Asheville Exchange Partners, and ISEP-Exchange, Faculty-Led Programs and Non-Exchange programs, which includes ISEP-Direct or other outside programs.

Resources

Scholarships

The UNC Asheville Study Abroad Office is pleased to administer a number of awards for study abroad, made possible by generous donors who value the benefits of an overseas experience.

To apply for a scholarship, select financial aid as part of your online application process and complete the Scholarship Application.  Students will be considered for any award for which they meet the criteria.

All award recipients must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • Maintain full-time status while on program (equivalency of 6 credit hours for Summer or short-term, 12 credit hours for Semester)
  • Must be degree-seeking and making successful progress toward graduation
  • Demonstrated financial need (for some scholarships)
  • Applied and accepted into a Study Abroad program through UNCA

 

UNC Asheville Grants and Awards for Study Abroad

McClinton Scholars Program

The McClinton Scholars Program was established in 2022 with a generous $1 million dollar gift from Susan and Ray McClinton. This program provides $5,000 in financial support to four students each semester who are participating in semester-long study abroad programs. $4,000 is awarded directly to each McClinton Scholar in support of their study abroad experiences. Returning Scholars are expected to work as peer mentors in the Study Abroad Office in order to receive the final $1,000 of the award. To be eligible you must:

  • be enrolled and accepted in a semester-long study abroad program
  • be in good academic standing
  • submit a full application

Awardees will be selected from a range of disciplines, majors, and destinations to engage a diverse range of regional, linguistic, and cultural contexts. Academic merit and financial need will both be considered in selecting McClinton Scholars, with priority given to students who demonstrate both.

International Experience Grant

Need-based grants to students who are receiving academic credit through any of our UNC Asheville faculty-led programs or semester/year exchange opportunities.

Janet Spreckels Study Abroad Award

In memory of Janet Spreckels, a German exchange student to UNC Asheville from University of Heidelberg in 1996, an award has been established which will provide annual stipends to UNC Asheville students who will study abroad in Germany or German-speaking countries as well as a stipend for a student from a German-speaking country who will be studying at UNC Asheville. Applicants from any field of study may apply.

International Education Initiative

Our Summer faculty-led programs, which have a service-learning element, also have received funds from the  International Education Initiative to help reduce the program cost to students.

UNCA Biology Study Abroad/Away Scholarship for Faculty-led Programs

Biology majors who are interested in participating in Study Abroad/Away programs through the UNCA biology department are encouraged to apply for the Biology Study Abroad Scholarship for summer 2023! Scholarships will be awarded up to a maximum of $500 for UNCA Study Away (domestic off-campus field courses) or $1,000 for UNCA Biology Faculty-Led Study Abroad. Applications will be reviewed based on both financial need and academic merit. To be eligible you must:

  • be a full-time Biology Major (declared)
  • have North Carolina residency
  • have a minimum GPA of 3.0

Please contact the Office of Study Abroad at email: studyabroad@unca.edu for a summer 2023 application form.  Once complete, please send the Biology Study Abroad-Away Scholarship Application and your statement of interest as a single PDF email attachment to Dr. Grosser at email: mgrosser@unca.edu no later than Feb 10th, 2023.

 

Other Funding Resources and Opportunities

The links below are other sources of aid you may apply for. Additional information is available in the Study Abroad Resource Library in 28 Ramsey Library. Although this is not a comprehensive list, it can help you begin your research and explore multiple resources to fund your study abroad experience.