Boren Scholarship Types and Amounts
The Benjamin A. Boren International Scholarship Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State, enables undergraduate students with financial constraints to study or intern abroad. It aims to broaden the range of students who participate in international education, including those from diverse and historically underrepresented backgrounds. The scholarship supports American students in gaining proficiency in languages and cultures that are vital to their academic and career development.
Boren Scholarship Details
Award Amount: Students can receive up to $5,000 for study abroad programs or internships.
Supplemental Funding: Additional funding is available for students studying critical languages or conducting STEM-related research abroad.
Critical Language Enhancement Award: Students studying a critical need language may receive up to an additional $3,000, for a combined total of $8,000.
STEM Supplemental Award: Students participating in STEM research abroad may receive up to an additional $1,000.
Eligibility: Applicants must be U.S. citizens, undergraduate students in good standing, and Federal Pell Grant recipients during application or study abroad12357. They must also be applying to or accepted into a credit-bearing study abroad or internship program in a country with a Travel Advisory Level 1 or 2.
Boren-McCain Scholarship
The Boren-McCain Scholarship is a congressionally funded initiative that is named after the late senator John S. McCain.
It provides awards of $5,000 for child dependents of active duty service members to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs.
Boren Scholarship Requirements
The Boren Scholarship enables U.S. undergraduate students to study or intern abroad6. Here are the eligibility requirements to apply for a Boren Scholarship:
Must be a U.S. citizen or national.
Must be an undergraduate student in good standing at an accredited higher education institution in the U.S..
Must be receiving a Federal Pell Grant during the application or provide proof of Pell Grant during the study abroad program or internship.
Must be applying to or accepted into a credit-bearing study abroad program or internship.
Must be studying or interning in a country with a Travel Advisory Level 1 or 2.
Successful Boren applicants should demonstrate the academic preparedness needed to benefit from an international internship or study abroad program. Academic performance is important, especially in the applicant’s major, but there is no minimum GPA to receive the scholarship. The Boren Scholarship provides up to $5,000 to U.S. citizen undergraduate students
Boren Scholarship Application Process
The Boren Scholarship is a program designed to assist U.S. undergraduate students who are Federal Pell Grant recipients in funding their study abroad experiences. Here’s a detailed overview of the application process:
Boren Scholarship Application Steps
1. Complete the Online Application:
Applicants must fill out the online application available on the Boren Scholarship website. This includes submitting a Statement of Purpose and Community Impact Essays, as well as uploading unofficial or official transcripts from all institutions attended.
2. Obtain Advisor Certifications:
Both your Study Abroad Advisor and Financial Aid Advisor must certify your application. It’s crucial to ensure that both advisors are registered as Boren advisors at your institution before the application deadline. If they are not listed, you should contact them to register.
3. Submission of Transcripts:
You need to provide transcripts from your current institution, which can be unofficial at this stage. Official transcripts will be required if you are selected for the scholarship.
4. Application Deadlines:
The scholarship has multiple application cycles depending on the term of study abroad (summer, fall, academic year, winter, and spring). For instance, deadlines for summer and fall programs typically fall in early March, while spring deadlines are usually in early October.
5. Review and Final Submission:
Before submitting your application, ensure that all components are complete and that your advisors have certified your application by their respective deadlines. Only applications submitted through the online portal will be considered.
