Study Abroad Opportunities
Study abroad plays an important role in a W&J education, and we are proud to offer opportunities ranging from two-week JayTerm travel courses to semester- and year-long programs.
International Programs Staff are eager to support W&J students hoping to study abroad, guiding them through the application process, preparing them for their time abroad, and providing continual support and communication to the students while they are away from campus. You can take advantage of our robust list of approved Study Abroad programs available to students in every academic program. Careful planning is important, so we encourage students to plan ahead. Note that we have one application cycle with a deadline of March 1, so please allow ample time for advising in advance of the deadline.
Please note that we have much more information on our internal MyW&J pages for current students.
Study Abroad Programs
We are proud to offer more than 30 semester length programs around the world, including Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin & South America. Current students can check MyW&J for an up to date listing or please reach out if you are considering W&J and want to know more. JayTerm travel courses are updated each year.
Study Abroad Scholarships
The International Programs Fund Award
Qualified W&J students may apply for scholarships to help defray necessary costs associated with participating in approved study-abroad programs for a semester or academic year. To be eligible for these awards, students must have a 2.5 cumulative grade point average and be enrolled as a full-time W&J student. This award is generously endowed by W&J alumni.
Access the application here.
Deadlines:
- October 15 (for spring semester or calendar year abroad)
- March 15 (for fall semester or full academic year abroad)
Edward and Barbara Greb Travel Award
The Edward and Barbara Greb Travel Award assists students who will be studying abroad during JayTerm.
Apply here.
Are you a faculty or staff member planning to submit a recommendation for a student's application? Here is the recommendation form. All recommendations must be submitted through this form. Thank you!
Vira I. Heinz Program for Women, Non-Binary, and Transgender Global Leaders
The Vira Heinz Endowment awards up to three scholarships of at least $5,000 to Washington & Jefferson female, non-binary, and/or transgender students planning to spend a summer studying abroad. Applicants must be in their sophomore or junior year prior to the summer they are planning to study abroad, have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 and have no prior international experience (except Canada). To learn more about the program, visit the Vira I. Heinz Program for Women, Non-Binary, and Transgender Global Leaders website.
General Scholarships
Note that these are external sources of funding. We attempt to keep these links current to the best of our ability, but information may sometimes change without our knowledge.
Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship
The Gilman Scholarship Program provides up to $5,000 to U.S. citizen undergraduates from two- and four-year institutions. It aims to supports students who have been traditionally underrepresented in study abroad. Must receive a Federal Pell Grant to be eligible.
Boren Awards for International Study
The Boren Awards provide a unique scholarship opportunity for U.S. undergraduates wishing to study abroad. The program awards scholarships to American students for study of world regions critical to U.S. interests (any area outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand). You may contact Dr. Susan Vdovichenko, Assistant Professor of Russian, for assistance.
The Richard S. Pett Academic Travel Award
Established in memory of Richard S. Pett by his wife, Lynne, and his daughters, Melissa and Lauren, the Academic Travel Award goes to a deserving junior or senior majoring in a foreign language who desires to study abroad. For more information, contact the Department of Modern Languages.
Asia
Freeman Awards for Study in Asia (Freeman-ASIA)
Created to assist U.S. students with demonstrated financial need and limited prior experience in East and Southeast Asia with awards ranging from $3,000-$7,000.
French
Pi Delta Phi is proud to offer several scholarships for summer study abroad that recognize superior achievement in the study of the French language. The annual awards are designed to enable undergraduate regular members of an active chapter to continue their studies of the French Language and of Francophone Literatures and Cultures. Award recipients are expected to take courses conducted in French and for credit. Recipients will typically take a French language placement examination on site.
German
German Academic Exchange Service
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) administers a variety of scholarships as well as provides financial support to over 50,000 highly-qualified students and faculty per year for international research and study.
German American Business Circle
The German American Business Circle of Pittsburgh is partnering with the Pittsburgh Rotary Club Foundation to award a $2,500 scholarship. It is intended to benefit collegiate-level students in Western Pennsylvania who demonstrate academic excellence and strong interest in German-American business affairs and culture, and who plan to further their studies at an accredited institution of higher learning in Germany. There is typically one application cycle with an October 15 deadline for study abroad in the following academic year. Check the GABC website for the most updated information.
You can find the application information here.
Previous awardees include Brendan Troesch '21, Marisa Rosario '20, Andrew Donatelli '20, Victoria Healy '18, Angela Nied '17 and Aric Brown '17.
German Honorary Society Scholarship
Inducted members of the Delta Phi Alpha German honorary society are eligible to apply for the Nationale Deutsche Ehrenverbindung scholarship, which helps to defray the costs of a semester abroad in a German-speaking country.
Japanese
The Bridging Project
The Bridging Project offers scholarships to American undergraduate students participating in study-abroad programs in Japan. Funding from private foundations and major U.S. corporations, through donations to the nonprofit U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation, makes it possible to award about 100 scholarships each year to assist students with the travel and living expenses they will incur while studying abroad in Japan for a semester or an academic year.
Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) Scholarship
$5,000-$9,000 scholarships available for study in Japan.
Japan Monbukagakusho Scholarship
Monbukagakusho, the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT), offers five different scholarships for non-Japanese nationals wishing to study in Japan.
Middle East
Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA)
For advanced Arabic language study at the American University in Cairo. Visit the CASA website for more information.
Spanish
Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, offers Undergraduate Study Abroad Awards for the summer and academic year.
A Note to Parents & Family Members
The world suddenly seems smaller and tightly interconnected and our students will be expected to function as professionals in the new global economy. A study abroad experience transforms our students in every way: intellectually, personally, and professionally. Academic studies pursued in another country provide a special kind of intellectual challenge. Leaving home and venturing forth to another country empower a young person and trigger a spurt of personal growth and self-confidence. A study abroad experience can also greatly strengthen the resume, for employers interpret the study abroad experience as a sure sign that a person takes on challenges and can function in a wide range of situations.
What's your role as a parent?
- Take the time to become informed about your student’s program of choice. Talk to your son or daughter about why they chose the program, what they hope to gain from it, what they plan to do to prepare, etc. The Office of Study Abroad provides pre-departure materials as well - ask your student to share these with you.
- Consider visiting your student - the second half of the semester is a great time to go. By this time, students are settled in, comfortable with their surroundings, and knowledgeable guides. Having your son or daughter proudly act as your guide is a great moment as a parent.
- Encourage your student, guide your student, but do NOT do the preparatory work for them. Their attention to the necessary details involved in studying abroad is a vital part of their growth and is essential to a successful study abroad experience. Insisting that your student carry primary responsibility for the off-campus experience helps empower your son or daughter, and encourages the independence and self-reliance that will ultimately make an off-campus experience rewarding.
- Read the Parent Guide to Study Abroad, which offers advice and perspective. This resource is published by the Institute of International Education and the American Institute For Foreign Study.
Contact Us
Office of Study Abroad
The Hub for Student Success
Email: studyabroad@washjeff.edu
Michaela Culley, Assistant Director of International Programs
mculley@washjeff.edu
724-531-6867