Harper College

Scholarships

Financials are one of the main concerns of students when considering studying abroad. Harper’s goal is to search for funding options to help you make this experience possible without harming you financially.

Different funding options can help you partake in these opportunities:

Institutional Scholarships

Thanks to generous donors and alumni, these scholarships are available through the Harper College Foundation. Many scholarships are available for students going abroad, including study abroad-specific scholarships such as Castle, Worldview, and GLOBE. By completing the donor general scholarship application, the foundation team determines the best scholarship and grant opportunities for you. Awards vary from $400 to $1,200 and are available to faculty-led and ICISP programs.

Apply for Institutional Scholarships

Global Learning Opportunities Broaden Education (GLOBE)

Award: $500 - $1,200

Global Learning Opportunities Broaden Education (GLOBE) Endowed Scholarship: Harper College

A life-changing component of any educational experience is the opportunity to immerse oneself in another culture. While many students desire such an experience, the cost often exceeds their budget. The GLOBE Endowed Scholarship Fund aims to provide equitable access to intercultural and international programs for students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, first generation to college students, students from low income families, and/or students with a history of overcoming adversity.

  • Open to students who are participating in intercultural or international programs (both within and outside of the country), including but not limited to education at home or abroad, and virtual exchange opportunities.

Castle International Studies Scholarship

Award: $500–$1,500

 Castle International Studies Scholarship - Harper College Scholarships (academicworks.com)

This scholarship is awarded to a student who meets the following criteria:

  • Study Abroad – Students in a Harper College Faculty-Led Study Abroad program. Priority will be given to students applying to a program that is going to a country within the designated Global Region of Focus.
  • Demonstrate financial need.
  • Preference to students from under-served populations.
  • Completed at least two semesters of study at Harper College.
  • 3.0 GPA (Students with a cumulative GPA lower than 3.0 may be considered).
  • Students enrolled in a degree-seeking program and planning to transfer to a four-year college.

WorldView Study Abroad Fund

Award: $500–$1,000

WorldView Study Abroad Fund - Harper College Scholarships (academicworks.com)

This scholarship is awarded to a student who meets the following criteria:

  • Open to Harper students participating in a Harper College study abroad program to developing countries.
  • Demonstrate financial need.
  • Completed at least one year of study at Harper College.
  • Available to students who are working towards a goal of earning a degree or transferring to a four-year college or university to earn a degree.

Scholarship should not underwrite the entire cost of the program.

External Scholarships

ICISP (Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs) Scholarships are $500 for summer and $1,000 for semester programs. Three students are selected each term, and students must participate in an ICISP-owned or sponsored program that is eligible for this scholarship. Talk to our office to ensure the program you are pursuing makes you eligible to thsi scholarship. Application deadlines:

  • Oct. 15 for Spring programs
  • Feb. 15 for Summer programs
  • May 15 for Fall programs.
  • $500 awards made to students attending a CCID member institution
  • Virtual programs eligible

The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is an immersive summer opportunity for American college and university students to learn languages essential to America's engagement with the world.

Languages Offered:

Eligibility

To be eligible for the CLS Program applicants must:

  • Be a U.S. citizen or national at the time of application.
    • Others, including Permanent Residents, are not eligible, even if they anticipate naturalization by the beginning of the program.
  • Be at least 18 years old by May 15, 2023.
  • Be enrolled in an accredited U.S. degree-granting program at the undergraduate (associate, bachelor's) or graduate (master's, doctoral, professional degree) level at the time of application.
    • If applicants are not taking classes at their home institution in the fall term, they should confirm that they are, in fact, enrolled. Institutions have different requirements to maintain enrollment status and applicants will be required to provide a signed letter from their registrar stating that you were enrolled during the fall term.
    • If applicants are taking a leave of absence to participate in an organized term- or year-long study abroad program, or to participate in a substantive internship program, they may request an exception to the enrollment requirement. Exceptions may only be granted in these two cases, and decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.
      • In either case, applicants must submit a signed letter from their home college or university in the U.S. explaining their situation and their intent to re-enroll following the completion of their study abroad or internship program. They must also submit documentation from the program provider explaining the opportunity and confirming their participation. This documentation may be submitted to American Councils by email at cls@americancouncils.org.
    • Applicants must be enrolled in a program that results in a degree. Applicants who are taking stand-alone or continuing education classes are not eligible.
    • Applicants must be enrolled at an accredited U.S. institution. Students earning degrees at foreign institutions that are not based in the U.S. or its territories are not eligible, even if those institutions are accredited by a recognized U.S. accrediting agency.
    • Applicants in an undergraduate program (associate or bachelor's) must complete at least one full year of study (two semesters or three quarters) by the beginning of the CLS Program in Summer 2023.
    • Applicants must be enrolled at this institution in the fall term of 2022. There are limited exceptions to the enrollment requirement; please read the following information carefully:
    • Applicants must successfully complete academic requirements for the fall term in order to remain eligible for the CLS Program. Applicants who withdraw or fail to maintain a passing grade average are not eligible to participate in the program.
  • Applicants must meet the language requirements of the program to which they apply.
  • Applicants may only apply once, for one language, each year. Applicants who submit multiple applications will be considered ineligible.

The mission of the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the U.S. study abroad population. FEA makes life-changing, international experiences accessible to all by supporting students of color, community college, and first-generation college students before, during, and after they participate in education abroad programs.

In today’s inter-connected world, we believe education abroad is an integral component of higher education. We envision a future in which all U.S. students are given equal access to education abroad experiences, regardless of race and socio-economic status. We foresee a future in which our scholars work to increase global understanding, give back to their communities, and mentor future generations of Fund for Education Abroad scholars.

FEA invests in deserving U.S. undergraduates who are least likely to study abroad. More than 100 volunteer reviewers read applications each cycle. In partnership with them, we consider financial need, demographic factors, and academic plan and preparedness to decide our scholarship recipients.

Financial Need is determined by the FEA Financial Aid Form we provide when you begin an application.

Demographic Factors that are considered include minority background, first-generation college student status, and community college experience.

Academic Plan and Preparedness is determined by your essays and unofficial transcript.

The DiversityAbroad.com Overseas Ambassador Scholarship was formerly known as the DiversityAbroad.com/AIFS Blogging Scholarship. Diversity Abroad, in cooperation with the AIFS Foundation, will offer $500 scholarships for fall and spring semesters as well as summer term. Five scholarships are available for each semester and two scholarships are available for summer. Students going abroad for the full fall, spring or summer terms are eligible to apply. Economically disadvantaged students, first-generation, students with disabilities and ethnic and racially diverse students are strongly encouraged to apply. Visit http://www.diversityabroad.com/overseas-ambassadors for application details and additional information.

Awards: Up to $12,500 for 12-24 weeks

Up to $8,000 for 8-11 weeks (STEM majors only)

All applicants must be:

  • U.S. citizens at the time of the national application deadline
  • A high school graduate, or have earned a GED
  • At least 18 years of age or older at the time of the national application deadline
  • Planning an overseas program in a country outside of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand
  • Planning to study in a country of which they are not a citizen
  • Matriculated for the duration of their Boren Awards-funded program in an undergraduate or graduate degree program located within the United States and accredited by a body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education
  • (For ROTC cadets and midshipmen and members of the military Reserves or National Guard) In inactive, non-drilling status for the duration of their Boren Awards-funded program

Homepage | Boren Awards

Financial Aid

Students who are interested in enrolling in a Study Abroad Program may be eligible to use financial aid to pay for these costs. Students exploring this option must ensure they are in good academic standing to receive the financial assistance and are applying for a program abroad in which they can earn Harper credits.

The first step to using your financial aid to pay for study abroad is meeting with the OIE team and notifying them that you are eligible and plan to use the financial assistance to pay for your program abroad. During the application process, our team will provide a total cost sheet for the program and a completed Financial Aid Form that you will use to meet with a financial aid specialist.

Financial Aid Form

Last Updated: 9/30/24