Global Scholars Scholarship Applications are Open for Fall 2025-Spring 2026!
UW–Madison students in CeO, MJLS, OEL Interns, First Wave, McNair, PEOPLE, or NDGNS Scholars are invited to apply for the Global Scholars Scholarship! Awards range from $500–$3,000 to support study abroad, study away, or international internship programs offered through UW–Madison.
Funding Study Abroad
There are many opportunities to fund your study abroad experience! In particular, students who are part of the following programs (Center for Educational Opportunity, Mercile J. Lee Scholars, Office of Experiential Learning Internship Program, First Wave, McNair Scholars, PEOPLE, NDGNS UW, or Posse) and plan to take part in a short-term study or intern abroad program (including study away) offered by UW-Madison during the winter term, spring break, or over summer are eligible to apply to the Global Scholars Scholarship.
As a Global Scholar, you receive a scholarship to support your short-term study abroad/away program (only for programs over winter-break, spring-break or summer), an opportunity to meet other scholars who are also going on the same study abroad/away program during a pre-boarding meeting, and an opportunity to attend a return meeting to reflect on the skills you gained during your experience. Additionally Global Scholars will showcase their experience with other students through their completed Global Scholars project that highlights the program, the growth experienced, and the skills learned.
Students must:
(1) Be in the process of applying, or have already applied, to a UW-Madison IAP program.
(2) Have at least one semester remaining on UW-Madison’s campus after returning from their program.
(3) Commit to attending a Global Scholars Scholarship Pre-departure meeting, a Post-boarding meeting, and completing the Global Scholars Project upon return.
(4) Students must participate in one of the following programs:
- Center For Educational Opportunity
- Mercile J. Lee Scholars
- OEL Internship
- First Wave
- McNair Scholars
- PEOPLE
- NDGNS UW
- Posse
To apply, please log into Wisconsin Scholarship Hub (WiSH) through your student center or by using this link. Make sure you have answered “Yes” to the following question in the WiSH general application: Do you plan to study or intern abroad for any duration (including Summer) during the next two Academic Years.
Note: You must submit your scholarship application by the deadline for each scholarship cycle to be considered even if your program application for your short-term study or intern abroad program isn’t required to be completed until after the scholarship deadline. It is also a requirement that you must already be in the process of applying to your program to be eligible for this scholarship. Keep in mind that incomplete scholarship applications or paper application submissions will not be considered.
Applications Open:
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- Winter term opportunities: Applications open beginning of September and close at the end of September
- Spring Break opportunities: Applications open beginning of January and close at the end of January
- Summer opportunities: Applications open mid-February and close mid-March
Student applications will undergo a holistic review to include the following considerations:
- Financial Need
- Good Academic Standing
- Connection of Program to Major/Career Goals
- First Time Studying or Interning Abroad/Away
- First Generation College student
- Socio-Economic Status
- Two Short Essays
- Other awards received/offered for study abroad (UW-Madison or External Funding)
Scholarship amounts may vary and range between $500 – $2,000 toward cost of attendance for UW Study Abroad program.
- Students applying for the scholarship will be notified regarding the status of their application in the time frames listed below:
- Winterterm applicants will be notified in mid-October
- Spring break applicants will be notified in mid-February
- Summer applicants will be notified in mid-March
Completion of the program is a requirement of the scholarship. Recipients are also required to attend a Pre-boarding meeting and post-departure meeting with the Global Scholars Committee prior to their departure and upon return from their program. Additionally, recipients must complete a Global Scholars Project upon their return that connects their academic, career, and personal goals through documentation of their experience and intentional reflection. Samples of previous projects include, but are not limited to: blogging, writing, visual documentation, videos, recorded audio, slide show, podcasts, or a combination of sources.
A World of Opportunity Beyond the Classroom
Studying abroad/away or conducting an internship abroad offers you a valuable professional experience to develop your skills, network and expand your knowledge in a new environment. Additionally, the ability to work across cultures is becoming an essential skill in an ever- increasing global workforce.
Employers are increasingly looking for workers who not only have technical knowledge, but also “soft skills” such as critical thinking, problem solving, time management, and communication skills deemed necessary for success. Studying abroad can help you build these skills, all while exploring the world.
The Office of Experiential Learning helps to connect scholars to Study Abroad/Away offices across campus and programs across the world. We also offer a scholarship, Global Scholars, to support students participating in the over 260 Study Abroad programs available through UW-Madison.
