About
Planning your study abroad experience is exciting, and figuring out how to fund it is an important step. Fortunately, Texas A&M offers a variety of options to help make your international education affordable. From scholarships and financial aid to veteran’s benefits and pre-paid tuition plans, there are resources designed to fit different needs and circumstances. Exploring these opportunities early can help you create a financial plan that supports your goals and ensures a smooth journey abroad.
Texas A&M Scholarships
Texas A&M University values the transformational experience that an Education Abroad opportunity provides. To encourage students to participate, the University awards approximately $1.5 million in study abroad scholarships each academic year!
To be eligible for these scholarships, students must maintain full-time enrollment status for the term abroad. For graduate students, ‘full-time’ enrollment is 9 credit hours for the semester and 4 credit hours for the summer. For undergraduate and professional students, ‘full-time’ enrollment is 12 credit hours for the semester and 6 credit hours for the summer. Additionally, it is acceptable for students to enroll in coursework tied to the international experience and/or a combination of coursework.
For more information, details on education abroad scholarships administered by the Scholarships & Financial Aid are available in the Scholarship Handbook under the ‘Students’ section of ‘Scholarships.’
Education Abroad Scholarship Deadlines
| Term Abroad | Open Date | Deadline | Award Decision |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall and Academic Year** Programs | February 15th | April 15th* | Late June |
| Winter Break and Spring Programs | September 10th | October 12th* | Late November |
| Summer Programs | October 15th | February 1st* | Mid-April |
To be eligible for this stipend, students must be receiving one of the following four-year academic scholarships (President’s Endowed, President’s Achievement, Lechner, McFadden, or Century). Semester programs must total at least 12 credit hours and summer programs must total 6 credit hours.
- Stipend Form for Fall 2025 - Summer 2026 Programs is available in the 2025 - 2026 Scholarship Handbook. (see pdf pages 26-29).
Deadlines
- Fall study abroad programs: July 1st
- Spring study abroad programs: November 1st
- Summer study abroad programs: May 1st
The College of Arts and Sciences will provide funds for students enrolled in doctoral programs in the college to conduct research, professional travel, or professional development activities in FY2026.
The department's travel awards, listed below, provide funds that are awarded on a competitive basis for the purpose of supporting graduate student travel to scientific meetings or other appropriate scholarly activities.
This grant is designed for an adventurous Texas A&M student whose plans are not limited simply to study abroad.
Provided by the George & Barbara Bush Foundation, this annual travel award provides additional funding support to full-time undergraduates participating in eligible opportunities in the United States and abroad (e.g., travel for academic conferences, research projects, study, and internships). Interested students should submit their scholarship application form to their department head or appropriate designee by November 1st.
The Office of National Fellowship oversees a comprehensive database including numerous funding opportunities for global initiatives. Please note that timelines and deadlines may vary across different fellowship programs. Additionally, some fellowships may require an internal campus process, as well as approval from the student's home institution, to ensure proper consideration. For further inquiries, please contact natlfellows@tamu.edu.
This travel award offered by the Graduate & Professional School, with additional support provided by the George & Barbara Bush Foundation supports graduate students pursuing educational and professional development opportunities. Application deadlines are scheduled quarterly.
Affiliate Provider Scholarships & Discounts
| Provider | Discounts* | Pell / Gilman |
|---|---|---|
  |
$500 off any program Other AIFS funding opportunities! |
Pell Grant recipients receive $500 off any program. Gilman recipients receive $500 off any program. |
  |
$500 off summer and $1,000 off semester programs through the Early Bird Scholarship Other API funding opportunities! |
Gilman recipients are eligible to receive up to $1,000 for a study program or $500 for an internship program |
 |
$100 off any program | N/A |
 |
$500 off summer, $750 off semester, and $1,000 off academic year programs Other CEA CAPA funding opportunities! |
Pell Grant recipients are eligible to receive a flight credit of $500 for summer and $1,000 for semester or academic year programs |
  |
$100 off intern/short-term; $250 off semester Other CIS Abroad funding opportunities! |
Gilman applicants are eligible for a flight voucher up to $750 |
 |
$750 off summer; $2,000 off semester Other IFSA funding opportunities! |
N/A |
  |
$50 off volunteer/intern 6-7 weeks; $250 off volunteer/intern 8+ weeks Other Kaya funding opportunities! |
N/A |
  |
N/A Other SFS funding opportunities! |
Pell Grant recipients receive an exact match for the corresponding term |
  |
$300 off programs 4-5 weeks, $600 off programs 6-9 weeks, $800 off 10 week programs, $1,000 off semester programs Other SRAS funding opportunities! |
Gilman recipients are eligible to receive up to $300 for programs 6-10 weeks, $500 for semester, and $750 for academic year |
  |
N/A Other USAC funding opportunities! |
N/A |
  |
**WorldStrides was formerly ISA & TEAN** $300 off summer; $300 off semesters in Europe, Latin America, and Africa; $500 off semesters in Asia and the Pacific; $200 off internships, intensive months, or J-term Other WorldStrides funding opportunities! |
N/A |
External Scholarships & Grants
- The Astronaut Scholarship is for U.S. citizen undergraduates majoring in engineering, technology, natural or applied science, or mathematics, and who intend to pursue research as a career.
- The Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship Program is for U.S. citizen undergraduates receiving Pell Grants who are studying/interning abroad for credit.
- View: Gilman Information Session Recording (Hosted by Education Abroad)
- Gilman Scholarship Essay Guidelines and Tips
- The Fund for Education Abroad Scholarship is for U.S. undergraduate students participating in credit-bearing international experiences.
- The Fund for Education Abroad Access Partner and Dedicated Scholarships provides additional funding opportunities for specific programs.
- The Gilman-McCain Scholarship is for U.S. citizen undergraduate child dependents of active duty service members who receive any type of Title IV federal financial aid.
- Go Overseas Study & Intern Abroad Scholarship is for undergraduates and graduates who write an essay about studying abroad.
- Go Overseas Volunteer Abroad Scholarship is for students volunteering abroad.
- The Lewer Mark is for full-time international students in active F, J, M, U, T, R, A, or Q visa-holders and DACA recipients currently enrolled in a SEVIS approved US institution of higher education.
- The Phi Kappa Phi Study Abroad Grant is for undergraduates with a 3.75 GPA.
- The Tortuga Backpacks Study Abroad Scholarship is for undergraduates who write an essay about why they are passionate about studying abroad.
- The Boren Scholarship is for undergraduates studying a lesser taught language for an extended period of time.
- The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program is for undergraduates studying a critical language.
- Project G.O. (Global Officers) is for ROTC students interested in studying a critical language. Project G.O. programs focus exclusively on Middle Eastern, Asian, Central Asian, and African languages and countries.
- The AATG Study Abroad Scholarship is for students studying abroad in a German speaking country.
- The Freeman-ASIA Scholarship is for students studying abroad in East or Southeast Asia.
- The Killam Fellowships Program is for students studying abroad in Canada for at least a semester.
- DAAD is for students studying abroad in Germany.
- The Bridging Scholarship is for students studying abroad in Japan for at least a semester.
- Go Overseas offers scholarships in a number of locations including Scotland, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and others.
- The Scotland Saltire Scholarship is for students studying abroad in Scotland.
- BUTEX Scholarships are for students studying abroad at a BUTEX institution in the U.K.
- The Italian Cultural & Community Center (ICCC) of Houston Study Abroad Scholarship is for students participating in programs in Italy.
Financial Aid
Financial aid refers to loans, scholarships, and grants that can be used toward education abroad program expenses. To receive federal, state, or institutional financial aid on an education abroad program, you must:
- Be at least half-time enrolled for academic credit (TAMU or transfer credit abroad)
- Have a completed FAFSA/TAFSA on file with Texas A&M
- Submit an Education Abroad Cost of Attendance Adjustment Request form* to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
- *Scroll down to find out more about the Cost of Attendance Adjustment Request for Education Abroad.
- Review loan options, eligibility requirements, and the application online
The Cost of Attendance Adjustment Request form provides an estimate of the total costs for your education abroad program. The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid uses this estimate to adjust your Texas A&M cost of attendance for the term you are abroad, which may increase your eligibility for financial aid.
Who can receive the form?
Students must be earning academic credit abroad and have a “Confirmed” status in the Education Abroad Portal.
How to get the form:
- Faculty-led programs: The form is provided after the application deadline and once the program is confirmed.
- Other program types: Request the form from the primary contact listed on your program brochure.
Next steps:
After receiving the form, upload it to the Financial Aid Portal in Howdy for processing. For questions about your full financial package, contact Aggie One Stop for assistance.
MSC Overseas Loan Fund
- The Overseas Loan Fund (OSL), administered by the MSC L.T. Jordan Institute at Texas A&M, provides an interest-free loan of up to $2,000 for any TAMU student seeking supplemental funding for international travel.
- Requests are considered on a rolling basis on the 15th of every month. To apply, log in at Get Involved using your NetID credentials at Overseas Loan Fund (OSL).
- If awarded, the loan must be repaid prior to graduation.
Private Loans
- Some students choose to secure private loans to fund their education abroad experience. Before doing so, we recommend consulting with Aggie One Stop to ensure you understand the intricacies of a private loan.
Veteran Benefits
Veteran education benefits can help fund credit-bearing study abroad programs at Texas A&M, covering tuition and fees for approved courses. Restrictions apply; consult Veterans Services and Aggie One Stop for eligibility and guidance. The following is a summary of how your veteran education benefits can be processed if you participate on an education abroad program.
More information can also be found at Military Education Benefits.
- The VA cannot pay for any fees specific to education abroad unless you are enrolled in courses that will apply directly to your degree program.
- If the education abroad program does not offer Texas A&M coursework and does not charge Texas A&M tuition and fees, it must meet certain criteria. For instance, it must be a VA certifying institution and program.
- If you attend a pre-approved and VA certifying institution’s program, you must complete a Primary Institution Letter and submit it to TAMU VSO.
- Texas A&M can only bill the VA for tuition and fees that are charged by Texas A&M for the course(s) and study abroad fees (when study abroad is required per your degree).
- The VA cannot pay any fees, tuition or otherwise, for Affiliate Provider programs.
- VA cannot pay toward any fees associated with your books, travel, food, lodging, or excursions.
- If on Chapter 33, you will receive BAH according to the TAMU facility code. You will receive a book stipend if you have not met the $1,000 annual limit. If you are Chapter 1606, Chapter 35 or Chapter 30, your education abroad hours will be certified if the course is required for their degree program. Your monthly stipend will be paid directly to you according to your enrollment for each part of term.
Requirements for Credit-bearing International Experiences
- You must meet all Hazlewood eligibility renewal requirements as listed on Scholarships and Financial Aid Hazelwood Exemption.
- If you are a legacy student, you must have remaining degree requirements, as you are only eligible for the hours needed to graduate under your current degree program.
- Legacy – Students who use their veteran parent’s remaining hours
- Students that have their own 150 hours do not have this requirement
Payments for Credit-bearing International Experiences
- Hazlewood is an exemption - you must be enrolled and charged for your education abroad course(s) at Texas A&M (faculty-led, exchange, and national student exchange programs would be eligible for the Hazlewood exemption).
- Hazlewood cannot be used on provider programs
- Hazlewood only exempts tuition and fees associated with courses and will not cover any costs associated with the study abroad.
- Hazlewood is a state benefit and can only be processed by Texas public institutions.
Additional Tips to Maximize Funding
- You should verify that your cost of attendance has been increased to include the education abroad costs and discuss other options regarding financial aid with a financial aid advisor.
- When you are enrolled in less than full-time and are in an international internship, research, or co-op experience, which is a part of your degree plan, you can be certified with clock hours. Please contact the VSO regarding your program requirement and the possibility of being certified with clock hours.
- You should verify that your cost of attendance has been increased to include the education abroad costs and discuss other options regarding financial aid with a financial aid advisor.
Pre-Paid Tuition Plan
A pre-paid tuition plan is a financial program that allows families to pay for future college tuition and required fees at today’s rates. By purchasing tuition credits or units in advance, these plans lock in costs and protect against tuition inflation. Common examples include the Texas Guaranteed Tuition Plan (TGTP), Texas Tuition Promise Fund (TTPF), and 529 Plans.
Other pre-paid tuition plans, such as Texas Tuition Promise Fund (TTPF) or 529 Plans, can also be used to pay TAMU tuition and fees. Pre-paid tuition plans will only apply towards the tuition and required fees incurred by enrolling in the program courses. Funds will not apply to education abroad service fees, program fees, or travel expenses.
For transfer credit programs coordinated by Title IV eligible institutions, the TGTP main office can send payments directly to an approved institution. To initiate the direct payment process, please contact TGTP at 1-800-445-GRAD (4723), Option 2, and provide 60 days advance notice of your program’s final payment due date.
For affiliate provider programs coordinated by non-Title IV eligible institutions, Education Abroad will facilitate third-party billing. To initiate the third-party billing process, students must complete the course pre-approval process for their respective experience and send a request to tcabroad@tamu.edu approximately 120 days (a semester) in advance of their program departure date.
As a part of the third-party billing process, students must pay the application fee and confirmation deposit owed to the program provider/institution by its billing due dates. The remaining program fee is deferred and billed to the students’ Howdy account. The estimated TGTP disbursement amount available is determined based on the current fiscal state rate per credit hour and the student's course load abroad. For questions about this process, please email tcabroad@tamu.edu.
For other pre-paid tuition plans, such as Texas Tuition Promise Fund (TTPF) or 529 Plans, contact your education abroad advisor for questions about available options to apply these funds to your international experience as the process to access these funds varies.