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FINANCIAL AID OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDY ABROAD
To study abroad is one of the best decisions a student can make to enhance her education and to acquire marketable skills for an increasingly global economy. 

Study abroad is expensive, and financing it requires advance planning, persistence and resourcefulness. Here are examples of financial aid and information about their sources. 

Direct Aid from Study Abroad Programs Groups that offer study abroad programs often award financial aid. You must inquire about aid when you apply for admission to the program. Almost every application form ask if you wish to apply for financial aid. Be sure that you fill out a FAFSA form. 

US Federal Government Scholarships 
The federal government offers two scholarships for undergraduates: Gilman scholarships and the NSEP (National Security Exchange Program) scholarship. Gilman scholarships are designed for students who are normally underrepresented in study abroad. Successful applicants can be science majors or minority students who normally would not choose the study abroad option during their undergraduate years. Applications are taken online, and funds are awarded twice a year. Applicants must also qualify for PELL grants. The NSEP Scholarship program funds study in emerging nations. 

South Carolina Scholarships SCCIS, the South Carolina Consortium for International Study offers small scholarships from $300-$500 to participate in study abroad or study/travel programs. Applications are usually reviewed during the month of March. This year the group gave only grants if they were matched by the student’s home institution. 

The South Carolina Consortium of Independent Colleges awards research grants that can be used for study abroad. The amount varies according to the research project. Recipients are required to present the results of their research upon completion of their project. Please contact the Office of the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the College about the application process. 

Converse College Scholarships 
The Chapman Endowment funds scholarships specifically for study abroad. The endowment provides scholarships, which are awarded annually based on need and merit. The gift is named in memory of Mr. Chapman’s wife, Anne Morrison Chapman, an alumna and past trustee of Converse College. Mrs. Chapman graduated from Converse College in 1957 with a degree in French. As an undergraduate, she was elected to every student honor society at Converse. After graduating, she won Fulbright and Rotary International Fellowships for study at the University of Grenoble. Mrs. Chapman was past President of the Columbia, South Carolina, Chapter of the Converse Alumnae Association, a member of the Alumnae Association Board of Directors and was elected to the Converse College Board of Trustees in 1977. She was active in her church and in community enterprises such as art museums, historical associations, and musical organizations. She also planned and conducted European tours for youth so that they might broaden their cultural horizons and gain understanding of other nations and cultures. The Anne Morrison Chapman endowment also funds the Anne Morrison Chapman Distinguished Professor of Modern Languages and the Anne Morrison Chapman Visiting Lecturer. 

If you are unable to secure a scholarship for study abroad, consider a loan. 

The dream of study abroad can be realized by a modest adjustment in your financial aid package. See Peggy Collins, Director of Financial Aid. You may also receive support from your family and your hometown. Some churches and civic groups grant scholarships. The key is planning in advance. Saving a portion of your earnings from summer jobs or the cash gifts you receive for Christmas and your birthday might help pay some of your expenses. 

At Converse we believe that study abroad enhances a student’s education. I know how important it is because I studied abroad as an undergraduate. I have great memories of that experience and want all students to have that opportunity. We are starting a new policy in which students may apply to use a portion of the scholarships they have been awarded by Converse to help toward paying some of their tuition and expenses when they study abroad for a semester or a year. In the past, only a few students were eligible to use their scholarships toward their study abroad expenses.

Now, all students will have an equal opportunity to request that their scholarship funds apply toward their experience abroad. Students must apply through the financial aid office during the spring of the academic year prior to their experience. The due date will be April 1. All rising juniors and seniors who are traditional undergraduates in good academic standing and who are receiving funding in the form of a Converse Scholarship may apply for this benefit. Number and amount of grants that may be used will vary depending upon the number of applicants and the size of the scholarship pool. Please feel welcome to contact the Office of Financial Aid for further details.

For more information about the scholarships, contact Jeri King, Anne Morrison Chapman Distinguished Professor of Modern Languages, at (864) 596-9110.

Anne Morrison Chapman Endowment

Deadline for submission is March 15. A maximum of $1,000 will be awarded to each of ten students on the basis of need and merit.  These scholarships are applicable only to Converse faculty-led programs.

Complete the following online form in its entirety.
Date
First Name
Middle Name
Last Name
Major(s)
Advisor
Program Name and #
Classification
Minor
Current GPA
Previous Study/Travel
Have you had financial support from Converse College for previous study/travel? Yes  No
Please list all scholarships and /or loans you have pertaining to your Converse education.
Why do you want to participate in a study/travel program?
How will you apply this experience to your major and to your life after Converse?