Financing Your Study Abroad

Below is a list of applicable aid towards semester CofC-sponsored, exchange programs, and affiliate programs:

  • Federal loans
  • Federal grants including Pell
  • State grants
  • Life Scholarships
  • Palmetto Fellow Scholarships
  • Foundation Scholarships*

College of Charleston Academic Scholarships, Merit, and certain Foundation Scholarships can ONLY be used for College of Charleston faculty-led semester and exchange programs where students are charged CofC tuition.

Review the chart and confirm with your financial aid counselor what current aid can be applied towards your specific study abroad program.

Please note that if you select a summer program, you must apply for summer financial aid through the Office of Financial Assistance. The aid you receive during the semester is not automatically awarded during the summer term. 

Find more information on funding your study abroad experience on the Hub.

Current Students Visit the Hub

Financing Your Study Abroad Experience

Financing Video Play video

Watch this video to learn more about scholarships and financial aid.

Scholarships

Scholarship requirements and additional information.
  • CIE Abroad Scholarship

    This is a general scholarship between $500 and $2000 (summer) or $2500 (semester) for any type of approved study abroad program. 

    Students applying to a virtual program (course or internship) for academic credit with an affiliate provider are eligible for a CIE general study abroad scholarship of $500.

    Criteria include academic merit, demonstration of financial need, a personal statement and a recommendation from two faculty members.

    Spring break program participants are eligible for $500.

    • FYE Spring Break Scholarship awards, for first year students only, will be based on personal statement and demonstration of financial need, with preference given to Pell eligible students.
  • Nancy Elizabeth Brown Spain Scholarship

    This scholarship is intended to support students traveling to Trujillo, Spain on the College of Charleston Spring Semester study abroad program (note: students participating in an affiliate program are not eligible to apply).

  • Cain Family International Scholarship

    This scholarship will support students spending a semester or more studying in non-English speaking destinations and cultures, with a strong preference to support students going to developing countries or countries outside of Western Europe.

  • Anna B. Cox Study Abroad in France Scholarship

    This scholarship is intended to support students studying in France on any type of approved study abroad program.

  • John L. Covington, Jr. & Robert J Lukey Endowed Scholarship

    This scholarship is intended to support LGBTQ+ students who exhibit high financial need to study abroad, particularly those students who have demonstrated active support or involvement in areas of concern to the LGBTQ+ on any type of approved study abroad program.

  • Jorge and Dorothy Marban Endowed Study Abroad Scholarship

    This scholarship is intended to support students with a major/minor in a foreign language studying abroad in Spain or Italy in a language and immersion study abroad program.

  • Joe Milligan Australia Scholarship

    This scholarship is intended to assist a College of Charleston student with the costs of studying abroad for a semester in Australia.

  • Andrew Sobiesuo Scholarship

    This scholarship (up to $1000) is intended to support a College of Charleston student participating in a CofC-Sponsored summer program who may identify with one or more of the following populations: high financial need, first generation college student, Education or STEM majors, or Veterans or dependents of active or retired military.  Preference will be given to those who have never travelled internationally and who are applying to a program in a non-traditional location (i.e., outside of Western Europe).

  • Global Access Scholarship

    This scholarship (up to $5000) is awarded to one College of Charleston student per semester. Preference will be given to, but not limited to, students who meet the following criteria: demonstrated campus involvement, high financial need, first generation college students, Education or STEM majors, and Veterans or dependents of active or retired military. 

Students should apply for College of Charleston scholarships through Cougar Scholarship Award System (CSAS). Before submitting your application, familiarize yourself with the requirements for each scholarship. Only apply for the scholarship(s) for which you are eligible - ineligible candidates will not be considered.

Selection Criteria

  • Academic merit
  • Demonstration of financial need
  • Personal statement
  • Recommendation from two faculty members (Faculty members submit their recommendations through Academic Works - CSAS)
  • Students must have started a CofC study abroad application in ViaTRM at the time of the scholarship deadline. The study abroad application must be for the same term in which they are applying for the scholarship.
  • Successful completion of at least 12 undergraduate or 6 graduate credit hours at the College of Charleston at the time of application (with the exception of first-year Spring Break FYE program participants).

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

There are various other scholarship opportunities available to CofC students.