Financial Aid and Scholarships
Funding for Study Abroad
Financing a Study Abroad trip almost always seems impossible or unobtainable. But it does not need to be. Financial Aid may assist qualifying students to make studying abroad a possibility. Keep in mind that the financial aid programs that a student is eligible for are the same for all students, including students participating in study abroad. However, some students may still have additional loan eligibility for the academic year that has not been used and may be eligible to request other aid in the form of student loans. Students are also encouraged to apply for scholarships at UTRGV as well as external scholarship funds.
Check out other funding opportunities with the UTRGV Scholarships Office.
See our Upcoming Events for assistance with Gilman Scholarship applications.
Financial Aid
Make sure to complete your FASFA if you have not done so. Keep in mind that you must be in Good Standing (SAP) and submit a summer notification beginning January 2. Once you have decided to participate in a Study Abroad Program, set-up an appointment with a financial aid advisor to discuss what additional loan options you have available to make your trip possible. Things to keep in mind are that student loans require at least 6 hours of enrollment, and loans are always split into two equal disbursements. Your Study Abroad class should count towards your degree, and you should not graduate before your trip.
Summer Pell
You may now receive total Federal Pell Grant funds for Summer terms, even if you received a full Federal Pell Grant during the Fall and Spring semesters. Summer Pell will make it more affordable for you to enroll in the summer, and you can finish your degree faster.
Requirements:
- Eligible for Pell Grant
- Enroll in at least 6 hours total during the Summer.
- Meet Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress. For more information about SAP, please visit www.utrgv.edu/finaid.
Important Note: The amount of Federal Pell Grant funds is limited by federal law to 12 full-time semesters. You can log on to by clicking here to understand your Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU).
UTRGV Financial Aid Office will review student records to determine eligibility for a Summer Pell award. Summer awards will be based on full-time enrollment, and award amounts will be adjusted or canceled once registration is confirmed and academic progress is reviewed. You will be notified by email once the Summer awards are complete, and you can check your award via your ASSIST account at www.my.utrgv.edu.
Scholarships
Scholarships available to UTRGV students are as follows:
- UTRGV Education Abroad Scholarship - Application for 2024 is CLOSED
- Apply here on via-TRM
- NOTE: If you are not already logged in to viaTRM, then you might only be directed to the dashboard page after clicking the link the first time.
- Option 1: Log in and come back to this page to click the link again after you're logged in
- Option 2: Navigate from the dashboard to Programs, and look for "scholarship" under Program Search
- Awards are typically announced in early April for Summer and Fall programs.
- You cannot apply more than once in the same academic year even if you are planning to go on multiple programs.
- 2024 Scholarship Deadlines:
Term Deadline Winter 2023-2024 December 22, 2023 Spring 204 December 22, 2023 Minimester 2024 March 20th, 2024 Summer I 2024 March 20th, 2024 Summer II 2024 March 20th, 2024 Fall 2024 March 20th, 2024 - 2025 Scholarship Application will open in Fall 2024 for Winter and Spring travelers.
- Apply here on via-TRM
- Gilman International Scholarship
- Federal scholarship is open to undergraduate students who are Pell recipients and U.S. citizens.
- 33 UTRGV students were awarded $147,500 to pay for international education experiences for FY2022. 54 UTRGV students were awarded $243,000 recently to pay for their international education expenses as of FY2021.
- See our News and Events for Scholarship Webinars
- The next application deadline is March 7, 2024. Applications are not open yet.
- Fulbright Scholars Program
- Advisor for Students: Dr. Mark C. Andersen
- Faculty Scholars Advisor: Dr. Jaime Ortiz
- More Information Here
- Dr. Yong Lang Family Endowment Scholarship
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The Office of Global Affairs established this scholarship to honor Dr. Lang's memory and to advance his vision for Chinese Studies at UTRGV. Professor Lang's vision and hard work helped introduce Chinese studies at UTPA, UTRGV’s legacy institution, and also promoted Chinese studies at UTRGV as well as establish relationships between multiple universities in China and UTRGV, all of which directly enhances globalization at our institution.
This scholarship will provide financial support to UTRGV students engaged in Chinese Studies or languages, and, students from China enrolled at UTRGV regardless of their major. Students must
- Be enrolled full time (at least 12 credit hours for undergraduate and 9 credit hours for graduate) and
- Have a minimum cumulative institutional GPA of 3.0 to be considered.
The scholarship is for $1,000 to be applied towards tuition and will be awarded in a competitive process. Students can apply for the scholarship only once per academic year. The scholarship will take effect in the academic year following the award.
To apply, students need to:
- Click on this link and go to the UTRGV Scholarship Application page https://enrollment.utrgv.edu/applyscholarships
- Log in and search for the Dr. Lang Scholarship
- Complete the required information.
- Write a 3,000 word maximum essay on your academic accomplishments and career goals.
- Provide a letter of recommendation from a UTRGV professor who can judge the application’s commitment to Chinese Studies, academic abilities, or both.
Student applications will be reviewed by a committee of UTRGV faculty members and the Office of Global Affairs.
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Other Funding Opportunities:
- FAFSA
- Fund for Education Abroad
Fall 2023 Deadline is September 20, 2023 - Boren Awards
Informational Flyer
Schedule an advising session with Boren - General Study Abroad Scholarships
- U.S. Study Abroad Scholarships & Grants List
- 63 Study Abroad Grants & Scholarships
- Critical Language Scholarship
The CLS Program is an intensive overseas language, and cultural immersion program for American students enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities. Students spend eight to ten weeks abroad studying one of 14 critical languages. The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains.
CLS, a program of the U.S. Department of State, is part of a broader government initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering foreign languages critical to national security and economic prosperity. CLS plays an important role in preparing students for the 21st century's globalized workforce and increasing national competitiveness.