You will pay the standard USC full-time student tuition flat-rate (you will NOT pay tuition at the partner institution). Financial aid packages (scholarships, grants, etc) still apply. You can read about Study Abroad and USC Financial Aid at this link: USC Abroad Financial Aid.
USC offers a number of scholarships which may assist with your expenses as part of your studies at USC as well as abroad. You can look through the scholarships at the USC Scholarship Universe page. We have also listed some study abroad specific scholarships and databases below.
In addition to the USC flat-rate for tuition, you are responsible for all expenses including, but not limited to:
- room and board
- books and supplies
- meals
- airfare
- health insurance*
- application fees
- passport and visa fees
- other personal and travel expenses
*You will be automatically enrolled in the USC Overseas Health Insurance plan for the semester in which you travel abroad. Students may also be required to purchase the host program health insurance plans, in addition to the USC Overseas Health Insurance plan. Neither requirement can be waived.
Estimated costs for each program can be found here: IEP Program Estimated Costs 2024-2025. Please remember these costs are estimated, and tend to be at the higher-end of the range provided by students. For example, 1 student may report paying $500 a month for rent, and another $1200. We then budget at $1000, even though cheaper alternatives do exist.
Study Abroad Scholarships
USC Study Abroad Grants
The Study Abroad Grant is open to USC undergraduate students who are participating in study abroad programs offered at USC. The purpose of the grant is to ensure all students have the opportunity to access these programs. In particular, the grant is intended to assist students with additional expenses associated with overseas studies (e.g., vaccinations, plane tickets, passport fees). Students must have completed the financial aid application process and must be admitted to a USC study abroad program for a full semester or year. Recipients may request to receive funding earlier than the university’s normal disbursement schedule to cover upfront costs.
Gold Family Scholarships
Believing that overseas experiences have tremendous impact on personal and intellectual growth, Stan and Ilene Gold established this scholarship for outstanding Trustee scholars seeking to study abroad. Applicants must write an essay describing their chosen study abroad program and how it will benefit their studies at USC (search via USC Scholarship Universe).
NSEP David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarships
The National Security Education Program (NSEP) David L. Boren Scholarships offer a unique opportunity for U.S. undergraduates to study abroad. NSEP awards scholarships to American students for study of world regions critical to U.S. interests (including Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin American & the Caribbean, and the Middle East). The countries of Western Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are excluded. Interested students should contact USC's Office of Academic and International Fellowships
Gilman Scholarships
You must be receiving Pell grants to be eligible to apply for a Gilman scholarship. Preference goes to applicants with high financial need, and those applying to study in countries outside Western Europe and Australia. Awards can be as high as $5,000. During the academic year, approximately 25 recipients will be eligible to receive a $3,000 Critical Need Language Supplement for a total possible award of up to $8,000. Critical Need Languages include: Arabic (all dialects), Chinese (all dialects), Korean, and Russian.
Gilman-McCain Scholarship
The U.S. Department of State’s Gilman-McCain Scholarship provides awards of $5,000 for child dependents of active duty service members to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs. Developed under the framework of the State Department’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, the John McCain International Scholarship for the Children of Military Families (Gilman-McCain Scholarship) is open to eligible students enrolled at accredited U.S. colleges and universities who receive any type of Title IV federal financial aid.
beGirl.world
Awards (2) $2000 scholarships to black-women identified college students who have been accepted to a study abroad program. Visit their website for more information.
BUTEX: British Universities Transatlantic Exchange Association
BUTEX awards £500 scholarships to students spending a semester or year in the UK. Recipients are selected based on their poster or essay submission.
DiversityAbroad.com
Funding and other information for underrepresented and minority students
French Government Scholarships
Grants supporting undergraduate and graduate study in France.
Freeman – ASIA
Freeman-ASIA accepts applications from U.S. citizens or permanent residents studying at the undergraduate level at a two-year or four-year college or university who demonstrate financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. Check out our Freeman Asia guide from Rebecca Lang, 2019 award recipient.
Foundation For Global Scholars
FGS empowers globally minded students to gain international understanding and perspective, without regard to financial ability, and to return the investment by making an impact on their local/wider communities.
The Fund for Education Abroad
The Fund for Education abroad prides itself on providing accessible scholarships to students who are traditionally underrepresented. Students of color, first-generation, community college students, and more will be given preference in the application process. FEA also partners with many study abroad organizations, such as CAPA, AIFS, and SIT through their Access Partner Program, to reach students studying abroad through a myriad of organizations.
The Fund for Education Abroad Cyril Taylor Foundation Award
The Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) received a gift of $50,000 from The Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation (CTCF) to fund scholarships for American students to study in the United Kingdom. Named the Cyril Taylor Memorial Scholarship and available for programs in the summer of 2020, the 2020 fall semester and the 2020-2021 academic year, the gift will fund multiple scholarships for 2020-2021 and be administered by FEA.
Go Overseas Scholarship
The Go Overseas scholarships are available to students currently enrolled in, or in the process of applying to, study abroad programs. More info can be found on the Go Overseas Scholarships website.
Hostelling International USA Travel Grants
Hostelling International USA (HI-USA) presents an annual Travel Grant in the amount of $1,000 in the greater Los Angeles area to an individual who is just beginning his or her travel experiences in life.
IIE Scholarship Database
Comprehensive study abroad scholarship database.
IEFA.org
Comprehensive college scholarship search and grant listings
Phi Kappa Phi: Study Abroad Grant Competition
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa is pleased to sponsor this Study Abroad Grant competition. The society's Board of Directors encourages qualified undergraduates in all areas of study to apply. Each year, Phi Kappa Phi awards 50 Study Abroad grants of $1,000 each.
Rainbow Scholarship
This scholarship will be awarded to a deserving LGBTQI student who aims to participate in a high-quality, rigorous education abroad program.
StudyAbroad.com
Online database of scholarship opportunities.
Study in Holland
Information on scholarships and grants for study in the Netherlands.
Tripping.com Study Abroad Scholarship
Travel company that has an essay contest; winners awarded with travel scholarships.
Golden Key Scholarships
The Golden Key Scholarship is an education-based scholarship awarded to qualified individuals with outstanding academic, leadership, and service achievements. Each year, the Golden Key International Honor Society offers $1,000,000 of scholarship awards to both undergraduate and graduate students. The objective of this scholarship is to give students the opportunity to develop their professional skills in an international environment.
American Association of University Women Fellowships & Grants
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has a long history of empowering women, not only in the United States, but all over the globe. AAUW is one of the biggest funding sources for graduate women all over the the world, providing more than three million dollars in funding to outstanding women through more than 200 fellowship and grants annually.
Corinne Jeannine Schillings Scholarships
The Corinne Jeannine Schillings Foundation provides both Silver and Gold Scholarships to girl scouts who have a desire to study abroad when they reach university. This “Travel Study” scholarship award is open to girl scouts pursuing any undergraduate area of study, major, or minor courses.
Tortuga Backpacks Study Abroad Scholarship
Tortuga Backpacks provides study abroad funding to students with a desire to take amazing extracurricular trips while studying abroad. This scholarship is awarded biannually to qualified American undergraduate students, as well as students who have a U.S. visa, who are interested in exploring more of the world during their international program.
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Scholarship
To commemorate the centennial anniversary of Coca-Cola, the company established the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, to carry out their mission to provide students with the opportunity to make a difference in the world and experience lifelong enrichment because of their international experiences. Administered by Phi Theta Kappa, the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Scholarship is an achievement-based award available to graduating high school seniors in the United States with excellent academic performance and outstanding leadership who have had a significant impact on their local community.
Generation Google Scholarship
While continuing to break down barriers by inspiring and helping students to become the future of the technology industry, Google established the Generation Google scholarship in order to fund study abroad for American and Canadian students who aspire to become the best computer scientists of their generation. This award is open to all current high school seniors and university students from Canada and the U.S.
Australia Awards Scholarships
Administered by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australia Awards Scholarship is a long-term development award that provides students from developing countries with the opportunity to undertake full-time study in any participating Australian institution at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate level.
The NextGen Scholarship
The NextGen Scholarship was created to help international or American students, whether high school seniors or those pursuing undergraduate degrees, complete higher education degree programs in the United States. Every year, one scholar is awarded based on merit and financial need.
Korean Government Scholarship
In order to increase ties and relationships throughout the world, the National Institute for International Education of South Korea offers foreign university students from countries with bilateral cultural agreements with South Korea the opportunity to study abroad in Korea. The Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) aims to support future global leaders by promoting real international education.
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarship
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers a wide range of scholarships for Canadian or American students who want to pursue study or research in Germany. Scholarships are competitive and range from support for short term programs to monthly financial support for the duration of a German degree program.
Spanish Studies Abroad Scholarships
Spanish Studies Abroad provides Spanish language focused study abroad programs in multiple Spanish-speaking countries around the world. Their scholarship programs provide financial aid opportunities for undergraduates interested in pursuing international programs in Spain, Argentina, and Cuba. The Spanish Studies Abroad scholarship program offers two types of awards: merit-based and diversity.
Holland Scholarship
Study in Holland promotes international education programs to Dutch students while providing resources and guidance for incoming international students. The Holland Scholarship is provided by Study in Holland and financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science as well as multiple research universities based in the Netherlands. The Holland Scholarship offers funding for non-European Economic Area (EEA) students that wish to study in Holland. Applicants should be in their first year of undergraduate or graduate studies.
Boren Scholarships and Fellowships
The annual scholarships of the National Security Education Program provides fundings to undergraduate students from the U.S. to study less popularly studied, minority world languages. Promoting linguistic and cultural immersion, this award program aims to support students focusing on language studies that are critical to U.S. national security. Boren Scholars can choose to study abroad in their country of choice, excluding nations within Western Europe as well as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In exchange for funding, scholars must commit to working in the federal government for at least a year after graduation.