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Global Business Center Study Abroad Scholarships

Global Business Center Study Abroad Scholarships are available for Foster School of Business undergraduate majors and MBA students. Awards vary depending on program length, application responses, and financial need, with an average award of $1,300 for short-term programs (less than 1 quarter in length) and $2,200 for longer programs (quarter- or semester-long programs). There are two application cycles:

  • Spring cycle (March 25 – May 1, 2024)
  • Fall cycle (October 1 – November 1, 2024)

Criteria

You must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible for the scholarship:

  1. Participation in an exchange, internship, or study abroad program approved by the University of Washington.
  2. Undergraduate applicants must already be accepted to their study abroad programs to apply for GBC scholarships.
  3. Program will take place Summer Quarter 2024 through Spring Quarter 2025.
  4. Michael G. Foster School of Business student status during participation in the program. This means being a Foster undergraduate major or MBA student. Business minors are not eligible for GBC Study Abroad Scholarships.
  5. Determination of financial need based on FAFSA form (for all need-based awards).
  6. In good standing with the Michael G. Foster School of Business and University of Washington.

Application

To be considered for either cycle, complete both the General Application and the Global Business Center (GBC) Study Abroad scholarship application by the deadline. In the General Application, select “I am applying for GBC Study Abroad Scholarships”. If you have submitted a scholarship previously, you may need to edit the General Application and select, “I am applying for GBC Study Abroad Scholarships”.

In the GBC Study Abroad Scholarship Application you will be asked for the following:
1. Goals Statements: Share three goals for your study abroad experience, one for each of the following categories: academic, professional, cultural. Three sentences are recommended for each goal.
2. Statement of Financial Need: Share how this scholarship will impact your ability to study abroad. If you feel your FAFSA does not paint a whole or accurate picture of your financial need, please use this space to share that information to help us understand your financial need. All responses will be anonymous to reviewers and will be kept confidential within the GBC Scholarship Review Committee.

We recommend you save your Goals Statements and Statement of Financial Need in a separate word processor so you don’t lose them in the event of a technical glitch.

Apply Here

Tips

We recommend the following to support your efforts to fund your study abroad program.

1. Submit a Financial Aid Revision Request for Study Abroad to increase your ceiling for receiving aid for the quarter you’re going abroad. Read more here.
2. Explore other scholarships by visiting the UW Office of Study Abroad website and the UW Office of Merit Scholarships

What does it fund?

Global Business Center Study Abroad scholarships are for Foster undergraduate students and MBA students and can be used to support many program types including: academic quarter or semester, spring break, early fall start, MBA study tours and MBA immersions.

Our scholarship funds come from generous Foster School alumni and friends that support study abroad. Some of these funds are designated for certain programs (WHU Exchange, Exchanges in Asia, etc.) or for students who demonstrate financial need. We strongly recommend you fill out the FAFSA before applying to this scholarship and for many other need-based scholarship opportunities.

GBC Study Abroad Scholarship Deferral Policy

If your study abroad program is canceled due to COVID-19, your Global Business Center scholarship award can be used to support a future study abroad program, through the completion of your current degree at UW, so long as these conditions are met: the program is approved by UW, you are accepted to the program, and you are a matriculated UW Foster student.

If, in the case of a program cancellation, you elect to participate in a virtual global program or other alternative to study abroad, please notify [email protected]. Although there is no guarantee that scholarship awards can be re-directed, the scholarship committee will thoughtfully review each request. The goal of the review is to ensure that the alternative program aligns with the intent of the study abroad scholarship program and the intent of the donors.

Important notes:

  • Your GBC scholarship award cannot exceed the cost of your program.
  • Your GBC scholarship award will be distributed at the start of the quarter in which you participate in your new global learning experience, either abroad or virtually.
  • You must reapply for the GBC Scholarship in the appropriate scholarship cycle to indicate that you would like to use your award for a new study abroad program.

If you qualify for need-based financial aid, maximum eligibility may limit the amount of aid you can receive. Contact UW’s Office of Financial Aid with questions.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

For Undergraduates

For MBA/Graduate Students

Questions

Email [email protected]