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Scholarships

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The CSA is aware that paying for study away is a primary concern for many students. In addition to your regular Macalester financial aid package, we encourage you to seek scholarships through a variety of sources. In some cases, scholarship deadlines may come before your program application deadline. We encourage you to apply early – If you wait, you may miss out on funding opportunities.

Scholarship Directory

Types of Scholarships

Program-Specific

Many program-specific scholarships are available to participating students. The amount of each award and the criteria required to apply varies between providers and scholarships. Awards may be based on need, merit, or identity-based criteria. Some providers require students to apply directly using a separate scholarship application. Others automatically award funds when students are accepted into their programs. In many cases, students must actively accept the scholarship in order to receive the funds. Please watch carefully for notices and detailed instructions on your program’s website, in emails from your program provider and from the CSA.

Macalester-Sponsored

Macalester-sponsored scholarships are generously funded by donors. There are far fewer of these available and they are very specific in their eligibility requirements, but are always awarded as fully as possible. Students can apply for these scholarships in the spring semester soon after receiving Macalester approval for their study away program. Students who are eligible will receive an email from the CSA with application directions and deadlines.

Regional, National, Organizational

Other scholarships specific to region, country, or organization are available from a wide range of sources. The CSA does its best to maintain a list of available scholarships on our website. However, there may be additional scholarships available that aren’t listed there. No single list is exhaustive and we encourage you to utilize a variety of strategies as you search for potential scholarship support.

Financial Aid & Student Accounts

The Financial Aid Office can help you complete the financial aid section of your scholarship application. Please deliver the application to them and give detailed information on what they are to do with it (return it to you, email it to the organization, etc.). Give plenty of lead time for them to complete this on your behalf – preferably at least 48 hours.

Note: Outside scholarships may affect need-based grants, as you would be receiving funding from another source. We suggest you meet with a financial aid advisor to discuss what this could look like. Merit-based scholarships are unaffected.

If you receive a scholarship, it will either be sent directly to you or it will be applied to your program’s tuition invoice (paid by Macalester). In the latter case, the CSA will confirm the scholarship before contacting the Student Accounts Office to issue a credit to your Macalester account.

Scholarship & Budgeting Resources

The following pages in the CSA’s Equity Resources for Study Away contain information on financial matters and scholarship opportunities for students:

  • Go to the Macalester brochure page of any of the approved study away programs and find the “Cost & Funding” tab. If there is a program or region-specific scholarship, it will typically be listed there.
  • Ask your Macalester study away advisor about scholarship options in your individual advising appointment. 
  • Ask department chairs, faculty, and your own academic advisor about scholarships. Some might know about additional funding opportunities specifically tied to academic disciplines.
  • Ask returnees how they found their scholarships. 
  • Watch for email (including in your spam folder) from the Center for Study Away. When we receive scholarship announcements, we pass them along to eligible students.
  • Watch for email and Mac Daily notices from our Financial Aid Office. For example, they will notify Pell eligible students of the Gilman scholarship application window each semester.

Other Funding Ideas

  • Ask airlines if they do anything special for students, or use specific travel agencies (e.g., ScholarTrip, Kayak). Even if they don’t offer any discount, they are constantly changing their special offers and ticket change policies.
  • Try various individual online searches. This can take time, but there are funding sources established for very specific circumstances.
  • Look in your own home community for funding for students provided by industry, civic or religious groups, etc., and clarify if they can be applied for an approved study away semester program.

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