Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship

Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship

We will be offering a one-time $2000 Honors Experience scholarship to apply toward an Education Abroad experience at BGSU. This scholarship can only be used while students are enrolled in a BGSU Study Abroad program during any semester after their first year, as long as students remain active members in good standing with the Honors College.

To be eligible for this scholarship, students need to apply to the Honors College by March 1st.  

See below for Frequently Asked Questions about the scholarship.  If you have further questions, please set up a meeting with a staff member in Honors College.  You can email honors@bgsu.edu.

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Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship FAQ

General Questions

This is a one-time, one semester, up to $2,000 scholarship to apply toward a BGSU Education Abroad experience as an undergraduate student.  Students who apply before March 1st  to the Honors College receive this scholarship.

This scholarship can only be used for BGSU Education Abroad sponsored programs, and can only be used to cover the cost of the instructional and general fees for any courses they are taking. First year students are not eligible to use this scholarship. Students must complete 30 BGSU post-high school credit hours before being eligible.

This scholarship will only appear during the semester you are studying abroad.  Students must request to use the scholarship through The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships and be registered for the study abroad course(s) in order for it to be awarded.

Students have to participate in a BGSU Education Abroad sponsored program to utilize the Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship. It can be used during fall semester, spring semester or summer semester. Students who fail to meet application deadlines for the study abroad programs will not be eligible for use of this award.

The scholarship will only be applied to instructional and general fees for the BGSU program for one experience.  For example, if you are going on a faculty led trip (or program) as part of a 2 credit hour class, your scholarship will cover the instructional and general fees of the 2 credit hours.  If you are studying abroad for an entire semester through a BGSU Education Abroad program, your $2,000 will be applied towards your instructional and general fees for the semester.

The Education Abroad office provides a wealth of information, and will guide you through the process.  Start by attending an information session.  The office can be contacted at edabroad@bgsu.edu and 419-372-0479 with any questions.

If you are wondering about details to use your Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship, we would encourage you to contact the Honors College to set up an appointment with a staff member.  You can contact the Honors College office at 419-372-8504.

If you are interested in learning more about additional Education Abroad scholarships, we also encourage you to check out the many scholarships and grants available to students studying abroad through the Education Abroad office.

You can combine BGSU scholarships when you are studying abroad, as long as the scholarship total does not exceed the amount of full instructional and general fees for the semester you are studying abroad.  One example would be if you have a University Freshman Academic Scholarship (UFAS), you can combine this with the Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship for your credits when you are traveling abroad, as long as the combination does not exceed your instructional and general fees being charged.

If you are receiving full instructional and general fees covered by other scholarships, you are not able to use this scholarship during the time when your instructional and general fees are being covered. As a student receiving full tuition, you can still study abroad during the fall or spring, but your regular scholarships will cover the instructional and general fees.

You may choose to use a reduced amount of your Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship if you are receiving other tuition specific scholarships that cover a portion of your instructional and general fees. Any funds not used during the semester will not be retained for future use or refunded.

If you choose not to study abroad during your time at BGSU, you will forfeit the scholarship.

Using the Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship

You can always start with the Honors College, and we can help point you to the right resources.  You can set up an appointment by calling the Honors College at 419-372-8504.

You first need to decide what program you would like to participate in.  You can do this by working with the Education Abroad office.  They have a number of information sessions you can attend to learn more.  You can also meet one on one to discuss your plans.  BGSU Education Abroad programs are eligible for the scholarship.  Here are the BGSU Programs.

When you have applied for your Education Abroad experience, you will then contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships to let them know you plan to study abroad and would like to use the Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship.  In your email to please include the following pieces of information:

-          Full Name

-          ID Number

-          When you plan on going abroad

-          What program you are participating in

-          If you would like to meet to discuss your scholarship, please provide Ryan with multiple available times you can meet.

The Office will verify the necessary information and apply the scholarship to your account, or let you know if you need to wait for additional approval to have your scholarship applied.

You can use the Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship as early as the end of your freshman year at BGSU.  You must have completed:

-          A minimum of 30 hours of course work

-          Been at BGSU for two semesters progressing to degree completion

Credit earned in high school through advanced high school programs or AP credits may count towards the 30 hour requirement.

If you are participating in a BGSU Education Abroad sponsored program, you will need to fill out the applications by the deadline. More information about getting started on your education abroad search can be found here.  Also, please refer to the Education Abroad checklist to make sure you have completed all steps.

The standard deadline for a yearlong program, fall and summer programs are March 1st and for spring semester and winter session programs are October 1st.  Some program deadlines vary so connect with the Education Abroad office to verify deadlines.

After connecting with the Education Abroad office, you should notify the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships of your plans to go abroad.

No, you will not need to fill out an additional application to have your scholarship applied to your education abroad experience.  You will, however, need to fill out an application to participate in an education abroad experience.  Find out more information about studying abroad at one of the Info Sessions the Education Abroad Office offers.  

When you have applied for your Education Abroad experience, you will then contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships to let them know your plan to study abroad and would like to use the Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship.  In your email please include the following pieces of information:

-          Full Name

-          ID Number

-          When you plan on going abroad

-          What program you are participating in

-          If you would like to meet to discuss your scholarship, please provide Ryan with multiple available times you can meet.

The Offfice will verify the necessary information and apply the scholarship to your account, or let you know if you need to wait for additional approval to have your scholarship applied.

If you are participating in an exchange, BGSU Spain, or BGSU Austria program during the summer, fall, or spring semester, you can request this scholarship be used by first confirming with the Honors College, then Financial Aid (programs billed through BGSU).

If you are participating in a spring break trip aboard you will be informed by International Programs & Partnerships office by November after reviewing your application.

If the instructional and general fees are less than $2,000, the remaining portion will not be refunded or reserved for future use.

No, your scholarship can only be used to cover your instructional and general fees for the BGSU-sponsored study abroad program. This scholarship will not pay for charges such as study abroad deposits, travel costs, program fees, registration fees, legal service fees , course or facilities fees, aviation studies fees, or student health insurance.  You may not use your scholarship to pay for charges being billed by another institution for unique programs of enrollment available at BGSU.  

No, your scholarship can only be used to cover your instructional and general fees for the BGSU-sponsored study abroad program. This scholarship will not pay for charges such as study abroad deposits, travel costs, program fees, registration fees, legal service fees,  course or facilities fees, aviation studies fees, or student health insurance.  You may not use your scholarship to pay for charges being billed by another institution for unique programs of enrollment available at BGSU.

We also encourage you to check out the many scholarships and grants available to students studying abroad through the Education Abroad office.

No, you can only use the Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship for one experience.

Education Abroad Experiences and Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship

If the trip includes BGSU credits, you can use the scholarship.  Remember the scholarship will only cover the tuition and fees of the class credits being earned.  For example, if you are going on a faculty led trip as part of a 2 credit hour class, your scholarship will cover the instructional and general fees of the 2 credit hours, up to a maximum of $2,000.

If you have questions regarding the eligibility of the study abroad program, you can email honors@bgsu.edu.

When you are registered for the trip or program going abroad, you will then contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to let them know you plan to study abroad and would like to use the Honors Experience Scholarship. In your email, please include the following pieces of information:

-          Full Name

-          ID Number

-          When you plan on going abroad

-          What program you are participating in

The Office will verify the necessary information and apply the scholarship to your account, or let you know if you need to wait for additional approval to have your scholarship applied.

Yes, as long as the study abroad program is through BGSU and you are charged BGSU instructional and general fees.

Other Scholarships and Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship

Since the scholarship covers instructional and general fees, you can only use the Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship during a time when you are not receiving financial aid covering instructional and general fees.  For example, if you are receiving a full tuition scholarship through BGSU you could use the Honors Experience Study Abroad scholarship during a study abroad experience during Winter session, or over the summer when your tuition isn’t covered.  As a student receiving full tuition, you can still study abroad during the fall or spring, but your regular scholarships will cover the instructional and general fees. You may choose to use a reduced amount of your Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship if you are receiving other tuition specific scholarships that cover a portion of your instructional and general fees. Any funds not used during the semester will not be retained for future use or refunded.

If you are the recipient of federal, state, private, or other University financial aid, it may be necessary to adjust your financial aid awards.  It is your responsibility to notify Student Financial Aid and Scholarships of all aid you may be receiving by sending a copy of the notice of each award to the office of Student Financial Aid.

Yes, you may use the Honors Experience Study Abroad Scholarship along with a dependent fee waiver. However the amount of the scholarship will be reduced to the cost of the general fees, as instructional fees are covered by the fee waiver.

If you have further questions, you can email the Honors College at honors@bgsu.edu or call 419-372-8504.

Updated: 11/21/2024 02:18PM