Travel Awards and Financial Aid
Need Funding?
Looking to participate in a global health opportunity but not sure how to pay for it? Below are some resources to help you.
Student Financial Aid
Most financial aid can be applied to the costs of international programs. Click here for information about using financial aid and funding for global opportunities from the Office of Global Opportunities website.
For more information, undergraduate and graduate OHIO students should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships to confirm your aid package. Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine students should contact the Office of Student Affairs.
Global Health Travel Award
The Global Health Initiative offers travel scholarships to students in the Heritage College of Medicine and the College of Health Sciences and Professions who participate in any of the OHIO faculty-led global health programs and/or Heritage College third- or fourth-year Global Health Elective rotations (OCOM 8911) and Physician Assistant Global Health rotations.
Click here for Global Health Travel Award Instructions on how to apply (PDF).
Eligible Programs Include:
Winter/Spring Break
- London Global Public Health
- Costa Rica Introduction to Global Health
- Cuba Comparative Health Systems
Summer
- Botswana Rehabilitation Services
- Ecuador Community and Public Health
- Ecuador Nursing & Medicine
- Ecuador Tropical Disease Research Program
- Paraguay Explore, Connect, Serve
- Peru Clinics
- South Africa Child Life
- South Africa Medicine
- Spain & Morocco Global Public Health
Year-Round
- Global Health Elective Rotations (Heritage College third- or fourth-year students and CHSP physician assistant students)
Due Dates:
Early application is encouraged. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis twice per year and awards are made until allocated funds are used. Awards range from $500 to $1,000.
- Winter/spring eligible programs and Global Health Elective rotations (third- or fourth-year medical students and PA students) are due Oct. 1 and Nov. 1 at 11:59 pm (EST).
- Summer/fall eligible programs and Global Health Elective rotations (third- or fourth-year medical students and PA students) are due Feb. 1 and March 1 at 11:59 pm (EST).
A decision letter will be emailed to all applicants approximately two weeks after the deadline.
Apply for a Global Health Travel Award
Awards are contingent on actual participation in the program and cannot be used to pay for program deposits. Awards are not transferable and cannot be deferred. Students can combine this award with the OHIO ITDI or the Office of Global Opportunities awards.
OHIO Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute (ITDI) Travel Awards
Students participating in programs in Ecuador sponsored by ITDI can apply for the Infectious and Tropical Disease Institute Travel Award Eligible programs include the Tropical Disease Research program, the Nursing and Medicine program and the Community and Public Health program. Deadline for applications are Feb. 15.
OHIO Travel Scholarships
Ohio University has a number of scholarships and travel awards to offer students who want to go abroad.
- Office of Global Opportunities Study Abroad Scholarships offers a variety of awards, the list of awards are provided in the table below.
- Other OHIO-sponsored scholarships are available for OHIO students. Make sure to review all the eligibility requirements and guidelines before applying to ensure that your program and plans meet the grant award expectations.
- Ohio University is also a member of the Ohio International Consortium Study Abroad, and Ohio residents, who are at least a rising sophomore with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, are eligible for scholarships offered through the consortium.
Due Dates:
- Winter/spring eligible programs and Global Health Elective rotations (third- or fourth-year medical students and PA students) are due Oct. 1 at 11:59 pm (EST).
- Summer/fall eligible programs and Global Health Elective rotations (third- or fourth-year medical students and PA students) are due Feb. 15 at 11:59 pm (EST).
| Office of Global Opportunities Scholarship Overview | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scholarship/Grant | Class Rank | GPA | Residency |
Program Location |
| OGO Merit Scholarship | Fresh. Soph., Jr., or Sr. | 3.5 | US; Perm Res; Int'l | Domestic & International |
| OGO Need-Based Travel Grant | Fresh. Soph., Jr., or Sr. | US; Perm Res | Domestic & International | |
| OGO Diversity Travel Award | Fresh. Soph., Jr., Sr., Grad | US; Perm Res | Domestic & International | |
| OGO Graduate & HCOM Travel Award | Grad | US; Perm Res; Int'l | Domestic & International | |
| OGO GO Again Scholarship | Fresh. Soph., Jr., Sr., Grad | US; Perm Res; Int'l | Domestic & International | |
| OGO Gilman Incentive Grant | Fresh. Soph., Jr., or Sr. | US; Perm Res | International Only | |
| OGO Regional & eCampus Student Scholarship | Fresh. Soph., Jr., Sr., Grad | US; Perm Res; Int'l | Domestic & International | |
| OGO First Gen Scholarship | Fresh. Soph., Jr., Sr., Grad | US; Perm Res; Int'l | Domestic & International | |
| OGO Language Immersion Scholarship | Fresh. Soph., Jr., Sr., Grad | US; Perm Res; Int'l | Domestic & International | |
| J. Michael Lawrie Global Education Scholarship | Jr. or Sr. | 3.4 | US; Perm Res; Int'l | Domestic & International |
| Dr. Michael and Mrs. Marilyn Day Award | Fresh. Soph., Jr., or Sr. | 3.2 | US; Perm Res | Domestic & International |
| Boundless: Study Away Scholarship | Fresh. Soph., Jr., Sr., Grad | US; Perm Res; Int'l | Domestic & International | |
| Elinda Ann Wing Appalachian GLC Fund | Fresh. Soph., Jr., or Sr. | US; Perm Res | Domestic & International | |
| Daniel K.C. Shao Scholarship | Fresh. Soph., Jr., Sr., Grad | 3.0 | US; Perm Res; Int'l | Domestic & International |
| OIC Short-term Study Abroad Scholarship | Soph., Jr., or Sr. | 2.5 | State of Ohio Resident | International Only |
| OIC George C. Burke Scholarship | Soph., Jr., or Sr. | 3.0 | State of Ohio Resident | International Only |
| OIC Donald N. Nelson Scholarship | Jr., or Sr. | 3.0 | State of Ohio Resident | International Only |
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program provides up to $5,000 in support for program costs and airfare. To apply, you must be a U.S. citizen, a recipient of a federal Pell Grant and plan to study abroad for a minimum of four weeks. Global Health programs that are likely to meet the length of program requirement (four weeks) include Botswana Healthcare, Ecuador Tropical Disease Research Program, South Africa Child Life, and South Africa Medicine. Contact the Global Health Initiative for more information at globalhealth@ohio.edu or 740-593-2353.
Diversity Network Summer Scholarship
The Diversity Abroad Network "Diversity Network" will offer summer scholarships in the amount of $1,000 for full-time undergraduate (both community college and university level) students attending faculty-led program for four weeks, including Botswana Healthcare, Ecuador Tropical Disease Research Program, and South Africa Child Life and Medicine. Applications are due in April.
Intern and Volunteer Abroad Essay Contest
Submit a 250-word essay to compete for a $500 scholarship paid to students attending a program that provides volunteer or interning experience. All of the global health programs can help you achieve this goal, please feel free to inquire with the Global Health program coordinator for more information. Applications are due in December and the winner will be chosen in March.
Research Funding
Ohio University has a number of awards for students to fund research while they travel abroad. If you are interested in conducting research while on a Global Health program, make sure to communicate with the program director to ensure that any research ideas are feasible and appropriate for the program/site.
- Student Enhancement Awards: The Student Enhancement Awards, sponsored by the Ohio University Council for Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity, assists undergraduate, graduate, and medical students, under the guidance of a faculty mentor, by providing funds for research and presentation of their research at professional conferences. The awards are based on competitive research proposals and provide funding ($6,000 maximum) for up to one year.
- Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fund: The Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fund awards up to $1,500 for students conducting original research projects, creative projects and scholarly work. The funds can be applied to research related travel, materials or supplies. Applications are available here.
- Core Research Fund: CORE Research Fund provides up to $3,000 for a medical student in the CORE. For more information, please contact Karen Collins, MPA, at collink3@ohio.edu.
Non-Traditional Forms of Funding
There are other ways to raise funds for your global health experience abroad.
- GoFundMe : GoFundMe is a personal online fundraising website for individuals, groups and organizations.
- Community organizations, clubs and societies: reach out to different organizations, churches, societies (like Greek Life, Honor’s Societies, Key Club, etc.) for academic scholarships available.
Non-OHIO Students
Please check with the appropriate office in your home school for available funding opportunities.