Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon Awards & Scholarships

These awards are administered by or coordinated through Carnegie Mellon and some are available specifically to Carnegie Mellon students.  Please read the descriptions carefully, as some awards are restricted by class level, major or area of study, semester, or region of travel.

CMU community members are still subject to requirements and approvals for university-sponsored travel. Please contact GoAbroad@andrew.cmu.edu for more information about the study abroad approval process.

Awards Administered by OIE

Arthur F. and Mary Ellen Cranell Naylor Study Abroad Award (AFMECN)

For the 2023-24, 2024-25 academic year, the AFMECN Study Abroad Award will be between $600-$1500 for one Carnegie Mellon undergraduate student each academic year who has financial need and plans to study abroad in Europe in a cultural immersion program. Learn more about the AFMECN Study Abroad Award

Global Engagement Scholarship

The Global Engagement Scholarship awards up to $4,000 annually to one or two Carnegie Mellon undergraduate students to pursue a summer study abroad experience that must be at least four weeks in length. The recipient must be applying to or have been accepted into a study abroad or internship program eligible for academic credit (no independent travel will be considered). Learn more about the Global Engagement Scholarship

Tartans Abroad Scholarship - Individual Fund

Tartans Abroad Scholarships are for Carnegie Mellon undergraduate students to study, work, volunteer, or research abroad at an educational institution or with a study abroad program provider during an academic break period such as the summer, winter, or spring break, and may cover 1/3 of the total expenses at most, up to a maximum of $1,000.  Scholarships will not be available for students to travel during the summer after their final semester of study. Learn more about the Tartans Abroad Scholarship - Individual Fund

Tartans Abroad Scholarship - Group Fund

Tartans Abroad Group Scholarships are for recognized Carnegie Mellon undergraduate student groups to pursue short-term organized international travel (STO-IT) during academic break periods, including the summer, winter break, and spring break. Learn more about the Tartans Abroad Scholarship - Group Fund.

OIE Award Timeline

For awards administered by OIE (AFMECN, Global Engagement, Tartans Abroad), processing of the awards cannot begin until students:

  1. accept the award and its terms/conditions 
  2. attend a Pre-Departure Orientation
  3. complete all e-forms in the CMU Study Abroad Portal

Once these are finalized, we can then begin processing payment. This processing can take up to 4-5 weeks.

Awards Administered by Carnegie Mellon

College of Engineering Travel Grant Program

College of Engineering Travel Grants are available to support a variety of abroad opportunities, at all times of year, to meet the needs of engineering students. Experiences can take place during the academic year or over the summer and can be short-term or span a semester or full academic year.  Please contact the College of Engineering Office of Undergraduate Studies for more details.

Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics

The Department of Modern Languages offers a number of scholarships to encourage study abroad. To qualify for a Modern Languages (ML) study abroad scholarship, students must be registered as a major or minor in a modern language at the time of applicationPlease visit the Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics website for details and deadlines, which are typically once per year in early February. 

 Note: Even though the department offers no major or minor in Italian, students of Italian who are also members of MLSAC may apply for the MLSAC study abroad scholarship.

Dietrich College Study/Travel Abroad Grant Program

Dietrich College provides support for both traditional study abroad programs and for non-study abroad experiences such as service-learning opportunities, internships, research, and conference travel. The program uses a modified rolling application schedule for its grant funds and works closely with Study Abroad and OIE in advising students about eligible programs and other potential funding sources, completing applications, and preparing for the experience abroad. Visit the Dietrich College website for details.

Gindroz Travel/Study Prize

The fund was created by the Marylin and Ray Gindroz Foundation to enhance education through travel in Europe and the study of traditional architecture, urbanism, and music. The $5,000 stipend is available to third- or fourth-year students in the Architecture department, third-year students in the Music department, and first-year graduate students in Architecture or Music. For more information contact the School of Architecture at 412-268-2354.

International Small Undergraduate Research Grant (ISURG)

The International Small Undergraduate Research Grant (ISURG) is a program run jointly through the Undergraduate Research Office (URO) and the Office of International Education (OIE). ISURG allows students who are planning to study/travel abroad to apply for funds to support a research project while they are abroad. ISURG awards grants to undergraduates in all disciplines at Carnegie Mellon to help defray research expenses. All ISURG students must submit a proposal following the guidelines and deadlines for the SURG. More information on the SURG/ISURG competition is available at the URO's website, or by contacting Stephanie Wallach or Richelle Bernazzoli.

The Jennings Family Brave Companion Fund

The Jennings Family Brave Companions Fund provides up to $6,000 for current Carnegie Mellon sophomores and juniors who want to travel abroad to a developing country during the summer. This can include a wide range of study, research, internship and/or service-related abroad programs.  Special consideration is given to students who meet one or more of the following criteria: students who have overcome obstacles, such as socioeconomic or educational disadvantages or disabilities; students with demonstrated financial need; underrepresented minorities; first generation college students; and those with little time abroad. Learn more at the Undergraduate Research Office website. 

Marilyn Meltzer Prize Award in Design

This award is open to all full-time, rising juniors in Design. The award commemorates Marilyn Meltzer’s lifelong interests by honoring a student who has shown an ability to combine outstanding design with effective use of color. One student will be chosen to receive an amount of $2,500 towards academic year or summer study abroad. For more information, please contact Jamie Kosnosky.

Tepper Undergraduate Experiential Learning and Professional Development Fund

The Tepper Undergraduate Experiential Learning and Professional Development Fund supports individual students in career and professional development-related activities. Funds are awarded to support attendance/participation in conferences and events, and can be used for specific study abroad expenses (such as airfare or additional costs and fees). For more information and to apply online, visit their webpage

Awards Coordinated through Carnegie Mellon

The Bridging Scholarship

The Bridging Scholarship is for study in Japan in any field, for either the fall or spring terms. Students attending a recognized exchange or independent program in Japan are eligible to apply. Programs also must continue for at least three months.  Fall applications are due in April of each year, while spring applications are due in early October.  For more information, visit: www.aatj.org/studyabroad/scholarships.html.

Freeman Asia

The Freeman-ASIA scholarship program provides, to those students with demonstrated financial need, scholarship assistance for study abroad in East or Southeast Asia.  Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 2.8, and must apply early in each term (early October for spring, mid-February for summer, and early April for fall).  For more information, visit and apply online via: www.iie.org/freeman-asia.

Fulbright Scholarship Program

Scholarships are given to graduating seniors and graduate students (up to completion of a PhD).  The Fulbright Program is the U.S. Government's premier study abroad scholarship program.  It enables U.S. students and artists to benefit from unique resources in every corner of the world.  U.S. citizens can gain international competence in an increasingly interdependent world.  Campus Deadline will be mid September and Foundation Deadline is normally in October. For more information contact Richelle Bernazzoli.

Gilman Scholarship Program

The Gilman International Scholarship Program offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students of limited financial means to pursue academic studies abroad. Up to $5,000 is available to students in any field who have already been accepted to a study abroad program for a semester-long program, who are receiving a Federal Pell Grant. There is a fall and spring deadline. There is also a new summer scholarship opportunity for those with a science, technology, engineering or math major. For assistance in applying contact the Study Abroad Staff at 412-268-5231.

Gilman-McCain Scholarship

The Gilman-McCain Scholarship offers grants for U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are dependents of an active duty member of the following branches of the U.S. military: Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard. Students must be enrolling in a credit bearing program abroad, in a location that is a Level 1 or 2 on the U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory list. They must also be a recipient of some type of Title IV federal financial aid. The Gilman-McCain website has further details and dates. Up to $5,000 is available, and there are two application deadlines. For assistance in applying, set up a study abroad appointment through our CMU Study Abroad Portal.

National Security Education Program Scholarships David L. Boren Awards

NSEP offers scholarships and fellowships to undergraduate and graduate students for study in non-Western countries.  Although the grants are merit -based, the amount granted will vary from partial to full cost of participation depending on financial need.  Campus Deadline is early January and Foundation Deadline is early February (exact date posted online).