The scholarship application process has changed!
Please carefully read the information below before submitting your application.
Have you submitted an application to study abroad during Winter Break 2016-2017, Spring 2017 or Calendar Year 2017 (Spring 2017/Fall 2017)?
- If you answered Yes: You do not need to submit a scholarship application. Your study abroad program application will serve as your scholarship application.
- If you answered No: Do you intend to submit an application to study abroad during Winter Break 2016-2017, Spring 2017 or Calendar Year 2017 (Spring 2017/Fall 2017)?
- Yes: You do not need to submit a scholarship application. Your study abroad program application will serve as your scholarship application.
- No: You may submit an Illinois 4 Illinois Scholarship application for use during a different term.
History
I4I is funding by University of Illinois undergraduates for University of Illinois undergraduates through a fee of $4.59 per semester. The I4I Scholarship fund awards approximately $140,000 per semester to 130-150 students.
Like all student fees, the study abroad scholarship fee is non-refundable and is assessed to each undergraduate student’s account each semester.
Students may apply early for the I4I Scholarship and defer their award for use during a different term. Students who wish to do this should submit the I4I Scholarship Application. All other students will simply submit their study abroad program application, which will serve as their scholarship application as well. For more information on applying early for the I4I Scholarship, please skip to the Applying Early section of this page.
Eligibility
To be eligible to apply for the I4I Scholarship, you must:
- Intend to be an enrolled, undergraduate, degree-seeking student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign at the time of study abroad (international degree-seeking students ARE eligible)
- Meet academic requirements of your Illinois College to be eligible to study abroad
- Identify a study abroad program, approved by the University of Illinois, to which you intend to apply or have already applied
You may receive only one I4I Scholarship for a given study abroad program, and you may receive only one scholarship during a given scholarship cycle. However, if you intend to participate in another study abroad program, you may apply for another I4I Scholarship in a later cycle. You may also be selected to receive both an I4I Scholarship and an IPS Scholarship during one application cycle.
Categories
- General merit. Who qualifies: All students, regardless of GPA.
- Financial need. Who qualifies: Students who have filed a current FAFSA and are reported to have financial need.
- Underrepresented student. Who qualifies: Students with documented physical and/or sensory disabilities (Must submit documentation, see A Note for Students with Physical/Sensory Disabilities below). Students who identify primarily with Latina/o, African American, or Native American/Alaskan Native heritage.
- Nontraditional destination. Who qualifies: Students participating in study abroad programs in Latin America, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, or Central or Eastern Europe. Study abroad programs in Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada are ineligible.
Deadlines
For study abroad programs during Winter Break 2016-2017, Spring 2017 or Calendar Year 2017 (Spring 2017/Fall 2017), the deadline is September 15, 2016 at 11:59 pm. The Scholarship Committee will announce recipients for this application cycle by mid-March. Please note: this deadline largely corresponds with study abroad program application deadlines.
If your program application deadline falls after September 15, 2016, you must complete your program application before September 15 in order to be considered for scholarships.
There are two I4I scholarship cycles per year, with deadlines at the beginning of Fall and Spring semesters.
Amount
- $500 for Winter Break, Study Tour, or Summer program
- $1,000 for Spring or Fall Semester program
- $2,000 for Academic or Calendar Year program
Application
Your study abroad program application will now serve as your Illinois 4 Illinois (I4I) Scholarship and International Programs and Studies (IPS) Scholarship applications! If you have submitted a study abroad program application or intend to do so for Fall 2016 or Academic Year 2016-2017 (Fall 2016/Spring 2017) you do not need to submit a scholarship application. If you have not applied for a study abroad program, you may submit an I4I Scholarship Application and defer your scholarship if you are selected. Students interested in applying for scholarships during Spring Break/Study Tour 2016 of Summer/Summer Study Tour 2016 must submit an I4I Scholarship Application.
If you are applying early for the I4I Scholarship, the application consists of three Application Questionnaires and a Signature Document.
- An Application Questionnaire for basic information about your intended study abroad program
- An Application Questionnaire to determine categories for consideration. (You may apply for consideration in multiple categories, but you may receive only one I4I Scholarship per application cycle.)
- An Application Questionnaire with three essay questions (limited to 250 words each):
- How have your prior academic and extracurricular experiences prepared you to participate in your proposed study abroad program? If applicable, please include a discussion of any languages that you are currently taking, including the course numbers, and/or indicate the last relevant language courses you completed.
- What do you anticipate will be the most meaningful aspect of your time spent studying abroad?
- How does your study abroad program relate to your academic, career, and personal goals?
- A Signature Document regarding the rules of the scholarship application. This must be electronically signed for your application to be considered complete.
You must complete all of the Application Questionnaires and Signature Documents in the application. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Early Application
You may apply for the I4I Scholarship early – even before you intend to study abroad!
For example, if you wish to study abroad during Spring 2017, you may submit an I4I Scholarship application during the Spring 2016 application cycle. If you receive a scholarship, we will hold your award until you study abroad.
Why apply early?
- If you are not selected for a scholarship during your first application, you may apply again in subsequent cycles until you receive a scholarship!
- Before you commit to a program, you will know whether you have received a scholarship, which allows you to plan ahead!
There may be a disadvantage to applying early:
- Application essays are typically stronger after a student has thoroughly researched his or her targeted study abroad program and can articulate why and how that program complements his or her goals for the study abroad experience.
When you begin a scholarship application, you will be asked to select your intended study abroad term. If you are applying early, your intended study abroad term may not yet be provided as an option. If this is the case, please select the term closest to your intended term abroad (e.g., if Spring 2017 is not available, choose Spring 2016). You will have the opportunity to enter the actual term you intend to study abroad within one of the Application Questionnaires.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
https://app.studyabroad.illinois.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgram&Program_ID=10625&Type=S&sType=O