Do you know of scholarships that are for traveling abroad?

Can you use scholarships for study abroad if it is not through your university?

• I'm going to be a freshman this year. I am going to major in biomedical engineering and I really want to study abroad. I don't want to go during the year because I want to focus on my studies, but I would like to go to Germany or France next summer. My school only offers business summer courses abroad and year/semester programs. So I was wondering, since I have a lot of unused scholarships, if I could use those for a summer program abroad, which is through a study abroad/ foreign exchange program (not affiliated with my university). They money I get back every semester from left over scholarships I am saving, but it won't be enough to cover even a fourth. I do have other scholarships, which if I do not use, then I do not get the money at all. So could I use those scholarships, instead of letting them go to waste. I'm going to ask when I go to school, but I was wondering if anyone else might know. Thanks in advance

• Answer:

  It depends on your university and their policies concerning study abroad. I work at a large state university, and we do allow students to use their financial aid to go on study abroad programs through other universities, as long as they get the study abroad program approved by our office before they go. You should contact the study abroad office at your university and ask them if there's a process by which you can study abroad through another university and still take your financial aid with you. It may also depend on what form of aid you have. If you have federal grants or loans, those should follow you to the other university with no problem. However, if you financial aid is given by your university (you have an alumni scholarship, for example), they may not allow you to use their funds to study at another university. In general, though, if your university does allow you to participate in another university's study abroad program, the study abroad office at your university should be able to guide you through the process.