Going abroad early in the undergraduate career can help students refine their academic and career goals, while building confidence and independence. It also gives students time to share their experiences and insights with their classmates in their remaining undergraduate years. Many students who study abroad early are inspired to go abroad again prior to and/or after graduation. For some majors, going abroad in the early years is the perfect time to make an international experience fit in their academic plan.
The majority of UNL students wait until their final two years to go abroad. The goal of the Early Abroad Scholarship is to motivate more UNL students to go abroad in their first years. Also, by allowing students to apply early and defer the award, students can budget for their experience abroad knowing they already have a $2,000 scholarship waiting for them.
Scholarships Available
Up to 100 awards per year
Award Amount
Summer $2,000
Semester $2,000
Year $2,000
Qualifications
Must be enrolled as a degree-seeking undergraduate student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in their first two years at UNL.
Must be in good academic and disciplinary standing at UNL.
While all students are encouraged to apply, preference may be given to students who have never previously traveled outside North America and students with financial need.
Recipient Requirements
Study, intern, research, or do service learning abroad within the first two years at UNL. (For example, a student who enrolled at UNL in Fall 2014 must go abroad by Summer 2016).
Note: Recipients may apply early and defer the award to a later term, but they are still required to go abroad within their first two years.
Note: Transfer students are eligible, but must have at least one semester remaining at UNL after the experience abroad.
Receive at least 3 academic credits for the experience. Exceptions will be made for short-term UNL Faculty-Led and UNL Co-Sponsored programs that are intentionally designed to be 1 or 2 credits.
Prior to departure: meet with an Academic Success Coach in UNL’s First-Year Experience & Transition Programs.
Share the experience in at least two ways, while abroad and/or upon return (for example: blog, video, presentation, photo exhibit, etc.).
Write a brief post-travel reflection on the experience.
Students are reminded to apply to the term in which they are submitting an application for the Early Abroad Scholarship, and NOT to the term in which they are planning to go abroad. For example, a student submitting an application during the Fall 2015 term but going abroad in the Spring 2016 term, should only submit an application to the Fall 2015 term, and NOT to the Spring 2016 term.
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/2m9h