Scholarships

There are many opportunities for students to apply for scholarships, both within and outside the department/college. Listed below are scholarships available throughout the school year: students should start their planning well in advance so as not to miss any deadlines. Many of these scholarships are for study abroad, but several can be used for general expenses. Since many scholarships are need-based, you will want to ensure your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is on file at UT. The FAFSA is available after January 1; students should submit their application as early as possible.

Several of these scholarships are accessed through the GLOBAL A$$IST website. Please apply only to the scholarship that corresponds to the semester in which you will begin your study or research program.

China Studies Scholarship for Study Abroad

The Department of Asian Studies offers the China Studies Study Abroad Scholarship, which provides partial financial support for students planning to study in the People's Republic of China or Taiwan during the summer session or anytime during the academic year. The scholarship amount varies each year, depending on the budget and number of scholarships awarded. The amount is not intended to cover the full cost of a program, so students should pursue additional sources of funding.

Endowed Presidential Scholarships

The Department of Asian Studies invites applications from qualified students for four Endowed Presidential Scholarships. Students can apply for the Faurot and Kennedy scholarships with a single application, but those interested in the Aggarwal Scholarship must apply separately.

The Louise J. Faurot Memorial Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Chinese Studies

Amount: $2500

Established in honor of her mother by the late Professor Jeanette Faurot, a pioneer in the field of Chinese Studies at UT, this scholarship supports undergraduate students in their research and scholarly efforts with a focus on Chinese Studies. Recipients may major in Chinese Language, Literature, Linguistis, History, Philosophy, Religion, Comparative Literature, or Plan II, as long as their focus is Chinese Studies.

The application deadline is March 15, 2024.

Bill and Tomiko Kennedy Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Chinese Studies

Amount: $2500

Established by UT Alumnus Kevyn Kennedy in honor of his parents, this scholarship supports upper-level undergraduates who study Chinese language, literature, culture and history at UT. Preference will be given to students who are learning Chinese as a second language over native Chinese speakers and to students who have national or community service in their backgrounds. Preference should also be given to students who are working their way through college. Financial need is also considered.

Kevyn Kennedy and Chien-Yi Kung Endowed Excellence Fund in Chinese Studies

The Department of Asian Studies is honored to announce a new Endowed Excellence Fund in Chinese Studies, established through the generosity of Kevyn Kennedy and his wife, Chien-Yi Kung. Funds distributed from the Kevyn Kennedy and Chien-Yi Kung Endowed Excellence Fund in Chinese Studies support the activities, including student scholarship awards, of the Chinese studies program in the Department of Asian Studies.

Mr. Kevyn Kennedy is a UT Asian Studies alumnus. Mr. Kennedy is also the founder and current general manager of Corporate Risks and Intelligence (CRI), an international firm that provides consulting services and litigation support for governments and businesses. In addition to management of the corporate accounts, Ms. Chien-Yi Kung oversaw the Taipei, Taiwan office when Kevyn Kennedy oversaw the Shanghai, China office. Both are involved in investigative fieldwork for clients. 

This Kevyn Kennedy and Chien-Yi Kung Endowed Excellence Fund in Chinese Studies is in addition to the Bill and Tomiko Kennedy Memorial Endowed Presidential Scholarship, generously endowed by Kevyn Kennedy and the Kennedy family in memory of their parents.

Aggarwal Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Indian Studies

Amount: varies, up to $2500

Administered by the South Asia Institute.  The Aggarwal Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Indian Studies was established by the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System on March 11, 2010, for the benefit of the College of Liberal Arts. Gift funds were provided by J.K. Aggarwal, Ph.D. of Austin, TX and Shanti J. Aggarwal, Ph.D. of Austin, TX.

Peter Vlach Memorial Scholarship in Liberal Arts for China/Taiwan Study Abroad

Amount: $1000

The Peter Vlach Memorial Scholarship in Liberal Arts was established by the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System on February 17, 2007, for the benefit of the College of Liberal Arts. The endowment honors Mr. Peter F. Vlach of Trophy Club, Texas, a 1999 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin College of Liberal Arts.

Eligibility: Any level of undergraduate student can apply. The competition is based on academic achievement and merit of the proposed study abroad program. Undergraduate students must enroll in a language or other organized program in China or Taiwan.

How to Apply: Interested students should fill out the following Qualtrics survey:

https://forms.office.com/r/sUP859LQfW

The application deadline is March 15, 2024.

POSCO Korean Studies Scholarship

Via the generosity of the Korea Foundation/POSCO Korean Studies endowment, some funding is available for UT students who will participate in a language or other study program in Korea or an equivalent program elsewhere during the following summer or academic year. fall, spring, or whole-year).  Note that students who have not yet applied to such a program may nonetheless submit an application for the scholarship; receipt of support will then be contingent on providing proof of acceptance to the program named in your application. There is no citizenship or residency requirement for this scholarship. It is estimated that awards will be for a minimum of $500, though in the past larger awards have also been made. Applicants should also pursue other sources of funding.

Applications from those planning independent undergraduate research on Korea, whether in Korea or elsewhere, will also be considered.

Eligibility: Students should have a background in Korean language and/or Korean Studies.

How to Apply:

To apply for POSCO Korean Studies Scholarship, please fill out the following Qualtrics survey with all the information required, by March 15, 2024.  Apply here. 

One letter of recommendation from a UT instructor teaching Korean language or content on Korea will be required. 

If you have any questions about the POSCO Korea Studies Scholarship, please contact Robert Oppenheim (rmo@mail.utexas.edu).

Mitsubishi Study Abroad Scholarship

The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Endowment provides partial funding for UT students studying abroad in Japan during the summer session or anytime during the academic year.

Eligibility: Applicants must participate in a language or other organized study program in Japan or the equivalent elsewhere. Funding is available for either graduate or undergraduate students. However, students must have completed at least one year of Japanese by the end of the semester in which they apply in order to receive consideration. An overall GPA of 3.0 or higher is required.  Prior to applying, all applicants must carry a minimum 3.0 GPA in their Japanese language courses in particular, must have completed at least one semester of coursework at UT Austin, and must have taken at least one Japanese language course. Awards are for a minimum of $500. The amount is not intended to cover the full cost of a program, so students should pursue additional sources of funding.

How to Apply

To apply for Mitsubishi Study Abroad Scholarship, please fill out the following survey with all the information required. Deadline for Mitsubishi Scholarship is October 21, 2024:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=peLXMdi9TkGel76pmOvf4RWdD02nzBNOpIl-5HufVn5UOUNZU1RZN09DNU5ZRkNIRkRaNVBQMVFWRy4u

Two letters of recommendation will be needed and at least one of the letters must be from a Japanese language instructor. 

International Education Fee Scholarship

The International Education Fee Scholarship is open to any UT Austin student studying or conducting research abroad. Awards range from approximately $1,000 - $1800. Competition opens on the first day of each long semester with deadlines on Oct. 1 for spring and March 1st for summer and fall.

Eligibility: Minimum UT GPA required: 2.00. The competition is based on need and merit with more emphasis on need.

How to Apply

The application consists of a basic online application, a listing of your honors and awards, a bit of information about your finances and the program you have selected as well as a one-page essay. Two letters of recommendation are required. Applications are to be completed online through the Study Abroad Office's GLOBAL A$$IST system.

Liberal Arts Study Abroad Scholarships for Exchange Programs

For students in the College of Liberal Arts planning on participating in an Exchange Study Abroad Program. Number and amount of awards vary each semester.  For more information click here.  

Rapoport Service Scholarship for Freshmen

The Rapoport Service Scholarship is designed for students that are interested in volunteerism, community service and service learning.  The program combines academics with a required community service component that allows students to bridge their academic interests with community service.  Community service work is designed to complement the student’s curriculum and create potential career opportunities.  All Rapoport Scholars will join a Bridging Disciplines Program to further integrate their classroom, research, and internship experiences and their work as a Rapoport Scholar.

Scholars must apply separately to the Bridging Disciplines Program and follow BDP application instructions and deadlines.  Scholars receive a laptop computer to use during the program and are awarded the computer upon completion of the program. 

For more information click here.  

Liberal Arts Excellence Award 

Although financial need is considered, it is not an eligibility requirement. Multiple awards are made each year.  Awards range from $2,000 - $5,000.  For more information click here. 

Liberal Arts Council (LAC) Study Abroad Scholarship

For Liberal Arts students studying or conducting research abroad. Students planning to attend year-long programs are encouraged to apply.  Awards range from $250 - $2,000.  For more information click here.

First Abroad Planning Scholarship

The First Abroad Scholarship supports first-generation students planning for a study abroad experience. It is a one-time scholarship of $3,000 used to fund participation in a UT-approved study abroad program. We will award 25 students in the 2019-20 school year.

This scholarship is ideal for first-generation students that know they want to study abroad, but have not yet chosen a program. Recipients work with an advisor to explore program options, learn about funding opportunities, and establish an academic plan for study abroad.  For more information click here.  

UT Austin Continuing and Transfer Scholarships

The UT Austin Scholarship Application for Continuing & Transfer Students is available in November of each year and is used to award students for the following academic year. This online application is strictly for continuing students who are eligible to enroll, transfer students who have been officially admitted or have completed an application for transfer admission, AND returning UT Austin students who are applying for readmission to The University of Texas at Austin. Students participating in the Coordinated Admissions Program (CAP), seeking admission to UT Austin and waiting to complete the requirements by June 1 to enroll in the Fall, can also use this online application. For more information click here.  

Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship 

The highly competitive Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship is funded by the U.S. Department of Education through its Title VI grant. The fellowship assists meritorious graduate and undergraduate students undergoing intensive training in modern languages and related area or international studies. Learn more about FLAS fellowships in this information session video.

For more detailed information and to apply, please click here to visit the FLAS page.

Download the FLAS Fellowship FAQ (PDF) for more details and frequently asked questions.

Taiwan Huayu Bilingual Exchanges of Selected Talent Program (BEST)

Taiwan Huayu Bilingual Exchanges of Selected Talent Program (BEST)

For more information on how to apply please click the following link: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/apps/abroad/student/pgm_list/detail/nlogon/1586/
(Students will need to scroll down to the section labeled “Sponsored by Special” to find the guidelines and application download under “Faculty.”)

Should you have any questions, please contact: 

Daniel Ach, Assistant Director of Education Abroad - ach.dan@austin.utexas.edu

OR

The BEST scholarship UT Austin Field Coordinator

Prof. Yichun Lin (yichunlin@austin.utexas.edu) 

Taiwan Ministry of Education Fellowships

These fellowship opportunities are administered by the Education Division, TECO in Houston. Click here for more information.   

Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Scholarship

In honor of Mahatma Gandhi, an annual scholarship of $500 will be awarded to two undergraduate students at The University of Texas at Austin based on academic excellence and dedication to the study of India.

Useful Links

• GLOBAL A$$IST (Education Abroad Scholarship Database)
• College of Liberal Arts Scholarships
• Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
• Texas One Stop