Before studying abroad, I did not think it was something that I would be able to do. I thought that it was too expensive and did not know of any options to fund my semester. However, after doing some research, I found that not only did my home university have plenty of opportunities for scholarships, but CEA CAPA also had many ways to fund my time abroad. 

I think that it is important for prospective study abroad students to know that it is possible to go abroad, no matter their financial situation. Both my home university and CEA CAPA helped me make my semester abroad possible, and I wanted to share all the things that I did to save up and fund my semester abroad in Prague, Czech Republic. 

We visited Amsterdam by bus, which is a budget-friendly option for travel. 

Before Arriving Abroad 

Before going abroad, looking for scholarships was important to me. My home university is Miami University in Ohio, and they provided many scholarships for me to apply for to make the financial aspect of going abroad easier. I found that talking to my study abroad advisor helped me the most in finding scholarships. The process can be very overwhelming if you are doing it on your own and can make funding your program seem impossible. Finding support through your study abroad center at your home university is a great resource for leading you in the right direction.

I found several scholarships, such as the Gilman Scholarship, which is available for students receiving a federal Pell Grant, and a passport grant to cover the costs of getting a passport. My study abroad advisor sat with me and helped me pinpoint specific scholarships that I qualified for, and this helped me see what program was best for me financially. 

The metro and trams in Prague are easy and budget-friendly ways to see the city. 

CEA CAPA also helped me find ways to fund my program abroad. They offer scholarships not only for your program abroad but also for things like flight credits to make getting to your program easier. CEA CAPA also includes many different scholarships on their website for a wide range of students. These scholarships include ones for academic merit, as well as broader ones, such as those for first-generation college students or financial aid-based scholarships that can help all kinds of students, regardless of their situation.

CEA CAPA also provides an advisor who specifically assists with financial aid. You can email them and discuss your options to make payments for your program abroad more manageable. They also provide information on many different external scholarships that are available to all students. You can find a scholarship that fits you specifically, and it makes a huge difference in the process of going abroad. 

A free visit to the Book Spiral in Prague. 

During Your Semester 

Even with scholarships and grants from CEA CAPA and my home university, I still wanted to find a way to ensure that I had the funds to go abroad and make the most of it. The best advice I can give is to make yourself a budget before you go abroad. Figuring out how much you should be spending weekly will help you manage your money effectively and ensure that you can fully enjoy your time abroad. This also helped me determine how much I should save before I left. I recommend considering factors like how much you want to travel, typical prices in your program’s country, and what your personal goals are for your time abroad. This allows you to set yourself up for success and gives you a concrete goal to work toward before you leave. 

Take advantage of travel through CEA CAPA excursions, like ours to Český Krumlov. 

Another piece of advice I can give is to talk to other students who have gone abroad before. These students can give you insight into spending time abroad and offer advice about things you may not have considered before. For example, before I went abroad, I learned about big events like Oktoberfest from a friend who had previously studied abroad. After talking to them, I realized that I needed to save more than I expected if I wanted to attend. Having a friend who has gone abroad before to bounce ideas off of also helps you develop a more realistic mindset about what your time abroad will look like. 

The Vrtba Garden in Prague is a great inexpensive place to get great views of the city. 

Final Thoughts 

Overall, I think that studying abroad is a major privilege, and it can definitely seem intimidating financially. However, I believe it is not as impossible as some people think. If you do the right research and ask for help, studying abroad is possible for many students. Scholarships and budgets are very common and important for study abroad students, and more often than not, everyone is looking for the best financial option. Everyone at both your home university and CEA CAPA wants to help you succeed abroad, and financial support is a big part of that. Even if you think financial aid may be a challenge, it never hurts to look—there are always people willing to support you in your dreams of going abroad.