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Financial Planning & Scholarships
Financial Planning
According to the Institute of International Education, the number one reason students don’t study abroad is due to the cost. GLO understands the importance of financial planning and that it needs to start early. That is why GLO offers both short- and long-term payment plan options that allow you to pay for your program costs on a monthly basis prior to the seminar you want to attend.
Our payment plans are flexible—you can pay as much or as little as you want per month. The goal is that our plans allow you to budget accordingly to pay the seminar costs in smaller, monthly payments instead of having to pay the full amount at once. Plus, GLO will apply any scholarships you receive for your program at any time, and all of your money is refundable until 60 days prior to your seminar start date.
Example: Winter Europe 2024-25
Cost of the program (ground only): $5,705
- July 15: Accepted into program
- August 1: $500 deposit
- September 1: $1,256
- October 1: $1,256
- November 1: $1,256
- December 1: $1,257
This is only an example as pricing and fees vary depending on international airfare preferences and university fees. Contact GLO for assistance with your payment plan options.
Call to learn more about our payment plan options:
(480) 874-0100
GLO payment plans are only offered for programs open to all university students in good academic standing. GLO payment plans aren’t valid for students at institutions where they have to pay their study abroad program fees through their university.
Scholarship Information
Finding money to study abroad
Many academic institutions are emphasizing the development of international experience and a global mindset within their student bases. In order to encourage this, many institutions offer scholarships specifically for studying abroad.
Aside from the scholarships offered by your academic institution, there are general international scholarships offered by several foundations and organizations. A seminar abroad with GLO is an investment in your education and professional career, and it’s important to start thinking about your financial planning strategy early. GLO offers the following scholarships for in-person travel seminars (scholarships are not applicable to virtual or private study abroad programs):
The Founders Scholarship
Description:
The Founders Scholarship was created to support students who want to attend a GLO seminar and have additional financial need. These awards go to students who are actively finding ways to finance their program with GLO and have thoughtful personal, professional, and academic goals for their time abroad.
Qualifications:
Students must be currently enrolled in a GLO seminar.
How to Apply:
Submit an essay of 1,000–2,000 words through the Founders Scholarship Application form before the deadline addressing these three topics:
- Discuss your goals for the program and how you think attending a GLO seminar will benefit you personally, professionally, and academically.
- Discuss your financial strategy and explain all of your efforts to fund your seminar with GLO.
- Will this scholarship determine if you attend? Describe if and how this award would positively impact your attendance in your program.
Selection Criteria:
Essays will be evaluated by a GLO selection team on the following guidelines:
- Student’s thoughtfulness of their goals during their seminar and clear articulation of personal, professional, and academic benefits.
- Described financial need and additional efforts to secure full funding for their program.
- Overall presentation, storytelling, and professionalism.
Requirements if Selected:
- Write a blog between 750–1,500 words with 4–6 pictures.
- Write a half-length blog of 325–750 words with a 60-second video covering the subject of the blog. The blog can quote from the video but cannot be a transcript of the video.
- Create a 5-minute video that includes at least 30–45 seconds of vlog content spoken directly to the camera while on location. Voiceover may be included for the remainder of the video.
- Write and publish a program review to GoAbroad and GoOverseas.
Application Deadlines:
- Winter applications are due October 15th.
- Summer applications are due February 15th.
- Summer Japan applications are due March 15th.
Awards:
- Awards will range from $250–$1,000 and will be applied toward program fees.
- GLO announces scholarship recipients on October 22nd for winter programs and March 5th for summer programs.
Digital Ambassador Scholarship
Description:
The role of a GLO Digital Ambassador is to creatively share your experience for future marketing and recruiting purposes. The ideal digital ambassador will be willing to try new things, step out of their comfort zone, and candidly share their experience with others. No blogging or video creation experience is necessary, but it may be helpful! We encourage everyone who is interested in this type of experience to apply.
Qualifications:
Students must be currently enrolled in a GLO seminar.
How to Apply:
Submit a video entry via the application link below before the deadline:
- Video entry: 1–4 minute video sharing why you are choosing to attend your GLO seminar, why you’d like to be a GLO Digital Ambassador, and describe your experience with video creation. Share how you will be successful in this role if you’re selected.
- Video entry to be uploaded to a file-sharing service such as Google Drive or Dropbox. Paste the file link in the application.
- No experience necessary as long as you’re willing to learn.
Selection Criteria:
Video submissions will be evaluated by a GLO selection team on the following guidelines:
- Overall presentation, storytelling, and professionalism.
- General creativity and ability to inspire others with video creation.
- Experience with video creation or willingness to learn, combined with strategies to be successful in this role.
Requirements if selected:
During the program:
- At orientation, introduce yourself and announce that you are going to make a video of the experience at the end of the seminar, so you’ll be taking photos and videos throughout the program. Encourage others to share their photos and videos with you.
- Let the group know after each business visit you will send the images you took into the WhatsApp group so they can have the content to share.
- Active participation on Instagram: Follow @ibsabroad, tag @ibsabroad in your stories (at least 10), and share your seminar experience to encourage student participation in the photo contest by tagging @ibsabroad.
- Create visually captivating pictures and videos that encapsulate the essence of the seminar, showcasing engaging moments, scenic locations, and cultural experiences.
- 3+ Architecture videos (10+ seconds), 2+ images
- 3+ Business visit videos (10+ seconds), 2+ Images
- 3+ Scenery videos (10+ seconds), 2+ Images
- 3+ Food videos (10+ seconds), 2+ Images
- 3+ Cultural videos (10+ seconds), 2+ Images (Local musicians, fashion, markets, get creative!)
- Engage in 1 video interview conducted by GLO leadership, discussing your own experiences and insights.
- Conduct video-recorded interviews with a variety of individuals, including:
- 2 consenting locals (musician, baker, street performer, business executive, student, etc),
- 3 fellow students on the program
- Encourage students to participate in the photo contest using #GLOabroad when they post photos to social media.
After the program:
- 3 weeks after the program, upload all of your photos and video footage (and photos/video you’ve gathered from other students) to our webform.
- Using some of your video footage and photos, put together a video showing what the program experience was like from your eyes. The video should be 1-3 minutes.
- It’s okay if you don’t have a lot of experience with editing videos, do your best.
- You will need to send us your completed video via webform no later than 3 weeks after the program.
- Write and publish a program review to Go Abroad and Go Overseas
Application Deadlines:
- Winter applications are due October 15th.
- Summer applications are due February 15th.
- Summer Japan applications are due March 15th.
Awards:
- Awards will range from $500-$1,000 and will be applied toward program fees.
- GLO announces scholarship recipients on October 22nd for winter programs and March 5th for summer programs.
Additional Ways to Fund Your Study Abroad Program
In addition to scholarships, we recommend financial planning or other creative ways to fund your study abroad program:
- Payment Plans through GLO: Learn more about GLO financial planning.
- Financial Aid: Ask your Financial Aid Office on campus to understand all your options.
- Crowdfunding: Utilize platforms like FundMyTravel or GoFundMe.
- Community Donations: Seek support from local communities such as religious, social, or professional groups.
- Private Loans: Look into support or loans from local banks.
- Fundraising: Organize events like car washes, tutoring, or other fundraising activities.
- Scholarship Apps: Use smartphone apps like Scholarship Grab or Scholly to find additional scholarships.
