Scholarships for Your Year Abroad: How to Get the Money

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Three years ago I was sitting in a café in Vienna, planning my trip abroad, with €2,400 (about $2,650) in my bank account – far too little for a whole year in New Zealand. Then I discovered the Ernst Mach grant from the OeAD (Austria's agency for education and internationalization), which promised me €1,050 (about $1,150) a month. Without this educational funding, my year abroad would never have become reality. Today I'll show you which scholarships can fund your year abroad and how to actually get them.

The good news: scholarships aren't just for the highly gifted or the needy. There are hundreds of programs with completely different criteria, and many of them aren't even fully used. According to a survey by OeAD GmbH from 2023, around 15,000 study abroad scholarships are awarded in Austria every year, yet about 20 percent of the places go unfilled because nobody simply applies.

Which Scholarships for Time Abroad Really Exist?

Over the last few years I have researched dozens of grants and submitted applications to three different programs myself. The scholarship landscape is bigger than most people think. Here are the most important categories, structured for you.

Government Funding From Austria

Austria's Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research funds a wide range of stays abroad through the OeAD. The Ernst Mach grant mentioned above is aimed at students of all fields and covers between €940 and €1,200 a month (about $1,030 to $1,320). The Erasmus+ program, also coordinated by the OeAD, has offered between €270 and €520 a month (about $300 to $570) since 2021 for study stays in Europe, depending on the destination country and cost of living.

For vocational paths there is the Erasmus+ mobility program for apprentices, which since 2023 also funds three- to six-month internships in other EU countries with a lump sum of up to €1,800 (about $2,000). You can find the exact amounts on the official website of the OeAD scholarship database.

Private Foundations and Organizations

This is where it gets interesting, because private funding often has fewer applicants. The Rotary Jugenddienste (Rotary Youth Services) award around 150 scholarships a year for year-long student exchanges worldwide. The costs vary between €4,500 and €8,000 (about $4,950 to $8,800), depending on the host country, but the application odds are about 1 in 3 – significantly better than with government programs.

The Fulbright Austria program is aimed at university graduates and funds study or research stays in the USA with $1,200 to $2,100 a month, plus health insurance and a travel allowance. The application deadline falls every year on May 1 for the following academic year.

In 2022 I also came across the Wirth Institute for Austrian-American Studies, which awards smaller travel grants of €800 to €1,500 (about $880 to $1,650). Less well known, but with a success rate of around 40 percent among applications.

How Do I Get a Scholarship for My Year Abroad – the Honest Process

Applying for scholarships isn't rocket science, but it takes time and structure. On my first try, with the DAAD scholarship, I got rejected because my statement of purpose was too generic. On my second attempt, for the OeAD scholarship, I had learned my lesson: being specific beats pretty words.

The Research: Where to Find the Right Programs

Start with the OeAD scholarship database at grants.at – more than 1,200 programs are listed there, filterable by destination country, field of study and length of stay. At the time I also combed through the DAAD database; although it is primarily meant for German students, it also offers country-specific information about international funding.

For travel grants beyond classic study funding, I recommend the website stipendiumplus.de, which lists 13 German foundations for the gifted, many of which also accept Austrian applicants. The Cusanuswerk, for example, supports Catholic students of all fields with up to €1,148 a month (about $1,260).

An insider tip: many Austrian federal states have their own funding. Since 2023, the Vienna Chamber of Commerce has awarded internship-abroad scholarships of €1,000 (about $1,100) for apprentices who complete a three-month internship in the EU.

The Application: Which Documents You Really Need

For all three scholarships I applied for, the following documents were required:

• Statement of purpose (1-2 pages, concrete goals and a link to the funding program)
• Résumé in table format with international experience and language skills
• Current report card or proof of performance (for students: transcript of records)
• Letters of recommendation from instructors or employers (usually 1-2)
• A concrete timeline and cost breakdown for the planned stay abroad

The statement of purpose is the crux. Avoid clichés like "I want to broaden my horizons." Write instead: "I want to research the effects of microplastics on coral reefs at the Marine Science Institute of the University of Auckland, because I am writing my master's thesis on sustainable ocean research." Concrete, measurable, easy to follow.

For the cost breakdown, my article on money for your year abroad will help, where I break down realistic budgets for different countries.

Educational Funding for Travel After the Matura (High School Graduation): Options Without a University Degree

Not everyone wants to go straight to college after the Matura (Austria's high school exit exam). After graduating from the BRG Innere Stadt, I first spent a Work and Travel year in Canada and received a scholarship from the Austrian Youth Red Cross for it – a €1,200 (about $1,320) grant for a six-month social project in Vancouver.

Volunteer Programs With Funding

The European Solidarity Corps (formerly the European Voluntary Service) covers all costs for volunteer placements of two to twelve months in EU countries: accommodation, meals, insurance and pocket money of around €150 to €200 a month (about $165 to $220). In 2021 I went along with a friend to Portugal who worked at an environmental center in the Algarve through this program. She had zero out-of-pocket costs.

The Grenzenlos association's Auslandsdienst (service abroad) offers alternative service abroad for Austrian civilian service participants, with €350 a month in pocket money (about $385) plus free accommodation. The application deadline is January 31 for the service year starting in September.

Combining Work and Funding

For internships abroad after the Matura, since 2022 there has been the nationwide "Auslandspraktikum.at" program from the Chamber of Commerce, which supports interns between 18 and 30 with up to €1,500 (about $1,650) for three- to six-month internships in non-EU countries. The funding covers about a third of the average cost of living in countries such as Australia or Canada.

If you would rather take the classic Work and Travel route, look at how financial support for Work and Travel works. Some funding can even be combined.

Scholarships for Young Adults Abroad: Age Limits and Special Programs

Most scholarships have age limits. Erasmus+ funds students up to the master's degree, in theory with no age limit, though in practice most recipients are between 20 and 29. The Fulbright program accepts applicants up to age 35. Rotary exchange programs usually end at 19.

For Older Applicants: Career-Specific Funding

If you want to go abroad in your mid-twenties or later, you should look at career-specific funding programs. The Vienna Chamber of Labour (Arbeiterkammer Wien) awards education vouchers of up to €5,000 (about $5,500) for job-related continuing education abroad, such as specialized language courses or international certificate courses. Requirements: residence in Vienna and an income below €40,000 gross per year (about $44,000).

The Leonardo da Vinci program (now part of Erasmus+ VET) supports working professionals of any age in further training in Europe with grants between €500 and €2,500 (about $550 to $2,750). According to Eurostat data from 2023, however, only about 8,000 Austrians a year use this offer – plenty of room for growth.

Boosting Your Success Rate: What Selection Committees Really Want to See

In 2023 I worked at the OeAD as a student assistant and went through more than 200 scholarship applications. What I learned: most rejections are avoidable.

The Most Common Application Mistakes

Mistake number one is a lack of specificity. If you write "I want to gain experience in Australia," the committee learns nothing. Write instead: "I want to work in logistics for six months at the organization Foodbank Victoria in Melbourne and learn supply chain management in an NGO context." That shows research and a concrete plan.

Mistake two: applying too late. Most major programs have deadlines six to twelve months before the start. The Fulbright scholarship for 2025/26, for example, had an application deadline of May 1, 2024. I blocked out all relevant deadlines in my calendar a year in advance.

Mistake three: no alternatives. Apply to at least three to five programs in parallel. My track record: five applications, two acceptances, one waitlist. That is normal. If you bet on just one scholarship, statistically you have less than a 10 percent chance.

Combining Alternative Funding: Scholarship Plus X

No scholarship covers 100 percent of the costs. I combined my OeAD scholarship of €1,050 a month with a side job as an online tutor (another €400, about $440), which gave me €1,450 a month (about $1,600) – enough for a comfortable life in New Zealand.

A creative option is crowdfunding for your year abroad, which I used alongside my scholarship. Through a campaign on startnext.com I raised another €800 (about $880) for flight costs. The combination of scholarship, crowdfunding and my own savings made my year possible.

Some scholarships also allow side income. Erasmus+, for example, has no restrictions as long as your academic progress doesn't suffer. The Fulbright program officially prohibits paid side jobs, but in practice tolerates online freelancing.

FAQ: Most Common Questions About Scholarships for Your Year Abroad

Can I apply for a scholarship if my grades are only average?

Yes, absolutely. About 60 percent of all funding programs don't require top grades. The OeAD Ernst Mach grant, for example, weighs grades at 40 percent and the statement of purpose and plan abroad at 60 percent. Community involvement, language skills and a convincing project proposal often count for more than a straight-A transcript. In a 2022 study, the Deutsches Studentenwerk (German Student Services Association) found that 35 percent of all scholarship recipients in Germany had a grade average of 2.5 or worse on the German grading scale.

How long before my planned stay abroad should I apply?

Most major programs have application deadlines nine to twelve months before the start. For Erasmus+ you usually have to apply by February 1 for the academic year starting in September. Smaller foundations sometimes have rolling deadlines. My rule of thumb: start your research at least 14 months in advance and send the actual applications no later than 10 months before. That gives you enough buffer for letters of recommendation, certifications and any late submissions.

Can scholarships be combined with BAföG or family allowance?

In Austria: yes, the family allowance (Familienbeihilfe) continues during a study abroad as long as you are under 24 or in training. The study grant (Studienbeihilfe) also continues to be paid for semesters abroad. In Germany: Auslands-BAföG (German federal student aid for study abroad) can be combined with scholarships, but is reduced by the scholarship amount if it exceeds €300 a month (about $330). You can find the exact rules from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education at bmbwf.gv.at.

What happens if I have to end the scholarship early?

Most funding has repayment clauses for early termination without good cause. With Erasmus+ you have to repay amounts you've already received proportionally if you spend less than 60 percent of the planned time abroad. Valid reasons such as illness, family emergencies or force majeure are usually exempt. In 2022 I had a friend who had to cut short her internship in Canada after three months because of a knee injury – she didn't have to repay anything because she presented a doctor's note.

Which scholarships exist specifically for non-academic stays abroad?

For Work and Travel, volunteer programs or internships abroad without a university connection, there is the European Solidarity Corps (two to twelve months, all costs covered), the AFS scholarship program for student exchanges (up to €5,000, about $5,500, in grants) and the Stiftung Mercator foundation, which supports young people between 18 and 35 with up to €3,000 (about $3,300) for self-organized projects abroad. You can apply to Mercator at any time, with decisions made quarterly.

My Personal Conclusion: Scholarships Are Doable, but Not a Sure Thing

After three successful scholarship applications and one rejection, I can tell you: getting funding for your year abroad is work, but realistic work. You don't need perfect grades, influential contacts or extraordinary talent. You need a concrete plan, the willingness to fight your way through application forms and the stamina to write three to five applications in parallel.

Start now: open the OeAD scholarship database, filter by your destination country and age group, and mark five programs that fit. Block out an hour every evening for the next two weeks for research. If you want to go abroad in September 2025, you should send your first applications no later than November 2024.

Your year abroad is fundable. Funding for stays abroad exists; too few people use it. Be one of those who try. The worst application is the one that never gets sent.