Financial Information

FSW FAFSA

Many students who receive financial aid from FAFSA use the refund from their spring term to pay for their study abroad trip the following summer. If you want additional financial aid, you will need to be registered for at least six (6) credits toward your degree during the summer term.

For more information on financial aid, contact financial.aid@fsw.edu or 239-489-9336.

FSW Scholarships

Go to www.fsw.edu/financialaid/scholarships to complete the FSW Scholarship Application to be considered for scholarships through the FSW Financial Aid department. This page also contains links to local and national scholarships as well as state and federal grants.

For more information on scholarships, contact Katelyn Smalley: katelyn.smalley@fsw.edu

Outside Scholarships:

Community Colleges for International Development Scholarship

Requires upload of document answering two application questions, plus one letter of recommendation. Scholarship Amount: $500.00 Students on every program are encouraged to apply

Fund for Education Abroad

The mission for the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA) is to provide scholarships and ongoing support to students who are underrepresented among the US study abroad population. Scholarship Range: Up to $1,250 (Summer), $5,000 (Semester), $10,000 (Full year). US citizens or permanent residents only. Must have already filled out the FASFA application.

Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship

The U.S. Department of State’s Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a grant program that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad in order to prepare to participate in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world. Scholarship Range: Up to $5,000, average award is $4,000. Recipients must be U.S. citizens receiving Federal Pell Grant funding.

Scholarship Application Tips – Pay Attention to:

  • Eligibility Requirements
  • Eliminate Specific Programs or Institutions
  • Application Deadline Dates
  • Register, Apply, and Submit All Required Documents on Time
  • Keep Track of Your Applications

Scholarship Essay Writing Tips

  1. Read the instructions carefully! Every scholarship has its own specifications on eligibility, documents required with submission of your application, and specific questions you are to answer in your essay. You will very often see a package containing an online application, an official or unofficial transcript, a letter of recommendation, a financial aid form, and an essay with specific requirements.
  2. For the essay, pay attention to the number of character minimums and limits, formatting such as writing in paragraph form, and using or not using visual enhancements such as bold, underline or italics.
  3. Be clear and concise; short and strong. Decision makers are reading many essays. You want yours to stand out. The most competitive applications are those that have interesting and original essays.
  4. Be personal; tell your story. This may include family circumstances, how study abroad will enhance your future career goals and what sets you apart from other applicants. Tell them how you will use your study abroad experience to help others in your community, and perhaps, around the world. Tell them where you will be going and why you chose that location, that class, and the dates you will study abroad.
  5. Take your first draft to the FSW writing center. Make sure your spelling, punctuation and grammar are correct.
  6. Send requests for letters of recommendation early. Allow them enough time to respond to your request and write a quality, complimentary letter about you.
  7. Fill out your application and upload all required documents by the deadline.
  8. Keep track of your applications and the dates that the scholarships will be awarded.
  9. Make sure you allow e-mails from that organization so that correspondence and a potential award notification does not wind up in your spam box and you miss out on receiving your scholarship.

2024 FSW Study Abroad Scholarship Winners

Javier Tellez in Italy He was awarded $4,000.00 from the Gilman Scholarship "I always knew I wanted to study abroad when I started college. Italy was the program at first sight. I knew I wanted to join and boy did I have so much fun there. I learned so much about Italian culture, visited so many beautiful places like Venice, Rome and Milan. I did so many things like a wine tasting in Tuscany, jumped off a huge rock in Cinque Terre, prayed in the Vatican and saw a ton of art in the museums in Florence" "I am grateful for the Gilman Scholarship, as they took out a huge worry of mine and let me enjoy my time in Italy, going to crazy museums, eating a lot of Italian cuisine and explore more in depth the Italian culture, traditions and lifestyle."

2022 FSW Study Abroad Scholarship Winners

Navy Rubio studied in France She was awarded $500.00 from CCID “Studying abroad has been my dream since I began college. In Summer 2022, I was able to study abroad in France. I was able to experience the culture, learn a different language that will only benefit me in my future career, and I made the best friends! I cannot stress enough how important it is to apply to as many scholarships as possible to aid you with your trip! ”

Kamari Gouin studied in Italy She was awarded $1,000.00 from the Fund for Education Abroad “Studying abroad has been one of the best decisions I've made in my academic career. While in Florence, Italy, I had the amazing opportunity of meeting new people, building new connections, and exploring new cities. I will forever look back on this experience with immense fondness."

Maria Ducady studied in Italy She was awarded $4,000.00 from the Gilman Scholarship "Becoming a Gilman Scholar has given me the opportunity to fully enjoy and understand Italian culture. I got to explore Venice, eat delicious food in Florence, visit the Roman Colosseum, swim in Cinque Terre, and experience traditions thanks to the fund provided by the Benjamin Gilman scholarship. It gave me a sense of relief and opened many doors for intercultural exchange. I highly encourage anyone interested in studying abroad to apply to the Gilman scholarship because of the many benefits you get as a Gilman Scholar before, during, and after the program."

Kaitlyn Flores studied in Italy She was awarded $4,000.00 from the Gilman Scholarship “This study abroad trip has enhanced my cultural views. I have experiences and friendships that I will hold for a lifetime. This is one of my favorite pictures of the trip because it emphasizes the beautiful Duomo, which I had the privilege to see every morning. Thanks to the Gilman scholarship, I was able to fully immerse myself in the Italian culture. I made it my goal to try different foods and explore the street markets. The field trips we went on helped me gain a better understanding of Florence's history, and I saw many historical landmarks."