Studying Abroad in Asia Soon? Apply for the Freeman-Asia Scholarship!

Do you have financial need? Are you studying abroad in Asia soon? Apply for the Freeman Asia!  Freeman-ASIA) scholarship are for American undergraduates to study abroad in one of 15 countries/regions in East and Southeast Asia. Students may apply online starting February 1st for awards to study abroad beginning in summer 2016 (see below for more details).

Created to assist U.S. students with demonstrated financial need and limited prior experience in East and Southeast Asia, Freeman-ASIA will fund approximately 400 students over the next two academic years, with awards ranging from $3,000 per student for summer study and $5,000 per semester, to a maximum of $7,000 for a full year abroad.

Award recipients are required to share their experiences with their home campuses or communities to encourage study abroad by others and fulfill the program's goal of increasing understanding of Asia in the United States.

Deadlines:
Applications for awards to support summer programs will open in early February 2016, and applications for awards to support fall and academic year programs will open in late February 2016. Please be aware of the following deadlines:

Student Application Deadline (Summer Programs)	March 1, 2016
Adviser Deadline (Summer Programs)	March 8, 2016
Student Application Deadline (Fall/Academic Year Programs)	April 1, 2016
Adviser Deadline (Fall/Academic Year Programs)	April 7, 2016

Applicants must make sure that the electronic endorsements from their Study Abroad Advisers and Financial Aid Advisers have been completed and submitted to IIE by the date of the Adviser Deadline for the specific cycle. IIE must receive both adviser endorsements by the Adviser Deadline for applications to be considered complete. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applicants:

1. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident at the time of application.
2. Must currently receive need-based financial aid or demonstrate a verifiable need for financial assistance to participate in the proposed study abroad program. The applicant is required to submit the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) figure, calculated through FAFSA, with the statement of financial need through the online Freeman-ASIA application.
3. Must be an undergraduate student with a minimum GPA of 2.8, pursuing his or her first bachelor's degree (or associate's degree), at a two-year or a four-year institution of higher education in the United States.
4. Must apply through the U.S. home campus and have at least one term of enrollment remaining at the home institution in the U.S. upon returning from studying abroad in Asia.
5. Must have applied or have been accepted to a study abroad based program in: Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam. A multi-country program is eligible only if the applicant will spend at least 8 weeks in one of the countries stated above and will have intensive language study during that period.
6. Must have applied to or have been accepted by a study abroad based program that awards academic credits through the home campus or other U.S. accredited college or university. The proposed length of study in the host country must be a minimum of 8 weeks for a summer term, 10 weeks for a quarter term, and 12 weeks for a semester term.
7. Must have little or no previous experience in the country in which he or she plans to study. A summer term applicant must not have spent more than 4 weeks in the proposed country of study within the last 5 years. A semester or an academic year term applicant must not have spent more than 6 weeks in the proposed country of study within the last 5 years.
8. Must submit the online Freeman-ASIA Student Impact Survey within one month of returning to the United States and must initiate his/her service project to promote study abroad opportunities in Asia on the college campus and/or in the local community.
9. Must submit the Freeman-ASIA Final Service Report on the implementation of his/her service project at the end of the term following his/her return to the United States.
10. Must not be a previous Freeman-ASIA award recipient.

See all eligibility requirements, full application instructions and a list of deadlines for the Freeman-Asia Scholarship Program at http://www.iie.org/en/programs/freeman-asia
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The Office of Study Abroad at the University of Arkansas is happy to help discuss this scholarship with any interested students, as well as advise those searching for the right study abroad opportunity to meet their personal and academic goals. Call us at (479) 575-7582 or email studyabr@uark.edu.