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International Education Scholarship

The International Education Scholarship (IES) is used as financial assistance to undergraduate and graduate UH students to participate in an approved learning abroad program. Learning abroad programs may include, but are not limited to, faculty-led programs, reciprocal exchange programs, third-party affiliated provider programs, internship opportunities, research collaboratives, academic conferences, and volunteer activities abroad. 

Applications for Summer 2025, Fall 2025, and Academic Year 2025-2026 programs are now open. 

Deadline: March 1, 2025

Students can apply for the IES on UH's CoogsAbroad Portal. This includes student and program information, uploading the IES essay requirement, and requesting a letter of recommendation digitally through the IES online application. 

IES Eligibility

  • Undergraduate Students
    • Must have completed 12 UH credit hours*, have a minimum 2.5 GPA*, and be in good academic standing.
    • Must NOT have received the IES before.
    • *Credit hours and GPA at time of application deadline. First-semester and new transfer students are not eligible to apply during their first semester at UH.
  • Graduate & Professional Students
    • Must have completed 9 UH credit hours*, have a minimum 3.0 GPA*, and be in good academic standing.
    • Must NOT have received the IES before.
    • *Credit hours and GPA at time of application deadline. First-semester and new transfer students are not eligible to apply during their first semester at UH, unless the student completed an undergraduate program at UH. 

Students may not receive IES funding for international travel during any periods of restricted international travel as set by the University of Houston.

International Education Scholarship Policies and Procedures

Prior to beginning the application, please thoroughly review the IES Policies and Procedures.

How to Apply

Select a specific Learning Abroad program to which you will apply or have already applied to. Then, complete and submit the International Education Scholarship Application on UH's CoogsAbroad Portal

Email, paper, or other submission methods will not be accepted. 

The IES application on the CoogsAbroad Portal includes the following sections/questions: 

  1. Student Information
  2. Program Information  
    • Program name and details, dates, term, location(s)
    • Program fees, UH tuition (if applicable), Estimated airfare, Room/Board, Other Costs
  3. IES essay
    • Type your essay answers in the online application
    • The essay should not exceed 700 words. It must be typed, double-spaced, and have standard 12pt. font. 
    • Essay Prompt: Why did you pick this specific program abroad, how does the program fit into your academics at UH, and how will it support your personal and professional goals?
  4. Recommendation Form
    • Ask 1 faculty or staff member from an Institution of Higher Education you have attended (including the University of Houston) to submit the recommendation form on your behalf using the online recommendation request in the CoogsAbroad portal. Only forms submitted by the recommender in the CoogsAbroad system by the deadline will be accepted.
    • The recommendation form should include the following information: why the recommender believes the applicant will be successful on the proposed program and an evaluation of the applicant’s strengths. This may include areas such as academic preparation, cultural awareness, communication skills, adaptability, and/or teamwork. 
    • Students participating in a faculty-led program cannot receive a recommendation form from the faculty or staff member leading their program abroad.
    • If multiple letters of reference are received, the IES Committee will review only the first letter that is received.

Review of applications will begin after the application deadline and will take several weeks.

Award Notifications

Depending on the volume of applications, we hope to have award notifications for the Fall 2024 cycle to all applicants by mid-late November 2024. 

Funding Note:

Fund dispersal typically takes place 8-10 weeks after the application deadline, but may take longer. Typically funds are dispersed on the first day of the Regular Session for the new semester.