Scholarships for Georgia in Europe
Visit this Former Soviet Country
Georgia is the wallflower at the Eastern European dance. She is a former Soviet country whose riches not only lie in culture and accomplishments, but also in contrasts between mountains and sea. Oh, and while France and Italy fight over oenological, or winemaking, heritage, it may actually be Georgian soil from which sprung the first wine grapes.
In Eastern Europe, Georgia is a hot destination for tourists. So besides adventure travel, students may also explore the dichotomy at work between increasing democratization, and variables in European and Russian relations, all of which are often at odds, but valuable for Georgia.
Government Scholarships
Are you an undergraduate Pell Grant recipient with aspirations of a stint of study abroad? The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships are designed with your interests in mind. Applicants are encouraged from non-traditional backgrounds and the more challenges the better, it seems. Of course you will compete against stellar academics so dust off your academic scores if you want to win up to $7,000 to put toward that year program in Georgia you have planned. Gilman Scholars will no doubt be the foundation for the next generations of internationally savvy and insightful Americans.
The National Security Education Program devised the David L. Boren Scholarships to offer talented students the opportunity to achieve international excellence suited to the new world order. Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome for this scholarship for service program funded by the National Security Agency. Many countries just like Georgia continue to be of high interest to the federal government so those students who pursue advanced language and culture studies, as well as range of other fields, may be of use in security agencies. If you have not expressed an interest in a career in national security or foreign affairs, you will be expected to repay the almost $25,000 favor with a year of service to the Feds.
The Fulbright Scholarship program for students is world-renowned and ultra-competitive as far as scholarships go. If you are interested in studying in Georgia under the auspices of a Fulbright you might be justly rewarded for your off-beat choice of destination. To be eligible for a Fulbright in Georgia you are expected to possess basic language skills, but the fields of study are wide open. Typically funding for each Fulbright varies based on a range of criteria, but you can expect anywhere from awards that cover travel and expenses to those that cover everything from A to Z.
Private Funds
American Councils for International Education provides funding under the auspices of the Title VIII program which calls for educational monies to be provided for individuals who are pursuing research and study programs in Eastern European countries. The Title VIII Special Initiatives Fellowship Program provides funding for qualified student scholars who have research projects to conduct in Georgia or a number of other countries in the region. Applicants compete for up to $35,000 in monetary support. Qualifiable fields of study are in politics and international affairs.
The International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) is a not-for-profit internationally recognized organization whose core mission is to provide opportunities for collegial collaboration between disparate scholars and professionals. Part of this mission is the administration of generous and competitive fellowship programs that offer monetary assistance where it is needed. IREX funds a couple of programs specially suited to advanced studies in Georgia:
- Individual Advanced Research Opportunities is a program tailored for high-level scholarly research in Georgia and any number of other related countries in the region. Applicants must have a proven need to be on location for research or study and must have at least completed a graduate degree.
- IREX Short Term Travel Fellowships are specially designed for those scholar/students whose plan of research is for only a few months. Eligible applicants compete for $5,000 awards.
