Scholarships in Nicaragua
Studies in Revolution and Rainforest
Nicaragua is prime experiential classroom for bold students interested in getting to the heart of Latin American unrest. From environmental destruction to socio-political conflict and widespread drug trafficking, Nicaragua offers a veritable smorgasbord of good studying for students from an array of disciplines and purposes.
Government Scholarships
The David L. Boren Scholarships are suitable for students pursuing studies in Nicaragua for the country’s socio-political environment, drug trafficking, revolutionary factions and otherwise volatile social system. All these factors are important to U.S. security concerns, the main reason Boren Scholarships are offered in the first place. Undergraduate and graduate students wishing to study in Nicaragua have the best chance with these scholarships. The deal, however, is recipients are expected to fulfill a scholarship for service agreement upon graduation or consider a career in the Department of Security or Homeland Defense. Boren Scholars are highly publicized and for this reason the program is extremely competitive. Awards are up to $26,000.
The Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs established the virally popular Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarships to boost the participation of underrepresented students populations in international study programs, including the challenging environment of Nicaragua. Eligible applicants must be receiving the Pell Grant, and able to demonstrate academic talent. Over 700 scholarships are awarded so the more innovative and defined the program the better. Scholarships are up to $5,000 depending on financial need.
College Scholarships
Augsburg College in Minneapolis sponsors a Sustainable Development and Social Change in Central America program which includes a program in Nicaragua. The program is offered through the Center for Global Education. Interested students may apply for the scholarships funded by the Center. Eligible applicants must be underrepresented populations and demonstrate financial need for the funding.
Study Abroad Organizations
The School for International Training is a leading provider of study abroad programs and their Nicaragua: Revolution, Transformation, and Civil Society is one of the more innovative and insightful. The program is focused on social and political studies from a peaceful perspective. SIT participants in the Nicaragua program may qualify for the following scholarships:
- Compton Fund is specifically designed to reward students pursuing peaces studies, like those in Nicaragua. Students from underrepresented populations will be considered first.
- The Sally Bragg Baker Memorial Scholarship recognizes an outstanding female whose international program is focused on peace and cultural exchange.
- Diversity Fund scholarships go to students in SIT programs from minority backgrounds.
- HBCU Fund is set aside for SIT participants whose home college is one of the Historically Black Colleges.
- SIT Fund is the flagship scholarship open to the widest variety of students.
Private Funds
The Rainforest Alliance is a world-renowned organization whose main mission is the preservation of the Latin American rainforest ecosystems. The organization sponsors and administers the Kleinhans Fellowships for graduate students whose specialty is forestry, natural resource management, biodiversity or related fields. Kleinhans Fellows may be awarded with up to $15,000 a year to conduct research in the rainforests of Nicaragua.
Doctoral candidates requiring short-term research time in Nicaragua may apply for funding from the James R. Scobie Memorial Award. These are modest, $1,000, scholarships given to post-graduate students who must travel to Nicaragua to research a dissertation topic. The program is not intended to fund a long-term research project. The Scobie Award is available through the Conference on Latin American History.
Ambassadorial Scholarships funded by Rotary International offer students prestigious awards for participating in study programs in Nicaragua. Applicants are expected to be versed in Spanish and engaged in sustainable development or humanitarian projects. Recipients of Rotary scholarships earn up to $26,000 and must be willing and able to share their experiences with a Rotary audience upon completion of their studies.