Study Abroad, Scholarships and Financial Aid: Common Misconceptions

When it comes to financial aid, it seems as if there are more questions than answers – especially for study abroad students who want to use scholarships, grants and other aid for their study overseas. But don’t worry – it’s not so complicated! Here at CEA, we’ve helped thousands of study abroad students to use their financial aid to take Spanish courses in Spain, French courses in France or explore dozens of other study abroad programs.
Take a look at some of the most common myths and facts about using financial aid to study overseas – and get started on your study abroad with CEA today!

Misconception 1: Financial aid is based on grades and academic performance

Many scholarships do rely on grades, academic performance or athletic ability. It is important to note, however, that Federal Financial Aid, which comprises almost 75 percent of all student financial aid, is based entirely on need. This enables students with lower grades to stay eligible for certain types of financial aid, including grants and loans.

Misconception 2: My chances of receiving financial aid are the same no matter when I apply

Absolutely false! There is a reason why scholarship and financial aid providers are persistent in asking you to apply early. On many occasions, funds are limited or are disbursed on a first-come, first-served basis. It is also important to apply early in order to allow time to fulfill all requirements, such as letters of recommendation and official transcripts.

Misconception 3: Scholarships can’t be used to study abroad

Not true. Many scholarship and financial aid providers release federal aid for payment toward a study abroad program as long as the program is approved for transfer credit by your home institution and applies toward a degree. To ensure transferable credit to your school, we encourage you to check with your academic or study abroad advisor before you study overseas.

(Source: Educational Testing Service)

Tips for Applying for Scholarships

Now that you know the misconceptions about scholarships and financial aid, take some time to find scholarships available for you. You never know how much money may be there to help you study abroad until you look. You can even apply for study abroad scholarships from CEA to help you pay for your program.

Check out all our study abroad financing resources for more links and tips on finding country-specific and general scholarships – and get started today!

Choose Berlin For Your Study Abroad in Germany

The largest city in Germany and the second-largest metropolis in all of Europe, Berlin at times feels like a contradiction in terms. Boxy Soviet-era structures meld into centuries-old palaces; cosmopolitan culture and a trendy late-night scene collide with Berlin Wall museums and Holocaust memorials. From shopping along the Kurfürstendamm – known to savvy locals as the Ku’damm – at one edge of Berlin’s famous Tierpark and Zoo to snapping photos of the Brandenburg Tor – the famous gate that divided East from West – at the other end, there is simply so much to see and do around Berlin.

With study abroad Germany, one of CEA’s many study abroad programs, you’ll take courses at Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, the city’s oldest university. Housed in the 18^th-Century palace of Prince Heinrich of Prussia, Humboldt is located along Unter den Linden (Under the Linden Trees), the famous street leading from Brandenburg Tor and the Reichstag, Berlin’s parliament building, east across the River Spree into the heart of former East Berlin, Alexanderplatz, where you’ll find the second-tallest structure in Europe, the Fernsehturm (TV tower).

With so much history just blocks from your classes, imagine all there is to learn and discover on your study abroad Germany, while you take courses in German language and history. Here are just a few of the out-of-the-way places and neighboring cities to discover while you study abroad in Germany with CEA.

Night Life

Part of the former East Berlin, Mitte was once a dead-after-dark collection of Soviet-era buildings and open squares. Today, it’s home to some of Berlin’s hottest spots for night life – without the tourist crowds of better-known nightspots like Kreuzberg and Prenzlauerberg. With no official closing time, it makes for a great (if not tiring) respite from hitting the books during your study abroad in Germany. Try Delicious Donuts, the Volksbühne Theater’s Grüner Salon and Roter Salon, or the White Trash Fast Food Diamond Lounge – all in Mitte, walking distance or a couple easy subway stops from Humboldt on your study abroad Germany.

Sanssouci Palace, Potsdam

The former home of Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, Sanssouci is a palatial estate in the city of Potsdam, some 40 minutes southwest of Berlin by S-Bahn (Stadtschnellbahn, the city’s fast suburban train system). Built in the mid-1700s in high Rococo style, its gardens and park-like grounds rival those of Versailles, while the surrounding town of Potsdam boasts beautiful parks along the Wannsee, one of around 20 bodies of water in the city. Prussian kings called Potsdam home until 1918, after the First World War. Today, it is known for its connection to the European film industry, with major studios housed in Babelsburg, one of the city’s neighborhoods. Whether on a guided study abroad excursion or simply a weekend trip with friends, Potsdam is a great addition to your study abroad Germany.

Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp, Oranienburg

Situated around 60 kilometers north of Berlin, Sachsenhausen was the administrative center for all Nazi concentration camps and an SS training facility. Behind its ominous gates – inscribed with the infamous motto, “Arbeit Macht Frei” – the camp stands today as a testament against Nazi violence and the horrors of the Holocaust. Visit the Jewish barracks and museum, as well as the tall memorial obelisk constructed by the USSR after the war. An emotion-laden place, Sachsenhausen is sure to make your study abroad Germany a more meaningful experience.

Ready to plan your study abroad in Germany? Get started with CEA today, and discover these places and more in and around Europe’s culture capital, Berlin – your best choice for study abroad Germany.

Learn the Language with Ease: Study French Abroad

If you’ve ever taken a French course, it’s easy to see why people around the world call French the language of love. With a rhythmic, nearly hypnotic sound, French simply sounds beautiful – even to a foreign ear. And while French language courses at your college or university can teach you the basics, the best way to perfect your tongue is to study French abroad with CEA.

Just think: after only a few days on your study abroad, you’ll never mutter the dreaded phrase, "Je ne parle pas Français" again. From the moment you step off the plane, you’ll begin to pick up the finer points of the perfect French accent, learning to speak like the locals do and widening your vocabulary beyond anything you’ll find in a textbook.

If you can widen your knowledge after just a few days, imagine how much you can learn from a whole summer, semester or year on your France study abroad trip. Between taking language courses on a university campus and immersing yourself in the culture, history art and cuisine of everyday French life, you’ll spend every second of your study abroad soaking up the spirit of France – and the proper pronunciation, verb conjugation, conversation starters and more.

France Study Abroad Programs

When you study French abroad with CEA, there’s so much to choose from. Not only do we offer a variety of program lengths for flexible scheduling, but we also offer four different locations in France alone. Whether you dream of dangling a toe in the warm Mediterranean, skiing the slopes of the Alps, discovering the flavors of Provençal cuisine or simply sipping cappuccino in a charming cafe, CEA’s France study abroad programs have it all.

Paris – Study abroad in the City of Lights and discover a cosmopolitan lifestyle like no other in Europe. Avant-garde cinema and high fashion collide with ancient buildings and unhurried cafes when you study abroad in Paris, creating a delightful combination of modern style and Old World substance.

Aix-en-Provence – Located in southern France, Aix-en-Provence is in the heart of the Provençal region. Quaint and idyllic, the city is home to stunning fountains surrounded by picture-perfect courtyards and gardens – perfect for practicing new skills while you study French abroad.

French Riviera – In Sophia Antipolis, tucked between the famed cities of Nice and Cannes, your study abroad on the French Riviera will be unforgettable. When you’re not studying French, revel in the 25 kilometers of sandy beaches located just beyond your student apartment.

French Alps – Perched high in the French Alps, Grenoble offers a breathtaking backdrop for your study abroad. Pure alpine air and a rugged yet refined feel characterize this mid-sized city located near both Switzerland and Italy.

With CEA, you can study French abroad and learn to speak with ease – no matter which of these charming cities you choose. Très magnifique, n’est-ce pas?

Say "oui" to a semester in France. Find your study abroad program today.


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Which overseas study abroad is for you?

One of the most exciting and life-changing opportunities in college, overseas study abroad with CEA is your ticket to discovering new cultures, learning a foreign language and making friends to last a lifetime. Education abroad can open doors for your career, make you more independent and even help you earn college credit while you study abroad.

Thinking about overseas study abroad, but not sure where to start? Ask yourselves these simple questions to help guide your education abroad planning, and find your ideal study abroad program with CEA.

1. Do you know a foreign language?
If you’ve studied a foreign language, it’s logical to want to spend your overseas study abroad in a country where you can expand those skills. But you don’t have to already know a language to study abroad. Even if you have no language experience, you can still take CEA’s intensive introductory language courses in Spanish, French, Italian, German and more. Already fluent in a language? Become a veritable polyglot and hone your skills in a less commonly taught tongue, such as Russian, Polish, Hungarian, Czech or even Chinese. With overseas study abroad, the opportunities are endless.

2. What are your career goals?
When choosing where to study abroad, ask yourself whether education abroad in a specific country will help you later. For business students, Germany and China may be good choices. Many large US firms have offices in Germany, and China has become increasingly important in global economics. If you plan to work in social services, education or another people-focused field, Spanish language skills will always come in handy. Look at overseas study abroad in Spain, or stay in the Americas with education abroad in Mexico, Costa Rica or Argentina.

3. Where have you traveled before?
Although it’s tempting to visit a place you’ve already been to, if you’ve traveled to another country before, consider a new nation for your overseas study abroad. One of the reasons study abroad is so memorable is that it presents a fresh, new experience for students. There’s nothing quite like setting your eyes upon a new city for the first time, learning to navigate its streets and discovering what makes it different from everywhere else on earth.

4. What would you like to study?
If you’re interested in architecture, Rome is calling. Art history? Spend your days wandering the Louvre while you study abroad in Paris. For ecology and environmental studies, you can’t beat the biodiversity of Costa Rica. Or learn about the horrors of World War II and the division of Germany in Berlin, the gateway between Eastern and Western Europe.

5. What are your interests?
Do you love the fast-paced city life, or would you prefer to live in a smaller college town? Are you looking for warm beaches or snowy winters? Would you rather spend your weekends in underground nightclubs or scaling the Alps? Choose an overseas study abroad that allows you to explore the things that interest you the most, because the city that sounds like the most fun will probably be the one with the best study abroad option for you.

Once you’ve done some thinking about your overseas study abroad, it’s time to start planning. Search for study abroad programs by location, language of instruction, subject or field of study, and find the education abroad program for you with CEA.

Packing Suggestions for Study Abroad

Packing has been a problem that has plagued mankind since the beginning of time… For extended stays in foreign lands packing is full of potential pitfalls, and as university and college students we generally do not have a whole bunch of experience to give us an idea of where to start.

At GoWithCEA.com we just created a Study Abroad Packing Suggestions page on our website to help with your plight. I have also posted a few additional tips below.

• Check the TSA's current restrictions for items at www.tsa.gov


• Bring easy to wash clothes, focus on nice looking comfortable clothes that are not dry clean only. With the exception of one dressier out-fit for any special occasions that might arise.


• Check out the climate, you do not want to show up in Berlin with a suitcase full of shorts in the middle of January.


• Bring a power converter so you don't fry your gear. Remember a lot of countries do not have the same type of power or plug that the US does. Make sure you have the proper adapters for the country you are going to. The last thing you want to do is get to the host country to realize that you need to go to the local electronics store to make everything you lugged half way around the world work.

Study Abroad Packing Tips @GoWithCEA.com

Study Abroad in Italy

As I am discussing the course content and active learning components of the newest curriculum suggestions with the CEA Associate Dean for Italy, Kevin Murphy, I have to try really hard to keep the jealously from creeping into my voice. Behind the scenes visits to restoration labs? Projects on Preservation Ethics? Visits to the Italian Parliament? Cooking demonstrations designed to show the culture behind food and wine? Where were these courses when I studied abroad in Italy?

I am amazed to see how far global education and study abroad have come in the short time since I spent my semester abroad in Florence. With the GlobalCampus curriculum, as a student today, you get to get out there and get your hands dirty. You know that expression “Be a traveler – not a tourist”? This program allows you to take that to next level with learning. Come back from your study abroad experience in Italy with exactly that – experience – not just a bunch of notes.

The best thing about experience is that you can easily apply it to you life– the minute you get back. Examine how you have changed, what you have learned – knowing more about yourself at that level impresses even the most uptight of interviewers for your first job. Once you land that first job you can put that experience to work in how you interact with groups, work with people from different cultures and backgrounds and even how you approach research and public speaking. You see – you’ve already done all that through your study abroad experience.

Opportunities today exist where they never have before. Get out there. Get experience. Don’t get left behind.

Download our audio podcast: Interview with Kevin Murphy, Assistant Dean in Florence & Rome

The New CEA Study Abroad Blog

CEA is a company made up of passionate travelers and global citizens. We live for visiting new places, love experiencing foreign cultures, and dream about life-changing adventures. Consequently, our work reflects who we are as people and how we see the world.

Almost every CEA employee has studied, worked, or lived abroad. Our goal, therefore, is to help college students have the kinds of amazing experiences that we, ourselves, have enjoyed. Due to our collective passion for what we do, service is what makes CEA stand out from the rest of the crowd in the study abroad arena. We pride ourselves on being proactive with student interest, following up with student needs, and providing full student support in every stage and facet of the study abroad process.

Now that you know why we’re here, I’ll explain a little bit about exactly what we do. Currently, CEA offers hundreds of programs in 25 cities throughout Europe, Central/South America, Asia, and the South Pacific. Students on our programs have many choices regarding the exceptional academic institutions they attend and the unique courses they take. For example, students in a Renaissance course at the CEA GlobalCampus in Florence were able to visit the off-limits restoration laboratories in the Uffizi and watch experts repair famous works of art! I’m confident that practically any student can find a CEA program that is perfectly suited for him or her. Plus, CEA works closely with students and home institutions to acquire program pre-approval and ensures that all students receive transcripts for their course work upon completion of their programs.

However, CEA is not only about academics. We want our students to have the experiences of a lifetime and make memories they will never forget. So, we have a CEA office with onsite staff located in every one of our host cities. These members of the CEA family support our students 24-hours a day, letting them in on local secrets, meeting them for dinner, and organizing activities to get them involved in the local culture. We’ve certainly seen pictures of more than one of our staff members taking salsa lessons with students in Buenos Aires or making exquisite French chocolates with students in Paris. The most fun is usually had on the group excursions organized by the onsite staff during semester and summer programs. In fact, I’ll never forget the pictures a CEA Rome student sent me after her excursion to Pompeii or those of the CEA London student who visited Stonehenge!

So, if you are the kind of student who wants not only to see the world but experience its wonders too, I’m positive that I can help you. There’s just one catch- you must promise to send me a postcard once you get there!