International Education Fee Scholarship
The 1991 Texas Legislature passed legislation enabling each Texas state-supported institution to charge a $1 per student fee to support opportunities to study abroad. The University of Texas Arlington chose to establish the International Education Fee Scholarship (IEFS) by adding $1 to each UTA student's fee bill beginning in Spring 1992. The University's tuition and fee proposal for 2018-2019 included an increase in the International Education Fee from $1 to $4, which was approved effective Fall 2018. All monies collected are used only to assist students participating in international exchange or study programs.
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Application Cycles
Winter & Spring Programs Cycle: September 1st - November 1st
Summer, Fall & Academic Year Programs Cycle: February 1st - April 1st
Scholarships are awarded based on the term of enrollment. Students should apply for the IEFS application cycle that corresponds to the term in which they are enrolled for their study abroad course.
For example, students enrolled in a spring course with a May travel component should apply during the Winter & Spring Programs cycle. Students enrolled in a summer course with a May travel component should apply during the Summer, Fall & Academic Year Programs cycle.
Eligibility
The scholarship is competitive and is based on financial need and academic merit.- Students must be enrolled at UTA in order to apply and must also be enrolled at UTA during the term abroad.
- Students must be participating in a credit-bearing study abroad program. All approved UTA Study Abroad programs (Affiliated, Exchange, and Faculty-Led) are eligible.
- If a student is not participating in an approved UTA Study Abroad program (Affiliated, Exchange, or Faculty-Led), the student must have the approval of the Director of Study Abroad to qualify for an IEFS. Student should contact the Director prior to the IEFS application deadline to obtain necessary approval.
- Recipients should be willing to represent UTA Study Abroad upon return.
Award Amounts
Award tiers are established by official program length, which is determined by the number of weeks abroad. Orientation meetings or class days at UTA do not count towards program length, nor does personal travel time before or after the official program dates.
Students applying to study abroad for two consecutive terms (Fall/Spring, Fall/Winter, Winter/Spring, Spring/Summer, or Summer/Fall) should submit one IEFS application for the earliest term abroad. Applicants would be eligible for the award tier representing the combined weeks abroad for the two programs, excluding personal travel time before, after, or between programs. Should a student receive an IEFS award for two consecutive terms, the award amount will be split between the two terms.
Examples: A student planning to study abroad for both the Fall and Spring terms would submit one IEFS application for the Fall cycle. A student planning to study abroad for both the Spring and Summer terms would submit one IEFS application for the Spring cycle.
Notes:
1. For the purposes of IEFS, the Winter and May terms at UTA do not affect a student’s “consecutive” time abroad, i.e. a student planning to study abroad during the Fall and Spring terms, but not the Winter term, should still submit one IEFS application during the Fall IEFS application cycle.
2. Some study abroad programs offer calendar year options where students take courses for both the Spring and Fall terms uninterrupted by a Summer term. This differs from programs offering distinct Spring, Summer, and Fall terms. Students planning to study abroad during both the Spring and Fall terms should consult with UTA Study Abroad to determine which IEFS application cycle(s) their program qualifies for.
| Award Tiers | |
|---|---|
| Less than 4 Weeks | $800 |
| 4 - 10 Weeks | $1,500 |
| 11 - 18 Weeks | $2,000 |
| 19 - 24 Weeks | $2,500 |
| 25 Weeks or More | $3,000 |
Application Instructions
All application instructions can be found on the online application form. Required application materials include:
1. Online Application Form2. Budget Form
a) “Expenses” should represent a reasonable estimate of the cost of participation in the program. Personal travel outside the parameters of the program should not be included. Contact your program administrator or UTA Study Abroad if you are unable to obtain the program cost information.
b) "Resources” should reflect the financial resources available to you to fund your study abroad program. If you have financial aid, consult with a financial aid counselor to get an estimate on the financial aid package you may receive. Students who have work-study as a part of their financial aid package should ask to have their financial aid package awarded without a work-study component. Financial aid packages may be awarded to students who are studying abroad in UTA academic programs.
3. Statement of Purpose detailing your academic, personal, and professional goals for your participation in the program.
4. Transcript
a) Current UTA Transcript - unofficial copy is acceptable
b) Transfer Transcript - Required if you are applying during your first semester at UTA and do not yet have a UTA GPA. Must be an official copy. Transfer students who have already completed at least one semester at UTA at the time of application are not required to provide a transfer transcript.
All portions of the application must be received by the deadline. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
IEFS - FAQs
How much are the scholarship awards?
- Award tiers (noted above) are established by official program length, which is determined by the number of weeks abroad. Orientation meetings or class days at UTA do not count towards program length, nor does personal travel time before or after the official program dates.
Please be advised that the IEFS is not intended to finance an entire study abroad program. Candidates should be able to fund at least half of their program or more to be considered for an award.
Which application cycle do I apply for?
- Scholarships are awarded based on the term of enrollment. Students should apply for the IEFS application cycle that corresponds to the term in which they are enrolled for their study abroad course. For example, students enrolled in a spring course with a May travel component should apply during the Winter & Spring Programs cycle. Students enrolled in a summer course with a May travel component should apply during the Summer, Fall & Academic Year Programs cycle.
If I am planning to study abroad for two consecutive terms, do I submit two IEFS applications?
- No. Students applying to study abroad for more than one consecutive terms (Fall/Spring, Fall/Winter, Winter/Spring, Spring/Summer, Summer/Fall) should submit one IEFS application for the earliest term abroad. Examples: A student planning to study abroad for both the Fall and Spring terms would submit one IEFS application for the Fall cycle. A student planning to study abroad for both the Spring and Summer terms would submit one IEFS application for the Spring cycle. Should a student receive an IEFS award, the amount will be split between the two terms.
What are my chances for getting an award?
- The IEFS is a competitive scholarship. As such, the number of applicants, which varies from competition to competition, greatly affects a student's chances. It really depends on where you stand in relation to the other applicants.
If I previously received an award but am applying to study abroad again, am I eligible to apply for another IEFS award?
- Yes. However, preference is given to students who have not previously received an IEFS.
When and how will I know if I received an award?
- The Committee tries to have results ready within three weeks of the application deadline. A letter will be sent through the online system to you as soon as the committee has made its decision telling you whether or not you received an award.
Can an IEFS award affect my financial aid?
- YES. Financial aid is determined by comparing your resources to your needs. An IEFS award will count as a resource. Be sure to discuss this with your counselor in the financial aid office if you receive an IEFS award.
If I receive a scholarship, when will I receive my money?
- Awards are disbursed to your MyMav account no earlier than ten days prior to the start of class at UTA in the term for which you received your award. If you are going abroad before your award is disbursed, you will need to make the proper arrangements to defer any payments until the award is made. Awards for students studying abroad for two consecutive terms will be split between the two terms.
If I receive a scholarship but am unable to study abroad as planned, can I defer the scholarship to a later term?
- No. Students who withdraw or cancel from their study abroad program will forfeit the IEFS for that term. Should you decide to study abroad in the future, you must reapply for the scholarship.