: Dinner Money

iving abroad, although worthwhile, can be expensive. Luckily, there are numerous sources of aid available to you from both the United Kingdom and the European Union. There are also hundreds of little known scholarships and grants each year that go unnoticed or unused due to lack of interest or participants; be sure to research and tap into as many local, national and private sources as possible.

From the UK

First of all, be sure to take into consideration the lengthy application process involved in applying for financial aid. Many grants require your application to be in between six to nine months before your scheduled departure date.

§         The United Kingdom's Department for Education and Skills (DfES) maintains an excellent website that is constantly updated with new opportunities for Higher Education students.  Be sure to check it regularly at: www.dfes.gov.uk

§         The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) provides a placement service for UK nationals seeking to undertake course-related work placements or research opportunities.  These programmes are available to students currently enrolled in their penultimate year at any university in the United Kingdom.  IAESTE has arranged exchanges in over 50 countries worldwide based on the needs of its students.  Although there is a £48 fee for the placement, all work programmes are paid.
More information is available from their website:  www.iaeste.org.uk

§         Peter Kirk Scholarships
Scholarships under the name of Peter Kirk, the first leader of the British Conservatives in the European Parliament, are available for students engaging in study projects concerning modern Europe and European institutions.  Awarded in late spring, these scholarships are available to finance six-week to three-month study abroad projects conducted in at least one other country.  Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 26, but the award is not limited to university students.  School leavers and industrial and professional trainees are welcome to apply. 
Contact Information:
Peter Kirk Memorial Fund
17 St. Paul's Rise
Addingham, Ilkley
West Yorkshire
LS29 0QD
www.kirkfund.org.uk 

§         SOCRATES
Under the SOCRATES programme, funding is available to students wishing to study in another European country. This project includes not only the twenty-five member states of the European Union, but also Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey.

§         ERASMUS
ERASMUS is the higher education scheme of SOCRATES II, and it allocates funding to students studying abroad for a minimum of three months to a maximum of one-year. The grants ERASMUS provides are known as Mobility Grants and cover the cost of living and transportation to the host country. ERASMUS is available in 2199 institutions across Europe (31 countries), and even provides a system called ECTS which manages the transfer of academic credit between the institutions.
Over 1.2 million students have participated in the ERASMUS programme since its creation in 1982. Interested students should contact their advisor for preliminary information and application packages.

§         LEONARDO DA VINCI
LEONARDO, like ERASMUS, supports transnational education.  It focuses on vocational training programmes.  Candidates have the opportunity to spend one or two years of vocational training on completion of full-time compulsory education, which leads to a recognised qualification.
http://www.leonardo.org.uk 

§         YOUTH
For young persons between the ages of 15 and 25, the EU offers funding for short-term exchanges for both volunteering and academics.  The current YOUTH programme has absorbed the former programmes Youth for Europe and European Voluntary Service.  For those wishing to volunteer for a period of time no longer than three months, YOUTH will provide partial funding.  http://europa.eu.int/comm/youth/index_en.html 

**For all EU monies it is important to note that the application process is lengthy and specific. Apply well in advance to take full advantage of what the Community can offer.

Private Sources

Private scholarships may be more selective, but can sometimes provide a substantial amount of aid. There is an excellent database of private sources of study abroad grants from the International Education Financial Aid website. This can provide you with a good starting point for your research:
www.iefa.org

Another suggestion would be to go to your local library and consult a copy of the Directory of Grant Making Trusts ISBN 0904 757 994. This guide is an invaluable aid, listing contact information and application requirements for individual grants.