Professor Katie Birger will be taking her Faculty-led Study Abroad International Health Policy course to Switzerland next week! You can follow along with our Abroad Ambassador Sara Hawley, who will be going on the program and doing a takeover from Switzerland on the UMBCLife Instagram on Tuesday, March 18! You can also find her Pre-Departure Blog Post on our website!

Upcoming Program/Scholarship Deadlines:

Dr. Souders is available to review all scholarship applications before submission. Contact him by emailing souders@umbc.edu

• March 15th: Bridging ScholarshipAre you studying in Japan during the Fall 2025 semester, 2025-26 academic year or Spring 2026 and receiving federal financial aid? If so, consider the Bridging Scholarship for study in Japan. UMBC students of any major can apply for this award to assist with additional costs associated with study in Japan. 
• April 3rd: Freeman Awards for Study in Asia Are you planning to study in South Korea, Japan, China, or elsewhere in East or Southeast Asia? If so, apply for theFreeman Awards for Study in Asia!! Freeman-ASIA provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. The program’s goal is to increase the number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents with first-hand exposure to and understanding of Asia and its peoples and cultures. 

Other Upcoming Events: 

• Applications for the 2026-27 competition cycle for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program open on March 30, 2025. This award supports U.S. citizens interested in conducting research, earning a master’s degree, or teaching English in up to 140 countries throughout the world. UMBC’s Fulbright Program Advisor, Dr. Brian Souders, is holding multiple information sessions after Spring Break; they will be posted to the Education Abroad’s MyUMBC page. 

Spring Break in the EA Office!

The EA Office is excited for Spring Break! While some of our students are traveling abroad, here’s what our staff members are looking forward to!

• Katie Heird: Spending some time in nature and disconnecting from technology.
• Brian Souders: Seeing Australian friends I met in Malaysia on a food tour a decade ago - meeting up in Colombia to visit coffee farms! Friends + food + travel = an ideal Spring Break!
• Samantha Sullivan: Celebrating my marriage in Cartagena, Colombia with all of our loved ones!
• Alicyn Curtis: Catching up on video games like Monster Hunter Wilds and working on art projects!

Have a great spring break!

Upcoming Program/Scholarship Deadlines:

March 10th: Non-Faculty-Led Summer 2025, Fall 2025, and Academic Year 2025-2026 Program Application: View program options and begin an application through our website!

March 15th: Bridging Scholarship
Are you studying in Japan during the Fall 2025 semester, 2025-26 academic year or Spring 2026 and receiving federal financial aid? If so, consider the Bridging Scholarship for study in Japan. UMBC students of any major can apply for this award to assist with additional costs associated with study in Japan. 

April 3rd: Freeman Awards for Study in Asia
Are you planning to study in South Korea, Japan, China, or elsewhere in East or Southeast Asia? If so, apply for the Freeman Awards for Study in Asia!! Freeman-ASIA provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. The program’s goal is to increase the number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents with first-hand exposure to and understanding of Asia and its peoples and cultures. 

Upcoming Events: 

Are you interested in a Faculty-Led Study Abroad Program for this Summer and have last-minute questions? Stop by our Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours from 12pm-2pm on February 28th! Pop in, chat with us, and get your questions answered!

Upcoming Program/Scholarship Deadlines:

• February 28th (TOMORROW!): The Class of 1970 Access Fund for Study Abroad

• Established in 2020 to commemorate the commencement of the Class of 1970, the first class to graduate from UMBC, this fund provides scholarship support for degree-seeking students participating in approved study abroad programs. The application is housed in UMBC’s Scholarship Retriever.

• March 2nd: Select faculty-led study abroad programs: 

• French Visual Culture in Aix-en-Provence, France

• Climate Change in Context: Experiences of Resilience and Migration in/through Oaxaca, Mexico

• Tolkien and Lewis in Oxford

• The Practice of Management: Global Perspectives in London and Paris

• Global Community Engagement and Social Change in South Africa

• March 10th: Non-Faculty-Led Summer 2025, Fall 2025, and Academic Year 2025-2026 Program Applications

• View program options and begin an application through our website!

• March 6th: Gilman Scholarship 

• Up to $8000 for Pell Grant Recipients for any study abroad program! Start your application today at <https://www.gilmanscholarship.org/>.  Attend a Drop-in Advising Workshops to help you with your application! These will be on 

• Sunday, March 2nd from 1pm to 4 pm on Commons Main Street

• Tuesday, March 4th from 1pm to 4 pm in University Center 203 

• Wednesday, March 5th from 6pm to 9 pm on Commons Main Street.

• There is also a Blackboard organization to guide you through the application writing process. Email <souders@umbc.edu> to be added to the site. 

• March 15th: Bridging Scholarship

• Are you studying in Japan during the Fall 2025 semester, 2025-26 academic year or Spring 2026 and receiving federal financial aid? If so, consider the Bridging Scholarship for study in Japan. UMBC students of any major can apply for this award to assist with additional costs associated with study in Japan. 

• April 3rd: Freeman Awards for Study in Asia

• Are you planning to study in South Korea, Japan, China, or elsewhere in East or Southeast Asia? If so, apply for theFreeman Awards for Study in Asia!! Freeman-ASIA provides scholarships for U.S. undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia. The program’s goal is to increase the number of U.S. citizens and permanent residents with first-hand exposure to and understanding of Asia and its peoples and cultures. 

• Dr. Souders is available to review all scholarship applications before submission. You can contact him by emailing souders@umbc.edu

• Decoding the Basques: Myths, Language and Culture – led by USAC Bilbao Professor Estela Rey
  In honor of USAC’s roots, explore highlights of the mysterious and beautiful Basque country and culture. This session is available to staff and students. Friday, February 28th 1-2PM. Meeting Link (no registration required)

• National Fulbright Office Information Session
  Fulbright U.S. Student Program for the 2026-27 academic year. Are you graduating in May 2025, December 2025 or May 2026? If so, learn if the fully funded Fulbright Student Program to conduct research, teach English as a foreign language or earn a Master’s degree in one of 140 countries throughout the world is for you. Our next information session is on March 6, 4 to 5 pm online. This virtual session is hosted by the national Fulbright office, with a breakout session for UMBC students, hosted by Dr. Souders. Pre-registration is required: <https://apply.iie.org/register/3.06.2025-Spring-GPS-1>. Learn more at <us.fulbrightonline.org>.