Freeman-ASIA (Freeman Awards for Study in Asia)
Scholarships for U.S. undergrads with financial need to study abroad in East or Southeast Asia.
Eligibility
- Must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents at the time of application
- Must currently receive need-based financial aid or demonstrate a verifiable need for financial assistance to participate in the proposed study abroad program. The applicant is required to submit the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) figure, calculated through FAFSA, with the statement of financial need through the online Freeman-ASIA application.
- Must be an undergraduate student with a minimum GPA of 2.8, pursuing his or her first bachelor's degree (or associate's degree)
- Must apply through the U.S. home campus and have at least one term of enrollment remaining at the home institution in the U.S. upon returning from studying abroad in Asia
- Must have applied or have been accepted to a study abroad based program in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.
- Must have little or no previous experience in the country in which he or she plans to study
About the Freeman Awards for Study in Asia
Freeman-ASIA (Freeman Awards for Study in Asia) is designed to support U.S.-based undergraduates with demonstrated financial need who are planning to study overseas 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. Award recipients are required to share their experiences with their home campuses or communities to encourage study abroad by others and fulfill the program's goal of increasing understanding of Asia in the United States. The Freeman Awards for Study in Asia are generously supported by the Freeman Foundation and administered by the Institute of International Education.
Amount Awarded
$3,000 for a summer program; $5,000 for a semester/quarter program; $7,000 for an academic year program.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted and reviewed by the campus study abroad advisor and financial aid advisor. The proposed length of study in the host country must be a minimum of 8 weeks for a summer term, 10 weeks for a quarter term and 12 weeks for a semester term.
As part of the application, applicants propose a service project as to how they plan to share their overseas study abroad experiences and promote interest in study abroad in East and Southeast Asia on their college campuses and/or in their communities.
Campus Application Deadline
April 7, 2026
National Application Deadline
April 7, 2026
Additional Info
Find additional information, including application criteria, on the Freeman-ASIA website.