At EF Gap Year, we understand that our programs can be a significant financial investment for many families; below, you’ll find information on how to make the cost of your program work for you, from discounts and scholarships to external funding opportunities.
Bring-a-Friend: We believe traveling is always better with a friend! Students who have already enrolled in an EF Gap program can receive a discount when they refer a friend to join them on their program. See details.
EF Alumni: Students who have traveled with EF Education First before are eligible for an automatic grant; mention that you’re a past traveler to your Gap Year Consultant. See details.
Please note: all students are only eligible for a total of one discount, regardless of the number of programs in which the student is enrolled.
After you have been accepted to an EF Gap program, you can apply for scholarships; every year, we award up to $50,000 in total in merit-based scholarships to make our programs more accessible for passionate and qualified students.
Global Citizens Scholarship
Global Citizens Scholarships are awarded to students who show great aptitude, commitment, and enthusiasm for growing and learning in the context of a global community.
Digital Media Fellowship
Digital Media Fellowships are awarded to students who possess natural storytelling skills and a passion for multimedia content creation.
Learn how to apply for funding. You can reach out to your EF Advisor for help making your application stand out.
Recipients of our Global Citizen Scholarships should demonstrate a willingness to step out of their comfort zone and forge meaningful connections throughout their program.
Students who apply for this scholarship should show a high level of cultural competency, critical thinking skills, and curiosity; no prior travel experience is necessary.
We select two recipients for the Year program and two for the Semester program (Fall and Spring).
Submission criteria
Essay/video topic
Tell us how you have already demonstrated a global mindset in and out of the classroom, how your upcoming EF Gap program will help you to become a better citizen of the world, and how gaining global perspective will set you up for success in the future.
Deadlines
The final deadline for Gap Year or Semester applicants with a September start date is as follows:
The deadlines for all Gap Semester applicants with a January start date are as follows:
Digital Media Fellowships are awarded to students who possess natural storytelling skills and have a passion for multimedia content creation.
This Fellowship is best suited for students who are interested in pursuing a career in marketing, aspiring influencers, and/or want to hone their content creation skills. Applicants should have some experience in this area, though it’s important to note that no social media posting is required for this position—just encouraged!
Digital Media Fellows will collaborate with our Content and Social Media Manager to create content on behalf of EF Gap Year, chronicling their adventures abroad through photographs, videos, and/or written work. In return, Fellows will receive one-on-one mentorship from marketing professionals as well as a portfolio of published work that showcases their abilities.Â
We select one Fellow from the Year program and one from the Semester program (Fall and Spring), though multiple Digital Media Fellowships could be granted should we see several applicants who meet the criteria.Â
Submission criteria
DeadlinesÂ
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.
Any student who is officially enrolled on an EF Gap Year or Gap Semester program is eligible to apply for Scholarship or Fellowship funding; these are awarded primarily on the basis of merit and how well the applicant meets the submission criteria.
Scholarships and Fellowship awards are applied as a reduction to your program fee and have no cash value. Other restrictions and eligibility criteria may apply; please read the following Terms & Conditions carefully.
These Terms & Conditions govern both the EF Global Citizens Scholarships and the EF Digital Media Fellowships (referred here together as the “Scholarships”). By submitting an application for a Scholarship, you are agreeing to these terms and conditions; in some cases, you may also be required to sign an individual scholarship agreement. This Scholarship is administered by EF Institute for Cultural Exchange Inc. (“EF”)
This scholarship will be based on your submission in accordance with the requirements described above on the website efgapyear.com/scholarships. Recipients will be selected based on their submissions. To be considered you must complete and submit all required information by the stated deadline. If your application is selected, you have seven (7) days to respond with your acceptance. Failure to respond within the deadline may result in the scholarship offer being withdrawn. You are responsible for any tax implications arising out your receipt of this Scholarship.
All submissions become the property of EF and you are not entitled to any consideration beyond the stated Scholarship amount. No photos, videos, or other media will be returned.
If you become a Global Influencer Fellow, you will create content such as articles, blog posts, photograph image files and/or video on behalf of EF Gap Year to be published online and on social media. You agree to give EF or its designee irrevocable, nonexclusive, royalty free rights to use the article/blog post/photo/video for any purpose including publication, display, modification, and creation of derivative works.
You agree not to submit any content that infringes the rights of others or violates their privacy or publicity rights, is protected by copyright, trademark or other proprietary right, or contains a virus, but or other harmful item.
You agree to release, indemnify and hold harmless EF Education First International, Ltd., EF Institute for Cultural Exchange, Inc., their parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, agents, employees and all others associated with the development and execution of the Scholarship (the “Released Parties”) from any and all liability with respect to or in any way arising from this Scholarship and/or acceptance or use of the Scholarship, including liability for personal injury, death, damages, loss or any actual or alleged infringement or misappropriation of any third party proprietary rights.
EF is not responsible for entries that are corrupted or otherwise not received correctly or for any problems or technical malfunction of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, servers or providers, computer equipment, software, failure of email, or on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website or combination thereof, including injury or damage to participants or to any other person’s computer related to or resulting from participating or downloading materials in the scholarship. EF assumes no responsibility for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by website users or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the scholarship or by any technical or human error which may occur in the processing of submissions in the scholarship. EF assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries, including lost, late or misdirected entries. EF is not responsible for user cheating or fraud by any entrants. Any activities intended to disrupt or interfere with the competition, or defraud EF in any way may be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Participants engaging in any of the foregoing activities will be disqualified and any Scholarships awarded will be forfeited. If, for any reason, the competition is not able to be run as planned, including without limitation infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of EF which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this competition, EF reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the competition. The decisions of EF are final and binding in all respects.
Traveling is always better with a friend! Students already enrolled in an EF Gap program can receive a discount when they refer a friend to join them on their program.
Gap Year
Gap Semester
Short-Term Programs
Discount Details
Discount is provided when a student refers a friend and the friend books on their same program; discount will only apply once students have departed on program.
Please note: all students are only eligible for a total of one discount, regardless of the number of programs in which the student is enrolled.
Students already enrolled in our program can receive a discount when they share that they have previously traveled with EF.
Gap Year
Gap Semester
Short-Term Programs
Discount Details
Travelers need to have traveled on an EF program, which can include EF Educational Tours, EF Explore America, EF Ultimate Break, and EF Go Ahead Tours.
Please note: all students are only eligible for a total of one discount, regardless of the number of programs in which the student is enrolled.
Here are some additional ways you could approach fundraising; for a comprehensive list of travel grants and creative ideas that could apply to you, check out this page on the Gap Year Association’s website.
USA Gap Year Fairs $5,000 Scholarship
USA Gap Year Fairs grants a tuition scholarship up to $5,000 USD and mentorship from an expert gap year counselor. Stay tuned for scholarship deadlines here.
University-Based Financial Aid Options
Several U.S. colleges offer financial aid specifically designed for gap year students; ask the schools you have been accepted to or are interested in if they have any scholarships designed for gap year students.
Private Funding
Many private organizations offer scholarships and funding. Check out Rotary International and Lions Club, or ask other community service clubs in your area if they would be willing to sponsor you.