First Time Travelers
Each year Greenheart Travel provides scholarship grants to individuals who are “first-time travelers” and have the desire for travel and cultural immersion. Our First Time Traveler Scholarships are available for our adult, high school and short term programs. We encourage everyone to follow their travel aspirations, despite obstacles that may inhibit these goals.
We want to help make travel accessible to everyone and truly believe that when you study, teach or volunteer abroad, you are embarking on a journey that will significantly impact your global perspective! That is why, along with our scholarship grants, we will offer additional support and resources for first-time travelers.
Let Greenheart Travel staff members tell you about the life-changing experience of traveling abroad for the first time:
Selection Criteria
The purpose of this scholarship is to give the opportunity to travel to those who have not had it before. Therefore, you should meet these requirements if you want to be considered:
- Be a First Time Traveler*
- Be enrolled in, or in the process of, applying for a Greenheart Travel program
- Be in good standing with your high school, university, work, etc.
- Have a desire to travel, curiously explore new cultures, and positively share your experiences with your home communities
- Be excited to tell your story to the Greenheart Travel community and be a mentor to future travelers. If you get chosen you’ll be asked to submit:
- 2 blog posts (~500-750 words each) about your experiences abroad
- 1 review of your Greenheart Travel program on Go Overseas and Go Abroad
- 5 one-minute videos highlighting your daily life on the program
- 20 high resolution photos of you experiencing life on your program
*What is a First Time Traveler?
We’ll be the first to admit that this term is a bit loose here. But generally, a First Time Traveler will have no experience traveling abroad alone. It is possible that you went on a Caribbean cruise with your family, or a short school trip to Costa Rica, so we’d be accepting of you if that were your only experience abroad.
However, it is important to us that we reach people who will be traveling abroad solo for the first time. Preference will be given to those with the least experience traveling. At the beginning of the scholarship application, you’ll need to provide a paragraph explaining your travel experience and why you consider yourself a First Time Traveler.What does it mean to be in good standing with my high school, university or work?
We’ll need a recommendation letter from a teacher, guidance counselor or boss. We’re asking you to have them outline why they think you’d be a good candidate for the scholarship and why you’d be a great promoter of cultural exchange.
Teen Scholarships
Teen Scholarships
2025-2026 Scholarships for Ages 13-18
The general scholarship cycle for 2025 Teen Scholarships is now closed. Check back in May for news about High School Abroad scholarships for 2026!
Missed out on our general scholarship cycle? No worries! Scholarships for the following programs are considered on a case-by-case basis throughout the year. Please reach out to us at travelapplications@greenheart.org if you think you might be eligible and would like to apply!
Adult Scholarships
2025 Scholarships for Ages 18+
Applications open on February 27, 2025.Teach in a Homestay
Program Location Length Scholarship Amount South Korea 1-3 Months $300 Spain 1-3 Months FREE TEFL Certification
Program Location Length Scholarship Amount Online 4 Weeks $500 Teach Abroad
Program Location Length Scholarship Amount Thailand (Placement Only) 6-12 Months $700 Terms of Acceptance
As a scholarship recipient, we want to showcase your experience and program! All travelers who receive scholarship funding will be asked to create the following for Greenheart Travel:
- Recipients will submit five (5) one-minute videos highlighting your daily life on your program
- Recipients will write 2 blog posts about their program and experience of at least 500-750 words each.
- Recipients will submit 20 high-resolution photos to Greenheart Travel of their time abroad.
- Recipients will agree to be a mentor for new travelers after their program.
- Recipients will leave a review on GoOverseas.com and GoAbroad.com after the end of their program. Link to be provided by Greenheart Travel.
Application Process
Ready to take one step closer to taking the leap abroad? Get your application started today!
Application Deadlines
- Teen Program Scholarship Deadline: Closed for 2025. Check back in May for High School Abroad 2026!
- Adult Program Scholarship Deadline: March 27, 2025
Application Process
- Start Your Application HERE. All scholarship applications are completed online in our application portal. All First Time Traveler Scholarship applicants will need to complete a separate scholarship application in addition to the program application for their intended travel program.
- Show Us Who You Are! Complete your application by answering short-answer questions, gathering recommendations and references, and recording an introduction video.
- Receive a Scholarship Decision: Scholarship applicants will be notified 2-4 weeks after the posted deadline if they have been awarded a scholarship. Upon completion of a corresponding program application and successful acceptance to the program, scholarship funds will be disbursed in accordance with the scholarship terms and conditions.
FAQs
Can I apply for multiple Greenheart Travel scholarships?
No, you can only submit one scholarship application per scholarship cycle.
Do I need to apply for the program at the same time that I apply for the scholarship?
Yes, in order to be considered for the scholarship, you need to submit an active application for the program at the same time. They can be submitted simultaneously or in sequence with one another.
You are not required to submit a deposit or any money to apply for the scholarship, but we do need a completed application with all of your details on file to award you a scholarship.
If you plan to do your program even if you are not awarded the scholarship, we HIGHLY recommend submitting deposits and applying as normal – as not to disrupt your program timeline.
How many people usually apply for Greenheart Travel’s scholarships?
We have a limited number of scholarships and each year we receive anywhere from 40-150 scholarship applications.
Does Greenheart Travel have other financial aid?
We do not offer other forms of financial aid at this time. We do offer a guide for fundraising. Many past participants have had success using these resources, including Jaime who wrote a wonderful blog about her unique fundraising efforts.
If I find a scholarship from another organization outside of Greenheart Travel, can I apply it to my program fee?
Yes! We welcome you to find funding opportunities from all over, and we can accept scholarship credit from other organizations, foundations or from fundraising efforts.
What should be in the letter of recommendation?
We’ll be asking them to outline why they think you’d be a good candidate for the scholarship and why you’d be a great promoter of cultural exchange.
You will have the ability to input your recommenders email into our application portal, and they can log into your application and provide a recommendation.
Can I still apply for the scholarship if I want to go in Spring 2026?
If you are applying to study abroad as high school student, yes. All other scholarships are only for the 2025 calendar year.
The high school abroad scholarships we award in 2025 will be applicable to a Fall 2025, Summer 2025, or Spring 2026 program unless otherwise noted. We award scholarships in winter for the entire following academic year.
Can I apply for the scholarship even if I’ve already applied for a program?
Yes! There is no problem if you’ve already submitted your application and still want to apply for the scholarship.
