Scholarships for Study in Antarctica

Study on the Icy South Pole

The Antarctic is one of the world’s least-explored regions. Located on the South Pole, it is only home to a variety of animals; there are no permanent human residences to be found. Because there is still so much to learn about the Antarctic, and because nobody actually lives there, it is where many international agencies and countries go to jointly conduct research. In fact, it is the only continent which is governed by an international treaty. This treaty promotes peace, advances scientific understanding and international collaboration.

Scholarship Programs

Michigan State University Studies in Antarctic System Science offers Biology students an incredible opportunity to study in an extreme climate. For students studying in this realm the Antarctic is a responsive laboratory in which the effects of global warming and many other phenomena are easily measured. This costly program may be offset by department scholarships offered by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. However, MSU also provides more general scholarships for students seeking scholarships for abroad study:

• For students with a 2.5 GPA or greater and who demonstrate financial need, there is the MSU Federal Credit Union Scholarship. This is the most charitable program at Michigan State. They offer $1000 for summer semesters, %1,500 for fall and spring semesters and up to $2,000 for full academic years.
• The Kellogg Foundation Scholarship is specifically given to students who are majoring in Agriculture and Natural Resources. Students may receive up to $1,750 in scholarships towards the Antarctic program.
• Forest Akers Endowment is designed to assist students who show they financial support but who did not qualify for Pell Grant assistance. The Forest Akers program allows students to learn about and test their own entrepreneurial innovation.

The National Science Foundation offers an international graduate training course in Antarctic Biology. This program is held at McMurdo Station and lasts for one month. Those in the field of biology and are interested in organisms in extreme environments such as Antarctica are encouraged to apply. Traveling to Antarctica is very expensive, but NSF offers full scholarships to cover the cost of travel from their home institution to Antarctica and for room and board.

University of Georgia offers a study abroad program in Antarctica. Here students study a variety of different subjects including climate, geology, history, and marine and terrestrial biology. They also focus a large part on different aspects of human activity in Antarctica, where students learn about conservation of ecosystems and how to responsibly use and maintain natural resources. They offer a few scholarships to study abroad participants.

• $3,000 fellowships are available to two UGA undergraduates through the  UGA Alumni Study Abroad Scholarship. Applicants must have at least a 3.0 GPA and must not have participated in any other study abroad program at the collegiate level.
• The Katherine John Murphy Scholarship is for UGA undergraduates attending a study abroad or foreign exchange program. Students must have a minimum GPA of 3.3, demonstrate financial need, and not have participated in another study abroad program while in college.