Before You Apply
The application for Global Change Maker Scholarship requires a lot of information. Applicants are encouraged to take a few minutes to prepare and collect some information prior to starting the process.
Know your expected costs
You will be expected to provide the estimated cost for your intended experience. These costs typically include some or all of the following:
- Housing and food
- Airfare
- Local transportation
- Medical and insurance expenses
- Passport and visa
- Required fees (e.g. application and program participation fees)
- Books, materials, and personal items
If you are studying abroad through UT:
You will not be required to itemize your response unless your estimated cost deviates from the budget provided by Texas Global. Visit Texas Global Education Abroad for more information.
View an example of an estimated cost list
If you are studying abroad through another institution:
Contact that institution for a breakdown of estimated cost. You will be required to submit the estimated cost breakdown to CGB prior to your travels.
Download a budget template to help gather necessary information.
If you are completing an international internship:
You will be expected to submit a breakdown of your estimated costs along with your anticipated salary information in order to complete your application.
Download a budget template to help gather necessary information.
Prepare your essays
The application has two essay questions. You are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of the opportunity to convey information about your plans, and to draft the essays in advance so you can review them for accuracy prior to submission.
The essay prompts are:
Essay #1: Professional Direction & International Business
This essay should be no more than 500 words.
Describe where you believe you will be professionally in the next five years. Include your short- and long-term career goals, how the study of international business will impact those goals, and how you plan to leverage your international experience into the launching of your career plans.
Essay #2: Additional Financial Need & Circumstances
This essay should be no more than 250 words.
Describe the nature and extent of your financial need and any special financial circumstances. Be specific in identifying extenuating circumstances to assist the committee in understanding your need and how a scholarship would positively address it.
This essay prompt is identical to the UT international experience scholarships available through UT’s Global Assist platform. You are welcome to submit the same essay for this application.
Identify your reference
The application requests you provide a reference familiar with your intention to complete an international experience, your interest in international business, and your any other unique circumstances that relate to your academic and professional journey. You will provide the name and email address of your reference and they will be sent a form to complete.
While you do not need to obtain a formal letter from your reference, you should let them know to expect a message from the Center for Global Business with the form.
Request preliminary approval
If you are an International Business major or are pursuing an International Business or Global Management minor, please request preliminary approval before submitting your application.
Obtaining preliminary approval prior to applying ensures that your intended experience will count toward your major/minor requirement and that you will receive full credit for your planning skills on the scholarship application.
Update your resumé
A resumé is required for the application. If you have not already prepared a resumé, or if yours needs to be reviewed/updated prior to submittal, download the following resources:
Read FAQs
Browse our frequently asked questions to familiarize yourself with eligibility requirements and criteria. They contain useful information, including how award decisions are made.
2022-23 Global Change Maker Scholarship Recipients
Frequently Asked Questions
Take a minute to review our FAQs. If your question isn’t listed, please email us at msb-cgb@mccombs.utexas.edu.
Who is eligible?
Undergraduate students from all majors who are enrolled and in good standing at The University of Texas at Austin are eligible for Global Change Maker Scholarships.
There are two exceptions:
- Students who have previously been awarded a Global Change Maker Scholarship may not receive a second award.
- Students may not receive a scholarship after completion of their international experience; awards are made only for future international experience plans.
Do I have to major or minor in International Business?
Interest in international business is encouraged but not required to apply.
Students who have demonstrated an interest in international business in one or more of the following ways receive additional consideration for scholarship awards:
- Declaring an International Business major at McCombs.
- Pursuing an International Business or Global Management minor.
- Taking and completing international business courses.
- The majority of these courses are available to all upper division students.
Students are also able to demonstrate their interest in international business in their response to Essay #1 through the application process.
What types of experiences are eligible?
- As the scholarships are intended to further international experience in the course of integrated study, study abroad and international internships of 4 weeks or more are eligible for scholarship awards.
- Volunteer experiences and other personal travel are not eligible for awards.
Longer experiences (6 weeks or more) and experiences with an employment element (internships) receive additional consideration as they demand a higher level of commitment on the part of the student.
When should I apply?
Students can apply for priority consideration (approximately one year before proposed travel) and/or for regular consideration (usually the semester before proposed travel). Projected deadlines are below, but please check the application to confirm the specific deadline.
| Proposed Travel | Priority Window | Regular Window |
| Spring Term | Jan. 15 – Feb. 15 | Sept. 15 – Oct. 15 |
| May Term | Sept. 15 – Oct. 15 | Jan. 15 – Feb. 15* |
| Summer Term | Sept. 15 – Oct. 15 | Jan. 15 – Feb. 15 |
| Fall Term | Sept. 15 – Oct. 15 | Jan. 15 – Feb. 15 |
If you apply for a May Term award during the regular application window (Jan. 15 – Feb. 15) you may not receive funds prior to the program fee deadline.
What if my plans aren't final yet?
Applications are accepted each semester. Admission to a study abroad program or confirmation of an international experience is not required.
Students are strongly encouraged to apply only when their plans for international experience (including timing, location, and university or employer) are established as preference is given to those whose international experience is fully planned out.
Are references required? Who should I ask?
Yes, a reference is required. Students must provide a reference from their academic advisor, their study abroad advisor, or a UT faculty member familiar with the applicant’s academic and international plans, as well as the applicant’s interest in international business. There is a strong preference for references from advisors as they indicate the applicant is fully aware of how international experience will impact their degree planning and course scheduling.
- The application will request contact information for your reference, who will receive an automated email with a link to the reference form when you submit your application. Letters of recommendation are not accepted.
- References must be completed no later than one week after the application window closes. If a reference is not received for an applicant, the application will still be reviewed but it will be awarded 0 points instead of a positive reference score.
What criteria are used to make awards?
All application components are reviewed and scored with respect to the following three elements:
- Commitment to the study of International Business (approx. half of score)
- Students pursing International Business credentials (an international business major or minor) receive preference for scholarship awards. Commitment to the study of international business is also demonstrated through the completion of IB coursework, feedback provided by the applicant’s reference, and through Essay #1 (Professional Direction & International Business).
- Note: Longer experiences (6 weeks or more) and experiences with an employment element (internships) also receive additional consideration as they demand a higher level of commitment on the part of the student.
- Financial need
- Financial need is established both through the FAFSA process (including potential unmet need), through Essay #2 (Additional Financial Need & Circumstances), and by the inclusion of work experience during the academic year on the submitted resume.
- Academic performance and potential
- Academic performance and potential are assessed through the applicant’s in-residence GPA, the submitted resume, feedback provided by the applicant’s reference, and the ability to communicate and write effectively in the essay portion of the application.
How much is each award?
Multiple awards of up to $5,000 each are made each semester. The number and amount of awards will vary depending on applicant demand.
Still have questions?
If your question wasn’t covered in our FAQs, send us an email. We’re here to help.