External Scholarships & Grants

There are thousands of dollars available each year for study abroad, pre-health majors, global education, experiential learning, and diversity initiatives. Many independent scholarships are open to students participating in international programs like Toucan Abroad.

Two helpful directories include:

GoAbroad.com – Study Abroad Scholarships Database

StudyAbroad.com – Scholarships & Grants Listings

These platforms compile awards from universities, private organizations, nonprofits, and community groups. Many students successfully combine multiple small scholarships to reduce their total cost.

School Financial Aid

Some students are able to use their academic department or study abroad office to secure credit, funding, or both. This depends entirely on your university, but it’s more common than people think.

Many Pre-PT students receive support through:

• Internship, practicum, or independent study credit, arranged through their major department.
• Study abroad grants or scholarships, sometimes available even if the program is not run by the university.
• Federal financial aid, when the program is tied to an official credit-bearing course at their school.

Every university is different, so the best first step is to speak with your advisor, your department, or your study abroad office and ask whether your participation in Toucan Abroad can be connected to academic credit or funding. If they need program information from us, we’re always happy to provide it.

Fundraising

Many students cover a portion — or sometimes most — of their program cost through structured fundraising.

Many students reduce their program cost through simple, creative fundraising. Effective approaches include:

• Online crowdfunding (ex. GoFundMe) – Set up a page explaining how the program strengthens your PT school application and provides required clinical hours.
• Personal outreach – Share a clear message with family, friends, mentors, and PT professionals about your goals and why this experience matters.
• Local business sponsorships – Clinics, gyms, and community organizations often support students pursuing healthcare careers.
• Campus organization support – Pre-PT clubs, honors programs, and Greek life sometimes offer micro-grants or help you run a fundraiser.
• Creative initiatives – Custom T-shirts, stickers, bake sales, tutoring sessions, sports lessons, raffles, or other simple ideas that let people support you in a fun way.