Freeman Foundation Internship Scholarship

Freeman Foundation Scholarship for Internships

Scholarships up to $6,500 are available to help offset travel and living expenses for students pursuing internships in Asia in the summer.

The Freeman Internship Scholarships are made possible through the generous support of the Freeman Foundation, one of the premier scholarships advancing career development opportunities for UI undergraduate students. This scholarship program aims to further strengthen the bonds of friendship between the United States and the countries of East Asia by supporting U.S. students in gaining a deeper understanding of the different cultures, economies, systems and values prevalent in the region.

Eligibility and Application:

Students

  • Students are not required to have any level of proficiency in an Asian language. However, if you have studied an East Asian language, include this in your application essay as this could impact where you are placed.
  • Have at least one semester remaining at the University of Iowa after the internship.
  • Preference given to US citizens. International applicants are eligible to apply. You cannot be placed in a country in which you are fluent in the language or have lived for an extended period (more than one year).

GPA
A minimum GPA of 2.5 is required

Internship
The internship program must be selected from this list of options that have been pre-approved by UIowa; each student will be required to meet their specific program’s eligibility and application requirements by the stated deadlines.

CIEE Tokyo Summer Internship
CIEE Singapore Summer Internship
CIEE Seoul Simmer Internship
CIEE Taipei Summer Internship

Application
Opens November 1st – Closes Jan 15th

A complete application consists of short answer questions, an essay and an academic letter of recommendation. Awardees must complete a student impact survey before the end of their program abroad.
This award is open to all majors.

International internships are unpaid, credit-bearing experiences

The Freeman Foundation Internship Scholarship is intended to cover a significant portion of the program cost of interning abroad. Students will be responsible for paying some costs out of pocket, including, but not limited to:

  • Roundtrip airfare
  • Tuition
  • Meals
  • International medical insurance
  • Passport and visa fees
  • Miscellaneous spending while abroad (toiletries, souvenirs, weekend travel, etc.)
  • Programmatic fees in excess of what the scholarship covers

Maximum Awards
A student may not receive financial aid and other resources in excess of the estimate cost of attendance in accordance with federal guidelines. If you receive additional financial resources and/or assistance, it may impact your eligibility for other financial aid awards.

Please note: Freeman Fellowships cannot be used for virtual programs, or programs less than six weeks in length. They must be used for UIowa sponsored internship opportunities.

Follow-on Requirement
The student impact survey will be distributed in July. The impact survey provides an opportunity for recipients to provide feedback on their internship abroad experiences and share information needed for our annual report to the Freeman Foundation.

Award
Varies
Scopes
Study Abroad
Deadline
01/15/2026
Supplemental Questions
  1. To which summer internship program are you applying?
  2. Do you have any language proficiency in the country where you are proposing to intern?
  3. Have you had any previous experiences in the country where you wish to intern? If so, describe these experiences.
  4. What are your motivations for interning abroad in Asia? How does this internship fit with your personal/professional goals? What knowledge and skill development through interning abroad are you seeking?
  5. Letter of Recommendation Request: Please provide the name and email address for two individuals affiliated with your academic record who can provide a recommendation on your behalf. Make sure you have the person’s full name and correct e-mail address. Once the reference name and email address is entered and you click “Save and Keep Editing” or “Finish and Submit”, an e-mail will be automatically sent to the individual completing your recommendation. That e-mail will contain the correct information on how to complete the recommendation. Please notify this person ahead of time to expect an email from us. After entering your reference information, we recommend that you check back on the portal to ensure that the reference has completed the recommendation by the scholarship deadline. You can check the status by clicking on the “References” tab located at the top center of the portal screen.

    Please Note: • You (Applicants) are not able to view the information submitted by the reference. • If you decide to change the reference after an email has already been sent to the original reference, please contact the individual and inform them that the recommendation is no longer needed.

  6. By signing below, I certify that all information contained in this application is true and correct. I also authorize The University of Iowa to release copies of this form and pertinent information to the scholarship selection committee.
    • 1. Signature (Type Full Name):
    • 2. Today's Date
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