A group of volunteers work together to plant rice with local farmers in Madagascar, Africa.

Volunteer Abroad Scholarships, Bursaries, and Grants

Explore a list of resources for volunteer abroad funding, scholarships, and bursaries

We’ve compiled a list of the best and most current scholarships and bursaries for volunteering abroad, to help you in your search of affordable volunteer abroad projects. We know that financing an overseas trip can be a challenge, so we’re here to help turn your dream of volunteering abroad into a reality. Read on for answers to your most asked questions about government funding for volunteering abroad and the scholarships or bursaries available to volunteer overseas.

Can you get scholarships for volunteering?

Yes, you can! All of the scholarships and bursaries listed below can be applied to a Projects Abroad volunteer project. We’re glad to provide a proof of certificate and reference upon successful completion of your project.

What are the differences between scholarships and bursaries?

Scholarships and bursaries are two different sources of funding. While they're both non-repayable, scholarships are usually awarded for academic excellence, and winning a scholarship is usually extremely competitive. They also might come attached with various conditions. Bursaries are lump sums or annual stipends available to anyone who meets the criteria for them. This could be students from low-income backgrounds or students pursuing a specific area of study, for example. 

How do I get funding for volunteering abroad?

There are a number of scholarships available and they can be applied to any Projects Abroad volunteer program. Unfortunately, Projects Abroad is unable to provide financial aid directly because we don’t receive any external funding. However, we’re here to help with fundraising ideas and we’ve provided a list of grants and scholarships for humanitarian work:

University-Specific Funding

Can I volunteer abroad for free?

Volunteering abroad provides numerous benefits to communities around the world while enriching travellers' lives with meaningful travel experiences. But you may be asking yourself, “Why do I have to pay to volunteer abroad?”

Our volunteer programmes come with a fee because we implement long-term sustainable projects that employ local staff. We also provide you with everything you need for a safe, secure, and hassle-free trip. It’s important that we direct our funds where they are needed the most, to the projects we establish and the solutions we implement.

Read on more here to see how our prices work.

How much does volunteering abroad cost?

Our projects have various prices, depending on the location, length of time, and level of the project. On our Marine Conservation Projects you’ll earn your PADI Open Water Diving certificate. On others, you’ll work in parks and reserves with special access, like in Galapagos National Park, Tuli Reserve in Botswana, or living with a Mongolian nomadic community. However, you may be wondering, “How much does it cost to volunteer abroad?”

We’ve provided these resources about how our prices work and how our projects work. We make change possible through our projects. Each one solves a specific problem, in a specific place. We’ve been doing this for over 30 years, and we champion responsible volunteer travel.

How can I volunteer for cheap abroad?

Volunteering abroad is an enriching experience for both volunteers and organisations needing support around the world. The funds you pay to volunteer abroad support long-term, sustainable programming, as well as providing you with everything you need to safely volunteer abroad. However, it’s important you work with responsible volunteer travel programmes that you can trust.

We obey a strict set of policies, ethics, and codes of conduct and annually measure our impact to ensure that our projects make a difference. Annually, we receive accreditations and awards for our commitment to sustainable travel.

You can achieve affordable volunteer trips abroad by applying for scholarships, using your local community to fundraise, setting up flexible payment plans, and searching for government funding for volunteering abroad. Reach out to local service organisations for opportunities specific to your community.

Your contributions on these volunteer programmes will be respected by future job and college applications, your friends and family, and appreciated by communities around the world.

Reach out to any of our Project Experts for help with your search. We’re here to guide you through this process and help you discover what you’re capable of!

Our accreditations