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Here at EF, our goal has been Opening the World Through Education for over 55 years. And within EF Explore America, we believe that every student should have the opportunity to discover the history, culture, and beauty of North America for themselves. The Explorer Scholarship is one way we help make this possible. Every year we award $50,000 in travel scholarships to select students from around the country.
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How to apply
The student traveler should reference this rubric and write a brief essay (no more than 250 words) answering the question: Why do you want to go on this EF Explore America class trip?
The parent/guardian must complete the application.
The application must be submitted by the deadline specified below.
Have questions?
Check out our Help Center for more details.
Application deadlines
All students traveling between January 1, 2026 and December 31, 2027 are eligible to apply for the 2026 and 2027 Explorer Scholarships. Deadline dates for applications vary depending on your travel date:
Travel dates | Deadline | Winner announcement |
|---|---|---|
Jan.-Feb. 2026 | Jul. 31, 2025 | Aug. 15, 2025 |
Mar.-Apr. 2026 | Sep. 30, 2025 | Oct. 15, 2025 |
May-Jun. 2026 | Nov. 30, 2025 | Dec. 15, 2025 |
Jul.-Aug. 2026 | Jan. 31, 2026 | Feb. 15, 2026 |
Sep.-Oct. 2026 | Mar. 31, 2026 | Apr. 15, 2026 |
Nov.-Dec. 2026 | May 31, 2026 | Jun. 15, 2026 |
Jan.-Feb. 2027 | Jul. 31, 2026 | Aug. 15, 2026 |
Mar.-Apr. 2027 | Sep. 30, 2026 | Oct. 15, 2026 |
May-Jun. 2027 | Nov. 30, 2026 | Dec. 15, 2026 |
Jul.-Aug. 2027 | Jan. 31, 2027 | Feb. 15, 2027 |
Sep.-Oct. 2027 | Mar. 31, 2027 | Apr. 15, 2027 |
Nov.-Dec. 2027 | May 31, 2027 | Jun. 15, 2027 |