Explore the World Travel Scholarship Program FAQs

Please note the following dates: 

• Application Close Date: October 25, 2024 
• Awardee Notification Date: December 2, 2024 
• Awardee Orientation:  December 5, 2024, 8pm EST 
• Required Document Deadline: December 12, 2024 
• Final Deadline for Alternate Notification:  January 18, 2025 
• Travel Preparation Period: February 1, 2025 – March 8, 2025 
• Travel Period: March 8, 2025 – August 15, 2026 
• Program Close Date/Deadline for Post-Travel Funds:  August 31, 2026 

Eligible applicants for general Explore the World awards must:

• be 18-30 years old
• be United States citizens, residents, or green card holders
• be able to demonstrate financial need
• have limited travel experience and limited travel resources

In addition to 15 general Explore the World Travel Scholarship awards, HI USA will grant 5 Explore the World Travel Scholarship: First Passport Edition awards. These awards will go to completely new travelers who meet all of the above requirements and also do not currently hold a U.S. passport.

To be eligible for First Passport Edition scholarship, you must meet all of the required criteria above and:

• have never held a U.S. passport
• be eligible to receive a U.S. passport

Employees and relatives of HI USA and its licensed facilities are ineligible to receive an Explore the World Travel Scholarship. Former recipients of HI USA’s Explore the World Travel Scholarship are ineligible to receive an award. No purchase necessary to apply for this award.

In 2024, HI USA will award: 

• 15 general Explore the World Travel Scholarships, and
• 5 Explore the World Travel Scholarships: First Passport Edition

to applicants selected from across the United States.

Recipients of the General Award will receive a $2000 Travel Stipend (disbursed as $1000 pre-travel and $1000 post-travel), virtual programs to prepare for travel, and a lifetime HI USA membership. 

To qualify for the General Award, travel must: 

• occur during the travel period (date of departure and return to the U.S.) 
• include at seven (7) overnights 
• have an education or volunteer component (this includes self-directed components) 
• include at least two (2) overnights in a shared accommodation hostel – this can be as a part of your primary travel or as an additional travel experience 

Recipients of the First Passport Award will receive:

• a $3000 Travel Stipend (disbursed as $200 for the passport, $1400 pre-travel, and $1400 post-travel) 
• virtual programs to prepare for travel 
• a lifetime HI USA membership, and  
• a volunteer travel mentor to prepare for their first international trip 

First Passport Award travel must meet the following requirements: 

• travel to an international location 
• date of departure and return to the United States must fall during the travel period 
• travel must include at least 5 overnights 
• shared accommodation hostels must be utilized as the primary form of accommodation

Explore the World is offered annually. Please sign up for our Programs and Events email list to be notified when future scholarship applications open. 

As long as you are between the ages of 18 and 30 years when you submit your application, and meet all other requirements, you are eligible.  

For the purposes of this award, to show “demonstrated financial need” you must either: 

• be a current or former Pell Grant recipient, or
• have a household income of no more than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines.

Awardees will receive an email by the notification deadline. 

Upon notification, awardees have 10 days to complete the acceptance requirements for their award. 

Failure to complete acceptance requirements by the deadline will result in forfeiture of award, and an alternate will be selected. 

We do not immediately notify alternates. However, we do select alternates in the event that an award is forfeited. Alternates are selected based on original scores. 

Alternates will have 10 days to submit acceptance documents upon notification. 

These scholarship funds are considered Taxable Income as defined by the IRS.

A scholarship committee of HI USA Volunteers will score and select awardees from completed, eligible applications based on the candidate’s ability to:  

• Present a compelling case for why/how they are a novice traveler  
• Demonstrate financial need  
• Convey a genuine interest in exploring the culture of the destination selected 
• Convey a genuine interest in hostelling 

You may apply for either a general Explore the World Travel Scholarship or an Explore The World Travel Scholarship: First Passport Edition. 

If you do not have a passport and intend to travel as part of an educational or volunteer program that includes accommodation, apply for the General Award.

If you do not have a passport and intend to travel independently, utilizing hostels, you may apply for aFirst Passport Edition Travel Scholarship.  The First Passport Edition award includes passport fee reimbursement and a mentor to help plan travel. 

You should apply for a general Explore the World Travel Scholarship. This award provides funds for travel with an educational or volunteer component, including self-directed education or volunteer service.

You can find additional information about this program on our Program Requirements page.  We will also hold two virtual workshops to answer questions and provide guidance on applications. You can get more information and sign up for those on our Eventbrite page.

No purchase is necessary to apply. 

HI USA reserves the right to modify this agreement and any policies of the HI USA Explore the World Travel Scholarship (both General Award and First Passport Edition), including program cancellation. Modification is effective upon posting to our website or distribution via email or conventional mail. 

HI USA reserves the right to require additional verification of any information submitted at any time by the recipient.