For the first time, the Aurora Education Foundation has taken eight First Nations scholars to the United States for a study tour.

The scholars were selected to tour some of the world's best universities including Harvard and Stanford, and affords them the ability to build networks and discover what studying overseas would look like.

While this is Aurora's first US-specific program offering, their international study tour has been running for over a decade.

Over 12 years Aurora has supported nearly 100 Indigenous scholars to study at the world's top universities. More than 94 per cent of those who apply after the Aurora Study Tour are accepted at these universities including Columbia University's Bronte Gosper.

Scholars from the most recent trip to the US include Warmuli math scholar Rachael King, West-Bundjalung and Yuin scholar Juanita Kelly-Mundine who is interested in conserving Aboriginal art, and Bundjalung scholar Trayden Miller-Mundine who wants to become a cardiothoracic surgeon to equip himself with the knowledge to implement a holistic approach to closing the gap.

Aurora executive officer, Wiradjuri woman Leila Smith, said scholars are selected based on how well the study program will be able to fit into their lives currently.

"We select scholars based on timing is the time right for them now, are they at a point where they're ready to explore this?" she said.

"We also want scholars who are able to articulate why they want to go overseas and where this might fit in their future plans.

"You don't have to be specific in what you want, but you need to have an idea and be open to your mind being changed when you're over there as well."

A participant in the US study trip, Wiradjuri law scholar and member from the Uluru Statement Youth Dialogue, Kishaya Delaney had never been to the US before.

"The first night we arrived in New York was such a highlight and my favourite moment of the tour," Delaney said.

"Having never been to the US, visiting the vibrant Times Square was such an exciting experience and made the possibility of living in the US for study feel so much more possible.

"By visiting classes and meeting with professors, I've gained such a better understanding of the history and experience of Indigenous people in the US and the value that can be gained from comparative study, especially in relation to the US treaty processes."

Having run the program for over a decade, Smith said she's found spending time overseas as an Indigenous scholar can be liberating for some participants.

"When you're in Australia, a lot of Indigenous people carry a cultural load," she said.

"We're always being asked for our networks, we're always being asked to speak on behalf of Aboriginal people, and we're always having to tread very delicately and filter our responses.

"Being able to see what it's like to step away from that is very empowering and a lot of scholars are really struck by that when they're overseas."

Scholars are also able to take trips to other countries such as the United Kingdom where they are able to visit universities such as Cambridge and Oxford.

Smith said after over 10 years of running the program, they have only continued to evolve when necessary such as making trips shorter so they are more accessible to scholars and adding a symposium in Australia for scholars who want to better understand what a study tour could offer.

One of their biggest developments is the inclusion of more universities which are strong in Indigenous programming.

"We focus on Western Ivy Leagues...what we want to do is expand that to include the Indigenous Ivy Leagues," Smith said.

"I'm really excited to open that offering to students so they can say you know what if I want to go into the belly of the beast in Harvard, I'm going to do that.

"But if (they) want to be taught by the best Indigenous teachers with the best Indigenous curriculum, with the best Indigenous supports, (they) can go there as well."

To be eligible for the study tour, applicants must be heading for First Class Honours.

Applications are now open for Aurora's next study through their website.