International Students: Scholarships And Stipends Available?

International students are not eligible for federal student aid in the US and are expected to be self-funded. However, there are other options for financial aid, including private scholarships and grants. Many scholarships for undergraduate study are only available to US citizens and permanent residents, but there are also scholarship databases, private, corporate, nonprofit, and government scholarship funds that serve undergraduate international students.

Merit-based scholarships

Many universities offer merit-based scholarships to international students. These scholarships are typically awarded based on academic merit, leadership, athletic, or artistic achievements. Some scholarships are offered by foreign governments, while others are provided by individual universities.

Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is a US government-funded scholarship that enables graduate students, young professionals, and artists from abroad to study or research in the United States for one year or longer. The scholarship covers tuition, textbooks, airfare, a living stipend, and health insurance.

Chevening Scholarships (UK)

The Chevening Scholarships are the UK government's global scholarship programme, which offers awards to outstanding scholars with leadership potential from around the world. Chevening Scholarships typically cover tuition fees, a living allowance, airfare to the UK, and additional grants for essential expenditures.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships aim to attract and retain world-class doctoral students and establish Canada as a global centre of excellence in research and higher learning. The scholarship is worth $50,000 per year for three years and is available to students pursuing a doctoral degree or a combined MA/PhD or MD/PhD at participating Canadian universities.

Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme (France)

The Eiffel scholarship programme, developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attracts the best foreign students to French higher education institutions. Eiffel scholarship holders receive a monthly allowance and have their expenses covered for a return trip, social security, and cultural activities. However, tuition fees are not included in this scholarship.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships provide graduates from all fields with the opportunity to pursue doctoral or postdoctoral research at Swiss universities or recognised institutions. The scholarship includes a monthly allowance, tuition fees, health insurance, and a lodging allowance.

University-Specific Scholarships

In addition to the scholarships offered by foreign governments, many universities offer their own merit-based scholarships for international students. For example, Syracuse University offers several merit scholarship awards that recognise academic, personal, and creative achievements. The University of Houston-Victoria offers the International Merit Scholarship, which can reduce the total cost of attendance by $3000-$10,000 for two semesters. The University of Chicago also offers merit scholarships to international applicants based on their academic and extracurricular achievements, leadership, and community commitment.

Need-based scholarships

While need-based scholarships are available, minimal scholarship aid is offered to international students, and most of it is reserved for graduate study. US institutions typically offer little to no discount on tuition for international students. However, both private and public institutions may waive application fees in certain situations.

• Emory University Needs-Based Scholarship Program: Emory University offers funding opportunities for international students who can demonstrate financial need.
• University of Wisconsin Superior Non-resident Tuition Waiver Program: The University of Wisconsin provides tuition waivers for international students who can demonstrate financial need.
• International Education Financial Aid (IEFA): IEFA provides financial aid, college scholarships, and grant information for international students wishing to study abroad.
• InternationalScholarships.com: This website offers listings of grants, scholarships, loan programs, and other information to assist international students in their pursuit of studying abroad.
• American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship: American University in Washington, DC, offers undergraduate scholarships to international students demonstrating leadership potential. While not exclusively need-based, financial need may be considered.
• Clark University Global Scholars Program: Clark University offers scholarships of at least $10,000, along with a guaranteed $2,500 taxable stipend for a paid internship, to first-year international applicants.

University-specific scholarships

• American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship: This scholarship is offered to undergraduate international students at American University in Washington, DC. It is aimed at students who show leadership potential and are dedicated to community contribution.
• Brandeis University Wien International Scholarship Program: Brandeis University offers this scholarship to high-achieving international students who are committed to contributing to the student community.
• Clark University Global Scholars Program: Clark University provides scholarships of at least $10,000, along with a guaranteed $2,500 taxable stipend for a paid internship, to first-year international applicants.
• Emory University Needs-Based Scholarship Program: Emory University provides financial support to international students who can demonstrate financial need.
• Harvard University Scholarships: Harvard University offers a range of highly competitive international scholarships for students from diverse backgrounds across the globe.
• Illinois State University International Awards: Illinois State University provides tuition waivers, merit awards, and graduate assistantships to attract the best international students.
• Iowa State University International Merit Scholarships: Iowa State University recognizes high-achieving international students through its merit-based scholarship program.

These are just a few examples of the many university-specific scholarships available. Each university will have its own application process and eligibility criteria, so it is important to visit the university's website or contact their financial aid office for detailed information. Additionally, some universities may offer a tuition fee waiver or other forms of financial assistance to international students, so it is worth exploring the options at your preferred institutions.

Private scholarships

There are several free online scholarship search tools that can help international students find private scholarships. These include InternationalStudent.com, International Education Financial Aid (IEFA), InternationalScholarships.com, and Fastweb. These websites allow students to search for scholarships by location, field of study, student origin, or award name.

Some private scholarships that international students can apply for include:

• The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship, which provides scholarships to students from select developing countries who have no other source of financial aid for their graduate studies.
• The American Association of University Women offers fellowships for non-American women who want to earn a Master's or doctorate in the USA.
• The Civil Society Leadership Awards, which offer full scholarships for Master's students from specific countries who are dedicated to fostering social change.
• The David P. Shapiro Autism Scholarship, which is worth US$1,000 and is open to current or prospective students in the US diagnosed with autism.
• The Preply Scholarship, which awards three winners with up to $2,000. It is open to all students (domestic and international) aged 16-35 and requires a 500-word essay.
• The Surfshark Privacy and Security Scholarship, which offers a $2,000 prize to a student enrolled in a high school, undergraduate, or graduate program in the US or another country.
• The Tortuga Backpacks Study Abroad Scholarship, which is awarded twice a year to international students wishing to study in the US and is worth US$1,000.
• The East-West Center Scholarships and Fellowships, which are aimed at international students from the Asia-Pacific region wishing to study in the US at selected institutions.
• The Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholarship Program, which offers scholarships to 11 exceptional Asian students to study at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, covering tuition and student fees.
• The Rotary Peace Fellowships, which are awarded to master's degree students studying within one of Rotary's Peace Centers, such as Duke University or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
• The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme, which offers scholarships to postgraduate international students from African countries.
• The MasterCard Foundation Scholarships, which are for African students wishing to study in the US or Africa.

Additionally, many universities in the US offer private funding for international students. For example, American University in Washington, D.C., offers two endowed partial scholarships for international students from Turkey and Cyprus. They also offer partial merit-based scholarships ranging from $8,000 to $20,000 per year for first-year applicants, including international students. Clark University in Massachusetts offers the Presidential Scholarship, which covers full tuition and on-campus room and board for all four years, regardless of financial need. The University of Arkansas offers the New Arkansan Non-Resident Tuition Award Scholarship, which provides an annual award of $9,500 to $17,000 per year based on 30 hours of enrollment.

To increase their chances of receiving a private scholarship, international students should demonstrate leadership and writing skills. Strong leadership skills can make applicants more competitive, and strong writing skills are essential for crafting a compelling personal statement, which is often the most critical part of a scholarship application.

International student loans

International students often have to rely on personal and family sources of funding, as minimal scholarship aid is available to them, and most of it is reserved for graduate study. US institutions rarely offer discounts on tuition for international students. However, both private and public institutions may waive application fees in some situations.

International students can consider taking out a loan to fund their studies. There are international student loans available to individuals who meet certain criteria. Many loans require a cosigner—someone who guarantees to pay the debt if the applicant cannot. A cosigner will usually need to be a US citizen or permanent resident with good credit, and to have lived in the US for the past two years.

A variety of organisations and institutions provide private loans to international students. Many provide assistance targeted at students from specific regions or countries who meet certain criteria. When considering taking out a loan from a private organisation or institution, it is important to do thorough research and compare the rates and terms offered by various loan providers.

The following websites can be used to search for international student loans:

• InternationalStudent.com
• InternationalStudentLoan.com
• AscentFunding.com
• EduPASS.org
• Fastweb
• International Education Financial Aid (IEFA)
• InternationalScholarships.com

Frequently asked questions