International Student Scholarships: Company-Sponsored Aid

International students often find it challenging to secure funding for their studies, especially in countries like the US and Canada, where the cost of tuition and living expenses can be high. While international students are not eligible for federal or state aid in the US, there are other avenues to explore, such as scholarships offered by private companies or organisations. These scholarships can provide valuable financial support for international students, helping to cover tuition fees, accommodation, and other associated costs.

Can a company give a scholarship to an international student?

Scholarships for international students in the USA and Canada

Scholarships are a great way to reduce the cost of studying in the USA and Canada as an international student. While international students are not eligible for federal financial aid in the US, there are still many scholarship opportunities available.

Scholarships in the USA

The most common scholarships awarded to international students in the US are merit-based scholarships. These funds come directly from the university and can be awarded based on an incoming student's grade point average (GPA), high test scores, or special skills such as athletic or artistic talent.

Some colleges, such as Harvard and Yale, offer full need-based financial aid for international students. There are also scholarships unrelated to specific institutions, like the Rotary Peace Fellowship for doctoral international students. Organisations like Rotary support international students separately from your college.

The #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship is another example of a scholarship aimed at international students. It is hosted by participating colleges and universities, offering two yearly renewable scholarships for international undergraduate students.

There are also scholarships for specific nationalities. For example, the Hungarian American Coalition offers partial annual scholarships to Hungarian students wishing to study in the US. The Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholarship Program offers scholarships for 11 exceptional Asian students to study at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, covering the full cost of tuition and student fees.

Other scholarships include the Preply Scholarship, which awards three winners with up to $2,000, and the Tortuga Backpacks Study Abroad Scholarship, which is awarded twice a year to passionate international students wishing to study in the US, worth $1,000.

Scholarships in Canada

Global Affairs Canada is responsible for the Government of Canada's participation in major international scholarship programs. The Study in Canada Scholarships provide international students from a wide range of countries and territories with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research at Canadian post-secondary institutions.

Scholarship Search Tools

There are many online tools to help international students find scholarships, grants, and loan programs. These include International Student, Fastweb, and The College Board.

Scholarships for international students from private companies

Scholarships are a great way to fund your education as an international student, especially since international students are not eligible for federal financial aid. While there may be fewer scholarship opportunities for non-residents, international students can still use scholarships to reduce their college costs and make studying abroad more financially feasible.

There are a variety of scholarships available for international students from private companies. For example, the Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme offers scholarships for postgraduate international students from Africa. The MasterCard Foundation also provides scholarships for African students to study in the US and Africa. The American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship is another undergraduate scholarship to study at American University in Washington, DC, aimed at international students showing leadership potential.

Brandeis University offers the Wien International Scholarship Program, a funding opportunity for high-achieving students with an interest in contributing to the student community. Clark University Global Scholars Program offers scholarships of no less than US$10,000, as well as a guaranteed $2,500 taxable stipend for a paid internship for first-year international applicants.

Additionally, the East-West Center Scholarships and Fellowships provide funding for international students from the Asia-Pacific region to study in the US within selected institutions. The Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholarship Program covers the full cost of tuition and student fees for 11 exceptional Asian students to study at Wesleyan University in Connecticut.

There are also scholarships for specific nationalities. For instance, the Australian-American Fulbright Commission offers scholarships to Australian citizens across all career stages. The Hungarian American Coalition provides partial annual scholarships to Hungarian students wishing to study in the US.

It is important to note that scholarships for international students can be challenging to find, especially full scholarships. Most colleges in the United States offer some scholarships for international students, and it is recommended to research national or state-wide scholarship opportunities. Additionally, international students may be eligible for on-campus jobs or work-study programs funded through institutional funding.

When researching scholarships, be cautious of scams targeting international students. Remember that scholarship applications should never require fees or upfront payments.

Scholarships for international students based on merit

Scholarships are a great way to fund your education as an international student. While it can be challenging to find scholarships for international students, they are available, and many colleges in the United States offer them.

Merit-based scholarships

Merit-based scholarships are awarded based on academic merit or other forms of excellence, such as leadership, athletic, or artistic achievements. These scholarships are sometimes referred to as excellence scholarships as they seek out the brightest and most talented students.

Examples of merit-based scholarships for international students

• The Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA) enables graduate students, young professionals, and artists from abroad to research and study in the United States for one year or longer. The Fulbright program covers expenses, including tuition, textbooks, airfare, a living stipend, and health insurance.
• The Rhodes Scholarships (UK) are among the most prestigious international scholarship programs. They are postgraduate awards that support exceptional international students from selected countries at the University of Oxford. The scholarship covers all university fees, a personal stipend, health insurance, and airfare.
• The Schwarzman Scholars program supports up to 200 students annually from around the world for a one-year master's in global affairs at Beijing's Tsinghua University.
• The ENS International Selection Scholarships (France) are awarded to promising international students in Science or Humanities, offering a monthly stipend and accommodation on campus.
• The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship provides scholarships to students from select developing countries who have no other source of financial aid for their graduate studies. The scholarships are 50% grant and 50% loan.
• The American Association of University Women offers fellowships for non-American women seeking a Master's or doctorate in the USA. Priority is given to women who demonstrate a commitment to advancing women and girls.
• The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship awards scholarships to women from other countries earning their graduate degrees in the USA.
• The College Board supports 7 million students annually, providing scholarship and financial aid information from over 2,200 programs.
• The #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship offers two yearly renewable scholarships for international undergraduate students.
• 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.
• The Chevening program is the UK government's international awards program aimed at developing global leaders. It enables outstanding emerging leaders to pursue one-year master's degrees in the UK.

Other scholarship opportunities

It is important to note that scholarships are not limited to merit-based awards. International students can also find scholarships based on financial need, athletic or artistic talent, and other criteria. Additionally, some colleges, such as Harvard and Yale, offer full need-based financial aid for international students.

Avoiding scams

When researching scholarships, it is important to watch out for scams targeting international students. Remember that scholarship applications should never require fees or upfront payments.

Scholarships for international students based on financial need

Scholarships for international students are available, although they can be challenging to find. Most scholarship opportunities are reserved for US citizens and permanent residents. However, international students can still use scholarships to reduce their college costs and make studying abroad more financially feasible.

International students are not eligible for federal financial aid in the US, so it is important to understand which forms of aid are open to non-US citizens. Most scholarship opportunities for international students are merit-based and awarded for academic performance, test scores, or special skills in areas such as athletics or artistic talent.

Some colleges, such as Harvard and Yale, offer full need-based financial aid for international students. However, this is rare, as international students must prove their financial stability to obtain a student visa. In addition, most need-based scholarships are reserved for US citizens and permanent residents. Nevertheless, some universities may have funds allocated to assist international students with exceptional need and/or talent.

There are also scholarships and fellowships offered by organisations unrelated to a specific institution, such as the Rotary Peace Fellowship for doctoral international students. International students can also access searchable databases of grants, scholarships, and loan programs, such as those provided by International Student, Fastweb, and Buddy4Study. These databases ensure that students from around the world have the resources to find ways to pay for college.

Some other scholarships for international students based on financial need include:

• The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship, which provides scholarships to students from select developing countries who have no other source of financial help 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. Priority is given to women who demonstrate a commitment to the advancement of women and girls.
• The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program provides comprehensive financial coverage, including tuition, a monthly stipend, airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance, to students from developing countries who are applying for a development-related Master's program.
• The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship awards scholarships to women from other countries who are earning graduate degrees in the USA.
• The Zolve Global Scholarship, which recognises young leaders worldwide and helps them turn their ideas into reality.
• The Marten Bequest Traveling Scholarship, which is open to native-born Australians aged 21-35 (17-35 for ballet) who are of outstanding ability and promise in one or more categories of the Arts.

Scholarships for international students at community colleges

International students often find it challenging to secure fully-funded scholarships for their studies in the US and Canada. However, there are still scholarship opportunities available for international students at community colleges.

Community colleges are a great starting point for international students, as they offer significantly lower tuition fees and the chance to earn college credits that can be transferred to a four-year institution. This route can also open the door to scholarships that specifically target transfer students.

When it comes to scholarships, international students can explore various options. Firstly, colleges and universities themselves often provide scholarships. For example, prestigious institutions like Harvard and Yale offer full need-based financial aid for international students. Additionally, some colleges participate in the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship programme, offering renewable scholarships for international undergraduate students. The availability and eligibility criteria for these scholarships vary depending on the institution.

There are also scholarships provided by organisations independent of educational institutions. For instance, the Rotary Peace Fellowship offers scholarships for doctoral international students, while the Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship provides scholarships for students from select developing countries with no other source of financial aid. The American Association of University Women also offers fellowships for non-American women pursuing Master's or doctoral degrees in the USA, with priority given to those demonstrating a commitment to advancing women and girls.

International students can also explore scholarship opportunities based on specific criteria. For example, the Chicana Latina Foundation offers scholarships to Latina students committed to equality and justice, while the San Diego Chinese Women's Association awards scholarships to students of Chinese descent in San Diego County. Additionally, the P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship provides support for women from other countries pursuing graduate degrees in the USA.

It is important to note that international students may face restrictions on certain types of financial aid, such as federal or state aid. However, they may be eligible for on-campus jobs or work-study programmes funded through institutional funding.

When researching scholarships, international students should be cautious to avoid scams and remember that legitimate scholarship applications never require application fees or upfront payments. Instead, they can utilise resources like International Student, which offers a comprehensive database of scholarships, grants, and loan programs specifically for international students. Similarly, eduPASS provides a searchable database and lists scholarships like the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program, which offers comprehensive financial coverage for students from developing countries applying for development-related Master's programmes.

In conclusion, while international students may face challenges in securing scholarships, there are still numerous opportunities available, especially at the community college level. By combining scholarships with other funding sources, international students can significantly reduce the cost of their studies.

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