Douglas Olsen
International students often face financial challenges when studying abroad, and while scholarships are available, they can be difficult to find. These scholarships are offered by a variety of sources, including universities, governments, and private companies, and are typically awarded based on merit or need. International students are generally ineligible for funding intended for domestic students, and US institutions, for example, rarely offer discounted tuition for international students. However, some universities may waive application fees and offer other financial incentives. Additionally, international students may have access to fellowships, assistantships, and merit-based scholarships based on academic records, special skills, or artistic, musical, or athletic abilities. Various online platforms provide searchable databases of scholarships, grants, and loans for international students, making it easier to find funding opportunities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of scholarships available to international students | Thousands |
| Scholarship providers | Colleges, universities, governments, private organizations, companies |
| Scholarship types | Merit-based, need-based, field of study-based, gender-based, nationality-based, skill-based, grade-based, essay-based, project-based, interview-based |
| Scholarship coverage | Tuition, housing, monthly stipend, airfare, health insurance, travel allowance, books and course materials, fees |
| Scholarship amount | Varies, up to full tuition and student fees |
| Scholarship renewability | Some scholarships are yearly renewable |
| Scholarship eligibility | Students from all countries, undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, MBA, STEM, sports, etc. |
| Scholarship databases | InternationalStudent.com, eduPASS, InternationalScholarships.com, BestColleges.com, TopUniversities.com, Fastweb, Buddy4Study, NAFSA, College Board |
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What You'll Learn
Scholarships for international students in the USA
Scholarships are usually awarded based on merit or need, and some depend on the applicant's chosen field of study. While international students are not eligible for funding intended for US nationals, there are still plenty of scholarships available for international students in the USA. These scholarships are funded by a variety of sources, including the US government, private organizations, and specific institutions.
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is one of the most popular government-funded scholarships for international students in the USA. It offers scholarships to graduate students, young professionals, and artists from all fields except medicine to study in the US for one year or more. The Fulbright Scholarship is also offered by the Australian-American Fulbright Commission, which provides scholarships to Australian citizens at all career stages to pursue academic and cultural exchanges in the US.
Other notable scholarships for international students in the USA include:
- The University of Minnesota Fellowship: A fully-funded scholarship for international students pursuing Master's studies. It covers tuition costs, living expenses, travel, and health insurance.
- AAUW International Fellowships: Offered by the American Association of University Women, this scholarship is for female international students from any country to pursue graduate or postgraduate studies in any subject. It provides $18,000 to $30,000 per year, contingent on meeting academic standards for renewal.
- Rotary Peace Fellowships: Fully-funded scholarships for international students pursuing Master's or PhD studies. It covers tuition and fees, room and board, transportation, and internship and field-study expenses.
- Boston University Presidential Scholarship: An undergraduate scholarship that covers $25,000 per year of course fees and is renewable for up to four years of study.
- Facebook Fellowship Program: A fully-funded scholarship for doctoral research studies, covering two years of study and fees, an annual stipend, and conference travel aid.
- The Maria Goeppert Mayer Fellowship: Open to international students pursuing doctoral studies at Argonne National Laboratory in the USA.
- The International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO) Fellowship: A fully-funded scholarship that provides up to $50,000 to cover living expenses and travel.
- East-West Center Scholarships and Fellowships: Scholarships for international students from the Asia-Pacific region to study at selected institutions in the US.
- Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholarship Program: Scholarships for 11 exceptional Asian students to study at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, covering full tuition and student fees.
- P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship: Scholarships for women from other countries pursuing graduate degrees in the USA.
- MPOWER Financing: Offers various scholarships for international and DACA students, including the Global Citizen Scholarship Program, which is open throughout the year.
There are also scholarship search engines and databases, such as International Student, Fastweb, Scholarship Roar, EduPASS, and InternationalScholarships.com, which can help international students find scholarships, grants, and loan programs specific to their needs and qualifications.
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Scholarships for international undergraduate students
The #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship, for example, is hosted by colleges and universities and offers two yearly renewable scholarships for international undergraduate students. Each institution has different eligibility criteria, so it is important to check with your school. The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship is another option for undergraduate students from select developing countries who have no other source of financial aid. This scholarship is a 50% grant and 50% loan.
There are also several scholarship databases that cater to international students, such as InternationalScholarships.com, which offers a searchable database of scholarships for students from any country. International Student also provides a comprehensive scholarship search for international students, with grants, scholarships, and loan programs from around the world. Fastweb is another free online scholarship search service with access to 1.5 million scholarships worth $3.4 billion.
Additionally, some scholarships are awarded based on merit, such as TOEFL scores, academic record, artistic ability, musical ability, or athletic ability. These scholarships tend to be very competitive, so it is important to stand out in your application.
It is also worth noting that some colleges, such as Harvard and Yale, offer full need-based financial aid for international students. Remember to consult with your university to take advantage of any supplements or waivers they may offer, as well as checking for private, corporate, nonprofit, and government scholarship funds that serve undergraduate international students.
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Fellowships for international students
Scholarships and fellowships can be a great way for international students to fund their education. There are thousands of scholarship opportunities out there, some of which are open to students from just about every country in the world.
Where to Look for Fellowships
International students can look for fellowships on websites such as InternationalScholarships.com, which offers a scholarship database for students from any country. Other websites that offer fellowship and scholarship searches include InternationalStudent.com, which provides a free, up-to-date, comprehensive list of scholarships, grants, and other awards available to international students from around the world. EduPASS also provides a list of scholarships for international students, including undergraduate scholarships and MBA funding opportunities.
- The Intel PhD Fellowship Program awards fellowships to exceptional PhD candidates pursuing leading-edge innovation in fields related to Intel's business and research interests.
- The Josephine De Karman Fellowship Trust was established in 1954 to recognize and assist students whose scholastic achievements reflect Professor Von Karman's high standards.
- The DeKarman fellowships are open to students in any discipline, including international students, who are currently enrolled in a university or college located within the United States.
- The American Association for 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 American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) offers fellowships of up to $23,000 and grants of up to $5,000 to individuals pursuing research, study, or creative arts projects in one or more Scandinavian countries for up to one year.
- The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship awards scholarships to women from other countries who are earning graduate degrees in the USA.
- The Fulbright Scholarship, Rotary Scholarships, and Postdoctoral Fellowships are also available to international students.
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Merit-based scholarships for international students
Scholarships are typically awarded based on different factors, and can be either merit-based or need-based, with some depending on the chosen field of study. Merit-based scholarships are sometimes referred to as excellence scholarships since they seek out the brightest and most talented students.
- Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarships (Australia): Macquarie University offers partial tuition fee scholarships worth up to AUD$10,000 for outstanding students pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate degrees at its North Ryde campus.
- University of Maastricht Scholarships for High Potential International Students (Netherlands): The University of Maastricht provides scholarships to talented non-EU/EEA students enrolling in Master's programmes. The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, insurance, and visa costs.
- Leiden University Excellence Scholarships for International Students (Netherlands): Leiden University's Excellence Scholarship Programme (LExS) is open to outstanding non-EU/EEA students pursuing Master's degrees.
- Amsterdam Excellence Scholarships (Netherlands): The University of Amsterdam awards scholarships of €25,000 to exceptionally talented non-EU students pursuing Master's programmes. The scholarship covers tuition and living expenses.
- Rhodes Scholarships (UK): Established in the will of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, the Rhodes Scholarships are among the most prestigious international scholarships. They are postgraduate awards that support exceptional international students from selected countries at the University of Oxford. The scholarship covers university fees, a personal stipend, health insurance, and airfare.
- Syracuse University Scholarships (USA): Syracuse University offers merit-based scholarships for international students, which may be combined with other tuition-specific awards, including those from outside the university.
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA): The Fulbright Program enables international graduate students, young professionals, and artists to research and study in the United States for one year or longer. It provides funding for tuition, textbooks, airfare, a living stipend, and health insurance.
- MPOWER Financing's Global Citizen Scholarship Program: MPOWER Financing offers scholarships throughout the year for international and DACA students pursuing graduate studies in the United States.
- The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship: This scholarship provides financial support to students from select developing countries who have no other source of financial aid for their graduate studies. The scholarship is a combination of a 50% grant and a 50% loan.
- The University of Sheffield International Undergraduate Merit Scholarship: The University of Sheffield offers 75 merit-based scholarships worth £10,000 per year of study for new international students pursuing undergraduate degrees starting in autumn 2025.
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Need-based scholarships for international students
While it is challenging to find scholarships for international students, there are still several opportunities available. Scholarships are typically awarded based on merit or need, and some depend on the student's chosen field of study. Need-based scholarships are awarded to students who can demonstrate a financial need and are often means-tested. Academic departments within universities may have funds to assist international students with exceptional need and/or talent.
- The Fulbright Program (USA): The Fulbright Program is a prestigious scholarship that provides funding based on financial need, covering tuition, living expenses, travel, and health insurance. It also facilitates cultural exchange, fostering academic and personal growth.
- Chevening Scholarship (UK): Offered by the UK government, this scholarship is for students from eligible countries who demonstrate leadership potential and financial need. It covers tuition fees, living expenses, travel costs, and more, supporting a one-year master's degree program at any UK university.
- DAAD Scholarships (Germany): The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers need-based scholarships to international students wishing to study in Germany.
- Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship: This scholarship provides funding to students from select developing countries who have no other means of financial support for their graduate studies. It is a 50/50 grant and loan.
- Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program: This scholarship provides comprehensive financial coverage, including tuition, a monthly stipend, airfare, health insurance, and a travel allowance. It is intended for students from developing countries who have contributed to their country's development and are applying for a development-related Master's program.
- P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship: This scholarship supports women from other countries pursuing graduate degrees in the USA.
Additionally, MPOWER Financing offers scholarships for international students, including the Global Citizen Scholarship Program, which is open all year, and niche scholarships. MPOWER also offers monthly scholarships and has a Summer Series of Scholarships, awarding $48,000 and $8,000, respectively, to help international students fund their education.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are thousands of scholarship opportunities for international students, some of which are open to students from just about every country in the world. Scholarships are awarded based on various factors, including merit, need, and chosen field of study.
Here are some examples of scholarships available for international students:
- The Fulbright Foreign Student Program
- The Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program
- The Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholarship Program
- The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship
- The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship
- The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program
You can use online scholarship databases such as InternationalStudent.com, eduPASS, InternationalScholarships.com, or Fastweb to search for scholarships based on location, subject of study, student origin, or award name. After finding a scholarship you're interested in, you can contact the host institution directly to apply or apply through the scholarship provider's website.
