Full Scholarships For International Students: Columbia University's Offer

Columbia University is an Ivy League school that offers some of the world's best programs. However, with an average cost of $84,000 per academic year, it is no wonder that many international students seek full scholarships to attend. While Columbia does not offer full scholarships for international students, it does offer generous financial aid packages and scholarships for those who demonstrate financial need. International students are evaluated in a need-aware manner, meaning that the admissions committee considers how much financial aid an international student requires when evaluating their application. All financial aid at Columbia is need-based, and there are no merit scholarships awarded for academics, athletics, or other talents.

Columbia University's financial aid for international students

Undergraduate Students

Columbia University offers financial aid to international undergraduate students based on their financial need. The university is committed to meeting 100% of the demonstrated need of all admitted first-year students, regardless of citizenship. International students are evaluated in a need-aware manner, taking into account their financial circumstances. All financial aid at Columbia for undergraduate students is need-based, and there are no merit scholarships awarded for academics, athletics, or other talents.

The average award for international financial aid recipients is $79,375, which usually includes a Columbia grant that does not need to be repaid, and a student work-study job. International applicants must indicate their plan to apply for financial aid when submitting their admission application.

Graduate Students

For graduate students, Columbia University offers both institutional scholarships and external scholarships. The university provides departmental scholarships that are primarily directed towards tuition fees. Additionally, graduate students can apply for external scholarships offered by various organisations and institutions.

External Scholarships

International students at Columbia University can explore external scholarships to supplement their financial aid. Platforms like Edupass and International Education Financial Aid offer valuable resources for scholarship opportunities. Local high schools often provide information about regional scholarship programs, and employers may also offer scholarship opportunities for their employees' children.

Student Loans

International students at Columbia University who require additional financial assistance may consider private student loans, also known as alternative education loans. These loans are offered by private lenders and not the federal government. It is important for students to explore all borrowing options, including loan opportunities in their home country or country of residence.

Application Process

The first step in the financial aid application process is to intimate the requirement for financial help in the admissions application. It is important to note that once submitted, this requirement cannot be modified or changed after acceptance. For undergraduate scholarships, students need to fill out the College Scholarship Service (CSS) application and provide relevant financial documents.

Scholarships for Indian students

Columbia University is committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity in its student body, welcoming students from all socioeconomic backgrounds. The university offers financial aid to international students, including Indian students, based on financial need. While the admissions process remains uniform for all applicants, international students are evaluated in a need-aware manner, taking their financial circumstances into account.

Columbia University Scholarships for Indian Students:

Shardashish Interschool Fellowship:

• Offered by the UNM (Uttambhai Nathalal Mehta) Foundation.
• Fellowship amount: $50,000 per year for tuition and fees.
• Eligibility: Commitment to India's future, proof of financial need, Indian residents preferred, admission to specific Columbia University courses.

Undergraduate Scholarships:

• Columbia University offers need-based scholarships to undergraduate international students, meeting 100% of their demonstrated financial requirements.
• Application Process: Intimate your requirement for financial help in your admissions application. Fill out the College Scholarship Service (CSS) application with the required documents, including income records, assets, and bank statements.

Graduate Scholarships:

• More restricted than undergraduate scholarships.
• Northwest IB Scholarship: For international students graduating from an IB high school, studying in the US. $1,000 awarded to the first 20 applicants.
• Business Studies Scholarship: Partial tuition coverage for international and domestic students.
• International Merit Scholarship: Up to $3,000 awarded to students starting a master's program.

External Scholarships for Indian Students:

• Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowship: Merit-based award covering tuition, partial living expenses, healthcare expenses, and flight fares.
• JN Tata Endowment for Higher Education of Indians: Loan scholarships ranging from INR 1,00,000 to 10,00,000 for Indian students pursuing a 2-year postgraduate program.
• K.C. Mahindra Education Trust Scholarship: Interest-free loans ranging from $5,000 to $9,000 for postgraduate international students with meritorious academic performance and financial need.
• Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships: Up to $100,000 for students pursuing university courses or specific programs in the US, UK, or Europe.
• Narotam Shekhsaria Foundation Scholarships: Interest-free loans of up to $24,000 for Indian residents under 30 with excellent academic performance.
• Debesh-Kamal Scholarships for Higher Studies: Tuition fees of up to INR 1,00,000 for students under 30, preferably enrolled in social sciences.

External scholarships for international students

International students at Columbia University can also benefit from several external scholarship opportunities. These are particularly important for graduate students, as the financial aid they receive from the university is more limited. Here are some examples of external scholarships:

• The KC Mahindra Education Trust Scholarship: This scholarship is in the form of an interest-free loan for students pursuing postgraduate education. It is awarded based on merit and financial need. Applicants must have achieved over 65% in their undergraduate programme. The scholarship amount ranges from $5,000 to $9,000.
• Inlaks Shivdasani Foundations Scholarships: Aimed at students planning to study in the UK, US or European countries, this scholarship is open to those applying for university courses as well as specific courses. Applicants must have scored above 70% in their bachelor's programme and be under 30 years old. The scholarship amount is up to $100,000.
• Narotam Shekhsaria Foundation Scholarships: This is a non-governmental programme that offers merit-based awards in the form of interest-free loans. Only Indian residents are eligible, and applicants must be under 30 years old with consistently good academic performance. The scholarship amount is up to $24,000, depending on the course chosen.
• Debesh-Kamal Scholarships for Higher Studies: Applicable for undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programmes worldwide, this scholarship covers only tuition fees. It is awarded based on financial need and merit. Applicants must be under 30 years old, preferably pursuing a degree in the social sciences, and have a good academic record. The scholarship amount is up to $1,200.
• JN Tata Endowment for Higher Education of Indians: This scholarship is specifically for Indian students pursuing postgraduate programmes abroad. It is a one-time loan with a value ranging from $1,200 to $12,000. Applicants must be under 45 years old and enrolling in a 2-year degree.
• Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowship: This fellowship is awarded based on academic performance, leadership qualities and work experience. It covers tuition fees, partial living expenses, healthcare expenses and round-trip flight fares. Applicants must have relevant work experience of 3 years or more and good academic performance. The scholarship amount varies for each student.

In addition to these, there are several other external scholarships and resources that international students can explore, such as the Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship, MPOWER Financing, International Education Financial Aid and EduPass. These platforms provide valuable information and opportunities for scholarships, grants and other financial aid.

Private student loans for international students

Columbia University is committed to meeting 100% of the demonstrated financial need of all admitted first-year students, regardless of citizenship. International students are evaluated in a need-aware manner, taking into account their financial circumstances. International students are not eligible for federal or state student aid programs. However, they can apply for private student loans, also known as alternative education loans, which are offered by private lenders. These loans may be available to international students with a US cosigner, and in some cases, a no-cosigner loan may also be an option.

Private student loans typically have variable interest rates based on the student and/or cosigner's credit score, but some lenders offer fixed-rate options. It is important to note that Columbia University cannot act as a cosigner or sponsor for either domestic or international students. When applying for a private student loan, it is recommended to submit one loan application for each academic year to minimize the number of credit inquiries, as these can impact credit approval.

Before applying for private loans, international students should first consider borrowing the full amount they are eligible for under institutional loans, if applicable. To determine the maximum amount that can be borrowed in private student loans, students should take the cost of attendance and subtract any other financial aid awards they have or will receive. The difference represents the "remaining need" and the amount that can be borrowed in a private student loan, with a minimum loan amount of $1,000.

Additionally, Columbia University provides a suggested lender list for private loans, although students have the right to select any education loan provider of their choice and are not required to use the suggested lenders.

Application process for Columbia University scholarships

Columbia University is committed to fostering diversity and inclusivity in its student body, welcoming students from all socioeconomic backgrounds, including international students. The university pledges to meet 100% of the demonstrated financial need for all admitted first-year students, regardless of citizenship.

The admissions process is largely the same for all students, but international students are evaluated in a need-aware manner, taking into account their financial circumstances. All financial aid at Columbia is need-based, and there are no merit scholarships awarded for academics, athletics, or other talents.

Undergraduate Scholarships

To apply for an undergraduate scholarship, the first step is to indicate your requirement for financial help in your admissions application. This requirement cannot be modified or added after submission.

Columbia University only provides need-based scholarships to undergraduate students. The exact scholarship amount will depend on the financial need demonstrated in your application.

The next step is to fill out the College Scholarship Service (CSS) application online. This process is simple and requires the following documents:

• W-2 Form/records of current income
• Records of untaxed income and benefits
• Assets and bank statements

CSS profiles are required for both adoptive and biological parents. If a student’s parents are separated (divorced, unmarried, or living separately), each parent will have to complete the CSS profile separately.

Graduate Scholarships

Graduate Scholarships are more restricted than Undergraduate scholarships. As a graduate student, you may be eligible for some departmental scholarships, which are primarily directed towards tuition fees.

External Scholarships

In addition to the financial aid offered by Columbia University, international students can also apply for external scholarships. This is especially important for graduate students, as the aid received from the university is more limited. Some examples of external scholarships include:

• The KC Mahindra Education Trust Scholarship
• Inlaks Shivdasani Foundations Scholarships
• Narotam Shekhsaria Foundation Scholarships
• Debesh-Kamal Scholarships for Higher Studies
• JN Tata Endowment for Higher Education of Indians
• Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship

Frequently asked questions