Ibrahim Gardner
International students often face challenges when it comes to funding their studies, especially in countries like the US, which has some of the highest costs for higher education globally. While full scholarships for international students are rare, there are still opportunities for financial aid in the form of partial scholarships, grants, loans, and tuition waivers. These scholarships are often highly competitive and may be funded by private organizations, specific institutions, or the government. International students should carefully research and apply for scholarships that fit their specific profiles, leveraging their academic background, leadership skills, and writing abilities to stand out.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scholarships for undergraduate study | Available only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. However, there are free scholarship databases as well as private, corporate, nonprofit, and government scholarship funds that serve undergraduate international students. |
| Scholarship applications | Should demonstrate strong writing skills and leadership skills. |
| Scholarship sources | Companies, universities, governments, and private organizations. |
| Scholarship databases | Some scholarship databases charge fees to users, while others are free. |
| International student loans | Available to individuals who meet certain criteria. Many require a cosigner. |
| Scholarship competitiveness | Scholarships are highly competitive. |
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What You'll Learn
Scholarships for international students in the USA and Canada
International students often find it challenging to secure fully funded scholarships for their studies in the USA and Canada. However, there are some scholarships, loans, and grants available for international students pursuing undergraduate or graduate studies in these countries.
Scholarships in the USA
The American Association of University Women offers fellowships for non-American women seeking Master's or doctoral degrees in the USA. The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship also awards scholarships to women from other countries pursuing graduate degrees in the USA.
The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship provides scholarships to graduate students from select developing countries with no other source of financial aid. The scholarship is half grant and half loan.
The Civil Society Leadership Awards offer full scholarships for Master's students from specific countries dedicated to fostering social change.
The Foreign Fulbright Student Program offers scholarships for graduate students from around the world, including young professionals and artists, to study in the USA.
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program provides comprehensive financial support, 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 American University's Emerging Global Leader Scholarship, awarded to Pakistani national Fareha Abid in 2019, is another example of a scholarship for international students in the USA.
Clark University in Massachusetts offers the Presidential Scholarship, which is available to both domestic and international students and covers full tuition and on-campus room and board for all four years, regardless of financial need.
Scholarships in Canada
Global Affairs Canada offers the Flight PS752 Commemorative Scholarship for graduate studies in the 2025-2026 academic year. The Canada-China Scholars' Exchange Program (CCSEP) provides scholarships to Chinese scholars and professionals for research in Canadian studies.
The Study in Canada Scholarships provide short-term exchange opportunities for international students from a wide range of countries and territories to study or research at Canadian post-secondary institutions.
Additionally, there are scholarships available for students from specific regions, such as Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to pursue short-term studies or research in Canada.
General Tips for International Students
International students should carefully review and edit their scholarship essays, utilizing resources like school counselors, English teachers, or EducationUSA advisers. Strong writing skills and leadership qualities can enhance an international student's competitiveness as a scholarship applicant.
It is important to note that many scholarships for undergraduate study in the USA are only available to US citizens and permanent residents. However, there are some scholarship databases, private loans, corporate funds, nonprofit funds, and government scholarship funds that cater to international undergraduate students.
To find scholarships that align with your specific profile, it is recommended to utilize scholarship databases such as International Student, eduPASS, or Fastweb. These platforms offer searchable databases with information on grants, scholarships, and loan programs for international students.
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Scholarships for international students in the US specifically
Scholarships for international students studying in the US are often highly competitive and challenging to find. Most institutional aid is reserved for graduate study, and undergraduate scholarships are rare. However, they do exist, and international students can increase their competitiveness by demonstrating leadership qualities, strong writing skills, and academic excellence.
- The Wien International Scholarship Program at Brandeis University in Massachusetts is open to international undergraduate applicants.
- The Presidential Scholarship at Clark University in Massachusetts is offered to both domestic and international students and covers full tuition and on-campus room and board for all four years.
- The American University in Washington, D.C., offers partial merit-based scholarships ranging from $8,000 to $20,000 per year to first-year applicants, including international students.
- The #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship is open to all international students studying any subject at a participating college or university in the US. Applicants must submit an essay or video demonstrating their interest in promoting intercultural learning and exchange.
- The Civil Society Leadership Awards offer fully-funded scholarships for master's-level students from specific countries who are dedicated to fostering social change.
- The Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program offers 10 months of academic study in the US for international experienced professionals.
- The Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholarship Program provides scholarships for 11 exceptional Asian students to study at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, covering full tuition and student fees.
- The Fulbright Program offers scholarships to Australian citizens across all career stages to pursue research or study at a US institution.
- The Bat and Ball Game Women's Sports Scholarship offers $1,000 to a woman studying a sports-related degree at any US university.
- The Preply Scholarship awards $2,000 to three winners open to all students, including internationals, aged 16-35. Applicants must submit a 500-word essay related to online education, multilingualism, and professional development.
- The Surfshark Privacy and Security Scholarship offers $2,000 to students enrolled in the US, including international students, at the high school, undergraduate, or graduate level. Applicants must submit an essay, and the scholarship is open to all nationalities.
- The Tortuga Backpacks Study Abroad Scholarship is awarded twice a year to passionate international students wishing to study in the US, with a value of $1,000.
- The East-West Center Scholarships and Fellowships offer scholarships to international students from the Asia-Pacific region to study at selected institutions in the US.
- The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship provides scholarships for graduate studies to students from select developing countries with no other source of financial aid.
- The American Association of University Women offers fellowships for non-American women seeking a master's or doctorate in the USA, with priority given to those committed to advancing women and girls.
- The P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship awards scholarships to women from other countries earning graduate degrees in the USA.
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International student loans
Scholarships for international students are hard to come by, and even when they are awarded, they rarely cover all expenses. This is where international student loans can help.
Where to Find International Student Loans
There are a variety of organisations and institutions that provide private loans to international students. Many provide assistance that is targeted at students from specific regions or countries. When considering taking out a loan from any private organisation or institution, it is important to do thorough research and compare the rates and terms offered by various loan providers. Interest rates, repayment terms, loan maximums, and fees can vary significantly between lenders.
Example Lenders
- MPOWER Financing: Offers fixed-rate loans from US$2,001 to US$100,000 at competitive interest rates. MPOWER Financing does not require a cosigner or collateral.
- OCBC Bank: Offers low-interest rates of 4.5% per annum (EIR is 5.17% per annum) and allows you to loan up to 10 times your monthly income or S$150,000, whichever is lower.
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Scholarships for international undergraduate students
International students often find it challenging to secure fully funded scholarships for undergraduate study in the USA and Canada. Most institutional aid is reserved for graduate studies, and undergraduate scholarships are highly competitive. However, international undergraduate students can access scholarship opportunities through private, corporate, nonprofit, and government funds, as well as directly from universities.
Some universities offer partial merit scholarships based on academic excellence, special skills, talents, or abilities. For example, 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 and is open to both domestic and international students. The University of Albany also offers the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship, which provides two yearly renewable scholarships for international undergraduate students.
Additionally, international students can explore free scholarship databases, such as those offered by International Student, EduPASS, and Fastweb. These platforms provide searchable directories of scholarships, grants, loans, and other financial aid opportunities specifically for international students.
There are also specific scholarship programs targeting students from certain regions or countries. For instance, the Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship provides scholarships to students from select developing countries, while the Hungarian American Coalition offers partial annual scholarships to Hungarian students wishing to study in the US.
To increase their chances of success, international students should carefully review and edit their scholarship applications, seek input from school counselors or teachers, and highlight their leadership skills, academic achievements, and personal stories in their essays and personal statements.
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Full scholarships for international students
Scholarships for international students are available, but they can be challenging to find, and full scholarships are rare. Many scholarships for undergraduate study are only available to US citizens and permanent residents. However, there are some full scholarships available for international students at top universities worldwide.
Where to Find Full Scholarships for International Students
Some universities offer full scholarships for international students, such as the Presidential Scholarship at Clark University in Massachusetts, which is offered regardless of financial need. Harvard University also offers a range of competitive international scholarships for students worldwide. New York University (NYU) has the most international students in the US. Outside of the US, Monash University in Australia offers a fully-funded scholarship for doctoral research studies, covering an annual living allowance, relocation allowance, and a research allowance.
Scholarships for Specific Groups
There are also scholarships for specific groups, such as the Civil Society Leadership Awards, which offers full scholarships for Master's students from certain countries who are dedicated to fostering social change. The American Association of University Women offers fellowships for non-American women seeking a Master's or doctorate in the USA, with priority given to those demonstrating a commitment to advancing women and girls. The Wesleyan Freeman Asian Scholarship Program offers scholarships for Asian students to study at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, covering full tuition and student fees.
Scholarship Databases
There are scholarship databases that can help international students find opportunities, such as International Student, which has a comprehensive and searchable database of grants, scholarships, and loan programs. Scholarship Roar also provides information on over 1000 fully-funded scholarships at top universities.
Tips for Applying for Scholarships
When applying for scholarships, students should carefully review and edit their applications and personal statements, and ask school counselors or teachers to review them. Strong leadership skills and writing skills can make applicants more competitive. It is also important to give yourself plenty of time to prepare a strong application and communicate your goals and aspirations.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are scholarships available for international students, although they might be harder to find and more competitive than those for domestic students. Many scholarships are reserved for graduate study.
Most scholarships in the US are aimed at supporting American students. However, as US universities increasingly prioritise internationalisation, more scholarships for international students are becoming available.
Scholarships are often awarded based on academic merit, leadership skills, and financial need. Some scholarships are aimed at students from specific countries or regions, or those studying specific subjects.
There are free scholarship databases that list opportunities for international students, such as International Student and eduPASS. Scholarship search platforms like InternationalStudent.com also allow you to search by location, subject of study, and student origin.
