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International students don’t have many financial aid options for studying in the US. This is especially true for student loans, which can be expensive — if you can even qualify at all. Outside scholarships might be able to help you foot the bill — and some might fund your degree even before you have a visa. However, most options are only available to graduate and doctoral students.
1. Mpower Global Citizen Scholarship
Award: $3,000 or $5,000
Eligible programs: All degree programs
Deadline: November 15th
To qualify for this scholarship, you need to meet the following criteria:
Accepted or enrolled in a full-time degree program in the US or Canada
Be an international student or DACA recipient
Have a valid visa to study in the US
Attend a school Mpower supports
International student loan provider Mpower also offers scholarships exclusively for international students and DACA recipients. One scholar will receive $5,000 while four regional runners-up will get $3,000 each. The only main requirement is that you attend a school that Mpower works with — it’s meant to be broad so more students have the opportunity to participate. Scholars are chosen based on the essay you submit with your application, as well as your potential to make a positive impact as a scientist, entrepreneur, leader or change-maker.
2. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Program
Award: Tuition, fees and living expenses
Eligible programs: Graduate and doctoral programs
Deadline: March 31st
You must meet the following criteria to qualify for this program:
National of an eligible country*
Accepted but not yet enrolled in a graduate degree program
Students under 30 get preference
Eligible countries include:
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Egypt
India
Kenya
Kyrgyzstan
Madagascar
Mozambique
Pakistan
Syria
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Uganda
*Residents of the US, Canada, UK, Portugal and France who are originally from an eligible country and are interested in studying development can also apply.
This is actually a half-scholarship, half-loan program that funds the full tuition of international scholars pursuing master’s and doctoral programs, though master’s students get preference. The foundation selects students based on financial need, academic records, the reputation of the program you’re accepted to and the relevance of your studies to Aga Khan’s focus: development.
The loan portion of this program comes with a 5% annual service charge, which students must repay over five years. Repayments don’t begin until six months after you graduate. And all students must have a cosigner.
3. Fulbright Foreign Student Program
Award: Cost of attendance (COA) for up to two years
Eligible programs: Graduate and professional degrees or research at a US university
Deadline: Varies by country
Eligibility requirements and selection procedures vary depending on where you live. You can find out if you’re eligible through the Fulbright website.
This merit-based scholarship sponsored by the US State Department covers up to two years of graduate-level study. It’s meant to promote cultural exchange and is available to all academic disciplines. While it’s highly competitive, eligibility requirements vary depending on your nationality.
This might not be the best choice if you want to stay in the US after your studies, though. Depending on the type of visa you receive, you might be required to return home for a few years after finishing your program.
4. CG Trader Scholarship
Award: $500 or $2,000
Eligible programs: Undergraduate and graduate programs
Deadline: December 2nd
You must meet the following requirements to qualify for this scholarship:
2.5 GPA or higher
High school senior, undergraduate or graduate student
Enrolled as a full-time student from January 1st through December 31st
You must also write an essay that meets the following requirements:
Explain how computer-generated objects can change our experience in the real world
500 to 1,000 words
This scholarship is an essay contest meant for students studying design and technology. One student will win $2,000 to go toward their COA, while two runners-up will receive $500 each. You can apply by filling out an online form and uploading your essay on the CG Trader website by the December 2nd deadline.
5. OAS Scholarships
Award: Up to $10,000 per year for up to two years
Eligible programs: Undergraduate and graduate programs — excluding studying Medical Sciences or a new language
Deadline: October 15th
You must meet the following criteria to qualify for this scholarship:
Citizen or permanent resident of an Organization of American States (OAS) member country
Completed at least the first two years of an undergraduate program
GPA above the minimum required by the school you’re attending
Competent in English
OAS member countries include:
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Barbados
Belize
Bolivia
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname
The Bahamas
Trinidad and Tobago
United States
Uruguay
Venezuela
The Organization of American States (OAS) offers a wide range of scholarships and grants to students from member countries. You can use this to fund the second part of your undergraduate degree and a full master’s — high school seniors will need to look elsewhere.
Aside from completing an online application, you’ll need to submit several documents including copies of your transcripts and your highest-earned diploma. You can reach out to the OAS national liaison office in your country with any questions.
6. AAUW International Fellowship
Award: $18,000 for a master’s or first professional degree, $20,000 for a PhD or $30,000 for postdoctoral work
Eligible programs: Graduate, doctoral and postdoctoral programs
Deadline: November 15th
You need to meet the following requirements to qualify for this program:
Woman who is not a US citizen or permanent resident
Nonimmigrant visa if living in the US
Earn the equivalent of a US bachelor’s degree by the scholarship deadline
Intend to study or conduct research full time for a full academic year that ends after April
Intend to start a career in your home country
Proficient in English*
Additional requirements for degree-seeking applicants include:
Applied to your degree program before the scholarship deadline
Enrolled at an accredited US institution during the fellowship year
Not an online or distance learning program — such as a low-residency MFA
Additional requirements for research applicants include:
Proof of doctoral degree
Hold a research degree, such as a PhD, EdD, DBA, DM or MFA by the scholarship deadline
Members of Graduate Women International (GWI) may be eligible for this fellowship for study outside of the US — including international branches of US institutions.
*You don’t need proof of proficiency if English is your native language, you have a secondary or undergraduate degree from an English-speaking school, or you studied full time at an English-speaking university for at least one semester between November 2017 and November 2019. Otherwise, you must take the TOEFL and earn at least a 550 on the paper-based test, 79 on the Internet-based test or 60 on the revised paper-delivered test.
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has been offering fellowships to female international students since 1917. It covers up to two years of graduate or postgraduate work for women who intend to start their professional careers in their home countries.
The AAUW considers factors such as your history of community or civic service in your home country, your commitment to advance women and girls and the feasibility of your plan of study. Preference is given to women from underrepresented areas of their home countries or those who’ve attended schools that aren’t top-level universities.
7. PEO International Peace Scholarship
Award: Up to $12,500
Eligible programs: Graduate and doctoral programs at any school, as well as undergraduate programs at Cottey College
Deadline: Eligibility forms are due by December 15th
You must meet the following criteria to qualify for this scholarship:
Woman eligible for admission to a graduate program in the US or Canada, or already enrolled at an accredited school
Not a citizen or permanent resident of the US or Canada*
Online courses, research, internships and other training must be in combination with traditional coursework
At least one full year of coursework remaining
Intend to be enrolled in school and residing in the US or Canada for the full year
Doctoral students working on a dissertation don’t qualify, though undergraduate international students at Cottey College are also eligible.
*Women who are permanent residents for tax reasons are eligible for this scholarship.
The Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) has been offering its International Peace Scholarship to female graduate students from around the world since 1949. This need-based program won’t cover your whole degree — it’s meant to cover part of your COA along with other financial aid. It could be a good option for students just starting a graduate program, since you don’t need to be enrolled to qualify. It’s also open to international undergraduate students pursuing a degree at Cottey College.
8. Open Society Foundation Civil Society Scholar Awards
Award: Up to $15,000
Eligible programs: Doctoral programs
Deadlines: March 29th
You must meet the following criteria to qualify for this scholarship:
Doctoral student studying outside of your home country or full-time faculty member at a university in your home country
Studying eligible academic discipline
Citizen of an eligible country
Attend school or conduct research between September 1st and August 31st
Research project that lasts between three and 12 months
Research projects that takes place outside of your country of residence
Not currently enrolled in a master’s program
No dual citizenship with Australia, Canada, the European Union, New Zealand, Nordic countries or the US
Official invitation from a US institution
Have or will receive a J-1 visa
Eligible countries include:
Afghanistan
Albania
Angola
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Cambodia
Democratic Republic of Congo
Republic of Congo
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Guinea
Haiti
Kosovo
Laos
Libya
Macedonia
Moldova
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
Palestine
Papua New Guinea
Serbia
Sudan
South Sudan
Syria
Swaziland
Tajikistan
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Yemen
Ineligible academic disciplines include:
Business administration
Management training
Computer science
Finance or banking
Marketing
Engineering
Hard sciences, such as physics, biology and chemistry
Mathematics
Medical sciences
Teaching English as a foreign language
This merit-based grant is meant to help fund doctoral studies and professional research abroad. You might want to give it a closer look if you’re studying a discipline in the humanities — especially subjects related to development and sustainability. It can be a great resource for students who need funding to conduct fieldwork, visit libraries or collaborate with international peers. The downside? You can only qualify for this grant once.
Free scholarship connection services
Don’t qualify for any of these? Want more options? You might want to check out these online databases that include scholarship opportunities for international students:
Cappex. A scholarship database that allows you to filter your search by eligibility requirements, minimum award amounts and deadlines to quickly narrow down your results.
Funding for US Study Online. This database specializes in scholarship programs for international students. You can filter your search by program name, area of study and your region or country of origin.
GotChosen Scholarships. A social media site where students can share tips and learn about scholarship opportunities.
FastWeb. This connection service can help you find all types of financial aid, including scholarships and part-time jobs.
International Education Financial Aid (IEFA).This database has a comprehensive collection of scholarships and other financial aid options available to international students.
International Scholarships.A database that lets you both search and get alerts for scholarships you might be eligible for.
Types of scholarships and grants available to international students
From government funding to fellowships and grants, there are a few different types of free financial aid available to international students.
Institutional scholarships and grants. Funding directly through your school that you don’t have to apply for. You find out how much institutional aid you receive when you get your financial aid award letter. This might not be available to international students at some schools.
US government financial aid. Funding from the US government, such as the Fulbright Scholarship.
Scholarships from your home country. Financial aid from your home country designed specifically to study in the US. Scholarships include the Brazil Scientific Mobility Program for Brazilian citizens and the King Abdullah Scholarship Program for Saudi citizens.
Merit-based scholarships. Academic funding based on academic achievement. Typically you need a high GPA, strong test scores and a solid academic or career plan to qualify.
Need-based grants. Need-based funding, usually based on your family’s income and the number of siblings you have in college.
Fellowships. Funding for graduate and doctoral degrees, typically offered through a school’s academic department or outside organization.
Country-based scholarships. Scholarships that are only available to residents of certain countries, typically in the developing world.
5 tips for applying for international student scholarships
Keep these pointers in mind when searching for and applying to scholarships as an international student:
Apply ahead of the deadline. This helps ensure you’re considered for each scholarship you apply to — and leaves room for something to go wrong.
Make sure you meet all criteria. International student scholarships can sometimes have complicated eligibility requirements. Reach out to someone in the scholarship fund to make sure you actually qualify before filling out the application.
Use databases. Databases and connection services can help you quickly find and apply to multiple scholarships you might not have otherwise known about.
Talk to other international students. Facebook groups and the international student office at your school can be great resources for finding out what’s worth applying for — and what isn’t.
Don’t discount smaller scholarships. Scholarship programs that offer larger awards are usually much more competitive. You might have better chances of finding free aid by applying to a few smaller scholarships instead.
A note about deadlines
It’s important for all students to pay attention to deadlines. But as an international student, you might want to make sure you get your scholarship applications in as early as possible. That’s partly because many financial aid programs are on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s also because you need to be able to prove you have the funds to pay for school in order to get a student visa.
Bottom line
Your financial aid options as an international student studying in the US might be limited. But there are several scholarships, grants and fellowships that only offer funding for international students — especially for graduate, doctoral and postgraduate programs.
It depends on the program. Need-based scholarships might not consider academics at all. Merit-based programs typically require a 2.0 or 3.0 GPA or higher, depending on the scholarship. Even if you have poor grades or attended a school that doesn’t use the GPA system, don’t write off scholarship programs. You still might qualify if you meet other criteria.
It’s possible. You might be able to find funding through your home university, especially if you attend an American school. However, most US scholarship programs for international students only cover full-degree programs — unless you’re conducting research for a graduate or postgraduate degree.
Generally, no. To fill out the FAFSA, you must be a US citizen, permanent resident or an eligible noncitizen — which excludes student visas.
Anna Serio is a trusted lending expert and certified Commercial Loan Officer who's published more than 1,000 articles on Finder to help Americans strengthen their financial literacy. A former editor of a newspaper in Beirut, Anna writes about personal, student, business and car loans. Today, digital publications like Business Insider, CNBC and the Simple Dollar feature her professional commentary, and she earned an Expert Contributor in Finance badge from review site Best Company in 2020.
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